North Carolina Now; North Carolina Now Episode from 10/31/1995

Rian It's Tuesday October 30 first. Tonight the haunting tale of a hitchhiking home goblin. A story from the past in North Carolina now. Well Happy Hollow when every one I'm reading a dry welcome to tonight's edition of North Carolina now.

I hope you have a chance to fully enjoy tonight's program with all those trick or treaters are ringing your bell tonight we celebrate Halloween with a final installment of our three part series on North Carolina ghost stories. And we'll get a visit from a Wilmington author who has a new book out which details the ghostly hauntings of the Cape Fear coast. And if that doesn't fulfill your childlike fantasies then Maria Lundberg will introduce us to the fun and lucrative hobby of toy collecting. Now are you ready for an eerie story. Well if you've seen a hitchhiker on the highway from Raleigh to high point you may have seen a ghost. Rumor has it that from time to time a young woman a ghost stops cars on Highway 70 looking for a ride. Producer Elizabeth Hardy brings us the legend of the lovely abberation narrated in this story by Nancy Roberts. And who do not hold within them and experience the time will never race for Burkhart said it is a woman. Her name is it.

And he is not the only man. She haunts since 1923. She has appeared at her favorite spot and the experience of the men who tried to help her has been very much the same. I was coming back from visiting with some friends in Raleigh. I remember it was a foggy night so I had to strain to see the road back to high point. Even the most obvious landmarks of that familiar drive it banished there were no other cars on the road and I remember feeling very alone as my eyes gripped the road not daring to blink. The fog suddenly cleared. I was no longer alone. At that moment I saw a woman peering from the underpass. She was dressed in a fancy evening. She flung her arm signaling me to stop. Please I need to get the highpoint chair hopping I'll give you a ride.

The fog creeped in as she slid in beside me. Her voice was so faint it seemed to take great effort for her to speak my name. She was distressed about the late hour. She was afraid her mother would be worried about a dance in Raleigh have kept her out on this mystery. I wanted to know more about her. Find out why she was standing all alone in the fog at that underpass. But she wouldn't tell me why do you question. Nothing matters except that I'm going home. She didn't want to talk. So we drove in silence for the rest of the way. Eventually I found the street and pulled in the driveway of the address she would get. Yeah I remember Carter.

I brought your daughter home but she disappeared I don't want to play some got a cruel joke on me. Look I'm sorry to bother you but a young girl stopped my car and asked me to bring her here and now I she and I had a daughter named Lydia. A lady that's her name but she was a little accident on the way home from a day as it was a fall Good night like this one. But this isn't the first time people are trying to bring her home but somehow she just never seems to get here. To this day there are people who claim to see Lydia on the highway from Riley to hi Paulie and the lovely apparition still tries to make her way home. If you tend to pick up hitchhikers on the road sounds like you might want to change that habit. But we've put together a brochure listing some of North Carolina's most famous haunted places if you'd like to receive a copy. Just send a self-addressed stamped envelope to North Carolina now P.O.

Box 49 hundred RTP NC 2 7 7 0 9. If you're watching our show tonight from the Wilmington area then lock your door shut your windows because your town is haunted. At least that's according to this evening's guest who has written a book called Haunted Wilmington in the Cape Fear Coast Bright thanks so much for being here tonight. Thank you for having me. First of all the ghost stories in your book are not made up. They are stories that come from people who claim that they have actually happened how did you go about gathering these stories. Well many of them I had heard for years. My mother had told me some of them and went out of Saturday to do the book. I made a list of the stories and knew that I went to the local history room in the library and started trying to find out as much about the background of the stories as that couldn't. And it was like Unraveling a mystery. One thing led to another and it was just one clue after another lead me in different directions. So it was

