Ahoskie Sidelights, WWII
© 1946 Gwendolyn Louise Pearce Mizelle
The following items are excerpts from a gossip column, "Ahoskie Sidelights," written for The Hertford County Herald in Ahoskie by Gwendolyn Louise Pearce. The columns were written in 1942-45, a period during which she worked as "society editor" of that newspaper. The prize-winning Herald was one of four weekly Roanoke-Chowan newspapers published by Parker Bros. Inc. J. Mayon Parker was managing editor, and Harry Hollingsworth, Madeline MacNatt and Dorothy Helms served as news editors at various times during the war. Lucius Blanchard was advertising manager. These items came from columns printed over a period of approximately two years.
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Don't think "Charlie Boy" Sessoms was weighing on the scales at Copeland Drug Store Saturday afternoon …… But I can't see why he hasn't a bump on his head …… Charlie stepped or slipped backward against a lady who gave him a little shove, and he pitched forward against the stone fountain …… He was eating an ice cream cone, which flew everywhere …… And Charlie came up laughing! …… Though a bit pale.
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Seen dancing at the "Stork Club" (Tangents) Saturday night: Lavenia Williams, Victor Sumner, Dot Burgess, Mary Frances Britton, Bruce Callis, Nub Copeland, Dot Dukes, "Foxy" Stephenson, Hersey Dilday, Ruffin Johnson …… Have I overlooked anybody?
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Congratulations to Miss June Harmon of the ninth grade of Ahoskie High for winning the popularity contest at the Halloween Carnival. This is June's first year at Ahoskie High. She came here from Powellsville. Betty Lipsitz, Betsy Tunstall and Nancy Earley, popularity winners from the other three grades, were runners-up in the all-high school contest.~~~~
Honk! Honk! …… Glad I wasn't crossing the street Sunday before last. Rosalind Holloman and Christine Bowen were taking the Navy for a ride …… At least part of it …… the others were sitting on the walk in front of Helen Burgess' house …… Who was driving? …… Rosalind, of course!
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Leroy Fuller, US Marine, looks good in his uniform, doesn't he? …… Pvt. Fuller was home from New River over the weekend.
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Send a Merry Christmas Greeting to our Ahoskie boys in the armed services …… Don't forget: Lt W. P. Adams Jr., Moody and Eugene Baker, Maylon Baker, Lt Jack Barnes, Lt J. Bailey Barnes, Deans Brett, Sgt Earl Dempsey. O/C Floyd Overton, Cpl Pete Overton, Pvt Sidney Hughson, Pvt Ewell Pearce, Lt Courtney Flythe, Cpl Bill Modlin, Cpl C. L. Willoughby, Pfc John Everett, Pfc Jimmie Clarke, Pvt Glen Davis, Cpl Mervin Earley, Lt J. D. Blythe, Pfc Brinkley Pearce, Cpl Alex Phelps, Pfc Charley Ward, Pfc Johnny Copeland, Cpl Robert T. Newsome, Lt Wilson Newsome, Sgt Dan Garrett, Lt John S. Dilday, Louis H. Jernigan, Lt L. T. Liverman, Pfc H. J. Brittenham, Pvt Jimmie Young, Sgt Abner Miller, Sgt T. H. Sinclair, Lt J. B. Powell, Pfc W. T. Horton, Pfc Olin Lee, Pfc Robert Sumner, Pfc Kermit Cowan, Joe Hughson, Cpl M. L. Flythe, Ens Edward Fike, Sgt Glen Parker, Cpl Buddy Hunt, Sgt Wirtley Sumner, Lt W. J. Miller, Lt C. E. Fike, Sgt James Robert Mitchell, Pfc J. H. Robertson, Pvt Moe Snyder, Cpl Sam Vaughan, Pvt Bill Odom, Lt Marion Odon, Lt Stanley Modlin, Capt. J. B. Ruffin, Sidney Bowers, Lt Jennings Myers, Worth Hart Copeland, Pvt Leroy Fuller, Blackie Fuller, Earl Willoughby, Robert Askew, Lt George Newbern. Then there are Lt Victor H. Creech and Sgt Steve Cooper …… They're not Ahoskie natives, but they have Ahoskie wives.
