Old Photos of Rockingham, NC - The Way We Remember It

Probably the oldest local photo yet above. It depicts a saloon somewhere in the vicinity of Rockingham. The print was in Joe McLaurin's collection, from which this was copied, which was itself copied from an old tintype - which explains why the word "Saloon" is printed in reverse or mirror image on the front of the building. 

The Town Square as it appeared sometime between 1908 and 1913. Apparently the photograph was made as members of an automobile club from Columbia SC were driving through the square. The photo has to have been made after 1908 because WE McNair Furniture Co, founded that year, is already in place next to Rockingham Power Co. (in the Watson Building, which was built in 1904). It had to have been made before 1913 because, in that year, McNair Furniture Co moved to its present (1984) location at the intersection of Hancock and Washington Streets. Note, also, that the city water tower, built in 1908 and still standing in 1984 and 2016, is visible in the background. A final point of interest, to those who recall the bitter opposition to the proposal in the 1970s to "re-landscape" the square, with the removal of the two large oak trees.

Do A Good Deed

I remember the last year that my wife Sandra was alive, she, I and my daughter Sandi went to a restaurant in Raleigh. Sandra was in a wheelchair then and of course I brought her in the restaurant in the wheelchair. We enjoyed our meal but were totally surprised when I went to pay the bill. Someone had actually paid our bill for us! Don't know who it was or why but just the fact that people show a little compassion that way just gives you a good feeling.

So, day before yesterday, I went to a restaurant for breakfast and as I enjoyed the meal, I noticed that a young girl helped bring in an elderly lady for breakfast. I figured the young girl would join her but she did not. As I went to pay my bill, I told the waitress I wanted to pay this lady's bill, and did. I told her not to tell her who did it but just tell her it was paid for.

This morning I was setting in the parking lot of another restaurant checking out Facebook and a young girl comes up and knocks on my window. She gave me a story of how her mother had to be taken to Winston Salem hospital and she needed to get there to see her and only had 5 bucks for gas. So, I gave her some money to help get her there.

Now, I know maybe this young girl was not telling me the truth, who knows. But I figured, if I give for no other reason than to possibly help, then maybe this is what God wants us to do. We can't judge what the real need is for a person sometimes but if we give with the idea that this is what God wants us to do, it is up to Him to do the rest. As 2 Corinthians Chap 9 Verse 7 says, "God loves a cheerful giver".

If you are out and about sometime and in a restaurant or a public place and see someone that you might think could use just a little help, give them a free meal or something that could help brighten their day. It sure can't hurt - and who knows, you could get a blessing out of it yourself! Do A Good Deed!

We're Giving Up Cable TV!

Well, it's official. I have unhooked all my cable TV connections and taking them back to Wilkes Telecommunications. We are going to be cable-TV free! 

We are tired of paying 165 bucks a month to get mostly nothing to watch. We don't watch sports and the cartoon channels for the kids are terrible. The movie channels are fairly good but just not worth paying that much and sitting through all the long info-type commercials. Most of the time the commercials are 7 minutes or so long and the actual tv show is maybe 5 minutes long. Enough is enough!

Most of the TV we watch are the old tv shows, old movies, etc. But with TV Land putting so much junk on their channel, we are just tired of it. You can't even watch Andy Griffith without the stupid and vulgar commercials between the shows. And with kids in the room, it can be right embarrassing.
Besides, they don't need to see most of the channels out there.

So, we are going to be watching what we want thru Netflix - WITHOUT COMMERCIALS - and all the movies we have, which is quite a lot. 

Plus I have increased our internet connection speed to double what it was and we are keeping the phone. Cuts our bill in half. And, with all four of us now having a tablet each, we can watch Netflix on our tablets also. 

So - Goodbye to Cable! I feel free already........anyone else out there fed up with all the junk on cable TV like we are? Give me some comments if you are.

What's The Weather?

