Newspaper Page Text
Two Sections
16 Pages This Week
VOL. 91 NO. 15 _____ PERRY, HOUSTON COUNTY, GEORGIA, THURSDAY, APRIL 13, 1961 ESTABLISHED 1870
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YANKEES 'CAPTURED' BY 'GENERAL HAWKINS'
Perry Chief with Ernest Mellstrom and Mrs. Della Damerall
Centennial Commemorated by Perryans
BY HAZEL MITCHELL
Thank goodness Perry was not in
cluded on the itinerary of Mr. Wil
liam Tecumseh Sherman as he be
gan his march to the sea. Now,
100 years later, we are thankful it
is directly on the route chosen by
Yankee tourists as they travel
south in search of the sun and
ocean breezes.
Especially when the people
north of the Mason-Dixon line are
such likeable folk as our guests of
last Friday.
In spirit with the opening of
Centennial Week in Perry, four
Yankees were “captured” Friday,
and reports say they surrendered
“quicker than you can give the
Rebel yell.”
General J. B. Hawkins, better
known as Chief Hawkins on any
other day, made the capture and
not a shot was fired!
Earnest Mellstrom, a realtor, 62,
now of St. Petersburg, Fla., had
been back home to Rockford, Illin
ois, to pick up an “old and dear
friend,” Mrs. Della Damerall, 63,
who has recently purchased an
apartment building in St. Peters
burg.
“Just for the Record”
They were passing through when
General Hawkins stopped them.
Mr. Mellstrom, an amiable gen
tleman who came to this country
from Sweden, when he was 24
years old, said none of his ances
tors had anything to do with the
Great War, but “just for the re
cord,” and probably because the
General was standing nearby, he
was “pretty sure, if they had been
here, they would have been on the
South’s side”.
Circus to Be Here
At 3:30 and 8 P. M.
The circus is here!
The big tent has been pitched
next door to Radio Station WPGA
and the first performance begins
at 3:30 this afternoon. The doors
will open, however, at 2:30, to give
everyone a chance to inspect the
zoo and to enjoy a concert of popu
lar and operatic music. More than
100 performers are with the big
lop this year, representing the best
talent available from the five con
tinents of the world.
All the glitter and gold await
hundreds of wide-eyed youngsters
today, as they view, many of them
for the very first time, the
thrilling sights always present un
der the big top!
Two performances will be held,
at 3:30 and 8 p. m.
Perry High School Captures First
In Region 2-B Literary Contests
BY PERRI-SCOPE STAFF
i’erry High School, the Literary
learn came home from the 2-B Re
-i°n Literary Meet in Mt. Vernon
liclay with highest honors.
Displaying fine competitive spir
-11 and ability, they captured first
I'lace with 82Vt> points. Montgom
!> County High School was se
cond with 34 points. Telfair Coun
■v Was third, and Lyons was fourth
First place winners were Jim
my Paul in Boy’s Declamation, Ca
,ole Mason in Girls’ Declamation,
<md Reeves Lawson in Boys’ Es
s®y; IBe Seniors also won first
place in spelling.
Adding to our points were the
a 1 cady-won first places in One-
Houston t Kmtrimj
Mrs. Damerall said this was a
wonderful way to celebrate the
centennial and since it happened
to be her birthday, one of the ni
cest anniversary presents she had
ever had.
The two were presented a letter
of welcome from the Perry Jay
cees, tickets entitling them to steak
dinners, courtesy of Colonial Res
taurant, free gifts from Akin Drug
Store, and a wash job, complete
1 check-up and lubrication of their
car at Jake’s Super Shell.
Both agreed they would remem
ber Perry with pleasure and would
stop by for a visit each time they
came through. “We wish we had
known before about the many op
portunities of Perry,” they said.
Like Southern Hospitality
Mr. and Mrs. Carl Nelson, grain
and dairy farmers from Wooster,
Ohio, were the second couple who
were asked to “pull over to the
side, please”. They saw the Con
federate flags at the same time
the General approached them and
realized we were having a Centen
nial Celebration.
