Old Bluff Church

One of the oldest churches in this area is Old Bluff Presbyterian located between Godwin and Wade, NC.  The church is situated on a bluff overlooking the Cape Fear river just south of Erwin.  It was established in 1758.




This is the third building on the site. This one is over 150 years old.  The balcony was used my the members slaves.
The building is used only once a year for the Easter Sunrise Service.  The building and the large surrounding cemetery are maintained by the current members on the church who meeting at a newer building in Wade.



 



The cemetery has many old tombstones.  This one(probably not the original) dates to 1791.  There are many Scottish names here since this area was settled by the Scots.

 

There are many notable people buried in the cemitery included veterans from the Revelotionay and Civil Wars.  This headstone is one that many people will recognize.  I'm not sure he could be considered a hero since he invented the Carbine while he was in prison.  Becky is a distant relative of Carbine.  She also has an Uncle and Aunt buried here.

Cooking as a Hobby

When you retire you have to find more hobbies to occupy your time.  A couple of years ago I decided to start cooking as a hobby, but not just ordinary food.  I wanted to try some new dishes.  Most of the recipes came from the internet.  Some of the recipes were not so good.  Others were outstanding.  In all cases I try to cook healthy and low calorie.  Following are some of my favorites.

Trout almondine with boiled cabbage as a side.  By the way, I caught the trout.

Pork chop stuffed with spinach, feta and cream cheese and sun dried tomatoes served with french fried sweet potatoes.  (baked, not fried)
 



Boneless, skinless chicken thigh marinated in lemon juice served with roasted grape tomatoes with capers and parsley.


 

A Handsome Group

Kenneth Fish, Cecil Bowden and Tony Mangum at our last Reunion

Our Miss Johnson

One of our favorite teachers pictured here with Barbara in 1963.  We lost Mrs. Johnson recently.

Class of 1963

Do you recognize your picture?

1963 Television

 

1963 Most Popular TV shows  

The Year of CBS. Nine of the ten shows in the top 10 aired on CBS this year.

1.	Beverly Hillbillies (CBS)
2.	Bonanza (NBC)
3.	The Dick Van Dyke Show (CBS)
4.	Petticoat Junction (CBS)
5.	The Andy Griffith Show (CBS)
6.	The Lucy Show (CBS)
7.	Candid Camera (CBS)
8.	The Ed Sullivan Show (CBS)
9.	The Danny Thomas Show (CBS)
10.	My Favorite Martian (CBS)

 

Food Trivia

You can tell I am running out of good things to blog.  I'm down to "food trivia".  If you have any ideas, send me an email.

1963 Maxwell House introduced the first freeze-dried instant coffee.

1963 Fruit Loops breakfast cereal is introduced.

1963 Irradiation was used for the first time in 1963 to sterilize dried fruits and vegetables, in order to stop sprouting and to control insect infestation.

1963 ChipsAhoy! chocolate chip cookies are introduced.

1963 The one billionth McDonald's hamburger was served by Ray Kroc on the Art Linkletter Show.

1963 Julia Child's TV show 'The French Chef' begins.

1963 Coca Cola introduced TaB, its new diet cola.

Top Movie of 1963

In all of cinema history, Cleopatra is one of the most expensive films ever made (adjusted for inflation). It received mixed reviews from critics, although critics and audiences alike generally praised Taylor and Burton's performances. It was the highest grossing film of 1963, earning US $26 million ($57.7 million total), yet made a loss due to its cost of $44 million, making it the only film ever to be the highest grossing film of the year yet to run at a loss; for this, the film has been considered a moderate (but not total) box office failure. The film later won four Academy Awards, and was nominated for five more, including Best Picture (ultimately losing to Tom Jones).



 

 



Movie Poster



Richard Burton

Elizabeth Taylor

1945

Most of us were born in 1945.  Here are interesting facts about the year we were born.

Barbara Stephens

Following are some photographs of Barbara from the past.  Where did the time go?  I know it is a worn out metaphor but it seems like it was only yesterday.



 

 

 

Barbara the Drivers License Examiner.  I think she told me that this was when she was in Charlotte.

 

Did anyone know that Barbara was once a clogger

 

 

Jerry Lee Lewis

When I was a teenager in the early to mid-60's I went with some friends to "Jim Thornton's" to see Jerry Lee Lewis.  I think I went with Tony Mangum, Ronnie Barnes, and Willie Jefferies.  In any event, we were much too young to be in a place like that.  I think there might have been some people there drinking and Jerry Lee was playing the "Devil's Music".

The place was packed.  Jerry Lee put on one heck of a show.  Man, I had a good time.

Ronettes

This song was recorded in the summer of 1963.  It is claimed to be the best pop song ever recorded by some.

Robert Lawrence

Robert sent these photographs to share with our classmates.  They have obviously travelled extensively.  It appeares that Robert is enjoying his life of retirement which is what it is all about.

 

Thank you Robert.