Since I have been living in the mountains, and especially on the top of Majestic Mountain in Boomer, NC, I have noticed something. We have all the latest ways of checking the weather - on the boob tube, on our Tablets, on our iPhones, heck, we even have a little contraption I ordered that the mariners used to use called a perfect indicator of what the weather will be. It's a clear tube with water in it that has crystals that float around that tells you what the weather will be.

But, with all this space age information and technology, it doesn't make a dime's worth of difference if you live on Majestic Mountain! Now, mind you, I'm not complaining. It's just different....I mean, I used to live in Cary/Raleigh and the weather was pretty predictable. 

Just about two weeks ago, the forecast was for clear skies with nothing out of the ordinary to expect. But, as my wife and I were sitting upstairs working on our prospective computer devices, we noticed the picture on the wall shaking. We knew it was windy outside, but just didn't know how bad! I ran downstairs to see exactly what was going on. As I opened the sliding glass doors, the wind that came through felt like a hurricane or tornado was on the porch! I bet that wind was blowing 80 mph!

Now, Dianne has lived up here for about 5 years and she was used to this wind but this was the worst she had seen. During the times I had been up before getting married, the winds would howl at night like a hurricane coming through - but - Dianne said that was not unusual and helped calm my nerves down as I was not used to this wind.

But getting back to the story. I had bought a knocked down kitchen island that day and took all the parts out and laid them out on the porch, knowing full well they would be fine there.....based on the prediction of perfectly clear skies. But, when I opened that sliding door, I knew I had to go bring all those pieces inside. I didn't want them to get wet. As I was running, me and Dianne both, to bring all the pieces in, that wind was so bad it blew a few of the pieces down the hill. The rest of the porch was a mess as well as items were thrown all over the place. The dogs in the pen outside the house were howling as well. In the backyard, we had a table and chairs. The table had ceramic tiles in it. The wind actually flipped one of those tiles up and over and landed in the same spot. Two of the tiles were broken and the chairs were strewn all over the backyard. I tell you, I was glad when those winds finally died down.

Yep, the weather on our mountain is unique. We got down to 1 degree this past Monday, the water went out but think goodness the power didn't. No snow but it was cold enough without it. It's a pain when that happens, especially when you can't flush a toilet. Thank goodness Dianne had enough smarts to fill some pots and pitchers with water plus we had some jugs of water in the storage building - that were frozen! 

So when someone ask me from now on, What's the Weather? I can truly say.......just wait a little bit and it will change....literally. Because we live on that beautiful but unpredictable Majestic Mountain!

Reunion - Pee Dee Pentecostal Holiness Church April 13 2013

03-19-13 - Our Annual Pee Dee Pentecostal Holiness Church Reunion in Rockingham will be held on April 13, 2013 - the second Saturday in April from 1pm until 3pm. Anyone that attended or remember our beloved church are welcome to come and share memories with others during this time. Paul Warnock started these reunions years ago and he and I and Tonda Sheppard Sanford and others have continued them each year. We now meet at the New Covenant Christian Fellowship Church (where the old church was located) on Hamer Road.

We will have some snacks available, but not a full dinner.  People should have dinner before they come.  We ask each person to bring a little snack.

Hopefully Mr Jesse Sheppard or the Swails Brothers will provide us with live entertainment this year. If you have any photos or memorabilia, please bring it to share with others. Hope to see you there!

A Celebration in Heaven? Oh Yes!

I wrote the following blog on April 28 of 2011:

You know - as I sit here and add 2 former classmates to the memoriams on Rockingham Memories, Ruth Davis and Bobbie Goodman Dull - I ponder. Will there be a great celebration in Heaven as the Bible says? Kind of like that old church song "When we all get to Heaven, what a day of rejoicing that will be"...

I think there will be. I am counting on it! My dad passed away in 1977, my mom is in Hermitage Rest Home in Rockingham - doesn't usually know who I am when I visit, my brother passed away in 2002, all my relatives that have gone on to their heavenly rewards, so to speak and my wife whom I dearly love, is slowly but surely drifting away. 

