by Clyde Parker

EDITOR’S NOTE: Looking Back features past articles from The Tidewater News with commentary by local history buff Clyde Parker. The series commemorates the 50th anniversary of Franklin becoming an independent city.

July 27, 1961

RAY, HOLLAND TVDC OFFICERS

Robert C. Ray of Franklin and Shirley T. Holland of Windsor were elected vice presidents of the Tidewater Virginia Development Council at its recent annual meeting in Norfolk.

Ray will represent Region 1 of the TVDC, which includes the towns of Boykins, Branchville and Franklin. Holland will represent Region 5, which includes the towns of Windsor and Wakefield.

Among the 14 trustees elected to the Executive Committee were William M. Camp of Franklin and J.W. Pope of Boykins.

Henry Clay Hofheimer II of Norfolk paid tribute to Richard L. Woodard Jr. of Suffolk for his leadership since forming the TVDC. The Council’s territory stretches from Virginia Beach to Southampton County.

The recent announcement that Boykins Narrow Fabrics Corp. will be established in Boykins is a result of efforts by TVDC.

(TVDC no longer exists. Over the years, the organization became fragmented as political jurisdictions and boundaries changed among the participating cities and counties.)

STORY, HENRY GET SCHOOL BOARD TERMS

James E. Henry of Franklin and R.B. Story Jr. of Newsoms were recently appointed to four-year terms on the Southampton County School Board.

William V. Rawlings of Capron and Harold MGrath were reappointed chairman and vice chairman, respectively, for the 1961-62 school year. Superintendent of Schools B.T. Watkins was reappointed clerk of the school board.

The School Trustee Electoral Board is comprised of Chairman Eldridge Pope of Drewryville, Secretary J.D. Woodard Jr. of Courtland and Clifford A. Cutchins III of Franklin.

DRAFT CALL TO INCREASE

The number of men drafted for the armed services in Southampton and surrounding counties will sharply increase in August. In Southampton, where no men were drafted in June and July, the quota will be at least 21 for August, said Selective Service Board Clerk Annie B. Turner.

“We expect to receive notice for still more inductions for August and extremely large calls in September and October,” Turner said. Men between 18 and 26 can be drafted. Men born in 1938 will bear the brunt of the stepped-up draft calls. The increased inductions are the result of President Kennedy’s request for 225,000 in the nation’s armed forces.

THE TIDEWATER NEWS GETS NEW PRESS

A new offset printing press capable of printing 10,000 sheets an hour was installed at The Tidewater News last week. Pressman John Thomas demonstrated the press, which provides improved reproduction and more economical commercial printing, and can handle paper sizes up to 14 by 20 inches.

The new press follows on the heels of other recent additions at The Tidewater News, including a new set of body type, a Fairchild engraver for pictures and a Goss “Comet” press that can turn out 3,500 newspapers an hour, fully folded and ready for delivery.

(In the early 1970’s John Thomas formed his own successful business, Thomas Printing Co. He retired in 2008.)

HEAT WAVE SWELTERS ON

Temperatures in Southampton County have been above 90 for 15 days in a row. It was 100 degrees at the Town of Franklin Light Plant last Sunday. It was 98 Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.

Thanks to scattered storms, crops have not been hurt by the heat. “Some areas of the county have received plenty of rain,” said Assistant County Agent Wesley Smith. “In a few areas where they haven’t had as much rain as other areas, the crops are just getting to the point where they need water.”

According to Assistant Franklin Town Manager Delbroe Johnson, the Town of Franklin is pumping an average of 1 million gallons of water per day compared to an average of 500,000 gallons in February.

CLYDE PARKER is the retired human resource manager for the former Franklin Equipment Co. and a member of Southampton Historical Society. He can be reached at 757-647-8212 or ParkerC@seva-redcross.org.