 

Daughter, Valarie; Grandaughters, Kristin and Hilary: Mother, Repsie was 93 on St. Patricks day

 

 



Robert and wife, Nita

Robert with 51 pound Flathead catfish, caught in the Cape Fear near Raven Rock

Robert jogging on the Great Wall

 



Robert and Nita standing at the equator, Kenya, East Africa


 



Robert and Nita with the Sidney Opera House in the background

Balmy summer day in Antarctica

Robert and Nita with our Lhasa Apsos, Ginger and Pepper

Robert holding another segmented bowl, my retirement pasttime

 



Important Annoucement from the Mangums

We have just been informed that our youngest daughter and her husband are expecting their first child.  The baby is due October 19 and will be our third grandchild.

Matt and Lindsay recently moved to Nashville, TN.  Matt works for Deloitte and Lindsay does freelance computer graphics for National Geographic and other clients.  They both work from their home.



Matt and Lindsay at the beach last fall.



These are the two grandboys that live in Winston-Salem.  Brendan is 8 and Eamon is 10. 

Becky and I are delighted by the news. It will be nice to have a new baby in the family. Now that Becky is retiring, I guess we will be spending a lot of time in Tennessee. 





1950's Video

Sandra Currin Stephenson's husband, Johnny, sent me this video. You need to watch this. If this doesn't bring back memories, you are already dead.

You may have to copy this URL and paste into your browser in order to see it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=sDc0ID6PJeg&feature=youtu.be

Another Good Song from 1963

The Chiffons took this one to number 6.

Johnny Mangum's Mother's Birthday

Johnny's mother (my aunt) celebrated here 100th birthday recently.  How many people do you know are 100 years old?  I only know one.

Aunt Gerta's family.
This picture was taken some time before Aunt Gerta's 100th.  Standing are Sharron, Donna Jean, Willie Ruth and Johnny.  Sharron passed away before her mother's 100th.

Johnny Mangum's Family

Johnny sent me these photographs that I would like to share with our classmates.


Johnny with wife Betty

Johnny with Betty's son and his wife and daughter



Johnny with daughters Gina and Kristie

 



 

Little Peggy March

Another song from 1963.  This one made it to number 26.

Bath, NC

North Carolina truly is a great place to live. There is so much to see and do which we take for granted.

Becky and I took a little drive down east Saturday and went to the small town of Bath.

North Carolina's First Town.

European settlement near the Pamlico River in the 1690s led to the creation of Bath, North Carolina's first town, in 1705. The town's location seemed ideal with easy access to the river and the Atlantic Ocean 50 miles away at Ocracoke Inlet.

The first settlers were French Protestants from Virginia. Among early inhabitants were John Lawson, surveyor general of the colony and author of the first history of Carolina (1709), and Christopher Gale, first chief justice of the colony.

By 1708, Bath consisted of 12 houses and about 50 people. Trade in naval stores, furs, and tobacco was important, and Bath became the first port of entry into North Carolina. In 1707, a grist mill and the colony's first shipyard were established in the town. A library sent to St. Thomas Parish in 1701 became the first public library in the colony. The parish also established a free school for Indians and blacks.

Palmer-Marsh House

Another of  the restored houses.  This one has a beautiful view of the Pamilico River.

St. Thomas from the Front

The Church is still used for services.

Picture from the garden.

1962 Pontiac

This is not my car but it is the closest thing I can fine.  Can you believe that I can't find a photograph of the actual car.  Anyway, these pictures brings back a flood of memories.  I'm sure you have similar photographs that you would like to share with your classmates.

I would dearly love to have this car today.

 

Ruby and the Romantics

This song was number 42 on the 1963 Billboard list, but it is higher on my list of songs that I remember.

1963 the Way it Was

Cost of Living 1963

How Much things cost in 1963

Yearly Inflation Rate USA 1.24%
Yearly Inflation Rate UK 1.8%
Year End Close Dow Jones Industrial Average 762

Average Cost of new house $12,650.00  

Average Income per year $5,807.00

Gas per Gallon 29 cents

Average Cost of a new car $3,233.00 

Loaf of bread 22 cents

Bedroom Air Conditioner $149.95

Below are some Prices for UK guides in Pounds Sterling Average House Price 3,160

New Ford Cortina 675

 

MAJOR EVENTS:

• President Kennedy assassinated in Dallas, Texas; Vice President Lyndon Johnson becomes President. The accused assassin, Lee Harvey Oswald, is shot and killed a short time later.
• Civil rights protests continue throughout the South, during which nonviolent activists are frequently met with beatings and arrests
• 200,000 people march on Washington in support of civil rights; Dr. Martin Luther King delivers his "I Have a Dream" speech
• U.S., Soviet Union and Britain sign a nuclear test ban treaty
• Scandals in British Parliament leads to resignations of key officials
• "Great train robbery" in Britain yields £2.5 million for thieves
• Kenya gains independence
• Pope John XXIII dies; Cardinal Montini elected Pope, takes name of Paul VI
• Washington-Moscow "hot line" established
• Congress expands its investigation of organized crime

Guys Fashion

Sunday shoes

I still like bleeding madris

Everybody had penny loafers

This was a good look



Yes, I once owned a pair.



 

50s and 60s Female Fashion

Womens fashions were too cool.  Bet you can all remember these.

Coolest skirt Ever

 

Just before we became flower children.

Can't wait for this look to come back

Did any of you girls ever have hair like this?