Sgt. Frank Lynch Returns to America After Fighting in France for Seven Months, 1919

“Sergt. Frank Lynch Gets Back From ‘Over There’”, from the Elizabeth City Independent, April 11, 1919

Sergeant Frank S. Lynch of Newland Township has reached America after seven months in France. 

He went over last July with the 321^st Infantry and was in the front line trenches for some time. Just before the armistice was signed he was transferred to an officer’s training school and was stationed for a while at Menton, France, on the Mediterranean Sea. His window overlooked this historic shore.

He began the homeward stretch early in January, visited the cities of Layton, Nice and Monte Carlo. And after riding in box cars for many days and nights reached Brest, France. There he was placed on the old U.S.S. Georgia and on February 19^th , steered westward to America, reaching Newport News on April 2^nd. From there he goes to Camp Lee to be demobilized. Sergt. Lynch went over with many of the home boys, but, on the return trip was among strangers as those he knew had paid the supreme sacrifice or were transferred to other companies.

He has returned safe and sound and without blemish and soon will greet the many friend and dear old mother who await his coming.

Mrs. Beason of Pembroke Sews for Enjoyment and to Save Money; Miss Edna Latham of Washington County Markets Turkeys to Remodel Home, 1938

April, 1938, Carolina Co-operator

Robeson County

Mrs. W.R. Beason, Pembroke, Robeson County, says that it pays to sew at home, for during the past year she made approximately 50 garments at a saving of $91.50. Some of these garments were made from leftover material or from old clothes at a savings of form one-third to one-half of the cost. Mrs. Beason found both the work and the fact that she was affecting a real saving, fascinating.

Washington County

Miss Edna Latham of Washington County realized $150 from her turkeys in 1937 and plans to use her cash in paper and paint for the interior of her house.

Dr. L.B. McBrayer to Direct State's Fight Against the Great White Plague, 1914

“Tuberculosis Bureau Established” by Warren E. Booker, from the April, 1914, issue of The Health Bulletin, published by the North Carolina State Board of Heath

Dr. L.B. McBrayer Will Direct the State’s Fight Against the Great White Plague

Beginning April 1^st, Dr. L.B. McBrayer, who helped make Asheville famous as a health resort, will be in charge of North Carolina’s fight against tuberculosis, as the chief of the Bureau of Tuberculosis and Superintendent of the State Sanatorium for the Treatment of Tuberculosis.

Dr. McBrayer lays down not only a lucrative practice in Asheville, but also the responsible office of health officer in a town that has a national reputation for its healthfulness. A great deal of this well deserved reputation as a health resort and rendezvous for consumptives from every clime has been due to Dr. McBrayer and his well organized health department, which he is now leaving to take up the larger work of directing the State’s fight against the great white plague.

In addition to directing the work of the sanatorium, Dr. McBrayer will have charge of the Bureau of Tuberculosis, to which the names and addresses of thousands of suffering consumptives will be reported every year. The Bureau will endeavor, through a correspondence course with this comsumptive population, to aid them in obtaining a cure, and to teach them how to live so as not to convey the disease to others. This Bureau will further endeavor to interest political, social and religious organizations in assisting in the work of suppressing the great white plague.

As a man, Dr. McBrayer is big in all three dimensions, physically, mentally and morally; he is a tireless worker and a deep thinker with a broad view point. As a citizen, the doctor has always shown a deep and active interest in the public affairs of his city, county and State. Through his strong personality and through the columns of the press, he has always been a leader on the side of the people. Only last summer Dr. McBrayer led the fight which resulted in Buncombe County’s employing a health officer for his entire time. The fine type of his citizenship is nowhere better illustrated than in the personal sacrifice he makes in order to serve his State in the effort to decrease the ravages of consumption.

As an official, Dr. McBrayer’s work as health officer in Asheville has attracted national attention, and has correctly advertised Asheville as one of the healthiest cities in the South.

To the medical profession of North Carolina, Dr. McBrayer needs no introduction. He represents the ethical physician and the best ideals of the profession. He has always been active in the North Carolina Medical Society, has held many offices in that organization, and is at present a member of the State Board of Medical Examiners.

The doctor’s accession to the executive staff of the State Board of Health is a real encouragement to the health workers in the State.

In further testimonial of the high esteem in which Dr. McBrayer is held through the state generally, we quote herewith from a few of the papers which commented on the fact that he was to take up this new and much needed work to save some of the 6,000 North Carolinians now lost every year to this prince of diseases, tuberculosis:

Dr. McBrayer’s administration has been a creditable one. Many new features have been installed during his term, and Asheville has been advertised the country over as a city of sanitation and cleanliness.