Mr. and Mrs. Nelson, youthful
grandparents of three, were thrill
ed over being “captured and said
“it should happen more often”.
They were returning to their home
in Wooster after spending the win
ter months in Bradenton, Fla.
Their town, they told us, has
20.000 people and approximately
75.000 in the county. It is the home
of the famous Rubber-Maid Fac
tory, the Presbyterian - owned
, Wooster College and the Ohio
State Experimental Station.
At the experimental station, Mr.
Nelson said, “they do a lot of won
derful things, but so far, nothing
about the weather, hence the an
nual trip south each winter.”
“Much more of this Southern
Hospitality,” he said, “and we’ll be
moving South to stay.”
They were presented a welcom
ing letter from the Perry Cham
l ber of Commerce and invited to be
■ guests of the New Perry Hotel Fri
i day night, for a real southern fried
> chicken dinner. They received
k - ■'
! It's 'Centennial /
1 With 2 'n's', Please
r
t Yes, we noticed that the word
“Centennial” was misspelled in
the Centennial signs placed at
I the entrances to Perry during
> Centennial Week.
i A schoolteacher called us to
; ask if we had noticed the mis
- spelling.
But everybody got the idea
, though the signs said “Centeni-
I al.”
Act Play and Debate. Second place
winners were Linda Tabor in Girls’
Essay, Shelia McEachern in Short
hand, Cheryl Richards in Home
Economics, and Emily Harrison in
piano. These first and second place
winners will go to Mercer on
April 22 to compete for the State
title.
Also, Lonice Barrett won third
place in Boys’ Typing, Hearn Ben
nett won third place in Boys’ solo,
and Sue Wilson won fourth place
in Girls’ typing. Other events were
Quartet, Girls’ Solo and Trio. All
lof the students on the Literary
Team are doing a good job, and we
are very proud of them, win or
ilose . ,
Keep up the good work and good
luck at State!
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ANOTHER YANKEE PAIR CAPTURED HERE
"General Hawkins", Mr. and Mrs. Carl Nelson, Wooster, O.
gifts from Houston Drug Store and
while they were having dinner,
their car was picked up and given
a safety check, wash job and com
plete lubrication, courtesy of
Hunt’s Shell Service.
“We’ll Be Back”
Mr. and Mrs. Nelson were ap
preciative of the honor of being
Yankee “captives” opening the
Centennial festivities at Perry, and
wanted everyone to know the
friendliness of the people here is
something “pretty special”.
As they were driving up High
way 41, they said they talked about
the changes taking place in the
South and had just remarked that
“Georgia has improved more in
the last five years than any other
state in the Union.’
“We’ll be back,” they said in t
parting. ,
At the Hospitals
Mrs. Julia Stanford is a patient
at the Middle Georgia Hospital.
Mrs. J. P. Risher was admitted
to the Middle Georgia Hospital
Monday.
Mrs. M. R. Bowling is a patient
at the Peach County Hospital.
Mrs. G. E. Jordan was dismissed
from the Macon Hospital last Fri
day.
Mrs. Robert Thompson was ad
mitted to the Macon Hospital last
Friday.
Charles Shelton was dismissed
from the Macon Hospital Saturday
Virgil Hay was admitted to the
Middle Georgia Hospital Saturday.
William Tucker was admitted to
the Macon Hospital Tuesday.
Pre-Registration
Scheduled May 7-2
Parents of children entering
school for the first time in Septem-:
ber are reminded that May 1 and 2 i
is Pre-Registration Day at the I
Perry Grammar School.
Pre-schoolers will be registered i
between the hours of 9 a. m. and
1 p. m. on both days, school of
ficials announce.
Kersey Straightens
Tornado-Hit Trees
Wyatt D. Kersey of Kersey Bro
thers, who lost about 150 pecan
trees in a tornado that hit their
farm March 31, is trying an experi
ment—he has pushed the trees
back into place in the hopes that
they will live again and produce
pecans.
