A HISTORY OF SELMA,
NORTH CAROLINA - - PAGE 2
RAILROAD
STATION HUMS
Scenes at
today’s railroad station are a far cry from those of the
1906-1910 era. At that time the station bustled with activity.
Red caps called out “Hotel Wyoming” and “Hotel Merchant” to
people coming into Selma on trains. Drummers loaded their sample
cases on drays drawn by mules or horses for the trip to town.
Then too, the station was a
gathering place for townspeople to spend some time each day
especially on Sunday afternoon watching trains and people come
and go. This “watching the trains” is still an avocation for a
few local residents although the romantic steam locomotive has
disappeared from the scene.
Also from the
station ran the famous excursion trains to Morehead City, to
Wilmington, to the mountains or to conventions of various kinds.
Many of these were just for the day and took place at all
seasons of the year. Large groups of Selmaites took advantage of
their proximity to good transportation to participate in these
trips.
A gathering
place for programs Gild large meetings was located over what is
now Selma Drug Company. This large room featured a stage which
still stands in the building. At one time the room was used for
a dancing class.
During the
latter part of this decade, Mr. Joseph Abdalla of Lebanon, began
a business in Selma known as Abdalla Brothers. His brother Tom
was associated with him in this firm. Later Louis came and
entered business here.
PRESBYTERIANS ORGANIZE
A number of
Presbyterians had migrated to Selma by 1907 and began gathering
for prayer meetings and Sunday School in one of the parlors of
the Wyoming House. By 1909 the group had grown large and moved
to the up stairs over what is now the Selma Drug Company. The
church was organized with Hector McNeil, T. M. Benoy, elders;
John Mitchener, deacon. “
Two mills
began operation in 1907-1910 when Moses Winston sold his
interest in the Selma Cotton Mill and formed another company
which built two mills, Ethel and Lizzie, named for his
daughters. The Lizzie Mill, which began operation in 1907, is
now the location of Eastern “ Manufacturing Company. The Ethel
Mill plant. started in “ 1910, is no longer in use.
A
PROGRESSIVE DECADE
The period
from 1910-1920 was a progressive one for Selma. Far-sighted
leaders began modernizing their town by installing lights,
paving streets and sidewalks, and a sewer system. Some rivalries
developed between the adinistrations to see which one ‘could do
the most for the betterment of the town. Mayors who served
during this time in the order of their service were: M F. Nordan,
R. E. Richardson, J. B. Waddell, J. P. Temple, W. H. Call, and
C. A. Corbett. Among the commissioners serving with these men
were F. M. Hood, W. T. Woodard, C. P. Harper, W. M. Brannan, R.
L. Ray, I. T. Rains, W. B. Driver, W. R. Smith, J. N Wiggs, R.
A. Winston, S. P. Wood, W. W. Hare, J.. C. Avery, G. C. Wiggs,
A. V. Driver, E. V. Deans, E. L. Womack, and G. W. Evans.
In 1911 and
1912 two of Selma’s prominent Negro citizens moved here. G. W.
Bryant came in 1911 as a teacher and builder-carpenter; his wife
also taught school. A year later Isaac E. Coley, Selma’s oldest
living businessman, moved here and began repairing shoes. Later
he began a harness shop and in 1945 purchased the business
location. where Coley’s Shoe Shop now stands. In 1965 Coley
retired, turning his business over to his son. But in the
booming horseback riding business of today, Coley again is busy
mending saddles and bridles.
In 1912, Mr.
C. L. Richardson, who had served both as a member of the House
of Representatives in 1901 and the N. C. Senate in 1903, died.
BOTTLING
COMPANY STARTS
Hayo-Cola
Bottling Company had its inception in 1913 when P. C. Worley
organized the business primarily to bottle Worley’s Root Beer
and other flavored soft drinks. In this first company, labels
for bottles were printed on a hand press and pasted to the
containers; the product was delivered to stores by horse and
wagon. In the fall of 1921, C. P. Worley took over the firm from
his father and the name was changed to Worley’s’ Beverages. The
plant equipment was updated, motorized vehicles were added and
Pepsi-Cola was introduced to the line already being sold. C. P.
Worley, Jr. joined the firm in 1946 and during the next ten
years a complete modernization program was completed with the
name changed to Pepsi-Cola Bottling Company of Selma, Inc. The
firm now operates in parts of seven different counties. Among
those who worked with the company in the early years were Tom
Freeman, from 1915 to his retirement in 1956; the late John
Jeffreys from 1931 to his retirement in 1959; Alvin Brown, 1924
to the present.
Another
indication of progress in this period was the establishment of a
garage to service cars by M r. J. D. Reynolds. in a building on
Railroad Street in 1914.
MUNICIPAL
BUILDING
(top)
Selma’s
landmark, now in disrepair, is the clock tower on the Town Hall
which was constructed in 1916. On the second floor of this
building was the Opera House, which was used for many years for
meetings, programs, and entertainments of many kinds including
the early movies.