                                --Asheville Citizen, March 25^th

In light of additional information we reach a better understanding of the decision of Dr. L.B. McBrayer to accept the position of superintendent and medical director of the State Tuberculosis Sanatorium at Aberdeen. Dr. McBrayer is a sanitarian and hygiene publicist, rather than a laboratory man, and one thinks of the head of a tuberculosis hospital as an “indoor doctor.” There was more or less insistence that Dr. McBrayer accept the superintendency of the school for the feeble-minded, and this is a work in which he is deeply interested. However, it is announced that as head of the sanatorium the first work he expects to do is the conducting of a State campaign against tuberculosis. This is the sort of job he likes.

It will not be the easiest thing for Asheville to find a health officer who will fill McBrayer’s shoes. In saying  this we have in mind his peculiar qualifications. He has the tenacity of a bulldog, and is finely organized for work. He has the physical equipment to back this disposition. He is suave and diplomatic enough, he has the politic al gift, but he hardly ever concedes anything. He is always taking an advanced stand, but usually is able to maintain his position because it is sound. As health officer of Asheville Dr. McBrayer has worked steadily for the following things, until one by one he has seen them accomplished: sanitary surface closets in the suburbs, publication of a health bulletin, meat inspection, source of certified milk, city laboratory (whereby, among other things, the milk inspection was improved), abattoir, garbage incinerator, quarantine and release of diphtheria patients by laboratory methods, new smallpox hospital, sanitary cells in the city prisons, and a comprehensive advertising exhibit which has made known to the world the work of his department.

We take it that Dr. McBrayer intends to devote his abounding energies in future to the sort of work, in general, which has been his especial study for the past several years. Such efforts will be crowned with abundant success.

                --Greensboro Daily News, March 26^th

Thirty-five of the members of the Buncombe County Medical Society last night gathered at the Langren Hotel to pay a sad farewell to Dr. L.B. McBrayer, health officer of the city of Asheville, who leaves this city within the very near future to assume the duties of superintendent of the State hospital for tubercular patients at Montrose. An elaborate menu was prepared for the banqueters last night, and the spread was an unusually successful event. The table decorations were pink, and an enjoyable musical program was rendered for the occasion.

At the close of the dinner, Dr. Paul H. Ringer, who acted as toastmaster, presented the various speakers of the evening in a most appropriate manner. Dr. A.W. Calloway was the first to be heard, being asked to deal with the subject: “McBrayer, the Man.” Dr. Calloway revived incidents in the life of the retiring health officer which have made him popular among the people of the city, and paid a high tribute to Dr. McBrayer’s character, his personality and his accomplishments.

“McBrayer, the Health Officer,” was the subject of the remarks of Dr. Carl V. Reynolds, who will succeed the retiring officer. Dr. Reynolds made a strong speech dealing with the administration of Dr. McBrayer, and predicting a successful career for him at his new home. Dr. Reynolds spoke of the hardships encountered by the health officer and the scope of the work. Dr. McBrayer has made good as a citiy official, Dr. Reynolds declared, and his efforts have not only reflected credit on the officers of this city, but they have brought fame to Asheville as a place where matters pertaining to health and santifation are properly handled.

“Dr. McBrayer, the Doctor,” was Dr. W.L. Dunn’s subject, and he handled it well.

The final speaker was Dr. McBrayer. He made a touching talk dealing with his associations with the physicians of this city and his experience as health officer of Asheville.

                                --Asheville Citizen, March 29^th

At a meeting of the Board of Trade, resolutions were adopted expressing regret at the departure of Dr. L.B. McBrayer, the health officer, who leaves within the very near future to assume the duties of superintendent of the State Sanitorium for tubercular patients at Montrose. The Board extended to him wishes for success in his new field of work.

                                Asheville Citizen, March 31^st

Europeans Enjoy More Free Speech Than Americans, Claims Frederic C. Howe, 1919

“Greater Freedom in Europe Than U.S.A.” from the Elizabeth City Independent, April 11, 1919

Here is food for thought for readers of The Independent—

Frederic C. Howe, commissioner of immigration of the port of New York, who returned last week from three months in Paris, England, Belgium, Germany and Italy, told of condition in Germany and the difficulties involved in bringing about a stable condition in Europe. He said the thing that struck him most forcibly on returning was the difference between America and the countries visited in regard to the free discussion of economic and political problems. Over there, he said, even the allied commanders of the American, French and British armies of occupation permit the Germans “to express their opinions, publish proclamations and discuss their affairs with freedom.”

