The Big Ditch – Fall 2025
Let the Fall Festivities Begin!
By Davia Webb, Reference Librarian
The best season of the year is here! This photo, from our General Photograph Collection, shows the crowd enjoying the Wayne County Agricultural Fair. The people of Wayne County have not changed all that much over the years. Everyone still enjoys the thrill, the lights, and the delicious fair food.
The cool air of autumn brings nostalgia along with it. The Local History Room is a great place to indulge in the warm memories of the past. Come see us anytime!
The best season of the year is here! This photo, from our General Photograph Collection, shows the crowd enjoying the Wayne County Agricultural Fair. The people of Wayne County have not changed all that much over the years. Everyone still enjoys the thrill, the lights, and the delicious fair food.
The cool air of autumn brings nostalgia along with it. The Local History Room is a great place to indulge in the warm memories of the past. Come see us anytime!
Wanna See Something Cool?
By Justin Pickett, Local History Librarian Assistant
Have you ever heard of a stereographic photography? These were seen as a form of entertainment in the late 19th century and early 20th century. The premise of the item is that you have a picture or card with two images. Viewing the card through the stereoscopic viewer creates an illusion to the person viewing the card. Through the stereoscope it almost seemed like a 3D movie – the picture is jumping out at you!
Our local history room happens to have a stereograph with dozens of photos to try out, and you have to see it to believe it. Come visit the Local History room and ask to see our stereoscope!
Have you ever heard of a stereographic photography? These were seen as a form of entertainment in the late 19th century and early 20th century. The premise of the item is that you have a picture or card with two images. Viewing the card through the stereoscopic viewer creates an illusion to the person viewing the card. Through the stereoscope it almost seemed like a 3D movie – the picture is jumping out at you!
Our local history room happens to have a stereograph with dozens of photos to try out, and you have to see it to believe it. Come visit the Local History room and ask to see our stereoscope!
That’s Old News!
By Anna Mitchell, Head of Reference
Talk about a throwback! This clipping from the November 1962 Goldsboro News Argus depicts the architect’s drawing of the projected “new” post office on the corner of William and Mulberry streets. At the time, the post office was anticipated to cost nearly $300,000 – what a deal!
Do you remember the time before the post office was built on the corner?
[image caption:
NEW POST OFFICE – Here is the official architect’s drawing of the new Goldsboro Post Office, expected to be completed before the end of 1963. The building, to be located on the northeast corner of William and Mulberry Streets, will be constructed by MF-22 Corp. at a cost of nearly $300,000. (News-Argus Engraving)]
Talk about a throwback! This clipping from the November 1962 Goldsboro News Argus depicts the architect’s drawing of the projected “new” post office on the corner of William and Mulberry streets. At the time, the post office was anticipated to cost nearly $300,000 – what a deal!
Do you remember the time before the post office was built on the corner?
[image caption:
NEW POST OFFICE – Here is the official architect’s drawing of the new Goldsboro Post Office, expected to be completed before the end of 1963. The building, to be located on the northeast corner of William and Mulberry Streets, will be constructed by MF-22 Corp. at a cost of nearly $300,000. (News-Argus Engraving)]
Talk about a throwback! This clipping from the November 1962 Goldsboro News Argus depicts the architect’s drawing of the projected “new” post office on the corner of William and Mulberry streets. At the time, the post office was anticipated to cost nearly $300,000 – what a deal!
Do you remember the time before the post office was built on the corner?
[image caption:
NEW POST OFFICE – Here is the official architect’s drawing of the new Goldsboro Post Office, expected to be completed before the end of 1963. The building, to be located on the northeast corner of William and Mulberry Streets, will be constructed by MF-22 Corp. at a cost of nearly $300,000. (News-Argus Engraving)]
The Acme Theatre:
A Family Business
By Davia Webb, Reference Librarian
If you have had a chance to stop by the Local History Room lately, you may have seen the voting contest for the Acme Theatre advertisements found in the Goldsboro Daily Argus. We will reveal the winning show at the end of this article, but before that, let’s explore some history of the Acme Theatre!
The Acme was located in Downtown Goldsboro and became a popular place for local entertainment, going from tiny advertisements to half-page spreads in the paper in the span of about 15 years. The Acme Theatre has truly earned the title of a “variety theatre”, with various genres of entertainment, multiple owners, and even more than one location. One thing remained a constant in the Acme’s history though, and that’s the family that ran the theatre.