In a preamble
resolution presented by Commissioner F. M. Hood in February
1916, and approved by the board, the need for a “municipal
building, guard house and mayor’s office, together with a market
house and fire engine house combined” was expressed. An
accompanying ordinance called for issuance of coupon bonds of
$15,000 to pay for the structure. I n May when bids were opened,
J. W. Stout and Co. of Sanford received the bid with
instructions to complete the building not later than September
15, 1916. The next official reference to the new town hall was
March 26, 1917 when Mayor Waddell upon motion of C. P. Harper
was instructed to let Miss Mayerberg use the city hall for a
play, “Little Minister” for a rent of 10 percent of the gross
door receipts. And the mayor was authorized to appoint a
committee to have charge of city hall to rent and secure shows
or plays.
MELON,
TOMATO, BETTER BABY FAIR
During this
decade the Selma Melon, Tomato and Better Baby Fair became a
drawing card for citizens from miles around. This fair was held
several times during the period including 1912, 1914, 1915, and
1917 as old pictures and handbills prove. A program for the
1917 fair called Monday, July 23rd, “Housekeepers Day” and the
24th “Wyatt Day.”
On the first
day the meeting was held in the Municipal Building with J. A.
Mitchener, first president of the fair, presiding. Mayor J. P.
Temple welcomed the crowd and Messrs. Massey, Creech and others
presented music. Miss Nell Pickens, County Demonstrator,
explained the use of a Fireless Cooker and an Iceless
Refrigerator. Exhibits for the fair were on display at the
Rough and Ready, which was a renovated warehouse on the corner
of Waddell and Raiford Streets where Mac’s Sundries is now
located.
Wyatt Day
featured a parade from Union Station along all the major
downtown streets and to the Exhibition Hall. The Kenly Band
headed this. Others taking part in the day’s activities were
Mitchener, the Rev. C. K. Proctor, Temple. H. L. Skinner, J. H.
Parker, who welcomed old soldiers; C. S. Powell, who responded
for the soldiers; Mrs. W. H. Etheredge, Mrs. W. M. Sander, Mrs.
D. H. McCullers, and the Honorable R. H. Sykes, assistant
Attorney General of North Carolina.
The final
events were a report from the committee on babies, the awarding
of premiums and an auction sale of prize winning articles.
According to
Mitchener’s history, at the first Fair little E. C. Deans,
grandson of the originator of the Fair, and great great grandson
of Mr. John A. Waddell, won first prize. Other winners during
the years of the Fair were Hazel Irene Waddell, daughter of
ex-Mayor John B Waddell; Ruth Hood, daughter of Alderman Fred
Hood and the great great granddaughter of. Mr. S. H. Hood. From
30 to 50 babies were entered from the county only and no baby
over 12 months of age was allowed to compete. Cash prizes were
offered first, second and third babies.
RAILROADS
ADD TO LIFE
By 1917 the
railroad shops and coal shute were in east Selma, which served
as a servicing area for trains of the Southern and ACL. Railroad
men serving on both lines found Selma a good central location
for their families to reside and several moved in to the town,
adding to the economic and social life of the community. Among
those becoming involved in the community were: Jim Edens, Fred
Holt, Joe Crooks, Dick Carrington, W. H. Fields, Harvey
Blankenship, C. Y. Joyner, Bob Ashworth, Charlie Rains, Bill
Smith, W. I-L Call, Walter Pridgen, John and George Hopkins,
George and Oscar Jackson, Charlie Wright, Ira Batten, Troy
Batten, Tom and Ballard Creech, Arther Oliver and others.
END OF
WWI CELEBRATION
(top)
“Program for
the Home Coming Celebration of the Johnston County Crusaders
Selma July 4th”-thus reads the handbill listing the program for
another BIG DAY in Selma. Mr. C. Stanton Coats of Smithfield,
who lived in Pleasant Grove at the time, vividly describes that
day. “The morning dawned fair and bright on July 4, 1919. The
sun came up firey red as if it was to be a scorcher, and it was.
At our house, in Pleasant Grove, we had breakfast early and were
soon on our way, for on that day all roads led to Selma. On that
Fourth of July, Selma was promoting a countywide celebration ‘in
honor of our returned heroes,’ in keeping with the manner in
which they had served their country. The greater number of our
‘Doughboys’ had already returned from overseas and were back
home with their families.
“The several
townships were sharing in the expenses of the celebration,
ranging from a few dollars in the smaller, rural areas to
$500.00 for Smithfield, $1,000 for Selma, and $500.00 for the
county. E. H. Moser was secretary for the arrangements and
expenses.
“Activities
began about mid morning with a band concert, and closed after
dark with a display of fireworks. There was a mammoth parade,
headed by the former servicemen, most of whom were in their
service uniforms. There were speeches by local leaders and
visiting dignitaries. Early in the activities, the 119th
Infantry Band gave a concert in the grove adjacent to the E. N.
Ward home, near the Southern Railroad tracks. “A delicious
luncheon was served the former servicemen in the grove by the
Ward home which was more or less headquarters for the day. There
was plenty of food and none went away the least bit hungry.
There were
also many refreshment stands...Then, too, there were the ‘gyp’
stands... to relieve the unsuspecting visitors of all the extra
change they were desirous of throwing away.