‘It was like a plunge into cold water to come home and find freedom of speech under the ban and the press and government agencies sitting on the throttle as though some terrible calamity would happen if people got together and discussed things which some other people in authority thought ought not to be talked about,” said Mr. Howe.

“This is the most depressing thing about America and the most extraordinary thing about Europe where one would have supposed free discussion to be under police and official surveillance. There people discussed problems of economics, industry, and politics with the utmost freedom.

“In England public meetings were being held from one end of the country to the other. I found the English press discussing subjects more frankly than the American press, and public opinion accepting such discussion by labor, socialists, or any group whatsoever, as perfectly natural and proper. England seemed ashamed of the few instances of suppression of freedom of speech which had occurred, and did not like to talk about the illegal imprisonment of the Irish who were being held, even though elected to Parliament. That’s the way England treats political questions. She has so much sanity, and believes that orderly development can only come about thru the old Anglo-Saxon method of discussion and debate on the part of all classes. And while relatively few person were in jail or political offenders or conscientious objectors there was a strong movement, backed by some of the most influential and conservative people, to bring about their release.

“All parts of Europe which I have visited seemed to have a higher regard for the rights of free speech and assemblage and for a free press than does America.”

Colonel Harrelson Dies at Dedication of D.H. Hill Library, and Other Extension News from Across the State, 1955

“Personal Mention” by Frank Jeter as published in the April 1955 issue of Extension Farm-News, published monthly at N.C. State College, Raleigh.

“The Colonel is gone,” they said on the State College campus early that Sunday morning March 13. Those words held a note of poignant sadness, because the Colonel had grown through the years, grown in strength, maturity and ability; grown in the love and esteem of those who had known him through the long years he had served State College and the State of North Carolina; grown in the hearts of his friends; and grown in the respect of those who had followed his career as educator and public servant over the years. Colonel John W. Harrelson was fatally stricken giving one last service to the college he loved so well as he took part in dedicating the new D.H. Hill Library on Saturday evening, March 12. No greater monument can be erected to his memory than the one he himself constructed in the hearts of those who knew him and had worked with him. The building he helped to dedicate is only one part of the tremendous physical expansion of a State College plant which bloomed to its highest fruition under his constant and intense cultivation.

Then, we have the high honor of another winner of the O. Max Gardner Award…Dr. Z.P. Metcalf, scientist, scholar, friend and educator, received the grant and citation at the dinner concluding the Third Conference on the State of The University and thus joins the ranks of those whom Governor Gardner sought to reward for their services to the state and to mankind. Dr. Metcalf joins an illustrious group, which includes another faculty member of this College, Dr.D.B. Anderson.

The most talked about event of the spring was the late and devastating freeze which wiped out North Carolina’s peach crop and heavily injured all early berries, vegetables, and flowers. The mountain apple crop was severely injured and it appears now that North Carolinians will eat imported fruit this season. The vegetables were replanted.

In Duplin County, the most talked about event of the spring was the dedication of its new $40,000 office addition to the County Agricultural Building in Kenansville. Credit Melvin Cording, sacrificial public-spirited dairyman, as one of the moving spirits in getting the new building and in laboring with the county commissioners, agricultural workers, tax payers and others, to have a farm building that matches in utility the new health center, also built through the same cooperative enterprise. No one happier than Vernon Reynolds, Mrs. Pauline Johnson, and their associates on the Duplin Extension staff. Credit also that solid citizen Ellis Vestal for much of the hard work done in getting the new addition. It is the result of a wonderful understanding and cooperation among the people of the county.

E.J. Simpson says you ought to see his new bulletin rack. Bill Lewis and the folks in Wilson are shouting aloud in their glee over new Extension quarters, about a mile and a half out of town and accessible to all roads, with plenty of parking space, and an auditorium seating 250 persons comfortably.

In his time of joy, however, Bill and the other Extension personnel, were saddened by the passing of Carter Washington Foster, former Negro County Agent of Wilson County for 13 years and one of the great leaders of his race in North Carolina. C.W. Foster made a great contribution to the advancement of all rural people in the county.

No better district meeting of North Carolina home demonstration clubs than the one held in Pittsboro on April 6 by the clubs of the 14^th District. You never saw such a full auditorium of well-dressed ladies (the next Sunday was Easter, you know) and they had a real meeting. Mrs. C.W. Lutterloch, District Chairman, presided with that simple grace and dignity which seems to typical of the demonstration club women of this state.

Lady Astor carried back to England a jar or two of sorghum molasses grown by charley Gardner of Ashe and cooked by Wiley Severt of the Beaver Creek section. Word came that the noble lady of Virginia might perhaps swap a jar of the homemade molasses with good Queen Elizabeth, provided the Queen throws in plenty of “boot.” Charley gave the molasses to his sister-in-law Mrs. J.W. Dupree who is Governor Hodges’ secretary, and she in turn provided the syrup when the Governor needed to present Lady Astor with a real treat.

