HOKE COUNTY WATERMELONS ARE FAMOUS OVER NORTH CAROLINA The News and Observer (Raleigh, North Carolina) 23 April 1933, Sunday. Page 7 Contact Myrtle Bridges
"Hoke county was formed by the General Assembly of 1911 from parts of Cumberland and Robeson counties and was named in honor of Gen. R.F. Hoke, who was a distinguished officer in the Confederate Army. At that time this Senatorial district was represented by the late John W. McLauchlin, a native of this community, and who was elected in spite of the fact that he was in favor of establishing the new county. The county began to do buisiness the first Monday in April, 1911. The first county orricers were appointed by the late Governor W.W. Kitchin, after a primary had been held to ascertain the choice of the people and to assist the Governor in making the appointments. "The officers were as follows: Clerk of Superior Court, W.B. McQueen; Sheriff, Edgar Hall; Register of Deeds, H. Hector Smith; Treasurer, W.J. McCraney; superintendent of schools, J.A. McGoogan; county commissioners, J.W. Johnson, chairman, S.J. Cameron and J. A. McPhaul; board of education, N.A. McDonald, chairman, J.A. Hodgin, and Neill McKinnon. "The county has an area of 417 square miles, and is larger than other counties in the State. The population in 1930 was 14, 244, which is more than the population of 20 other counties. The first Superior Court was held in August, 1911, and was presided over by Judge H. W. Whedbee, of Greenbille, Solicitor Hon. N.A. Sinclair, of Fayetteville. Edgar Hall has the distinction of having served the county almost 18 years as sheriff and is now filling the office of Clerk of the Superior Court. The county is overwhelmingly Democratic in politics, the Republicans having never put out a ticket since the county was established. In the election of 1928, 1,154 votes were given to Al Smith for President and 21 to Hoover, and in the election of 1932, Ehringhaus received 1,775, while Frazier received 63. "The people of Hoke county are mostly of Scotch descent, and good Presbyterians, interspersed with some Methodist and Baptists. Very few foreign people live in the county…. (additional agriculture) "Wheat is grown quite extensively throught the county;red heart being the variety raised principally.This county has the honor of being one of the few counties that raises the flour that we eat. We are very fortunate to have a flour mill that grinds into A grade flour our farmers' wheat. "Hoke county has several fairly large flocks of poultry; most of which are white leghorns. We do not have any large commercial flocks. Our farmers believe in keeping an average farm flock which brings a small but regular income to each family. There has been over 30,000 pounds of poultry shipped from this county this year. "In the county are two hatcheries that are of a great benefit to poultry raisers. One is owned by J. H. Blue, and the other by Lewis Upchurch, both of Raeford. Both hatcheries incubate only blood tested eggs. Mr. Upchurch does his own testing, while Mr. Blue has his flock tested by State College. "Hoke county does not, as yet, raise sufficient pork for its own use, although most farmers are able to raise enough for their own family needs. We do not have any out-standing breed. The farmers plan to have a cooperatice cutting and curing house to insure them of a proper cut and an even cure for their meat. Curing meat is one of our greatest difficulties. "Although most of our soil is planted, many of our farmers find it necessary to terrace hillsides to prevent erosion; while others find it necessary to cut ditches to get proper drainage. As a general rule our soils are naturally drained. "The county agent has been very successful with 4-H club work since his arrival here. We have over four hundred 4-H club boys and girls in the county schools. Most of the club boys and girls have started projects for this year. The Kiwanis Club is offering ten dollars first prize and five dollars second prize to the boys that raise the greatest number of bushels of corn, most economically, on an acre of land. The 4-H Club boys and girls are planning a week's camping trip this summer. "Hoke county will have one thousand acres planted in watermelons this year. Four hundred and fifty acres of these watermelons, plus two hundred acres of cantaloupes, will be marketed cooperatively. This produce will be graded, labeled and sold to the best advantage possible. "Raeford will have a truck curb market this summer to help the farmers of Hoke county sell fruits and vegetable. We produce a large quantity of cantaloupes, watermelons, peaches and vegetables that in the past hve never reached a market. "The county and town are sponsoring this market as their project. They feel that it will be a great help to both; giving the farmer a chance to sell his produce and bring trade to the town. "The market will open July 12 with sufficient product to load a large number of trucks. "Over a hundred farmers have taken advantage of the federal credit extended through the seed loan and the regional agiculture credit corporation for the purpose of crop production. Over $75,000 has been lent to farmers through these two agencies."
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