“ Mr Coats
reminisced about Elmo Gill’s “The Big Headed Kid from Africa,”
one of the sideshows here. He mentioned that perhaps highest on
the agenda for the day was an airplane doing stunts over the
town. Except for the servicemen very few people in Johnston had
ever seen a plane. The neck stretching and eye straining began
about 2 o’clock in the afternoon, when the approach of the plane
was announced. It came over from the direction of Wilson,
perhaps a mile high, and disappeared toward Smithfield. But it
was soon back in view, and when about over the center of
activity went into a spiral dive straight down over the huge
crowded area. Many sought cover in fear of their lives, but when
the plane was within 500 feet of the ground it leveled off and
vanished in the direction from which it had first appeared.”
PERSONALITIES OF TIME
This very
active decade cannot be ended without mentioning several other
persons including Charlie Hodge, who drove a hack between Selma
and Smithfield; Birchie Smith, who was the “Iong arm of the law”
and much respected by the young boys who had to be off the
streets by a 9 p. m. curfew; Mr. Charlie Corbett, who caught the
“Shoefly” to Wilson and bought a Ford touring car for his
family. It was also in 1914 that George Brietz came to Selma as
superintendent of Selma Cotton Mill. Under his leadership a
Sunday school was organized in the boiler room of the mill,
later moving to a tent and then to a building. At one time this
was the largest Sunday School in Selma. It is now Brietz
Methodist Church.
EARLY
MAIL CARRIER
Mr. B. B.
Lee, who is the oldest contributor to this history, moved to
Selma in 1915 as a mail carrier. For seven years he made his 24
mile round trip by horse and buggy. Later the route was expanded
to 65 miles and Mr. Lee drove a Model T Ford. Because of the
terrible condition of the roads, especially at one place, two
boys, Carl Bagley and Arnold Pittman, met Mr. Lee each day with
a team of mules and pulled his car from the mud hole. Although
Mr. Lee retired on January 1, 1942, he still goes down town
regularly and enjoys visiting friends in the stores.
In 1917 a new
public school was built on Richardson Street. A year later
another newspaper began publication here when Mr. N. E.
Edgerton became publisher of the Johnstonian, and Dr. l W.
Mayerburg was practicing Medicine here. In 1919 the Church of
God of Prophecy was organized. With these events, Selma entered
the Roaring Twenties. .
THOSE
“ROARING” TWENTIES
If Selma was
concerned with bathtub gin, the Charleston, and the exploits of
Charles Lindbergh, evidence in newspapers of the period does not
show it. Instead, this period featured organization of clubs,
churches and new manufacturing plants.
Early in
1920, Selma Cotton Mill was bought by a New York Corporation,
Standard Coated Products Company, which spent some $500,000 in
enlargement of the facility. They began the weaving of carded
yarn used as backing for oilcloth.
In February,
a report in the Smithfield Herald listed prospective or assumed
enterprises and improvements for Selma during 1920: Cotton mill
corporation, one million dollars; $100,000 brickyard; $40,000
bond issue for sewerage; $60,000 bond issue for streets and
sidewalks; $50,000 hotel and new depot. “These are but a few of
Selma’s new enterprises. With Selma’s unexcelled railroad
facilities and financial advantages she is bound to grow,” the
report concluded.
SCHOOL
BURNS
(top)
The
three-year-old Selma school building, built at a cost of more
than $50,000, burned to the ground while students were out for
Easter vacation. The heavy loss was partly covered, by
insurance. In August of that year Oscar Melvin, a janitor who
had been discharged by Superintendent W. B. Crumpton, was found
guilty of burning the school and sent to the penitentiary for
eight years.
Ethel and
Lizzie Mills, owner! from’tneir inception by Mose Winston, were
sold in 1921 to Mr. Charlie Johnston of Charlotte. The date of
charter of this new firm,
Eastern
Manufacturing Company, is April 24,”920. The company ran both
mills until 1932; at that time the Ethel M ill force went on
strike on a Friday, and it is reported that on Monday Mr.
Johnston began tearing down the machinery to close that mill.
From then to the present all operations have been consolidated
at Lizzie Mill. Glenn Grier, Sr. served as secretary-treasurer
from 1929 to 1958 when he was succeeded by Glenn Grier, Jr. in
the same capacity. Superintendents have been A. J. Rose, Charlie
White, David Ball, Charles H. Boyd, J. C. Morgan, AI Orr, and
Jack Patton, who is the present superintendent.
MILLS VIE
FOR WORKERS
During the
late summer of 1920 Eastern Manufacturing ,Company and Selma
Cotton Mill vied for new workers through advertisements in the
newspapers. Eastern stated: “We are about to complete
overhauling of the former Lizzie Cotton Mill and village at
Selma. This now makes a completely ‘new plant and village. We
have new overseers and will strive to maintain the best of
working conditions, maintaining a high moral standard. We will
use the best of cotton, keep things in proper shape and pay the
best of wages. Rent and electric lights free to those working
with us. We are very anxious to secure several good families of
help in starting up. We will be glad to hear from anyone
interested by letter, over the phone or in person. We have a
fine truck ready to come for you.”
