the people of Southern Pines have hardly recovered from the shock they received last Saturday, when news of the death of E. Everett Bickford, which occurred in Portland, Oregon, last Saturday morning, reached Southern Pines
Mr. Bickford left Southern Pines on July 16th for an extended trip to the Pacific Coast. He traveled via Chicago and the Canadian Rockies, making several stops enroute. He was not feeling well when the train upon which he was traveling arrived at the Union Station at Portland. He was assisted to the station waiting room and medical aid was secured, but in a few minutes he became unconscious and passed away. the cause of death was a ruptured blood vessel in the heart. The remains were sent to his old home at Buffalo, N.Y., and the burial will probably take place this Friday.
E. Everett Bickford was born in Lowell, Mass., on Feb. 24, 1860. His parents were both descendants of the old Puritan families, his father’s family coming from New Hampshire and his mother’s family from Maine. When Everett was seven years old, his parents moved to Buffalo, N.Y. After graduating from the High School at Buffalo, he taught in the city schools. He then studied Pharmacy and after graduation as a Pharmacist he opened a business in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he remained for 28 years.
In March 1918 the condition of his health caused him to sell his business in Brooklyn and he came to Southern Pines. In a short time his health improved considerably and he was soon an active part in the social and civic life of the town.
His greatest work in the town was unquestionably the interest, energy, and time that he devoted to the Boy Scouts. His interest in the boys was something unusual and the reverence and affection of the boys for their beloved leader brought fourth surprised comment from every person in Southern Pines.
He was just as devoted a worker in the Baptist Church, the Masonic Lodge, the Library and the Community Club, of which he was Vice-President. It was through the untiring efforts of Mr. Bickford that the money was raised for the new flag and flag pole for the Municipal Park. Not a man in the town gave so freely of his time and energy for the betterment of his town as Everett Bickford. In addition to his numerous self-imposed duties, he had volunteered to card index our Library, a laborious and tedious task, and had also agreed to act as the U.S. Government representative in the distribution of the bonus to the Service Men in this section. Not a man in Southern Pines has a larger circle of friends than E. E. Bickford and his loss will be deeply felt. But he will be missed and grieved for most by the boys of the town to whom he was their beloved leader.
Surviving Mr. Bickford are two sisters: Mrs. Gertrude C. Wilson of Cleveland, Ohio, and Mrs. L.A. Gould of Southern Pines.
Calvert Wilson left for Buffalo, N.Y., on Wednesday to attend the funeral of E.E. Bickford as a representative of the Boy Scouts of Southern Pines. The expenses of the trip were contributed by the mothers of the Scouts and a few personal friends. Floral pieces have been sent by the Boy Scouts, the Girl Scouts, and the Scout Council.
From the front page of The Sandhill Citizen, Southern Pines, N.C., Friday, August 1, 1924. The newspaper included a photo of Mr. Bickford with the article, and it can be seen at:
newspapers.digitalnc.org/lccn/sn92061634/1924-08-01/ed-1/seq-1/#words=AUGUST+1%2C+1924
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