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Missed: "Once he sat upon a chair, a little chair that wasn't there. It wasn't there again today, but he couldn't sit today anyway."
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Seen around town: The college co-eds home for the holidays, congregating in the drugstores …… Chief Chitty, with a smile and a hello for everybody …… Mrs. Carlton Cherry and three small girls at Harold's Pharmacy …… Frances Bass trying on blue-and-white bonnets in Belk-Tyler's …… Mrs. Levy Dilday proudly rolling her infant daughter in her carriage …… Nita Sinclair back in town for a few days, giggling a little as she talked to the Herald editor.
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Jean White's yellow shoes are a knockout! …… Wonder where she bought them!
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The steps at the Ahoskie Baptist Church make a good background for picture-taking …… Betty Lipsitz, Doris Wilson, Jean White and Janice Earley were snapping a few Sunday.
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It would be wonderful if every person you met on the street welcomed you with such a warm smile and greeting as does Postman Parker …… He's been giving those smiles with every letter or package he delivers to Ahoskie homes every day …… And he's been at it a long time.
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Ed Robert Evans celebrated his 4th birthday last week …… He received War Stamps from many of his little friends.
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Congratulations to Miss Hannah Savage …… Her essay on "Money Crop" brought her quite a bit of money …… 50 bucks …… Our little town has a lot of promising young people, don't you think?
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Mrs. R. W. Siler and children of Colerain are now making their home in Ahoskie …… Sgt. Siler is somewhere in Australia.
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Mrs. G. L. Newsome was up bright and early Tuesday watering the flowers by the walk at her home on North Street.
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Several 17-year-olds left this week to enlist in the Navy …… Robert from the Gulf Station …… the express boy …… and a certain mechanic (Gee, did that little blonde girl hate to see him go!) …… I don't know them all, but we are proud of them and wish them the best of luck always.
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Joe Parker, young son of Mr. and Mrs. J. Mayon Parker, spends his after-school hours working in his Victory Garden …… He planted the kind of bean seeds "that don't need any poles."
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Mrs. J. S. Leary Sr. has a nice Victory Garden, with several rows of plants already above the ground.
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It's a great let-down, but that new, young, handsome highway patrolman is "hitched."
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Mrs. Henry Babb's hubby was home last week …… And Edda Pearl's too …… both from the U.S. Army, Texas.
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Blondie Perry back in town from the Army, way out West …… Say, Blondie, what happened to the front tooth? …… Don't suppose Dot……? No, I guess not.
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Ups and Downs for Everybody: Mrs. W. H. McGee had some of hers last Thursday …… One of the last jars of her day's canning burst near her face …… And everywhere a butter bean hit, it left a blister …… "I look awful bad," she said, "but I don't think any of the burns are serious."
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I've suddenly acquired a new name …… It starts with a "G" but it isn't the one I'm used to …… "Gossip" …… Of all the nerve.
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We're glad to have Roby Hall back with us all safe and sound after helping Uncle Sam in the Solomons …… To Roby and all our other fighting men, we wish all the luck possible. Let's back our words with War Bonds.
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Good to see Deans Brett …… now "Corporal" Brett …… back in town …… home on furlough from Camp Van Dorn, Miss.
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Lt. Stanley Leary Jr. was recently transferred from New River to Camp Pendleton, Calif. …… He likes it …… Took a little trip to Los Angeles and Hollywood …… Attended an officers' dance at the Beverly Hills Hotel and danced with Ann Sheridan …… Met Martha O'Driscoll, Judy Garland, June Pressiner and Jean McAtee.