real fun and it led to the end of. This story is finally Well we'll we'll get to the Local History Room of the library in just a minute because I understand there's a ghost there is but one of the stories you tell actually a must have traveled down through your family history because the ghost in this story is your great grandfather. That's correct. Well tell me a little bit about that. Well my great grandfather was a pilot which was the occupation of many of the men and Southport in the late 1800s. He was a blockade runner in the Civil War and had come through that unscathed but he went out one day in search of a ship that might need to be piloted up the river. There were four men with him in a small pilot boat and while they were out a northeaster came up a severe storm and his boat was lost at sea. His mother was waiting for him to return home. And

in the middle of the night she was awakened by this noise of someone coming on the porch and then actually saw him enter the room. Walk over and go over to the fireplace and. Spit in my eyes. I guess he was a bit battered and then got up and walked over to him. He didn't respond when she called his name and she reached out to put her hands over on his shoulders and when she did he vanished. And then the next day she heard that he had gone down with his ship and was never heard from again. And so that was your great great grandma my great great grandfather my great grandfather. OK let's talk about the library the New Hanover County Library because I'm reading those stories are like OK these all have been in the 800. No way I can see this goes. But I find the New Hanover County Library has this ghost.

And it was a pretty recent goes to some of the home and things but then I come to read at the end of the story that the last haunting was in the late 1980s. Yes there's that. Well the people of her noises I think since then but no one has actually spotted a ghost. It may be more than one ghost because the library the current libraries built over the location of an old house in Wilmington where a man who fought supposedly the last duel fought in the South was killed in the duel the next morning and his ghost was heard ever after that until the house was torn down. Then there are other stories of a local historian who spent most of her life in the labyrinth and she is the one I think that the people claim to have seen in the stacks so there may be several hauntings there but they've been quiet for the last five six years yes.

Well the librarian Beverly Tatton who's in charge of an inn who actually saw the ghost and heard the noises she says that she thinks maybe all the to do and the bad it scared the ghosts their way out of a blizzard. Why why Wilmington Why do you think Wilmington has so many ghost stories. Well I was asked that question before and I have had time to think about it a lot. I think one thing is the architecture of the area the big old drafty houses that were built in the eighteen hundreds with a lot of creeks and moans in them without central heat or wall to wall carpeting. A lot of tragedies and very often go seem to too hot when there has been a tragedy involved. We mention before you an ad before the show started the sea and the mysteries of the sea that often bring about ghost stories. And another

thing that I think might have something to do with it is that the area was settled mainly by Scotch Irish an English settlers and those people have a long history and tradition of ghost stories. Even today if you go to any of those countries you can go to haunted houses and you youve heard of the Banshees in Arlon who tell of impending death that sort of thing. So I think its a combination of things. Well very quickly in the short time that we have left you offer a little disclaimer in your book you say its up to the reader for the reader to decide whether or not they believe the stories are true. What do you believe. Well when I'm asked that question I say it reminds me of something I heard or read that a French intellectual said in the 18th century when asked if she believed in ghosts she said no but I'm afraid of having that sort of position.

I may be there. I haven't seen any of them except to make a lie which hasn't ever really been never decided for sure whether it was a an actual goes. But I'm still waiting. Well it is fascinating reading. Again the book is called Haunted Wilmington in the Cape Fear Coast Brooks. Thanks so much for being here tonight. Thank you for having me. It's time to break away from all those spooky scary figments of our imagination and move to a good dose of reality. Michel Louis is at the news desk with a summary of today's statewide happenings

getting match. Thanks Maria. Good evening everyone. North Carolina farmers could be among those hardest hit by the balanced budget plan that's before the U.S. Senate. That's according to a new U.S. Agriculture Department report examining the effects of the scaled down farm programs proposed in the Senate bill. The report shows that under the proposed plan farmers must be enrolled in federal agriculture programs for three of the last five years to receive federal money. However many Southern farmers were forced to drop out of the programs to meet the legal requirements of the federal cotton program. Governor Jim Hunt says he is not actively recruiting a large hog slaughterhouse that wants to locate in North Carolina cites environmental concerns and disappointing payroll projections as reasons for not supporting IBP incorporated plans to locate a plant in Edgecombe County. Hunt's announcement comes less than a year after he an agriculture commissioner Jim Graham met with BP officials to lobby for the plant. BP projects the new plant will employ up to fifteen hundred people.