Mr. Kersey had the trees cut
back to about 15 feet, had bull
dozers push them up straight and
tamped the earth around the roots.
He admits that it’s an “experi
ment” but if a few of them can be
made to produce again, the experi
ment will be worth it.
Womanless Wedding
Scheduled April 25
Eighty of Perry’s “most promin
ent” men will take part in the
Womanless Wedding to be spon
sored by the Delphian Club at the
High School Gymnasium April 25.
Mrs. Wordna Gray will be the
director of this event—the “out
standing social event of the sea
son.”
Watch for further details next
week.
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PANTALOONED LADY
ESCORTED BY GENERAL
Mrs. Jewell Smith, Chief J. B.
Hawkins go up steps for Centen
nial Tea.
Bad Chetk Suspect
(aught in Tampa
A man picked up last week by
the Sheriff’s Office at Tampa has
been tentatively identified as the
man who passd a $554 bad check
here on March 21, GBI Agent C. D.
Leverette said yesterday.
Sergeant Leverette said that
three local witnesses identified a
photo of the man, listed as Uly
sees Vernon Grace Jr., 30, as the
man who gave Thompson Ware
house here the check to cover the
purchase of barbed wire and other
items. Owner Robert Thompson
and two other witnesses identified
photos of Grace.
Sergeant Leverette said the
Tampa officers said the man possi
bly is wanted in other places in
Florida and their investigation is
continuing. The GBI investigator
put a detainer against Grace to be
sure he is not released until Lev
erette gets to talk to him.
The Sheriff’s Office at Tampa
arrested the man after seeing the
notice in a bulletin from the GBI.
Perry's Young Men
Joined Rebel Army
Just JOO Years Ago
Perry’s young men were going
off to war 100 years ago this
week.
The Perry Southern Rights
Guard was a unit of the First
Georgia Regiment of the Confed
erate Army which was being
mustered. Ten thousand Geor- 1
gians had entered the military
service.
Newspapers of the time re
ported that Perry raised $1,200
for “additional military sup
plies” for Georgia soldiers of the
Confederacy.
Local Musicians
Entertain Kiwanis
The Perry Kiwanis Club enjoy
ed a musical program presented
by local talent at the Tuesday
luncheon mcctnig.
Mrs. Bobby Brooks and Francis
Nunn sang three solos, accompan
ied by Mrs. Hoke Smith, who also
played a medley of favorite num
bers. Mrs. Brooks sang Blue Moon,
Loveliest Night of the Year, and
I Believe. Mr. Nunn sang, The
Exodus Song, People Will Say
We’re in Love, and Old Man River.
Eugene Beckham was program
chairman.
Mrs. Tom Chapman is recupera
ting at her home after surgery re
cently at Macon Hospital. r
State Will Replace
2 Narrow Bridges
Presbyterian Evangelistic Series
Will Run April 20 through April 28
The Presbyterian Church is very
happy to be able to present to Per
ry Rev. James M. Patterson, pastor
of the First Presbyterian Church
of Tuscumbia, Ala.
Mr. Patterson (no relation to
Rev. Don Patterson) will be hold
ing services at the local Presby
terian Church from April 20
through April 28.
Mr. Patterson is a native of
New Jersey. He graduated from
Wheaton College, Wheaton, 111.,
and from Pittsburg-Xenia Semin
ary, Pittsburg, Penna. Before be
coming pastor of the Tuscumbia
church, he served the First United
Presbyterian Church of Cedarville,
Ohio, for five years.- He has lived
in Tuscumbia since 1955. During
World War II he served his coun
try in the Army Air Corps.
Schedule of Services
Thursday, April 20—Saturday,
April 22—8 p. m. only.
Sunday, April 23—Morning and
night.
Monday, April 24—Friday, April
28, 6:45 a. m.—Morning Watch at
Youth Center.