It is so sad to see so much pain and suffering by so many. Sometimes you just want to sit down and cry.

But - there is hope! I don't have the knowledge of the Bible like a lot of people do but I do know that I am a Christian and God gives us all the strength to get through things we never knew we could. We don't understand all that is going on but God has a plan. 

About all we can do is live our lives like we think God would have us do and put our faith in him and I am sure when this old earth has drawn her last breath, and God calls us ALL home, there WILL be a celebration in Heaven!

Now, I just wanted to add this. 

My wife Sandra passed away on April 3 of 2012 and my mom passed away on April 10 of 2012. As Time Goes By - I know my wife and mom are in Heaven today rejoicing with all our relatives that have gone before. Since they have passed, there have been others that have gone on to their heavenly rewards also. Many friends from my childhood and friends made over the years, from my work or where I have lived during my lifetime. I truly believe they all are rejoicing and praising the Lord as I sit here at this computer. There is no pain or suffering in Heaven. Therefore, they have no knowledge  of all things happening here on earth. As the Bible says, they are in Gods hands and having such a wonderful time it is hard for us here to comprehend. Even as I continue my life here on earth and have found someone that can help me get through all this, I know one day when I leave this world I will see all my relatives again - my dad, mom, wife and brother and all my grandparents or uncles and aunts that have gone on before me. I miss them all but I have the assurance that one day there will be a Celebration in Heaven - and I intend to be there! I hope you are a Christian also so you can have this same assurance. Our God is a mighty God - as long as you keep your faith in him and believe, you can have the same assurances I have.

Reunion - Pee Dee Pentecostal Holiness Church April 14

We will have our Annual Pee Dee Pentecostal Holiness Church Reunion again this year on April 14 from 2:00pm to 400pm. Due to Tonda Sheppard Sanford having recent health problems, she will not be preparing food for this reunion. You are welcome to bring some snaks and beverages to enjoy.

This will be a time to enjoy the company of all that had anything to do with the old church and if you have memorabilia or photos of the old church or members, you are welcome to bring them to share.

The address of the church, which is now the New Covenant Christian Fellowship, is 120 Hamer Road, Rockingham.

Little Texas Performs at The ROCK on April 14

Thursday Plaza Jam Schedule in Rockingham 2012

Thunderfest 2012 in Rockingham

Drawing For A New Pull Behind Pig Cooker Sept 24

East Rockingham Men's Club
Drawing For A Pull Behind Pig Cooker
Saturday September 24, 2011 at 12:00 Noon
At East Rockingham Fire Department
Tickets are $1.00 each or 7 for $5.00
Do Not Need to be Present to Win
see any East Rockingham Men's Club Member for Tickets
Tickets can be purchased at Boe's Florist

With Sadness, An Update On My Wife's Condition

June 28, 2011

This update is not written for pity on me, as I have said in the past but for all that read it to say a prayer for my lovely wife as we continue on this unknown journey.

We just got back from an appointment with her neurologist yesterday and the prognosis is not good. Sandra’s symptoms have changed quite a bit since three months ago. When you have discussions with the doctor regarding feeding tubes, hospice, botox shots to relax muscles in your face, etc., it is not encouraging. But steps have to be taken.  

The thoughts and what we are going through below were written on June 24 – before we went to her doctor yesterday.  

Progressive Supranuclea Palsy

To watch my wife declining like this just about puts me in tears. It is so sad.

I read what others have gone through with this disease and the last stages when you have to insert a feeding tube that no one wants. The agony and pain with a decision like that is going to be just about unbearable. My prayer is that my wife never has to go through that stage. She has told me before that she does not want anything like this that will prolong her life in that state. But you read these other accounts other PSP caregivers go through and you just hope and pray you don’t have to make a decision like that.