A week later
Selma Cotton Mill had an advertisement which stated: “Our new
addition to our mill is almost ready to start. We will have the
first weaving in Johnston County. We can now use several
families with spinners and winders. We pride ourselves on having
and keeping a nice, clean village. We have humidifiers in the
mill. This adds to working conditions and makes work run better.
We provide free house rent, with electric lights. If
interested, write, phone or come to see us.” A week after this
Selma Cotton Mill had a picnic outing for its employees at
Pullen Park; then on November 2 the same mill presented a
Community Fair with exhibits of canned goods, quilts, bed
linens, fancy needle work, all made by “the thrifty ladies of
the community after the day’s work in the mill has been done.”
Roberts,
Corbett and Woodard was robbed in August of four to five
hundred dollars worth of clothing with no clues available.
“Selma has no night watchman,” the story of the robbery
declared. I n October the Honorable Josephus Daniels, Secretary
of the Navy, spoke in Selma. Business houses were closed from 3
to 5 o’clock for the speaking. Also in that month Selma’s oldest
citizen, Needham D. Foster, died. And four Selma boys, Marvin
Blackman, Albert Eason, Tom Fulghum, and Harrie Stancill,
attended an Older Boy’s Conference to the Y.M.C.A. in
Wilmingtori. . ‘
By 1920
Selma’s population stood at 1,601 and C.A. Corbett was the
mayor.
BONDS FOR
NEW SCHOOL
In the
booming economy of 1921, Selma marketed $175,000 in school
bonds, selling them to a Chicago concern. R. J. Noble was
chairman of the school board and G. F. Brietz, secretary. Plans
for the new school, to replace the one that had burned, were
drawn by Benton and Benton of Wilson, and contractors selected
were J. W. Stout of Sanford. The board stated that they hoped
to have the new school ready for occupancy by the beginning of
the next school year.
PROFESSIONAL MEN BRANCH OUT
Professional
men of the community branched out into district and state
activities. C. P. Harper served as president of the Johnston and
Harnett Association of Retail’ Druggists, who held a convention
in Selma in 1921. In February, Dr. Georll.e D. Vick gave a
welcome address at the Fourth District Medical Society meeting
in Smithfield.
New business
firms developed during this year as Driver and Driver purchased
the interest of Driver and Jones and made plans to occupy a
building then used by Smith-Cameron, which continued its
business in the Ray building. W. E. Jones announced plans to
open a grocery store in the building formerly occupied by
Jones-Driver. E. V. Woodard bought Carolina Pharmacy, the store
located across the street from Roberts, Corbett, and Woodard.
W. B. Roberts and J. Gaston Roberts opened stores across from
the city hall, and Charles Hicks moved a planing mill to a
location on the ACL by the ice plant.
Not to be
outdone by the growth of the business section, residential
building went on apace with about 25 new homes erected in Selma
within a few months. Sewerage installation also made
satisfactory progress after installers overcame “various”
obstacles. The system was installers overcame “various”
obstacles. The system was installed by August.
Town
officials in 1921 were: A. V. Driver, water and lights; C. G.
Wiggs, streets; E. V. Deans, building inspector; J. C. Avery,
director of Fire Department; C. D. Wood, electrician; W. H.
Hare, clerk; George Evans, auditor; J. H. Griffin, chief of
police; C. C. Hathaway, night police; Bernice Talton, fire
chief.
SEWER
CONTROVERSY
(top)
In May of
1921, the Town of. Smithfield secured a temporary injunction to
restrain the Town of Selma from dumping sewage in the Neuse
River since the river “is the source of water supply.” Following
a hearing, Judge Lyon dissolved the injunction, which meant that
Selma could proceed to construct her sewerage system to the
Neuse River. The Johnstonian writer editorialized, “This means a
victory for the town and we all rejoice in the result.”
Another
argument developed over the location of a paved road from Wake
to Wayne Counties. The county commissioners favored a road
through Selma, Pine Level, and Princeton, stating that it would
be cheaper. However, the State Highway Commission decided that
the road should go through Clayton, Smithfieid, and Princeton
Another approved north-south highway would go from Wilson
through Kenly, Selma, Smithfield, Four Oaks, and Benson, thus
providing two paved roads in the county.
Still another
cotroversy resulted over telephone service. When free service
between Selma and Smithfield was cut out and calls made long
distance, Selma subscribers became so angry that they considered
cutting out their phones. Businessmen and private subscribers
alike objected to the increased rate.
Other events
made the year memorable too. One of Selma’s beloved former
citizens, N. E. Edgerton, died in the Capital City. And, the
local office of Virginia Carolina Chemical Company received
orders to shut down the acid plant and layoff almost all the
working force.
CLUBS
ORGANIZE
Clubs
organized in 1921 included the Chatterbox Club, which was
organized at the Baptist Church with 35 members. An effort was
also under way to reorganize the local Chamber of Commerce.