Family Picnic Next Tuesday to Open
Methodist Every Member Visitation
On Tuesday evening, April 18,
the Perry Methodist Church will
begin its Every Member Visitation
Program by having a Congrega
tional Family Night picnic.
The picnic will be held at the
church and will begin at 7 p. m.
The time has been changed from
6;30 p. m., to 7 p. m.
The Every Member Visitation
Program is designed to reach each
member of the churrc congrega
tion and all family units are urged
to attend. After supper, the youth
will be entertained in the Educa
tional Building and the adult pro
gram will be conducted in the
church sanctuary. Nursery ser
vices will also be provided.
The program will explain to the
congregation the financial goals of
COMING EVENTS
The Delphian Club will meet to
day at 3:45 o’clock at the home of
Mrs. Lewis Jacobs with Mrs. Watt
Boler, Mrs. Thomas Mason Jr. and
Mrs. Edward Mason as co-hostess
es.
The Sorelle Club will meet Wed
nesday, April 19, at 3:45 o’clock
at the home of Mrs. Cliff Graham.
Perry Club Council is sponsoring
a big barbecue at the National
Guard Armory, Wednesday, April
19, from 12 noon til 8 p. m. Plates
will be $1.25 for adults and 75
cents for children. Proceeds will
be used for the recreation center.
Newcomers Club will meet to
night at 8 o’clock at the home of
Mrs. Andrew Snyder, 1203 Ball
Street. Mrs. Eric Staples will be
guest speaker.
The Perry Business Woman’s
Club wi l ' meet tonight at 7:30 at
the New Perry Hotel.
Coloring Contest
In a New Type Ad
The Home Journal has a new
type ad in it this week.
It’s a coloring contest, for
young and old to try their abili
ties as artists by coloring the
sketch carried in the ad.
The ad is the idea of Dixie
Nitrogen of Savannah.
Matthews Is Named
(
As County Planner
Henry Matthews has been ap- ,
pointed a member of the Houston-
County Planning and Zoning Com- ,
mission succeeding Yates Green. ,
The appointment was made by the ,
Houston county commissioners.
Both men are residents of Per
ry and Mr. Matthews is a former
city councilman.
Eucle George, Houston county
sanitarian, is chairman of the plan
ning and zoning commission.
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REV. JAMES M. PATTERSON
8:30-8:45 a. m. WPGA Devo
tionals.
8:00 p. m. —Evening Sermons.
Members,friends and visitors are
urged to make plans now to parti
cipate in these services.
the Perry Methodist Church for
the coming church year. An ex
planation will also be given about
Loyalty Sunday which will be held
on May 7. The program will be
concluded with the showing of a
film on stewardship, entitled, “A
Stranger in the House.”
The Every Member Visitation
Program of the Perry Methodist
Church is under the direction of A.
H. Cotton, general chairman; G. F.
Nunn, committee on visitation; M.
L. Brown, committee on program
and resources; and Mrs. E. P. Sta
ples, committee on materials, edu
cation and publicity.
Judge A. M. Anderson, chairman
of the official board; Rev. J. B.
Hutchinson; and Ralph Tabor,
church lay leader, complete the
General Committee.
Tawasi lo Head
Cancer Campaign
The Tawasi Club will again spon
sor the annual Cancer Drive this
year. Mrs. J. E. Smith, Main Street
is local chairman.
April 17 has been set as Cancer
Day and the residential section
will be canvassed from 6 until
8;30 p. m.
Business houses will be contact
ed sometime after April 12.
The chairman aks that everyone
help cancer with a checkup and a
check.
Os every dollar contributed to
the American Cancer Society in
Georgia, 40 cents goes to National
Headquarters for Research, Fel
lowships and National Cancer Pro
gram, 21 cents goes for Public Ed
ucation to save lives from cancer
NOW; 15 cents for Services to ]
Needy Cancer Patients; 9 cents i
for Professional Education to help i
keep doctors informed; 8 cents for ;
Administration and 7 cents to fi
nance the annual Education Funds i
Crusade. i
Cancer is everyone’s problem. ;
Cancer Control should be every- j
one’s business.
