YOUR HOMETOWN NEWSPAPER SINCE 1978 w w w. j a m e s t o w n n e w s . c o m
WeeKLy edITIOn
noV. 22-28, 2023 Vol 45 No 47 | 1 Section | 6 Pages
turkey pardon tradition started by little boy By CaROL BROOKs FreeLANCe WrIter cab1hp@gmail.com
You may think it is a longstanding Thanksgiving tradition for the sitting president to pardon a turkey. That sounds like a rather menial duty for the commander in chief but it dates all the way back to Abraham Lincoln. The first turkey “pardoned” on Thanksgiving was in 1863 when Lincoln’s son Thomas “Tad” Lincoln was just 10 years old. Tad was the only Lincoln child living in the White House at the time and apparently ran wild in the building, interrupting receptions and meetings and actually charging admission to meet the president. Thanksgiving was first celebrated as a national holiday in 1863, after Lincoln’s presidential proclamation, which set the date as the last Thursday in November. Because of the Civil War, however, the Confederate States of America refused to recognize Lincoln’s proclamation, and Thanksgiving wouldn’t be celebrated nationally until years after the war. President Franklin Roosevelt declared the date be established as the fourth Thursday in November. In late 1863 the Lincoln family received a live turkey for their
Christmas feast. The youngest Lincoln adopted the turkey as a pet, which he named Jack. It is said the bird followed Tad all around the White House grounds, sometimes on a leash. But when Christmas Eve rolled around, Jack’s life was scheduled to change, as he was to be the main feature of Christmas dinner at the White House. When Tad found out, he managed to hold off Jack’s execution until he talked to his father, who happened to be in a Cabinet meeting at the time. That did not deter the youngster. “He’s a good turkey, and I don’t want him killed,” Tad was reported as saying when he broke into the meeting. His father tried to explain that the bird was given to the family to be eaten, but Tad argued that the bird had every right to live. As always, the president gave in to his son, writing a reprieve for the turkey on a card and handing it to the boy. Elated, the boy raced back to the kitchen area and presented the “stay of execution” for his pet. The website whitehousehistory.org has this to say about the turkey tradition: “Recently, White House mythmakers have claimed that President Harry S. Truman began the tradition of ‘pardoning’ a turkey. However, the Truman Library & Museum
disputes the notion that he was the first to do so. The focus on Truman stems from his being the first president to receive a turkey from the Poultry and Egg National Board and the National Turkey Federation. From September to November 1947, announcements of the government encouraging ‘poultryless Thursdays’ grabbed national headlines. Outrage from homemakers, restaurant owners, and the poultry industry was palpable in Washington. This came to a head when the poultry industry pointed out that the upcoming Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day, the three big turkey holidays, happened to fall on Thursday. The effort was deflated in time for Thanksgiving, but not before poultry growers had sent crates of live chickens — ‘Hens for Harry’ — to the White House in protest. The turkey they presented to President Truman that December promoted the poultry industry and established an annual news niche that endures today.” While 1947 was the beginning of the official turkey presentation from the poultry industry, the turkey pardon remained a sporadic tradition. Truman enjoyed the turkeys he received the following year for Christmas dinner. In the ensuing years, many of the presidents gave clemency to
Photo courtesy of Wikipedia
Turkey at a pardoning ceremony in front of the White House. their gift turkeys, often sending them to farms to live out their lives, but not officially declaring a pardon. News media first used the word “pardon” in reference to a Thanksgiving turkey in 1963. This act became a tradition in itself on 1981 when President Ronald Reagan was the first president to use the word “pardon.” But President George H. W. Bush started the official pardon tradition in 1989. “Not this guy,” Bush said when a holiday turkey was presented. “He’s been granted a presidential pardon as of right now, allowing him to live out his days on a farm not far from here.” Since Bush, all presidents have continued the ceremonial pardon.