Word comes from Dr. J.O. Halverson, former animal nutritionist of the Experiment Station and now in Tucson, Arizona, telling of the passing there of James W. Johansen in late March. Mr. Johansen was an Extension economist at State College until 1948 and a valued staff member for a number of years when farm management and farm economics were developed in stature on the campus.

Edmund Aycock has been welcomed to Raleigh as a member of the farm group at Wachovia Bank, joining the staff of Wayne Corpening.

Lemuel Goode is receiving acclaim by sheep men for having developed a new type of polled Dorset sheep. The Dorset breed is becoming of greater importance in this state since sheep growing is on the increase and the livestock folks look for this new breed to fill a real need. The polled characteristics have been fixed by careful breeding.

A.C. Kimrey, retired dairy specialist, is honored by his three sons in the establishment of the $300 scholarship to State College. The scholarship is available to those 4-H Club boys interested in dairy husbandry, and was awarded to W.J. Lindley Jr. of Alamance County as the first winner. “Joe Billy” is a member of the Eli Whitney 4-H Club and one of the leading club members in his home county.

It’s easy to see why Charlie Jackson of Person remains in the heavyweight class. Recently he and Tom Hobgood, fellow assistant agent, stopped by the home of the Archie Denny’s at dinnertime and allowed themselves to be persuaded to stay for the meal. “We consumed a round of fresh vegetables, corn bread, meats and then topped it all off with strawberries and ice cream,” Charley says, and we likewise expect him to just happen to be at the same farm again about meal time in the very near future.

John Wrinn tells of a wonderful remuda owned by V.T. Watkins of Macon County and thereby sent this editorial staff on a mad rush to their Websters.

Here’s a bet you didn’t know either. On Washington’s birthday, Tom Brandon of Martin County had been a county agent for 37 years, 4 months, and 23 days and for that day he called a farm meeting. He sent cards to those supposed to be there. He announced the meeting four times on his radio program, and he had a piece in the Williamston Enterprise. Not a soul showed up but Tom.

Our manners to Florence Cox and Mary Harris as they assume their new duties as district agents in the eastern and western districts respectively. And at this writing, Mrs. Mary Lee McAllister, southeastern district agent, is seriously ill at Monroe.

A worthy tribute to W.H. Darst, veteran seedsman, first man to be presented with the bronze plaque of the North Carolina Crop Improvement Association for services in promoting the production and planting of certified crop seeds in North Carolina.

Furney Todd is new specialist in plant diseases; W.L. Turner, new man in public affairs extension; Miss Josephine Cusick, new specialist in home and farm development approach; D.G. Harwood Jr., new specialist in farm management; and W.Glenn Tussey, new cotton marketing specialist…all well-trained and hard workers.

Seventy-one successful livestock schools held this past winter, says Jack Kelley.

Sam Dobson talked pastures and grazing crops at the dairy schools and believes he reached about as many dairymen with one television appearance over WUNC-TV as he did at all the schools.

Dean I.O. Schaub’s informal history of the Experiment Station is being well received over the state and nation…a good job, prepared with the Dean’s usual efficiency, and done with that personal touch which this master of agricultural education can give so efficiently.

Mrs. Hattie Smith credits us with 3,718 newspaper recoveries for March with the 4-H Clubs and Club Week heading the list with 1,304 clippings. Did you see Joe Powell’s latest photo adorning the pages of the Smith-Douglas house organ as the editors attempted to answer the question, “What is a county agent?” Certainly they could have found no better answer.

A great meeting of the North Carolina Negro Home Demonstration Council in Raleigh on March 30 when more than 3,000 leaders gathered in the city’s Memorial auditorium to plan their work for 1955 and to hear reports of progress from over the state. We tip our badly weathered hat to Northampton, Nash, Lee, Franklin and Watauga counties for their well-prepared books on the united farm or Challenge program in those five counties.

Orchids too go to Ralph Mills, temperamental photographer in our Visual Aids section, for being selected as its “Tarheel of the Week” by Raleigh’s morning paper, Bill Humphries’ News and Observer.

News comes from Alamance that C.F. “Chick” Parrish has instituted a new baby sitting service in the Poultry Extension Office. Chick himself is quite adept at the job, said one Alamance mother who attended the poultry school at Graham.

Walter Kulash authors a comprehensive review of work being done with insecticide-fertilizer mixtures in Farm Chemicals for March. The furrow matched this with an interesting summary of J.C. Brown’s news material on the successful North Carolina Nickels for Know-How campaign last fall.

