Oct. 18 - 24, 2013
bringing the local news home to northwest Guilford County since 1996
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When tobacco was ‘king’
Town’s historical committee creates display illustrating history of the tobacco crop by ANNETTE JOYCE SUMMERFIELD – It wasn’t that many years ago that the roads of northwest Guilford County were lined with stalks of lush green tobacco in fields that stretched as far as you could see. These days, however, the sight of even a single tobacco field is a rarity. Many have been replaced with neighborhoods and shopping centers, and most of the log tobacco barns used for curing have since crumbled or been torn down. Although the landscape has drastically changed, tobacco farming will always have its place in our area’s rich history. For that reason, the Summerfield Historical Committee has put together a display that illustrates the process of bringing in a tobacco crop and showcases some of the area’s farm families who once relied on tobacco for their livelihood. Housed on the first floor of the Summerfield Town Hall, the display focuses on the less modern means of
harvesting tobacco that were prevalent in the days before tractors, electric stringers and bulk barns. With little outside hired help, families and neighbors worked together to harvest the season’s crop and ready it for the market. As an introduction to the display, Linda Southard, the committee’s chairperson, has put together a book that shows how a tobacco crop progressed. Along with enlarged photos of area tobacco farmers, there are tools such as a hand planter, buck stringer and tobacco sticks. There’s also a miniature replica of a wood-burning tobacco barn that was handcrafted by the father of Scott Whitaker, Summerfield’s town manager.
Children on Pho to c ourt tobacco farms esy of Su learned the value mm erfie ld H of hard work at an early istor ical Com age. Front row: Jim Beeson, David mitt ee Bolling and Mike Southard. Back row: Elwood Boggs, Jimmy Bolling and Jimmy Beeson.
The photos, many of which were furnished by local historian and Summerfield resident, Gladys Scarlette, show area residents perform-
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Carolyn Yow, wife of the late Bob Yow, former Northwest High School math teacher, soccer, football, track and women’s basketball coach; Laura Malcolm, held by her mother Kristi Yow Malcolm (Coach Yow’s daughter), Christopher Malcolm and Abigail Malcolm (standing). The family was honored at a ceremony on Oct. 10 in which the high school’s soccer field was officially named the “Coach Bob Yow Field.” Coach Yow died in May 2012 at age 60.
Photo by Laura Pullins/NWO
IN THIS ISSUE News in brief...............................3 Your Questions ...........................4 Summerfield Town Council .......6 Bits & Pieces ............................. 12 High School Football ............... 14 Student Profiles ........................ 15 Community Calendar.............20 Crime/Incident Report ............23 Letters/Opinions .....................24 Grins & Gripes ..........................25 Classifieds ................................27 Index of Advertisers ................ 31 NWO On The Go! .....................32