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Perimeter Paving
Will Start Soon
Perry’s “perimeter road”—which *
reaches from U. S. 341 across U. S.
41 and to Houston Lake Road—
will be paved in a few weeks.
Sand clay base is being placed
on the road now, and laying of the
asphalt and gravel top will be done *
as soon as the base is in good '
shape.
This job is being handled with ’
a State Highway contract to the
city, with the county furnishing !
assistance in cutting the right-of- 1
way. 1
Miss Marsha Griggs has returned :
to school after spending the Easter i
and Spring holidays with her par- i
ents, Mr. and Mrs. Harry Griggs. 1
1870-1961 !
OUR 9IST YEAR
Promise Is Made
To Commissioners
For Wider Spans
Prospects for remedying the nar
row bridges at Houston Lake and
over Gilbert Creek on the Kath
leen Road were brighter today fol
lowing a conference between the,
Houston county commissioners and
Member Clarke W. Duncan of the
vState Highway Department.
Mr. Duncan wrote the Houston
county commissioners after the the
next program going to the Bureau
of Public Roads.”
Both of the bridges are on State
Route 127 between Perry and
Kathleen.
The February Term Grand Jury
of Houston Superior Court had
strongly recommended that the
the county commissioners do some
thing about the narrow bridges be
cause they presented serious traf
fic dangers.
Chairman Jake Eason and Com
missioners Mayo Davis, Alton
Tucker and W. H. Rape went to
Atlanta to speak in behalf of the
county in getting the State High
way Department to do something
about removing the hazardous
bridges. Commissioner Wyatt Ker
sey was ill on the day of the con
ference and could not attend.
There was no immediate word
on when the “next program”
would go to the Bureau of Roads
for approval, but it is hoped that
the bridge work could be done
within a year.
The grand jury called attention
of the commissioners to the fact
that hundreds of school children
have to cross the two bridges twice
a day on their way to the Perry
schools.
Land for Highway
Being Bought Here
Property owners whose land will
be used for Interstate Highway 75
are beginning to receive payment,
it was announced this week.
R. H. (Sonny) Watson, clerk of
the Houston county commission
ers, said payments are being made
to those who have agreed to ap
praisal prices. Condemnations will
begin soon in those cases where
property owners would not agree
to prices offered by the govern
ment.
Mr. Watson said the Federal
Bureau of Roads and the State
Highway Department are anxious
to get the rights-of-way cleared
up so the contract can be let next
month. This will cover the stretch
from Perry to the Dooly county
line.
Meanwhile, appraisals are being
made of the right-of-way needed
from Perry to the Bibb-Peach
county line on the Interstate High
way.
Motor Vehicle Tag
Sales Up Sharply
The continued growth of Hous
ton county is reflected graphically
in the increase of motor vehicle li
cense tags for 1961 over last year.
Miss Florine Rainey, tax com
missioner and tag agent, said up
to April 1 her office sold 12,836
tags, which compares with 11,169
at the same date last year.
She estimated that she will sell
more than 15,000 tags by the end
of the year, which compares with
14,099 sold during all so 1960. The
figure may reach 16,000.
The local tag agent is selling
tags for truck-trailers, motor scoot
ers and mobile homes, which were
sold only at the State Capitol last
year, but she said these are few
and would not account for much of
the 1961 increase.
Panthers Win, 5-1
At Warner Robins
The Perry Panthers defeated
the Warner Robins baseball Dem
ons there Tuesday afternoon, 5 to
!, taking every advantage of Rob
ins errors.
Each team had 4 hits but Perry
scored four runs in the eighth, af
ter having been tied at 1-1 from
the fourth inning.
Ronnie Davis got credit for the
Perry victory on the mound. Lee
Martin had two hits out of two
efforts at bat. Dennis Fike and
George Nunn got the other two
hits for Perry.