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552 results for "Greenville Times / Pitt's Past"
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Record #:
23712
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The new high Grimesland Bridge takes motorists above the old bridge and over one of the most historic spots on the Tar River. The site of the bridge is where the English settled as early as 1714 known as “Mount Calvert.” It was here in the 1750’s that Edward Salter established a ferry across the Tar River and in 1764 that the Royal Post Road between Williamsburg, VA and Charleston, SC passed through Pitt County and crossed the river on Salter’s Ferry. Salter’s Ferry afterwards was known as “Watkin’s Ferry” and much later as “Boyd’s Ferry.” In 1892, there was a push to put a ferry at Yankee Hall. In 1914, a wooden drawbridge was built across the Tar River at Boyd’s Ferry. The draw was the former draw at Beaufort, NC and was brought up the river by barge. The wooden bridge was rebuilt in 1926. A new concrete bridge was built in 1953/54 about 1200 feet from the old wooden bridge. The new high bridge over the river was dedicated on March 30, 2011 in honor of L. Elmore Hodges and opened for traffic on Monday, May 14, 2011.
Record #:
23713
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Kammerer recalls numerous people and places around Greenville. The article includes Dr. Melvin P. Hoot; “The Goat Man,” Riggs House Restaurant; the Jet Plane in Elm St. Park; Boys Rifle Club; Joe Pecheles Motors Volkswagen; Char-Steak House; Stratford Arms Apartments; The Greenville Boys Club, Tar River Swim Club; Tippy’s Taco House; and Wilbur Hardee’s numerous restaurants.
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Record #:
23714
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“The Dipping Vat War” There had always been a problem with “Cattle Ticks” making cows sickly and puny on NC farms. After WWI experiments were done to combat cattle ticks by building cement vats and bathing cows in a poison arsenic mixture several times. It appeared to work and the cows grew fat and started producing milk again. But there were those around Pitt County who refused to be ordered by the government to have their cattle dipped. Unknown parties blew up government vats with dynamite, threatened other farmers, and shot at vat workers. In 1920 the Pitt County Commissioners authorized the vat campaign to be shut down for the safety for everyone; but were well pleased with dipping campaign as a whole and Pitt County was taken off the North Carolina tick quarantine list.
Record #:
23715
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It was back between 1969 and 1973 when there was an Aerospace Program at ECU, the Physics Department purchased an “Atom Smasher,” and Richard S. Lennon, Jr., who worked with NASA computer operations in support of the first-man-on-the-moon mission, was appointed acting director of the ECU computing Center, that there was a Planetarium proposed for ECU. In 1969, the architectural firm of Dudley and Shoe were hired to come up with plans to show the public. The proposed site for the Planetarium would be on Ninth Street between Charles Street and Lawrence Street (behind what is now Mendenhall). On March 7, 1970, plans for the Planetarium were formally announced by the University with a proclamation from the Governor. Challenge grants were given by the American Credit Corporation Foundation, Wilbur Hardee, president of Little Mint, Inc., and others, but there was funding problems. The NC Legislature didn’t give the planning funds and the idea died. With the shift in eastern North Carolina to an economy based more on science and technology in the 1960s and 1970s, the concept of a Planetarium began at East Carolina University. Despite donations and a hearty campaign, Greenville was limited by the 1974 NC Legislature and the Planetarium was never built.
Record #:
23717
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In October 1884, a month long North Carolina Exposition was held in Raleigh, NC designed to compete with other larger cities and capture the national spotlight. The North Carolina Exposition of 1884 included exhibits from every county; exhibits from State Colleges and universities; and women’s groups. They also allowed black organizations to exhibit (although in segregated spaces). This exposition would eventually become an annual event and become known as the “State Fair.” Pitt County had an exciting booth filled with 106 varieties of wood, fruits, vegetables, jelly, farm products, honeycomb, rice, indigo, wool, marl, iron ore, brandy, wine, hops, 55 specimens of medicinal herbs, Indian artifacts, Revolutionary War money, cotton planters, ladies fancy work, a 15” x 7” oyster shell, etc. After the Exposition, 113 items from the Pitt Exhibit were taken to the World Exposition in New Orleans to be placed in the North Carolina exhibit there.