Senator Jesse Helms is known as one of the top campaign fundraisers but his efforts are being countered by a group trying to unseat the Republican lawmaker next year. The North Carolina committee against extremism says it's raised one hundred eighty nine thousand dollars since March. The group says it won't pick sides in the Democratic primary but will help the winner with advertising and media campaigns against Helms. Taking a look at tomorrow's weather November will get a cloudy start high temperatures will range from the low to mid 60s in the western half of the state to the low to mid 70s in the east. Clouds will extend across the state with the rain forecast for the mountains. Most other regions of the state also have a good chance of seeing some showers in business news fruit of the looms as it plans to close to North Carolina plants and cut back operations at two more by the end of the year. Company officials say the move will put about 14:00 North Carolinians out of work and all fruit of the Loom plans to decrease its U.S. workforce by 12 percent. On Wall Street the Dow Jones Industrial Average gave up a 40 point

lead today closing with a loss of a little more than a point at forty seven fifty five point forty eight nearly three hundred seventy six million shares traded hands both the Standard Poor's 500 Index and the Nasdaq composite index ended the day lower. And now for some stocks of North Carolina interest me. If you've ever wished you could visit the good old days then hang on to your bonnet says producer a noble

and shows us a place where you can. In this report narrated by Maria long Berg. The Tatum cabinet once housed a family of 14. Today it's used to show people how they might have lived a century ago. This family is participating in the Pioneer program the Isaacs who live in Boone usually make dinner in a modern kitchen. But today they're cooking over a fire. They're spending the next 24 hours living as a pioneer family would cooking from scratch dressing like pioneers and even sleeping on a straw take mattress inside the log cabin. Overnight it's a long process to cook from the beginning get the raw vegetables and wash them cut them up and put them over the fire so it's a lot of work but it's enjoyable.

Carol and Jim Isaac say the pioneer family experience is a valuable one especially for their two children 6 year old Ben and 7 year old Lane. We have lived here in this area for a long time and to be able to come in and see authentic cabins and tools they use the cookware they're using they get to cook with those things. That's been a lot of fun. There's a lot to do in those 24 hours and then is learning how pioneers made thread from plants. Jim and Carol learn the proper way to throw Tomahawks. Meanwhile lane just tries to be a lady in her long skirt Hickory Ridge homestead has many educational programs including summer camps for kids. This bunch is learning how pioneers used guns for hunting in fighting the pioneer program is a new feature here but the staff hopes families will leave with an appreciation for today's comforts.

I think as a family they they get to compare a lot of how how things would have been different had they lived a long time ago which I think every family brings up at some point you know what if we live in Little House the prairie was going on or that sort of thing. I think a lot of families are surprised at how comfortable the straw tick is having not slept on ropes in straw before you think it's going to be rather uncomfortable and it really is not. And I think also just the experience of dressing up in different clothing all that sort of thing is it really slows down your whole pace and I think the families really enjoy that time together away from the television away from the radio away from the car and the telephone and having that time together. And it's it is really just as inexpensive as getting a hotel room or you know something else like that you get so much more out of it. All you need to bring are bed linens and a pioneer spirit. The homestead provides the time travel. The pioneer family program is only offered during the summer but Hickory Ridge homestead does offer other programs where you can come and spend the night. You can

call 7 0 4 2 6 4 2 1 2 0. If you would like more information. Well do you remember a favorite toy from your childhood what would you give to have it back today. Some people would give a lot to producer Scott Marsh discovered at the 20th North State toy and hobby show recently in Raleigh. Maria Lundberg narrates our report. Recognize this commercial. If you do then you were part of a revolution in the 60s. Twenty manufacturers armed themselves with a new weapon with which to wage war in the marketplace. Television TV advertising revolutionized traditional merchandising methods and allowed companies to walk right into the homes of children across the nation. As the original TV generation outgrew their playthings most of these toys were thrown out with the trash. Childhood was left behind to be replaced with careers marriage mortgages