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Gosh …… she looked nice in her uniform …… I'm speaking of Aux. Emma Cooper …… Mrs. Steve Cooper, really …… Come to think of it, they're the only Mr. and Mrs. I know of with the Mr. in the Army and the Mrs. in the WACs …… Yes, the Steve Coopers are all-out for victory.
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Recently when I named Ahoskie lads in the services, I must have left out a few …… It wasn't intentional …… Here are some more …… Pvt Norman Earl Godwin, Pfc Frank Israel, Lt R. R. Pearson, Lt Judson Creech, Lt Stanley Leary, Joe Overton, Dan and Ed Boyette, Ivey Johnson, Van Burgess, Joe Copeland, Stuart Curtis, Norvin Garrett, Lt Preston Willoughby, Robert Lee Willoughby, Charlie Pierce, CPO Billy Slaughter, Rupert and George Harrell, E. C. and Chester Hill, Rufus Mitchell, Charles Parker, Junior Shelton, Walter Dilday …… If your son, buddy or sweetheart wasn't listed, it wasn't because I didn't want to …… Let me hear from you.
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"We heard this was a mechanized war, parlez vous …… hinky-dinky parlez-vous" etc …… As much as I've heard that song, I don't yet know the words …… But that was some harmony among Rosalind Holloman, Christine Bowen, Shirley Jones and Miss What's-Her-Name Beale as they walked in the rain last week.
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Henry Babb is back …… And Bailey Vaughan, too.
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Definition of a sissy? …… A man is a sissy when he quits the Rationing Board to join the Army?
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Won't somebody please do something for me to gossip about? …… Grace Walker, Jean Johnson, "Bug" Slaughter and Dot Dukes entertained our most recent bride, Mrs. John W. Young, at bridge and other parties …… It must be swell …… I like to write about 'em …… Wonder how it would feel if someone were writing them about me …… I won't even think about it.
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Cpl. James "Sticky" Durphy is back safe and sound after helping Uncle Sam in the Solomon Islands.
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Rachel Newbern was recently elected editor of the Baptist newspaper at the Woman's College of the University of North Carolina.
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On Friday night, the Juniors and Seniors are having their formal annual affair, with swirling evening dresses, pin curls and finger waves …… It should make a lovely picture, considering the attractive young ladies and young men making up those classes …… And may we have a starry Friday night, so as not to soil a dainty sandal or disturb a single curl.
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Seen around town: Lloyd Pierce …… Lt Lloyd Pierce, at that …… A bunch of boys and girls having "gobs" of fun at a party honoring two sailors at M.A.W.'s house several nights ago …… Stuart Bennett, a former preacher here, looking neat in khaki …… Mrs. Steve Cooper, in her WAC uniform …… Is this monotonous? everything I'm putting down here has a uniform attached to it …… But there are not many families around here who don't have someone in uniform attached to them …… So I guess you won't mind.
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Friday the 13th is supposed to be the unlucky day …… But the 14th was the unlucky one for Mrs. Fate Willoughby and her fishing party. Their boat capsized and they had to hold on to it for four hours (until rescued).
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Mrs. Willard Hart, formerly "Pinky" Butterton, has a rather long trip ahead of her this week …… going to pay Sgt. Hart a visit in Harrisburg, Pa.
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The Newsome boys: 2nd Lt. Irving is back in town, wearing his wings …… And Dick, our baseball hero, and his wife and son are here …… Incidentally, Dick brought along a broken leg …… Lucky for Dick the baseball season was just about over when it happened.
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Pvt. Bill Odom certainly looks good in that uniform Uncle Sam gave him …… Everybody was glad to see Bill Saturday night …… Such handshaking and smiles you've never seen …… We miss seeing Bill and his mail-pack on the streets.
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Margaret Lowe has finished her course at Raleigh Business School, and now is working in the office of lawyer Joe Burden.
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That's just about all there is to write about for now, folks. Don't forget to buy War Stamps and Bonds.
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c. 1944
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