Record #:
23718
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Being from eastern North Carolina you can always recall the sweltering heat and humidity of your youth. There was no air conditioning to give us relief. Those hot nights when there wasn’t a breathe of air, only small electric fans, and the chorus of every dog in town barking kept weary citizens up all night. In 1935, the Pitt Theatre began to have cooled air. In 1943, Olde Towne Inn advertised they were the only air-conditioned restaurant in town. There were hot days working in tobacco and hot churches where the congregation would “endure a little heat for the Lord.” Advertising fans from stores, tobacco companies and funeral homes always provided a little relief. In 1981, Ida Wooten Tripp, a local writer, wrote a wonderful story in the local newspaper about remembering a particular hot day in Pitt County in her youth.
Record #:
23720
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Abstract:
Bridging the Tar River has been a long and arduous process in Pitt County. A free ferry was established over the Tar River at Greenville in 1787 and the first bridge was built over the river about 1823. The next bridge was built in 1848 by Samuel Marshburn. During the Civil War there were several attempts by the Yankees to burn the bridge at Greenville. The bridge was washed away or damaged in the Great Flood of June 1867. In 1879, a new bridge with a drawbridge was constructed and proclaimed the largest wooden bridge in North Carolina, being a few feet of six hundred yards. In 1907, a new steel bridge was built on Pitt Street across the river. In 1927/28, a new steel bridge was built on Greene Street to replace the older one on Pitt Street. With great foresight and a hard fought battle this last steel bridge, one of the very few left in North Carolina, was preserved and now graces the Town Common.
Record #:
23722
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Animals are wonderful creatures, some are comforting while others put the fear of God in you. The author gives a variety of tales from Pitt County about animals. In the 1890s there were belled buzzards at the Court House and “Buzzards Roost,” about where Chico’s is now situated. The policeman who removed garbage in 1887 had to keep a steel trap on the back of the old horse which pulled the rubbish cart to keep the buzzards away. There are stories of large turkeys, eagles and the capturing of “Bull Robins” to eat. There were songbirds in Greenville that could whistle popular tunes. In the 1950’s there was the Eastern Carolina Racing Pigeon Club in Farmville. There were attacking minks, huge snakes, large hogs, and buzzards which sounded like bears and fooled hunters.
Record #:
23727
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The new Rose High School officially opened on Wednesday, Sept. 4, 1957. The academic wing, gymnasium, cafeteria and band department comprised the entire school. The school was formally dedicated on Thursday night, Nov. 14, 1957, during the observation of American Education Week. Kammerer recalls early events, school fees, and the honor code. He gives a history of the Greenville High School Band , Glee Club and the series of Rose High Bands including The Melodaires, The Furies, The Playboys, Malibu 6, and The Traditionalists. There were all sorts of clubs such as a Hot Rod Club, Science Club, Bible Club, Radio Club, Projectionists Club, Future Physicians Club, Electrical Engineers Club, and Dramatics Club. In the spring of 1957, Ms. Marie S. Wallace, local dance teacher and hostess created “Dansorama,” a dancing program on local television for Rose High seniors and in 1958 the Pose High SGA sponsored dancing during lunch. The Rose High SGA called their meetings to order with a Pepsi bottle and in December 1962 the Student Council presented the SGA with a wooden gavel.
Record #:
23728
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Abstract:
Christmas in Greenville brought special dances at the Tobacco Warehouses and Carolina Club. Christmas traditions in the area also included concerts and parades, and Santa arrived by train.