If you have had a chance to stop by the Local History Room lately, you may have seen the voting contest for the Acme Theatre advertisements found in the Goldsboro Daily Argus. We will reveal the winning show at the end of this article, but before that, let’s explore some history of the Acme Theatre!
The Acme was located in Downtown Goldsboro and became a popular place for local entertainment, going from tiny advertisements to half-page spreads in the paper in the span of about 15 years. The Acme Theatre has truly earned the title of a “variety theatre”, with various genres of entertainment, multiple owners, and even more than one location. One thing remained a constant in the Acme’s history though, and that’s the family that ran the theatre.
The theatre was managed by Estelle Phillips according to the 1911-1912 Goldsboro city directory. She was married to a contractor, Robert Hoke Phillips, who later got involved in the theatre business. Estelle’s son, Paul Vernon Phillips, who was about 22 at the time, was a clerk there in 1914. Theatre life at the Acme seemed to be a brief endeavor for Paul, since he was no longer listed in association with Acme after 1915. This is just the beginning of the family’s involvement in the theatre’s operation. Her daughter, Ethel Gertrude Phillips and her husband Hezekiah Rudolph Mason, both became managers of the Acme years later. Hezekiah, who went by Rudolph, will go on to become the face of the Acme.
Rudolph Mason, was also the President of Mason Industrial Motion Picture Company, making him the first person to open a moving picture house in Goldsboro. In 1916, he opened “The New Acme” and the Argus, sang it’s praises, writing “Its capacity is commodious; its proportions are most graceful; its furnishings are comfortable; its equipment is modern in every feature” and more. In the same year, Ethel Gertrude Mason was the manager of the Acme while her father opened the Rex Theatre on Chestnut Street around the same time. This year marked a new era for the Acme, with it being deemed the “handsomest picture house in the state”. Following the success of the new theatre’s opening, Rudolph Mason and Robert H. Phillips began to co-manage both the Acme Theatre and the Rex Theatre by 1920.
Prior to the opening of Rex Theatre, the Acme was advertising film showings, but it seems that later down the line the Rex took over motion pictures and the Acme was reserved for live entertainment, deemed “high-class attractions”. At the theatre, one could find comedy shows, mysteries, thrillers, dance, music, and more. This all sounds like a good time for some people, but the Acme also hosted minstrel shows, which featured white actors in blackface. This is a practice we condemn today, but was ironically included in the “high-class” entertainment of the theatre.
(Image transcribed:
J. A. COBURN’S MINSTRELS – The best under the sun headed by Charlie Gano: King of Black Face Comedy; Edw. C. Clifford – Minstrelsey’s Premier Baritone; The Great Denton; Carl Cameron’s Saxoland Four; Turner Bros.’ Acrobatic Dancers American Singing Four; All New. All White
Well, the history of the Acme is now coming to an end. In 1926, Robert H. Phillips passed, and the Acme Theatre was never listed in the city directory again. Despite the loss of a business partner and father, Rudolph and Ethel Gertrude Mason continued in the theatre business as co-owners of the Mason Theatre for moving pictures. The Mason’s history is one for another day though, let’s find out the winning show from the 1920s!
Rudolph Mason, was also the President of Mason Industrial Motion Picture Company, making him the first person to open a moving picture house in Goldsboro. In 1916, he opened “The New Acme” and the Argus, sang it’s praises, writing “Its capacity is commodious; its proportions are most graceful; its furnishings are comfortable; its equipment is modern in every feature” and more.
In the same year, Ethel Gertrude Mason was the manager of the Acme while her father opened the Rex Theatre on Chestnut Street around the same time. This year marked a new era for the Acme, with it being deemed the “handsomest picture house in the state”. Following the success of the new theatre’s opening, Rudolph Mason and Robert H. Phillips began to co-manage both the Acme Theatre and the Rex Theatre by 1920.
Prior to the opening of Rex Theatre, the Acme was advertising film showings, but it seems that later down the line the Rex took over motion pictures and the Acme was reserved for live entertainment, deemed “high-class attractions”. At the theatre, one could find comedy shows, mysteries, thrillers, dance, music, and more. This all sounds like a good time for some people, but the Acme also hosted minstrel shows, which featured white actors in blackface. This is a practice we condemn today, but was ironically included in the “high-class” entertainment of the theatre.