So glad you enjoyed Easter…We did, too.

Revaluation Act and Taxes for Local Government, 1919

“A Square Deal for N.C. Cities and Towns….Revaluation Act Will Benefit Local Government Next Year,” from the Elizabeth City Independent, April 11, 1919

More information on the tax question and the new revaluation act are contained in a statement given this newspaper this week by A.J. Maxwell, Insurance Commissioner. Mr. Maxwell says:--

“The State tax rate has been reduced this year to 11 2/3 cents. The average tax rate in the counties, including special taxes for various local purposes, was 1.08 per cent in 1918. In most of the larger cities in the State the total rate is around 3 per cent. So that about 10 per cent of the taxes collected in the counties from property will be for the use of the State, and less than 5 per cent of the taxes collected in the counties from property in the cities is for the use of the State. The State is pursuing a policy of receding from the property tax, and looks now definitely to a complete abandonment of the property tax for its revenue, except for the public school tax, which will be distributed back to the counties. So that the chief purpose of the revaluation act is to furnish a more accurate, efficient and equitable means of revenue to meet the local needs of the counties and cities of the State. They will be the chief beneficiaries of its success.

A Square Deal for Cities

The tax burden bears especially heavy in municipalities where so many modern improvements have been provided at public expense. It is in the cities especially that we hear the complaint that high tax rates are confiscating income from property, and a very great reduction in city tax rates is essential to the successful administration of the full value property tax system. The revaluation should leave the total combined tax rate in the highest taxed city in the State right close to one per cent.

There are three provisions that will become effective under the revaluation that will be interesting particularly to the municipalities, and that will tend to lower their rates.

Shares of stocks in banks have theretofore been distributed to the residence of the shareholder, wherever he lived. Now all the shares of stock in every bank will be taxed where the bank is located, against the bank, and therefore all the stock will be liable for municipal tax, and in the municipality where the bank is located.

Real estate and fixtures of telephone companies have been distributed on wire mileage. All such property now located within a municipality will be subject to the municipal tax.

Railroad depots, yards and terminal facilities have heretofore been assessed as a part of the total property disturbed on main line track mileage, so that with a few slight exceptions they have paid town and city taxes only upon the basis of the length of main line mileage within the corporate limits. Under the revaluation next year the value of all railroad properties within the corporate limits of city or two will be subject to municipal taxes.

Local News From Watauga County, April 8, 1920

Local news items from the Watauga Democrat, April 8, 1920

Postmaster David Wyke of Shulls Mills, who, a few weeks ago, bought a farm in New York State and moved there, has put his property in the hands of a real estate agent and exhibited his good sense by coming back to his former home, and is again in the post office, his successor having never been appointed. A man had better ponder well conditions in other states before leaving North Carolina, especially Watauga county.

Mr. Fred Wilson of Mountain city, Tenn., was in town a few hours last Saturday.

Should some stranger, not knowing where he was, take a peep into the Boone Drug Store, he would imagine he was in a much larger town, as a neater, more inviting looking drug shop could hardly be found outside some of our larger towns and cities. The owner, Mr. C.M. Yates, now has pure running water in the building, and his soda fountain and store equipment are up the minute. His stock of drugs is complete, and anything usually kept in a first-class drug store is there. Boone has long needed a drug store, and, thanks to the genial proprietor, we have it, and one that is worthwhile.

Mr. H.W. Horton, who with his family has been spending the winter in Florida, will return there about May 1^st for his family and go to Boone. He will spend part of the summer here and a part in Watauga as done last year.

Mr. Larney L. Bingham is moving to their farm at Rutherwood, where he contemplates doing quite a lot of farming this season. He also intends building this summer.

Mr. R.B. South and family of Boone left Saturday for their ranch in Montana, where they will remain for a year at least. We glean from Mr. South that Watauga will ultimately be his home again. We wish for them a pleasant trip, a profitable sojourn and a safe return to the county of their nativity.

J.M. Mulligan and J.B. Roach have made contracts with Caldwell county to begin work immediately building the Happy Valley road from its intersection with the Lenoir-Blowing Rock turnpike just South of Patterson leading down the river to Beachford bridge. It will require 30 days to get the material on hand.

Mr. Virgil Caloway and son Ronald, of Shulls Mills, were in town Saturday. Their big land auction sale last week was a very nice success. They retained a little more than 200 acres of Watauga soil for a home place in case they fail to find a suitable location in Pennsylvania or Maryland. They contemplate a trip of inspection to these states in the very near future with a view of buying property.