As of today, she has gotten to the point that I have to do just about everything for her. She can brush her teeth but will leave the rinse water in her mouth for 15 minutes. Her brain just does not tell her body what needs to be done as far as movements. I help her with everything else. She lies around quite a bit. She can’t walk by herself. I have a power chair but she cannot use it because of the sight. She talks but it is so hard to understand her because her words are slurred and she whispers. She will sit up at the breakfast table, eat a little food, and try to read the paper, clip coupons and set there for two to three hours – kind of in a trance. She stares at the ceiling or at something else for long periods of time with no comments. She can’t see well. She has had hallucinations. I have to hold her up at times because she leans to the right. When she is sitting in a chair without sides, or in the bathroom getting dressed, she leans at a 90 degree angle to the right. During the night, she will try to get off the bed and has fallen many times…it can be pretty tough trying to pick her up at times. But I have to most every day.

When you have had a partner for 43 years and you discuss everything and make decisions together, it is really sad to come to this point. Now, I have to make all the decisions – she just cannot help with those at all. Until recently, she would at least try to get on the computer to do something. I helped her about 2 months ago create her a Facebook account but now her eyes are so bad and the fatigue, she hardly ever tries to do anything with the computer.

My wife will set at the table and hold a glass of coke to her mouth for probably 7 or 8 minutes before bringing it back down to the table. I have to feed her pills usually because she will drop them trying to get them in. You can ask her a question and you get no answer. She has started giving me hand signs to help her get her thoughts out. Most of the time, the whispering is so low, I just cannot hear her. The thought process is just not connecting all the time. You can tell her to put the glass down and it’s just like she does not hear you.

I can’t leave her alone. She’s to the point now that she will try to get up and do something or pick something up and if someone is not with her, down she goes. I have to dress her, bathe her, go to the bathroom with her, at times feed her…….but I do it because I love her. She would do the same for me.

I just friended Ronald Ray on Facebook recently, whom I worked with at Maxton, NC, for a little while during my railroad days. He is the brother to Lois Wheeler, one of my bosses at the railroad when I worked in the crew office. And he gave me a note of encouragement from the Bible….”God promised HE would not put more on us than we can bare”.

I truly believe that scripture but just like all humans, you tend to wonder at times. But with God’s help, he will get us both through these trying times.

And, please, say a prayer for Sandra as I am sure she would love to have all the prayers she can get. I did – last night as we lay in bed she asked me to pray for her as we progress to this next step. And I will continue to pray for my wife.

1964 Rockingham High School Birthday Party - We're 65!

Below is your official invitation with all the information.

Will There Be A Celebration in Heaven?

You know - as I sit here and add 2 former classmates to the memoriams on Rockingham Memories, Ruth Davis and Bobbie Goodman Dull - I ponder. Will there be a great celebration in Heaven as the Bible says? Kind of like that old church song "When we all get to Heaven, what a day of rejoicing that will be"...

I think there will be. I am counting on it! My dad passed away in 1977, my mom is in Hermitage Rest Home in Rockingham - doesn't usually know who I am when I visit, my brother passed away in 2002, all my relatives that have gone on to their heavenly rewards, so to speak and my wife whom I dearly love, is slowly but surely drifting away. 

It is so sad to see so much pain and suffering by so many. Sometimes you just want to sit down and cry.

But - there is hope! I don't have the knowledge of the Bible like a lot of people do but I do know that I am a Christian and God gives us all the strength to get through things we never knew we could. We don't understand all that is going on but God has a plan. 

About all we can do is live our lives like we think God would have us do and put our faith in him and I am sure when this old earth has drawn her last breath, and God calls us ALL home, there WILL be a celebration in Heaven!

Looking For Pat Quick

Received this email from Jeanette Thomason looking for an old friend. Thought I would post it here and see if anyone can help. Here is the request I received from Jeanette:

I have an old friend that I’m looking for: She would have graduated from Rockingham, N.C. High in the year 1958/1959.Her name is or was Pat Quick; did find an Elaine Quick year of graduation 1966, maybe a sister.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Having searched for her many years to no avail; can you help me?