(Image transcribed:
J. A. COBURN’S MINSTRELS – The best under the sun headed by Charlie Gano: King of Black Face Comedy; Edw. C. Clifford – Minstrelsey’s Premier Baritone; The Great Denton; Carl Cameron’s Saxoland Four; Turner Bros.’ Acrobatic Dancers American Singing Four; All New. All White
Well, the history of the Acme is now coming to an end. In 1926, Robert H. Phillips passed, and the Acme Theatre was never listed in the city directory again. Despite the loss of a business partner and father, Rudolph and Ethel Gertrude Mason continued in the theatre business as co-owners of the Mason Theatre for moving pictures. The Mason’s history is one for another day though, let’s find out the winning show from the 1920s!
THE WINNER, with the most votes from our patrons, was the 1922 advertisement for Harold Lloyd in “Among Those Present”!
Some voters chose this show because Harold Lloyd was the star, but at the end of the day everyone loves a good laugh.
If you are interested in seeing more advertisments from early theatre come check out our Microfilm!
(Image transcribed:
SATURDAY IS A LAUGH DAY!
Would make even a horse laugh
Harold Lloyd in Among Those Present – A laughter Special – Pathe Distributors
IF Harold Lloyd in “Among Those Present” Don’t make you laugh, we give up, and will turn the Acme Theatre over to the Gloom Undertaker. Other Features on Saturdays Program – The “V” That Vanished, Pathe Western; “Ladies’ Pets”, 2-Reel Comedy; and Eddie Polo Serial.
Admission 20 and 40 cents
Remembering A Fallen Goldsboro Veteran:
Murray L. Borden
By Justin Pickett, Local History Librarian Assistant
With Veterans Day coming up, I wanted to honor and respect a Goldsboro native and veteran of the Vietnam War. Murray L. Borden III was born January 2, 1941, to Murray Borden Jr. and Arabel Parker Cox (Zealy) in Washington DC. However, he was raised here in Wayne County. He graduated with his degree from North Carolina State University in 1962 and soon after joined the Air Force. On October 13, 1966, he would go on an overnight reconnaissance mission with Captain Eugene Meadows and pilot in their F-4C McDonnell Douglas Phantom II from the base of Da Nang, South Vietnam, 10 miles north of Quang Binh Province, North Vietnam. On the fourth pass of their target the aircraft crashed and exploded, and the two men were deemed missing in action.
With Veterans Day coming up, I wanted to honor and respect a Goldsboro native and veteran of the Vietnam War. Murray L. Borden III was born January 2, 1941, to Murray Borden Jr. and Arabel Parker Cox (Zealy) in Washington DC. However, he was raised here in Wayne County. He graduated with his degree from North Carolina State University in 1962 and soon after joined the Air Force. On October 13, 1966, he would go on an overnight reconnaissance mission with Captain Eugene Meadows and pilot in their F-4C McDonnell Douglas Phantom II from the base of Da Nang, South Vietnam, 10 miles north of Quang Binh Province, North Vietnam. On the fourth pass of their target the aircraft crashed and exploded, and the two men were deemed missing in action.
Captain Eugene Meadows’ remains were discovered 28 years later, while Murray Borden is still unaccounted for. These are just some of the stories of Vietnam that have defined a generation of grief for family members who were never able to bring their loved ones home. Borden’s story, being only 25 at the time, sorrowfully reminds us of the youthful generation we lost during the war. His legacy, however, will continue to live on as we celebrate and remember the fallen veterans that cannot be here. While In the process of creating an inventory for our Local History Collection, I viewed a scrapbook of young Murray Borden that captures a childhood of sweet innocence and a joyous little boy. Hopefully, these pictures can brighten your day and remind us of a life that was cut short way too soon.
Captain Eugene Meadows’ remains were discovered 28 years later, while Murray Borden is still unaccounted for. These are just some of the stories of Vietnam that have defined a generation of grief for family members who were never able to bring their loved ones home. Borden’s story, being only 25 at the time, sorrowfully reminds us of the youthful generation we lost during the war. His legacy, however, will continue to live on as we celebrate and remember the fallen veterans that cannot be here. While In the process of creating an inventory for our Local History Collection, I viewed a scrapbook of young Murray Borden that captures a childhood of sweet innocence and a joyous little boy. Hopefully, these pictures can brighten your day and remind us of a life that was cut short way too soon.
“As time goes on I look foward to learning more about the machine and as people return to the states I should be able to get a little more responsibility… Would surely like to hear from you and again, I hope you don’t mind air mailing to the next one on the list.”
This quote was from Murray in what would be one of his last letters to his loved ones sent on August 1, 1966. We are thankful for those like Murray Borden who have served and sacrificed.