A
PREMATURE CELEBRATION
A Chamber of
Commerce sponsored get-together to celebrate the completion of
the new school and plans for a modern Union Depot was held on
April 14 in the new school’s auditorium. A portion of the
jubilation proved premature, however, for records show that
throughout 1922 and much of 1923 litigation went on between the
State Corporation Commission (representing Selma’s interests)
and the Railroads who refused to build a new station. It was not
until February of 1923 that Judge E. H. Crammer issued a writ
requiring the Southern to proceed with cooperating with the ACL
to build a Union Station; and in April of that year the Supreme
Court upheld the decision.
Just a week
after a fire damaged the old Ward Home on February 14, 1922, and
George Brietz was injured while fighting the fire. a volunteer
fire department was organized. Twenty-two men made up the
company, equipment was purchased, and the town agreed to
install an electric siren system.
STREET
PAVING UNDERWAY
In the same
month, town commissioners let a contract to W. W. Piatt of
Durham to pave the streets of the business section, In the
spring, work on the streets was delayed because water mains had
to be lowered; and again in June merchants became angry because
the paving contractor had torn up at one time every street to be
paved, making passage of vehicles impossible. In spite of all
obstacles the
job was completed in August of that year. To express the spirit
of growth, the town chose as its slogan “See Selma Since She
Started.”
A plan for
co-operative selling of tobacco and cotton, which had been
started in 1921, continued in 1922 as Dr. J. Y. Joyner and
others spoke at a May meeting in behalf of the marketing plan.
Selma proudly began use of its new school building for
commencement exercises in May of 1922 when Honorable Josephus
Daniels spoke at graduation exercises during the summer, M r.
Fred Waters, who succeeded Professor Crumpton as superintendent
of the school, arrived in town to get things ready for the fall
term, which began September 12. Selma School offered free
tuition to anyone wishing to enter, and officials of the
institution stated that this was the best school building in the
state and the faculty second to none. When school opened for its
first full year in the new building there were 694 students and
22 teachers. This building is the old main building of the
present Selma School.
Other names
in the news of 1922 were R. W. Etheridge, who installed a
radiophone in his home; E. G. Hobbs, who opened a cotton buying
business; A. M. Noble, elected Judge of Recorder’s Court; and
Bryant Hines, who won a Ford given in a promotion by Selma
merchants.
W. P. Aycock
was elected mayor in April 1923. Serving with him were Wade
Brown, A. V. Driver, G. C. Hinton and J. D. Massey. Some
business gains were noted as C. P. Harper took over the Whiteway
Theater; J. T. Barham, became owner of Merchants Hotel, and the
Selma Brick Company was reported to have a clay supply that
would last 25 years. The townspeople, however, turned down a
water improvements bond issue for $75,000. Plans for the Selma
Community Fair indicated that it would be the biggest occasion
ever held in Selma and would include bands, dancing, exhibits,
beauty contest, parade, and a play at the Opera House.
UNION
STATION OPENS
(top)
Highlighting
1924 was the opening of the handsome new Union Station on July
19, some four years after the request for the facility had been
made. Also the Selma Kiwanis Club was chartered on March 29.
At
mid-decade, local residents voted approval of a bond issue for
$17,500 water system improvements. They also raised $2,OOU for a
new highway, Earpsboro Road, which connected Selma with Highway
22. Nineteen twenty-five also saw basketball as,a favorite
sport; a girls’ team played at the Rough and Ready. Then too, C.
A. Bailey purchased the funeral home of Henry Hood and Floyd C.
Price, Sr. A year later following a revival, the Selma
Pentecostal Free Will Baptist Church was organized with 18
charter members. Four of these are still in the church; the Rev.
and Mrs. Will Watson, Mrs. Paul Woodard and Mrs. Maggie
Strickland. Maintaining their civic interest, the
. Woman's
Club planted 1,000 trees on Arbor Day.
THE
BIG SNOW
In the
last half of the 1920's, all phases of community life moved
steadily ahead, except for a period in March of 1927 when the
"Big Snow" (18 inches) paralyzed' the community. And in the
fall of that year contractors. began tearing down the old
wooden Methodist Church to erect a large Sunday School
building beside the brick sanctuary which had been constructed
in 1910. Mrs. N. E. Edgerton and son gave' all the brick and
$2500.00 toward the new structure. In 1928, the Original Free
Will Baptist Church was organized with 39 members who elected
the Rev. S. H. Styron as their first pastor. The Rev. J. H..
Worley was chairman of the building committee, which built the
present church structure.
One of
Selma's major industries, the plant of Navasso Guano Company,
opened here in 1904 as a subsidiary of Virginia-Carolina
Chemical Company, formally changing its name to V-C in 1927.
In 1963, this company was merged with Mobile Oil Company.
Superintendents who have served this plant include N. E.
Edgerton, Parham Jones, George M. Willetts, J. T. Matthews, J.
F. Priest, R. E. Perry and R. E. Ewers, the present
superintendent.
BB& T
COMES TO TOWN
Today
Selma's Branch Banking and Trust Company is the third oldest
existing branch of that firm whose home office is in Wilson.