I knew Pat while she visited her Aunt and Uncle in Richmond, Va. in 1956. She was there for the summer and we quickly became friends.

 

Please let me know if you know her.

Thank you for your help

 

Jeanette Toussaint Thomason

Upcoming Events in Rockingham at Cole Plaza 2011

Here is a list of what is going on in the Cole Plaza at City Hall this year. Hope you can attend one of these events.

 

 The Band of Oz Is Rescheduled for September 27th.

An Open Letter to the RHS Graduates of 1966 & 1967

Dear Fellow Schoolmates,

In 2011 as the calendar rolls up another decade in the new millennium, we baby boomers find ourselves applying for social security, waiting in the prescription line for blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, arthritis, and other age induced medications.  Between struggling to read the fine print on any and everything and forgetting where we left the notepad on which we scribbled all the important notes and dates that we did not want to forget, we spend our time baby-sitting grandchildren.  We now stand in front of the young cashier ringing up the Senior Citizen’s Discount without our prompting.  Yes friends, we are the Senior Citizens of today’s society.

Remember the carefree days of high school?  Remember when the entire student body rose as we marched down the aisles of Kate Finley?  Remember when Rockingham and Hamlet shut down one Friday per year to attend the Rocket – Red Ram football game?  Remember dissecting frogs, swimming in P.E. class, pep rallies in the gym, student government elections in the spring, and last but not least to our addicted friends, THE SMOKING AREA. 

Yes, all the above were fun times in our young lives.  Unfortunately, we can no longer step back in time and physically walk the hallowed halls of Rockingham High or even once again taste a Zip & Superburger from Tom & Sarah’s.  Yet, we can still gather with the high school friends of our youth and in our minds, relive the Happy Days of our teenage years.

The 1966 & 1967 45^th Reunion Committee has set aside the weekend of 9/30 - 10/1/2011 to rally and celebrate those HAPPY DAYS of our times together.  The key to our success is dependent upon your attendance.  A current popular soap opera, first aired in 1965, opens up with the line “Like the sands through the hourglass… so are the Days of our Lives.”  Before we hit the Big 3-0, it was easy to say “My life is too busy now.  I’ll go to high school reunion #20.”  A decade later, some graduates used the same logic with #40 as a goal.  In fact, we have classmates who never have attended a reunion.  Friends, our hourglass does not have that much sand left in it.  In fact, at least 42 schoolmates total in both classes are no longer on this Earth.  While you are still in good health, make plans now to attend this important weekend in our lives.

Joel Bailey (Class of “66) has created a wonderful website http.//www.rockinghammemories.net...  He has agreed to list the names of those tentatively planning to attend our reunion on this site and on Face book, 1966-1967 Rockingham High 45^th Reunion Planning Committee.  As soon as details are worked out, the committee will make contact with a RSVP request.  As for now, we need the following: mailing address, phone number, and email address as soon as possible in order to notify and confirm details.  As the sands pass through our hour glass, we eagerly await your reply.

On behalf of the Planning Committee,

Bob (by) McDonald

Class of 1966 

Update on 1966-1967 RHS 45th Class Reunion Planning Committee Meeting on March 1

Bob McDonald gave the following report:

Notes from 45^th RHS Reunion Committee March 1

The 45^th RHS Reunion Committee met at Smithfield Bar-B-Que in Rockingham on March 1^st.  Members offered a couple of options for possible gathering places large enough to accommodate both classes.  Since some alumni, local and out-of-town, from both classes have never been to a reunion, we need to celebrate two nights.  Therefore, mark in big red letters on the same planner calendar that you record the important events in your Senior Citizen life like doctor appointments, grandchildren birthdays, your anniversary, and any other important happenings the weekend of 9/30 & 10/1/2011.

