What Happened 25 – 50 – 100 Years Ago This Month
By: Ben Sanderford
February 1994 – 25 Years Ago
Telephone customers in Smithfield and Selma voted in favor of toll-free calling to Raleigh and Garner.
Dr. James Maultsby of Greensboro, an orthopedic surgeon specializing in sports-related and work-related injuries, moved his practice to Smithfield.
Princeton’s local Masonic lodge, St. Patrick’s Lodge 617, appointed new officers for the year, including Master James Worley.
A large number of Johnston County students made East Carolina University’s honor lists for the past fall semester. They included Laura Ann Adams of Clayton, Jodie Elizabeth Sorrell of Benson, and David Keith Rose of Smithfield, among many others.
Superintendent of Schools Dr. Jim Causby requested that the Board of County Commissioners allocate money to fix Wilson’s Mills Elementary School’s sewer system.
Residents who lived near Thanksgiving Fire Road and Highway 42 expressed concern after another serious car crash at the intersection, one of several in recent months, seriously injured a Selma woman.
February 1969 – 50 Years Ago
Ed L. Yancey, resident of Smithfield, resigned as a Johnston County agricultural Extension agent in order to accept the job of Pitt County Extension chairman.
Freddie Adams, recently elected Republican County Commissioner, asked the Board to allow year-round voter registration in the county. Chairman J. Dobbin Bailey set up a committee to consider the request.
Glenn Daughtridge, Kenly’s local manager for Carolina Telephone, announced a $203,000 construction project to expand the company’s central office and upgrade its equipment in order to accommodate increased phone use in Kenly.
Selma Community Action met at Howell’s Chapel Church to plan a teen recreation program. The group agreed to send “block chairmen” to interview local teenagers and report their findings at the next meeting later that month.
Wade Anderson (“Andy”) Lassiter of Smithfield, 11, spent the week serving as a page in the State Senate.
The search began for Junior Holmes of New York City in connection with two attempts at armed robbery of businesses near Smithfield.
The Smithfield Herald ran a report on the history and activities of the Aeolian Music Club, then in its 41st year.
Gunner’s Mate First Class John K. Vick, a native of Kenly, participated in combined Army-Navy operations in Vietnam’s Mekong Delta.
February 1919 – 100 Years Ago
Rev. A.O. Moore of Scotland Neck delivered his first sermon at the Baptist church in Clayton.
Bentonville created a telephone company headed by S.W. Lassiter as its president.
Luther Johnson visited his home in Emit while on furlough from Camp Green.
The North Carolina Co-operative Extension Service recommended that North Carolina farmers should ease up planting cash crops like cotton and tobacco in favor of food crops.
M.C. Hinton and J.R. Odum of O’Neal’s Township died of the flu.
An unknown thief stole a bale of cotton from Frank Summerlin in Boon Hill Township.
Hugh Strickland’s barn, between Princeton and Smithfield, burned with the loss of $3,000. Foul play was suspected.
Heavy rain caused the Neuse Road running from the Old River Road to Richardson Bridge to become too muddy for buggies to traverse.