The Selma branch, opened on January 3, 1928, became a full
branch on February 1, 1952. The Selma office was operated by
A. J. Holiday and Mrs. P. A. (Margaret) Warren, assistant,
until 1933. At that time Raleigh H. Griffin was made manager
of the local office. He later became cashier, then
vice-president, which position he held until his retirement in
1964. He is at present a member of the local board. In 1961
the bank building was completely remodeled, with modern
equipment installed. In 1967, the management is making plans
to erect an entirely new plant as it continues to grow under
the leadership of Edward N. Crawford, vice-president; Billy
S. Lee and Harold W. Bost.
OTHER BANKS
Prior
to the establishment of BB&T several other financial
facilities served this area. The first bank, The Bank of
Selma, which became The First National Bank in 1914, closed in
1925. Peoples Bank was opened in 1912 at the site of the
present Selma Drug Co. and later moved to the present Branch
Banking Company building. It closed about 1927.
HEALTH SERVICES
The
health of the area's youngsters was of especial interest to
Dr. Wade H. Atkinson. In 1928 he conducted a tonsil-adenoid
clinic with recommendations for operations based on the
child's physical need and the parents' economic status. The
charge was $5.00 per child to defray incidental expenses and
Dr. Atkinson gave his services gratis. Two hundred and five
patients were cared for during the two months' service. This
clinic was conducted for several successive years and became
widely acclaimed.
Educational plans struck a snag in 1929 when a controversy
over the budget resulted in both Selma and Smithfield schools
not opening early in September as planned. At a meeting of the
school committeemen, the seriousness of the situation was
brought out in a resolution passed by G. F. Brietz, chairman,
Dr. I. W. Mayerbura, and Dr. G. D. Vick; the resolution asked
teachers to begin school on September 16 even though a
September 20 news story reported 825 enrolled on the first day
here.
POULTRY SHIPPING AREA
(top)
In
this final year of the decade Selma became well known as a
shipping area for poultry. For the two previous years poultry
had been shipped from the local rail center; and by 1929 the
town had risen from 27th to 18th place in the state in poultry
shipment. This was a Kiwanis project. A final civic endeavor
was the laying of plans for a new cemetery to be located north
of Selma on the property of Mrs. J. F. Brown with a canvass to
sell lots to be made by the Woman's Club
BUSINESSES 1910-1930
Businesses listed as operated from 1910 to 1930 included:
Roberts, Corbett, and Woodard, J. M. Driver Groceries, Smith
and Cameron. Jones and Deans Grocery, Wade Brown Hardware,
Roberts Grocery. Woodard Drug Company, Woods Ice Plant,
Whiteway Theater, Selma Stockyard, Selma Clothing and Shoe
Company, Abdalla Brothers (later Abdalla-Vinson), Worley
Furniture Company, Luther O'Neal's Drug Store, Creech Dry
Cleaners, G. N. Siler's Store, Cuddington Tin Shop, Q. C. Wall
Store, Etheridge and O'Neal, Cuthrell Grocery, L. George
Grocery, A V. Driver & Co., Roberts-Atkinson Co., Ward Earp
Company, Atkinson Supply Company, W. B. Roberts and Bros.,
Poole's Beauty Shop, Lee and Henry Company, Brown and Sasser
Hardware, Wall Supply House, Coley and Son, Poole's. Boarding
House, M. L. Davis, Needham Richardson, N. B. Snipes, Tom
Edwards Barber Shop, White House Cafe, Talton Jeweler, Selma
Grocery Company. Selma Drug Company, W. E. Smith, Nowell and
Richardson, W. H. Etheredge Wholesale, Creech Drug Company,
City, Barber Shop, W. W. Hare Wholesale Co., A. David,
Richardson Drug Company, Joseph Brothers, J. G. Aads, Farmers
Mercantile, Selma Manufacturing Company, J. C. Betts. L. D.
Debnam Liverv Stable, D. H. Terrell Meat Market, Selma
Furniture Company, C. E. Kornegay and Co., S. R. Lee Dry
Goods, J. P. Temple Millinery Store, Hughes Millinery Store,
Tom Abdalla, Waddell Hardware Co., Carolina Pharmacy (later
Woodard's), Gurley Fish Market, Dunn Furniture Company, .Billy
Kirby _Livery Stable; '"M. C. Winston and Son, D. T. Worley
Grocer, F. B. Whitley & Co. Feed Store, Green Manufacturing
Company, Hughes Machine and Re~air ShQp, Pearce Auto Co.,
Selma Motor Co., Taylor and Hughes Garage, Benoy Planing Mill,
Atkinson's Grist Mill, Blackman's Grist Mill, Wise Grist Mill,
Corbett's Grist Mill, Richardson's Grist Mill. (Note: These
businesses are not listed in the order in which they were
established and some were either merged or bought out by
others during the period.) Sawmilling was done by T. H.
Atkinson, R. A. Bailey, Luther Creech, Troy Creech,. J. H.
Godwin, C.S. and J. D. Hicks, Cooper. Heflin, J. G. Godwin,
and E. A. Wall.
THE
DEPRESSION YEARS
Although the bottom fell out of the stock market on October
29, 1929, to herald the beginning of the Great Depression, the
actual economic disaster settled in slowly, deepening
throughout the early years of the 1930's. Farmers, already in
difficulty before the crash, were evicted by the tens of
thousands. And those in the Selma area--in every walk of
life--were victims of the Depression.