and children. We wondered are all of those great toys gone forever never to be seen again. Not if you know where to look. Over a hundred collectible toy dealers from North Carolina and the southeast met with several thousand collectors recently at the state fairgrounds to buy sell and trade those wonderful playthings of RU G.I. Joe was there. So was Barbie. We found plastic toys metal toys scary toys cartoon toys ugly toys even politically incorrect toys. Many still in their original packaging. But it's not only the toys of the 60s that are collectible. We found many toys available from each decade from the 1930s to the 90s according to Toy dealer Nick Patrick. The practice of toy collecting has exploded in the last few years. Why do adults collect toys rather than depression glass or fine china. The obvious reason is

nostalgia. They show you something that they themselves had as a child. And that's what starts they see a place they see a car they see a truck they see a model and that usually starts from that first initial buy because I had it as a kid or the things that they never got for Christmas which is another way people collect. I wanted it and I never got it. And now's my chance to have it. Dealers told us that the hottest selling toys this year are G.I. Joe Barbie Star Wars and Star Trek items. Matchbox cars are also one of this year's hot collectibles. I collect Matchbox cars mostly those from when they started in about 53 in the early 50s up until they changed to the superfast wheels which was mid 70s. I collect them because I appreciate the quality and the attention to detail. And you know still want to grow up. They're fun collectors often concentrate on a particular make or category of

toy. Some collectors specialize in cap gun. Others plastic model kits model trains are a perennial favorite in North Carolina farm toys are especially popular. Other collectors seek out items based on a favorite character from comic books television or the movies. Batman has been a popular toy subject for over 30 years providing collectors with a seemingly endless supply of bat items to add to their collection. Where does he go. You'd be surprised what people have up in your attics where their kids from the 40s and 50s in the 60s. It's just amazing I've gone in the houses and stuff might have been played with some stuff was literally looked at put back in a box but back in you had it in and it was never looked at again. A good example would be the Johnny seven one man army which was your best selling toys in 1964. It's sold for about twelve ninety

five right now in a box. You're looking at a realistic retail value for Aren't you surprised. Remember toys were meant to be played with by children. The odds against finding a 30 year old toy store shelf condition are phenomenal yet pristine examples do exist and they are fast becoming objects of speculation by investors. Some of these toys are so desirable to collectors that the passage of a few short decades has performed a certain alchemy turning cardboard plastic and press 10 into pure gold. Would you believe that a Marx untouchables playset which sold for $7 in 1961 will cost you three thousand dollars today. How about Aura's Godzilla's go cart a plastic model kit that sold for under a dollar in 1065 can be yours for just $5000. Then there is the reigning king of all post war toys. No mirrors are a rare

Robbi Space Patrol. Remember when Made in Japan meant cheap. Well today a mint in box Robbie will cost you twenty five thousand dollars batteries not included. Not willing to break the bank to begin your toy collection. Well relax we found hundreds of toys that cost just a few dollars. Flea markets and yard sales are also a good place to find those old toys at good prices. But the best place to look might just be your own attic. Is there Robby Space Patrol gathering dust in some North Carolina home. Who knows. But wherever you decide to look whether it's your parents garage or the next toy and hobby show you'll probably discover the best reason of all for collecting toys is just a whole lot of fun. The next toy and hobby show will be held on November 18th and 19th at the Greensboro Coliseum complex. Show hours are from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and on Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and mission is $4 for adults and one

dollar for children ages 6 to 12. For more information call 7 0 4 2 7 6 1 6 7 0. After you've eaten all that leftover candy that you didn't give out to the trick or treaters tonight then you'll want to tune in tomorrow night or has another low fat recipe. Our guest will be Neil Lane the president of the National Science Foundation and we'll bring you the courageous story of a Wilmington boy who is HIV positive and the grandmother who cares for him. Well enjoy your evening everyone I have to go home and see if my husband survived all those trick or treaters tonight.