A couple of important reminders:
Bladen County Shriners are sponsoring their Fish Fry in Elizabethtown and Bladenboro Wednesday (tomorrow). Cooking sites will be at the Food Lion parking lot in E-town and at Bo’s parking lot in the ‘Boro. Proceeds benefit Shriner Hospitals that provide free services to children with medical needs.
The East Bladen High School Football team travels to Vinegar Hill, near Tabor City, Friday to meet South Columbus as both teams participate in round three of the NCHSAA state wide 2A football playoffs. Game time is 7:30 p.m. Two of Bladen’s best young coaches face-off, Russell Dove and Robby Priest lead their respective teams. Dove is in his first year at South Columbus after several years at West Bladen.
What do you know about Abbottsburg? Did you know it was once Bladen’s largest town? Neither did I, but decided to do some checking. The town was named for Joseph C. Abbott, president of Cape Fear Building Co. Abbott was a Yankee lawyer who established a large lumber business in Abbottsburg, according to one source. Another source indicated he managed the Daily American newspaper and practiced law in Concord, New Hampshire prior to coming south. He was a member of the Know Nothing Party, a Colonel in the New Hampshire Volunteer Infantry during the Civil War. He eventually moved to Wilmington, NC. He became politically active, served as a delegate in the state Constitutional Convention in 1868.
Abbott served as Collector of the Port of Wilmington under President Grant and Inspector of Ports under President Hayes. While working in southeastern North Carolina, he founded the town of Abbottsburg and around 1869 established a Republican leaning newspaper, the Wilmington Post.
Years later, Ben Dowless built a huge house in Abbottsburg, was a very successful businessman and among other things, owned an automobile dealership in Elizabethtown and built Dowless tobacco burners.
That may not be the whole story, but more than I knew.
Travelin’ with a group of mostly senior citizens to the Alabama Theater today. Always enjoy their Christmas Show at the Beach.
One more reminder. Rev. Eckie Lancaster’s children and grandchildren will be celebrating his 80th birthday Saturday, December 3, from 3 – 5 p.m. at the Wesley’s Chapel Multi-Purpose Building. Everyone is invited to the celebration. Eckwood has always enjoyed a BIG party.
I’m so old they’ve canceled my blood type. Bob Hope
You know you’re getting old when you get that one candle on the cake. It’s like, “See if you can blow this out.” Jerry Seinfeld
So far, this is the oldest I’ve been. George Carlin
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