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Seventy-five years ago, The Tidewater News — in its final editions of the year 1949 – highlighted some of the major events that took place during that year.                                                                                                    

JANUARY  

Dr. Clifford F. Gryte was appointed medical director of Raiford Memorial Hospital to succeed Dr. Rufus L. Raiford.

Parking meters were installed on Main Street and on Second Avenue in Franklin.  

Stockholders of the Southampton Athletic Association elected a board of directors to operate the Southampton “Kildees” professional baseball team in the Class D Virginia League.  George Lacy of Richmond was contracted to manage the team.  Harold Atkinson, of Franklin and former player on the team, was appointed business manager.   

FEBRUARY

The Meherrin Valley Bank of Boykins celebrated completion of extensive improvements -with a public open house. 

Capron Methodist Church dedicated their new Hammond Organ which was given to the church by the children of the late Mrs. Aggie Pond Bain as a memorial to their mother. 

MARCH

The property of the Franklin Peanut Company was put up for sale at public auction.  James I. Beale, Jr. was the successful bidder at $72,245.

Floyd F. Jenkins was elected Superintendent of Schools for Southampton County. 

John A. Williams, 73, vice president of Camp Manufacturing Co. died in a Richmond hospital after an extended period of failing health.

Willaim J. Sebrell, 81, Courtland businessman and former member of the Virgina House of Delegates, died in a Richmond hospital. 

APRIL

The Lynn Massachusetts Tigers of the New England Baseball League began their Spring training at Southampton Kildee Park in Franklin. 

Sol W. Rawls, Jr. was elected president of the Franklin Rotary Club, succeeding S. A. Lipscomb, Jr. 

The new Cypress Cove Country Clubhouse was completed at a cost of $100,000 – and opened to the public.

MAY

The Class D Virginia Baseball League opened the season with the Southampton Kildees losing to Emporia by a score of four to two. The Franklin High School senior class presented their annual class play.  The 1949 play was entitled “Professor, How Could You”.   

At its final meeting of the session, the Franklin PTA presented a silver tray to Miss Rebe Moyler, retired teacher.  Mrs. John Brenner was elected president to succeed Mrs. Wyatt B. Durrette. 

The Town of Franklin is given authority through a court order to proceed with annexation — on July 1, 1950 — of 324 acres of land contiguous to the town. 

Frank Redd Ranson, 32, Courtland manufacturer of tents and awnings, died in Raiford Memorial Hospital of injuries sustained in an automobile accident. 

JUNE

Members of the Southampton County Bar Association dined at the “Town House” in Franklin and elected Charles F. Urquhart, Jr. of Courtland as its president – succeeding John M. Britt of Boykins. 

Former Virginia governor Colgate Whitehead Darden, a native of Southampton County and president of the University of Virginia, attended a promotional dinner in Franklin and pleaded for the success of the Raiford Memorial Hospital building expansion campaign.

William V. Rawlings of Capron was named to head up the Southampton County governor’s campaign to elect Colonel Francis Pickens Miller.

Dellie C. Cotton, Jr. was elected president of the Franklin Jaycees to succeed John M. Camp, Jr. 

JULY

George Jakeman was installed as chancellor-commander of the Franklin Lodge No. 51, Knights of Pythias, succeeding C. C. Blythe, Jr.

Citizens of the Hunterdale community organized a volunteer fire department. 

AUGUST

Governor William Munford Tuck reappointed three Southampton County men to state level positions:   Sol W. Rawls Sr., Virginia State Highway Commission; H. M Purviance, Virginia State Board of Funeral Directors; and J. Edward Moyler Sr., Board of Visitors at Mt. Vernon, Va.

Eight-hundred persons attended the second annual Franklin-Burkeville Guernsey Sale at Hunterdale Farms. 

SEPTEMBER

The Southampton County Baseball League season ended with the Newsoms “Aces” winning the pennant for the third year in a row.

The Southampton “Kildees” captured the Virginia League Pennant, leading the Petersburg “Generals” by a margin of seven games.

OCTOBER

Hudson R. Lankford took over as postmaster at the Franklin Post Office, succeeding Paul Scarborough who retired.

The bicentennial of Southampton County, Virginia was celebrated – with many activities throughout the County from October 22 through 26.  (Southampton County was formed in 1749 from the western part of Isle of Wight County – the Blackwater River was the dividing line.)  Two pageants, entitled “Legend of the Nottoway” – major parts of the celebrations – were conducted at the Franklin High School athletic field.  Miss Dot Lee Drake of Sedley was crowned by Governor William M. Tuck as “Miss Southampton”, queen of the bicentennial.  

NOVEMBER

Franklin Presbyterian Church was organized, with approximately thirty members, Rev. Thomas Trayham pastor.   A Parcel of land on Lee Street was obtained from Miss Dorothy Lee Williams.      

The Franklin High School football team lost their homecoming game in a contest with the Smithfield “Packers” – twelve to six.

DECEMBER

Explorer Post #1, Boy Scouts of America, sponsored by Camp Manufacturing Co., formally received its charter at a ceremony held in the social hall at Franklin Baptist Church. 

The iconic and historic Stonewall Hotel opened up a new section of the hotel – a coffee shop and oyster bar.  It was added to the side of the original building — with a separate entrance – bordering Fourth Avenue, and was open to the general public as a convenient place to have lunch.