Record #:
30280
Author(s):
Abstract:
Greenville once enjoyed the reputation of being one of the most beautiful small towns in the South, especially during the holiday season. Early decorations were handmade and Christmas trees were put up on Christmas Eve or Christmas day. Candles were only lit on the tree when there was a gathering of people to watch it. Electric Christmas lights started being used about 1916 and the Merchants Association made sure the downtown had decorations. In 1928, the Merchants Association began placing a 30 foot Christmas tree attached to wires over top the traffic island in the center of Five Points. Fire crackers, Roman candles and other fireworks turned the downtown into a battle zone and kept the fire department busy putting out fires on store awnings. There were “Mummers,” carolers, and choirs. In the early 1960’s, there was a nationwide Christmas radio broadcast from Greenville, NC, issuing a Tar Heel Christmas greeting to the country. There were always special Christmas programs at the County Home and the Prison unit north of the river.
Subject(s):
Record #:
30281
Author(s):
Abstract:
The new Rose High School officially opened on Wednesday, Sept. 4, 1957. The academic wing, gymnasium, cafeteria and band department comprised the entire school. The school was formally dedicated on Thursday night, Nov. 14, 1957, during the observation of American Education Week. Kammerer recalls early events, school fees, and the honor code. He gives a history of the Greenville High School Band , Glee Club and the series of Rose High Bands including The Melodaires, The Furies, The Playboys, Malibu 6, and The Traditionalists. There were all sorts of clubs such as a Hot Rod Club, Science Club, Bible Club, Radio Club, Projectionists Club, Future Physicians Club, Electrical Engineers Club, and Dramatics Club. In the spring of 1957, Ms. Marie S. Wallace, local dance teacher and hostess created “Dansorama,” a dancing program on local television for Rose High seniors and in 1958 the Pose High SGA sponsored dancing during lunch. The Rose High SGA called their meetings to order with a Pepsi bottle and in December 1962 the Student Council presented the SGA with a wooden gavel.
Subject(s):
Record #:
30283
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Abstract:
[Small watercolour portrait by Roger Kammerer included] Greenville has long been home to artists and craftspeople, which encompasses a vast pool of imagination and talent. This article deals with four well-known Greenville artists who are deeply committed to their crafts as they create and explore their different forms of visual expression. The four artists featured are: Jonathan Bowling (metal sculpture); Megan Maxwell (fabric/textile artist); Roger Kammerer (painter) and Victoria “Vik” Sexton, (clay sculptor).
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Record #:
23702
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“A history of racing in Pitt County” Since the mid 1950’s drag racing, Go-Kart racing and slot car racing had taken ahold the country and Pitt County. In 1955, there was Micro Midget racing around Guy Smith Stadium, then across from Pitt Memorial Hospital and then in the Pitt County Fair Grounds. In 1956 it was reported that 2,000 people would turn out every Sunday to see the races. In 1960, the first Go-Kart track built east of the Mississippi was built in Bethel. In 1961 a stock car racing track was built south of Tarboro and in 1962 L. T. Hardee built the “Greenville Drag Strip” three miles east of Greenville.in 1967, the “Pitt Stop Raceways,” for slot cars opened at 416 Cotanche Street.
Record #:
23703
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Abstract:
Annie Oakley, the American legend, international star and sure-shot, came through Greenville on Sept. 17, 1913, nearly one month before she retired. Between 1911 and 1913, Annie Oakley appeared in Vernon C. Seavers’ “Young Buffalo Wild West Show.” This Young Buffalo Wild West Show and Col. Cummins “Far East Show” appeared together in Greenville and put on a spectacle never before seen in Greenville. These united shows came to Greenville in 40 train cars and set up a huge hippodrome tent with a seating capacity of 10,000 people. A street parade, over a mile in length, left the show grounds near the depot and wound its way through downtown Greenville. Made up of hundreds of cowboys, cowgirls, scouts plainsmen, vaqueros and the Far East contingent made up of Russian Cossacks, Cingalese, Arabs, Moaria, Hindus, Japanese and other Orientals in their marvelous costumes wowed the crowds.