turkey names Even though the turkeys were once given to a president to eat, many of them still had names when they arrived at the White House. Often, two birds were given. These are some of the names of the presidential turkeys. Note how pairs have complementary names: Robust, Juicy, Charlie, Woody, Tom, Carl, Harry, Jerry, Liberty and Freedom, Katie, Stars and Stripes, Biscuits and Gravy, Marshmallow and Yam, Flyer and Fryer, May and Flower, Pumpkin and Pecan, Courage and Carolina (born in North Carolina), Apple and Cider, Liberty and Peace, Cobbler and Gobbler, Popcorn and Caramel, Cheese and Mac, Abe and Honest, Tater and Tot, Drumstick and Wishbone, Peas and Carrots, Butter and Bread, Corn and Cob, Peanut Butter and Jelly, Chocolate and Chip. Courtesy the Abraham Lincoln Research Site
Christmas on main highlights holiday fun Thanksgiving location trivia COMPILed By CaROL BROOKs FreeLANCe WrIter cab1hp@gmail.com Quite a few locations in the United States are named after things associated with Thanksgiving. Some are even in North Carolina. Turkey, N.C., is a town in Sampson County. It is located eight miles east of Clinton. In 2014, Turkey Mayor Leon Clifton told the story of how the town got its name. He said a group of wild turkeys, called a rafter, moved into the area during colonial times, settling at a nearby swamp. There are two townships named Cranberry in our state. One is in Alleghany County and the other in Avery County, where the township was named after nearby Cranberry Creek. And do not miss the two Pumpkin Centers, one in Onslow County near Jacksonville and the other east of Lincolnton. Across the United States we have: Turkey: Turkey Creek Village, La.; Turkey, Texas, Turkey Creek, Ariz.; Turkey Creek Township, Kan.; Turkey Valley township, S.D.; and Turkey Snout Ridge, Okla. There are other townships in the United States with “Turkey”
in the name including Upper Turkeyfoot and Lower Turkeyfoot, Pa. Pumpkin: Georgia has the unincorporated community of Pumpkin, which takes its name from nearby Pumpkinvine Creek. There are Pumpkin Centers in Alabama, Arizona, California, Florida, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee and Virginia. Some states, such as Oklahoma, have several towns called Pumpkin Center. In Colorado there’s a town called Punkin Center. Phoenix, Ariz., was once called Pumpkinville. Plymouth: There are a number of counties, places and townships in the United States named Plymouth, as in Plymouth Rock, the landing site of the first Pilgrims. The two counties named Plymouth are in Massachusetts and Iowa. Mayflower: Several locations in the United States lay claim to the Mayflower name, including Arkansas, California, Louisiana, Missouri, Texas and Virginia. Pilgrim: At least three states have used Pilgrim for their locales, including Kentucky, Texas and Michigan. Cranberry: This name is used in Cranberry Township, Pa.; Cranberry Lake, N.Y.; and Cranberry, W. Va.
If you are not sure what Jamestown has to offer in the way of businesses, services, nonprofit organizations, restaurants and entertainment, December is the time to discover the town’s versatility. The Jamestown Business Association is sponsoring its annual Christmas on Main, which will highlight 33 special locations on Dec. 6, 13 and 20 from 5:30-8 p.m. Bethany Medical is the event’s presenting sponsor. “I would also like to give a shout-out to the Whittington Hall neighborhood who has
made a donation to help support Christmas on Main for the community,” said Jamie Hall Erath, JBA president. The event route has been expanded this year to include a trail of sites ranging from Gardner Hill Station in the east all the way to Jamestown Center in the
west. It will include extended hours for many of the businesses, entertainment, a visit with Santa, special photo opportunities against seasonal backdrops and the opportunity to win prizes by visiting all the participating businesses at some point on the nights of the event or during their regular daytime hours. Christmas Stroll cards may be obtained at any participating business beginning Dec. 1. When visiting each, location your card will be stamped. When all the spaces are filled, drop it off at the Town Hall no later than Dec. 20. If the building has closed for the night, it may be placed in see MaIn, PAGe 2
Eagle Scout Stewart Chipman earns prestigious National Medal for Outdoor Achievement PRess ReLease Troop 600 Eagle Scout Stewart Chipman is one of a small number of scouts nationally to earn the prestigious National Medal for Outdoor Achievement. Over three years, Stewart completed extensive requirements, including earning National Outdoor Achievement Award segments in four areas: camping, aquatics, hiking and conservation. Also, he became a Leave No Trace Trainer who educates others on low-impact outdoor activity practices and certified in Wilderness First Aid. Further, he served on staff at a Boy Scouts of America summer camp and planned and led outdoor activities for his troop. “The biggest challenge was completing the backpacking merit badge requirements, especially the five-day, 30 mile see sCOUT, PAGe 2
adVErtisE in tHE JamEstOWn nEWs! We offer great, affordable packages to fit any budget. Call 336-316-1231.
50¢
Turkey, n.C., is a town in sampson County. It is located eight miles east of Clinton.
By nORMa B. dennIs FreeLANCe WrIter ndworddesign@gmail.com