Robeson County NcArchives News.....Rowland Celebration 1912
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Glenn McGirt gdmcgirt@gmail.com July 9, 2014, 4:32 pm

September 30, 1912 - The Robesonian 1912
Rowland's Big Celebration:  Completion of Maxton & Alma Southbound Railroad 
Celebrated at Rowland - A Great Occasion - 3,000 People Present - Speaking, 
Barbecue Picnic Dinner, Athletic Contests - New Road Gives Rowland Connection 
With Seaboard and Means Beginning of a New Era for that Town.
     Friday was a red letter day for Rowland, a big day, the celebration of the 
arrival of the Maxton, Alma & Southbound Railroad.  There was some speaking, a 
barbeque picnic dinner, athletic sports and the like.  It rained some in the 
afternoon, but the amusements went on and were enjoyed just the same.  
     A special train was operated over the new road for the benefit of the 
people up Maxton way and along the new line.  It carried three crowded coaches 
and arrived in Rowland between 10 and 11 o'clock, immediately after which a line 
of march was formed at the station of the new road.  In the procession were 
school children to the number of something like 500, the following schools being 
represented:  Rowland, Alfordsville, Purvis, McDonald, Centenary and Hamer.  The 
line of march was led by Mr. John Edens [John Washington Edens, son of Gertrude 
L. McGirt4 and William John Edens] and his 7-year-old son Julian [William Julian 
Edens, son of John Washington Edens5 and Judith/Judah Elizabeth Dobbin], of 
Rowland.  This was a happy pair and they were fixed up just right.  Their 
regalia was something royal.  They were clothed after a style that was 
attractive.  Mr. Edens is no small man, he weighs just 325 pounds and his son is 
not overgrown for his age.  On Master Julian's outer garment was inscribed in 
large letters "Rowland 10 Years Ago" and on Mr. Edens' garment in larger letters 
- for there was more space - was the inscription "Watch Rowland Grow This Size".  
Mr. Edens and son were followed by the speakers of the day.  Messrs. Jim McKay, 
"Iky" Garrett, Edgar McLean and J. McR Bracey were mounted on horseback as aids 
to the march. From the station the procession went out by the school building, 
thence down Main street and across to the picnic grounds, in the southern 
portion of the town, where a speaker's stand, a long dinner table and the like 
had been arranged for the occasion
     The next thing in order was the speaking, about 12 o'clock.  Mr. A. C. 
Johnson, editor of the Rowland Sun and also mayor of the town, made a short 
address of welcome, which was responded to by Major A. J. McKinnon of Maxton, 
who is president of the new railroad.  In the course of Mr. McKinnon's remarks 
he said the majority of the stock in Rowland's new railroad is owned by Rowland 
people and that the road is independent of the Seaboard.  Editor Johnson then 
introduced Mr. W. M. McIntyre of Mullins, S.C. for a speech on tobacco growing 
and Mr. McIntyre made an interesting talk on his subject.  He explained how 
tobacco had practically made the town of Mullins and said that Rowland is 
surrounded by land that is even better adapted for the growing of this crop than 
is Mullins.
     Music by the band, and Mr. A. W. McLean introduced the principal speaker of 
the day, Mrs. W. C. Hammer of Asheboro.  Mr. Hammer is an able speaker and aside 
from many good things he said about and for Rowland, its vicinity, the people 
and the county of Robeson, he preached some Democratic doctrine.  He said that 
it is all right for the farmers to grow tobacco and cotton, but that they should 
diversify their crops more.  In his plea for Democracy he warned the people 
against having political idols, in whom they become so wrapped up that they 
forget the interest of Democracy.  He commended the editorial in the Thursday's 
Robesonian under the caption, "Political Idols."  Mr. Hammer spoke for about an 
hour, after which there was some music by the band and then dinner, this being 
about 2 o'clock.  That was a dinner worth while, and it would possibly be safe 
to say that there was dinner enough to have fed that crowd, which numbered 
something like 2,500 or 3,000 people, without the 15 pigs that had been 
barbequed for the occasion.  It was all fine.
     The time after dinner was devoted to athletic sports.  It rained 
practically all the afternoon, but the sports went on just the same.  The first 
attraction was a 100-yard race for boys 12 years and under and in this the 
prize, a knife, was won by Master Stewart Evans; and he also won the prize, a 
pair of shoes, in the 50-yard race for boys 10 years and under.  Earl Bryant won 
a pair of shoes in a 100-yard race for boys under 15 years; and Will Freesland 
took the prize, a hat, in a 100-yard race, free for all.  Burton Graham won a 
hat, the prize in a 220-yard hurdle race, Will Freesland was the winner in a 
one-mile running race, and Henry Wallace too the prize in a one-mile walking 
race, each receiving $5.  Furman Price won the prize, a knife, in the broad 
jump, standing; and the prize, a baseball glove, in the running broad jump was 
awarded to Coon Miller.  In a man-cock fight Roy Miller went off with a hat, the 
prize.  In a 100-yard race for girls, Nellie Walker won the prize, a pair of 
shoes, and Rosalie Lytch won an umbrella, a prize offered in a tug of war for 
ladies.
     This was indeed a great occasion for Rowland, and the new road, which gives 
the town connection with the Seaboard, will possibly mark the beginning of a new 
era in the development of this thrifty town.  Rowland is situated in one of the 
finest farming sections of the State and with the advantage of two railroads, 
which it now has, it's sure to move forward with rapid strides.  
     The people of Rowland are pleasant, congenial and of a hospitable 
disposition and on Friday they did themselves proud in their effort to take care 
of the strangers within their gates.  

[William Julian Edens, Jr. related to the transcriber that his father, William 
Julian Edens (1905-1988) told him a story about leading a parade with his father 
in Rowland when he was a young child.]


Additional Comments:
Transcribed by Martie Groome-McGirt

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