In
March of 1930 M. L. Stancil, publisher of the Johnstonian-Sun,
which he had purchased in 1929, wrote a poem entitled "Why
Times Seem Hard" which he concluded: "Nothing is wrong with
our financial system, you bet, We were just too greedy and
went too far in debt. No one will give the money all these
debts to pay" We must work and save, and that's the only way."
Early
in 1930 J. B. Slack, county agriculture extension agent,
called a meeting of farmers to plan for better balanced
agriculture. Later farmers were urged to raise more corn and
pork, hay and dairy cattle instead of the cash crops, cotton
and tobacco, prices for which had dropped to rock bottom. By
June a cucumber market had been set up in the county in
another effort to provide diversified farming.
Charles F. Kirby, who had been prominent in Democratic Party
activities including election to House of Representatives in
1890, died in 1933.
TEACHERS' PAY CUT
(top)
Other
evidence of the depression was the fact that teachers'
salaries of slightly more than $100.00 in 1930 were cut 10
percent the next year, and for the next two years in order to
save on expenses, teachers were not required to go to summer
school.
The
death of one of Selma's outstanding citizens, Dr. R. J. Noble,
occurred in April, 1939, as a result of pneumonia suffered
after he had been injured in an automobile accident. The
burial service of the deceased, a 32nd Mason, was, conducted
by the Grand Lodge of Masons of North Carolina. He had served
as Past Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of North Carolina and
Past Potentate, of the of the Oasis Shrine.
A
native son, Dr. Marvin Blackman, located in Selma in 1930,
continuing the dental practices of Dr. W. B. Johnson who
retired after more than 20 years of dental practice here. A
native Johnstonian, the son of Mr. and Mrs. W. B. Johnson of
near Smithfield, Dr. Johnson was graduated from the
Northwestern Dental College in Chicago in 1909. He practiced
for about a year in Smithfield then came to Selma. In 1915 he
married Miss Grace Whitley and they had one son, Willard B.
Johnson, Jr., who is vice president of the Micro branch of
Branch Banking and Trust Company. Dr. Johnson served as town
commissioner and as mayor, was a charter member of the
'Kiwanis Club" and a Shiner. He died in 1943.
Mrs.
R. A. Ashworth, a leading woman of the community, served as
state president of the N. C. Federation of Women's Clubs in
1930; and in December, W. P. Aycock took the oath of office as
judge of the Recorder's Court.
Every
child who has ever attended Selma School or any other. school
in the county is familiar with the Stuart portrait of George
Washington that hangs upon the wall somewhere within the
"hallowed halls." Today many of these are faded and worn, as
well they might be because they were presented to the schools
in 1931 by Congressman E. W. Pou in cooperation with the U. S.
George Washington Bicentennial Commission.
TOBACCO PRICES DOWN
Two
evidences of the depression this same year were the
discontinuance of the Johnston County Fair and the price of
tobacco on the Smithfield Market-$8.65, which at that time was
the highest average in this section. I n an effort to offset
the farmer's plight, a credit group was organized to lend
money for 1932 crops. With the population up to 1,857 by 1930,
Selma weathered the economic disaster, although time hung
heavily for many. Reports of bridge games by both men and
women fill the pages of local papers. In 1932, Selma and
Smithfield played .in a championship series at the New Brick
Hotel and the visitors won. Members of the local team were
Roger Strickland, Wilbur Perkins, Raleigh Griffin, and Ralph
Woodard, with Dr. E. N. Booker as manager.
A
highlight of the season in these years was presentation of
the Kiwanis loving Cup to the "Most useful citizen of the
community." The Rev. L. T. Singleton, pastor of the Methodist
Church, won it in 1932; four previous winners were George F.
Brietz, Miss Margaret Etheredge, F. M. Waters and C. A.
Jacobs.
In the
spring Professor Waters left Selma, O. A. Tuttle took his
place as principal of Selma School, and Pine level's high
school was accredited. Selma High also received accreditation
from the Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools of the
Southern States from 1932-1934, and again was accredited in
1959. The elementary school received its Southern Association
accreditation in 1963. Also by 1933, Browns, Thanksgiving,
Live Oak, and Corbett-Hatcher Schools had been consolidated
with Selma.
NEGRO
SCHOOL BURNS
Disaster struck the local school system in February of 1933 as
the Negro school building burned. This building, formerly used
for a white school, had been used by Negro students after
1915.
In the
same year, Boy Scouting received a boost when Dr.
Wade H. Atkinson offered Atkinson's Mill north of Salina for a
Boy Scout camp. This was dedicated in that September.
By
1934, evidence of the first attempts by government to reduce
crop acreage was reported when a meeting was held and acreage
reduction explained by J. B. Slack. And strikes hit local
mills for the first time when workers. At Lizzie Mill, one of
two operated by Eastern Manufacturing Company, struck in
August after having been working part time for a month. By
September the nationwide strikes involved local mills, but
there was no disorder; and on October 2 both Lizzie and Ethel
Mills were back in operation.