On Friday, 9/30, both classes will gather at the Pitt Hinson Cohen Wildlife Conservation Clubhouse at Hinson Lake in Rockingham.  Put your jeans and sneakers on and just show up.  The only planned program of the night is to enjoy yourself from the minute you arrive until the minute you turn your headlights on to leave.  Personally, I plan to show you a picture of my grandson!  The only request the committee has is that you reserve enough energy to come back on Saturday night for more reminiscing.

On Saturday night, 10/1, we will gather again at Richmond Pines Country Club off Hwy 1 N in Rockingham.  We will be eating, just what and how much is yet to be determined.  I am sure some old high school memories will be on display and I’ll be willing to bet that the banquet room will be decorated in black & orange.  The details such as time and cost are still being worked out.

The largest task ahead of both classes is to secure contact information for all of our class members.  Some members have already been contacted but our job has just begun.  You can best help us by contacting us before we contact you.  Please contact the following: Ben or Kay Crouch Smith, kay_and_Ben@hotmail.com; Sondra Underwood Honrine, Sondra.honrine@jostens.com; Lawanda Smith Walker, walkerlks@hotmail.com; Joel Bailey, rrjoel@gmail.com; or me, Bob McDonald, rmcdonald10@nc.rr.com.  Also for all you citizens of Face book, you can log your contact info on 1966-1967 Rockingham High Reunion Committee.  If you refuse to get on a computer, you can contact me at 3846 Sturbridge Dr, Hope Mills, NC 28348 or call 910-709-2090.  We need your home address, your email address, and a phone number.

The Planning Committee sends a special plea out to the class members who live in the area.  We need you at our planning meetings to have a successful reunion.  If I still had my bus license and a school bus, I would pick everyone in Richmond County up.  Since I don’t, I expect to see everyone at our next Reunion Planning Committee meeting on April 5^th at Smithfield Bar-B-Que at 6:30 PM.  Don’t be late!

Obituaries

Thought I would start this blog here for others to add anyone that has passed away that have a connection to Rockingham and Richmond County and maybe you had not heard. I know when I had the Rockingham Forum board, Bill Dennis helped keep the notifications there and did a great job.

Don't know if there will be much response here but at least this is an avenue you can use and add the ones that you know that have passed away in the Comment section below.

Update on 1966-1967 RHS 45th Class Reunion Planning Committee Meeting on Feb 1

Bob McDonald gave the following report on this meeting:

Initial planning meeting was a huge success. Enthusiasm ruled! Tentative dates for The Big Chill Reunion are 9/31/11 & 10/1/11 or 10/14/11 &10/15/11. Mark these dates on your social calendar for this exciting event. Details and facilities must be worked out before an exact date can be pinpointed. Everyone who RSVPed to attend did show up. Five o'clock Fayetteville traffic was heavier than I anticipated and I showed up 10 minutes late. The youngsters from the Class of 1967 were on the edge of issuing a Silver Alert for me until the more mature heads from the Class of 1966 prevailed. Smithfield BBQ Restaurant in Rockingham was the meeting place for our 1st planning meeting. The committee was so pleased with the facility that we unanimously agreed to meet there again on March 1st to discuss our next phase of preparation for our 45th. The lighting was wonderful and bright. Everyone could see quite well. The inside temperature was perfect and no one experienced chills. Furthermore, I haven't eaten barbecue that tasty since the heydays of Revels. Last but not least, every night at Smithfield is Senior Citizen's Night. The background music playing over the restaurant speakers was hits from the '60s. On my way out "Double Shot of My Baby's Love" by The Swinging Medallions came across the airways. For just one quick minute, I was on the dance floor of the Coachman & Four. The only disappointment of the night was the small representation in numbers from both of our classes. Maybe we did not get the word out soon enough. You now have a 28 day notice. I challenge all the classmates who live in Richmond County to show up for planning meeting #2. We have plenty to do. If you can attend March 1st, please RSVP on Facebook. I look forward to seeing you! Someone call me or email me to remind me the date is March 1st. By the way, the planning meeting starts at 6:30 (I knew I was forgetting something).