The Down East Seniors Club held its Jan. 20 meeting at the Blind Center of North Carolina in Washington. President Ed Hamrick led the meeting. Chip Ide led the singing of “God Bless America” and Charlie Mike Smith gave the invocation. Dick Paul provided humor.

Len Huber introduced Fran Brundage, who presented oral history recordings of four local people. Ms. Brundage interviewed them in 1976 to get material for a book of local history. All of them were 80 years old or older at the time. Former Sheriff Bill Rumley said his greatest law enforcement activity was destroying liquor stills. In the 1930s and 1940s his department averaged finding and destroying six to eight stills a week. During the Great Depression, he would delay the destruction for a week or so after finding a still to allow the operators to support their families. Hannis Latham recalled the city spreading oyster shells on the dirt streets to reduce the mud. The shells were rough on the feet of barefoot children. Judge Rodman told about the great fire of the late 1890s. It started on Water Street near Market Street and was spread toward Main Street by the wind. The city fathers were afraid the whole town would burn if they didn’t do something quick. They decided the best action was to dynamite the house that was located where Big Bargain Furniture is today. Three kegs of dynamite were placed under the house and ignited. The explosion raised the house about a foot and then it settled back down to its original location. The only damage was a few broken window panes. The house had been constructed in 1790 and assembled with wooden pegs, obviously being extremely well built. Fortunately, about the same time the wind shifted which allowed the fire to be extinguished. Lonnie Squires told of his World War II experiences in the Philippines. He became acquainted with a Philippine doctor and his family and was able to spend time with them.

Dick Paul won the 50/50 drawing.