Names
in the news that year were Dr. E. N. Booker, named coroner;
Charles Kirby, magistrate for 50 years, ill; Paul Worley
killed in automobile accident. But all was not bad news, for
the Merchants and Manufacturers Exposition was held with a big
Fourth of July celebration.
TRAFFIC SAFETY PURSUED
With
W. I. Godwin as mayor and Frank Hood as traffic cop, the town
in 1935 inaugurated a traffic safety campaign with erection of
large signs at entrances to the city warning that 25 miles per
hour speed limit would be enforced. Godwin also formed a new
law firm with Ludolph C. Powell, of Sanders Chapel.
Athletics, too, was in the news as Howard Gaskill, veteran
baseball Ulnpire of semipro circles, became head coach at
Selma High. In that same year Allison V. (Snake) Driver, Jr.
fought In a professional boxing match in Raleigh. Earlier in
1933, Snake had won the welterweight title of the Carolinas in
the first Golden Gloves tournament. He later turned pro, going
from welter weight to middleweight, finally to light
heavyweight and fighting in Cincinnati, Ohio; Quincy,
Illinois; and Louisville, Kentucky. Famed for his left hook,
Driver had his career cut short by an injury to his leg. He
died in 1945 at the age of 31.
RICHARD B. HARRISON BUILT
(top)
Again
education came to the forefront in 1935 when Richard B.
Harrison School, a three-story brick Building, was constructed
to replace the school burned earlier. This building, modern in
its day, contained an 800 seat auditorium, office, library,
and 20 classrooms. Eventually involving the consolidation of
all Negro schools in the northern third of the county and
those students from Princeton of high school age, the school
has had additional construction through the years. These
included a 10-classroom wing and cafeteria in 1949,
agriculture building in 1953, three classrooms and gym in
1955, six class rooms in '1956, and bricklaying shop in 1964.
Both the' elementary and high school departments are
accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and
Schools, the, first school in Johnston County to receive this
distinction.
Other
civic events of the year were the organizational, of an
Eastern Star chapter with Mrs. Ida O'Neal as worthy matron and
Mrs. Hattie Perkins, assistant worthy matron;, and, the
presentation of an Eagle Scout badge to Murray Lane, son; of M
r. and Mrs. M. B. Lane, by Glenn Grier, president of Tuscarora
Council.
Once
again efforts were begun to pull the area out of the
.depression as WPA projects were set up with plans for a
library and recreation building in Selma. Fourteen were
employed initially and 13 more were to be hired. Electric
lights came to the Selma rural area in 1936 with. Dr. Wade
Atkinson and G. Tom Scott working on this project. In March
the number. of doctors increased as Robert D. Oliver located
here. And a newspaper reported that Selma's ministers were
seeking to improve the morals of the town.
DISASTROUS FIRES
Two
disastrous fires hit Selma in 1937, one in October doing
$35,000 damage to the shopping area and destroying City Barber
Shop and City Cafe. Selma Drug. Walt Godwin's, and O'Neals
Pool Room were also damaged. In November the Carolina Theater
and Masonic Hall were destroyed in a $20,000 blaze. However,
the fire department was able to keep the flames from spreading
to Selma Clothing and Shoe Co., City Barber Shop and Dr.
Blackman's office.
Selma's mayor, W. I. Godwin. made the news when he soloed
after five hours of flying instructions. Serving' with Mayor
Godwin were Frank Hood, Hayden Wiggs, B. A. Henry and J. C.
Avery. The Harvest edition of the Smithfield Herald stated
that Selma "enters new era of growth with new leader,"
pointing out that both Wiggs and Hood were in their early
twenties. The weekly industrial payroll was pegged at $15,000;
five modern meat markets bought nearly 100.000 pounds of
native beef; merchants paid farmers cash for eggs, chickens
and bacon. And a father-son firm. Floyd C. Price and Sons was
reported promoting a cotton market.
A CARNEGIE WINNER
Selma
folk were filled with pride in 1938 when Alex Wiggs was
presented a Carnegie Medal for a Heroic Act. The previous
year, Wiggs. at a risk to his own life, had rushed up a light
pole and brought L. C. Coats, badly burned to the ground, The
accident had happened on a Carolina Power and Light Company
pole at the new convict camp between Selma and Wilson's Mills.
Continuing efforts to control production of money crops, Selma
farmers voted overwhelmingly for both cotton and tobacco
controls in 1938. And the old Selma Township precinct was
split into two-East and West. Names in the news were Carl P.
Worley, Sr. who was elected to head N. C. Bottlers Association
for the third successive year; George F. Brietz, mill
executive, who died here; the Cards, local baseball team which
won the county championship; Ed Perry, who led in the growth
of Boy Scouting in the town, Junior Woman's Club which was
organized with 16 mem-present & Edna Eason the first
president. .
A
depression mechanism, the WPA, was again called on for a grant
for improvements to Selma School, including the addition of
six classrooms to the main building. And the first glimmering
of a nation at war showed as Selma and the county were
included in a "blackout" practice during war maneuvers in
Eastern North Carolina. Two months later, in December, the
American Legion Post was founded with a charter membership of
forty persons. Also in that year the Selma Public Library was
founded.
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