WELCOME NEIGHBOR DAY

Stories of calamities that threaten a social occasion are not hard to find: a hurricane arrives the day of a long-planned oyster roast; a new bride invites in-laws for dinner and the souffle doesn’t rise; a huge crowd is invited for a cocktail party and the caterer doesn’t show. But these are small potatoes compared to the upheaval that threatened “Welcome Neighbor Day” — a celebration where, per the News and Observer, “Fayetteville … extended itself beyond anything that any town in North Carolina has ever undertaken before.”

The year was 1941 and the place was Fort Bragg (now Fort Liberty). The Defense Preparation Program had embarked on an extremely ambitious build-up of military preparedness due to the expected entry of the United States into World War II, according to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Engine Research and Development Center. In January of that year, troops at Fort Bragg numbered around 20,000. Only six months later, as a result of the build-up, that number swelled to around 67,000. Fort Bragg had become the largest single encampment of soldiers in the U.S.; if an incorporated municipality, it would have been the third largest city in North Carolina.

Fayetteville had a population of around 17,000 in the 1940 census, according to the N&O. By the summer of 1941, that figure had mushroomed to around 35,000. Such explosive growth created daunting challenges for the city: providing adequate housing, utilities, and general goods and services for an immensely expanded citizenry. The community also felt that it should liberally provide hospitality and morale support for the troops. Amid all of this, most all of Bragg’s troops were sent on maneuvers for 10 weeks in 1941; and, per the N&O, Fayetteville was “put on its mettle by reports … of the fervor” of the hospitality extended to the troops in the maneuver area. Fayetteville’s ambitious response was Welcome Neighbor Day, planned for Dec. 10, 1941.

A steering committee, headed by Fayetteville Mayor J. Scott McFadyen Sr., was assembled to plan the festivities. On the committee were some of the city’s most prominent citizens: D. L. McLaurin, J. M. Wilson, Thomas W. Rankin, Hector M. McKethan, Oscar Breece, George W. Tinnin, John A. Oates, Joseph Huske, Thomas A. DeVane, Sally Tomlinson, Margaret Huske DeRosset, Thomas Sutton, Hector Blackwell, Dr. S. L. Elfmon, Robert E. Nimocks, Dr. J. W. Seabrook, and others, according to the N&O. In addition, many civic groups in the city joined in the effort.

Plans quickly fell into place, and approval for the event was granted by a unanimous vote of the city’s Board of Aldermen on Nov. 20, according to the Charlotte Observer. The committee initially worked with a budget of about $2,000, with the aldermen pitching in $1,000 of that amount. As plans expanded, however, the budget later was estimated to have ballooned to $30,000, according to the N&O. Contributions to cover expenses were solicited from the public, and the community responded generously: Mayor McFadyen, in one news report from the Charlotte News, stated that raising the needed funds was “a mighty easy job.”

Why the budget expanded is easily understood when one learns what comprised the final plans for Welcome Neighbor Day. The festival was to be held downtown on streets radiating out from the Market House. Side streets would be closed off to provide access and staging areas for the day’s activities. In those days of racial segregation, a duplicate celebration for 4,000 Black soldiers was to be held at and around Fayetteville State Teachers College (now Fayetteville State University), according to the Winston-Salem Journal. Dr. J. W. Seabrook, president of the College, spearheaded the planning for that part of the celebration.

A major component of the plans for the day was food, and a lot of it. After all, the guest list included 20,000 soldiers! Area newspapers reported that the committee ordered “15,000 pounds of” barbecue, around 12,000 pounds of bread, “12,000 pounds of chicken, … 10,800 pounds of cabbage, 48,000 bottles of soft drinks,” as well as other items for “trimmings.” Meals were to be prepared from field kitchens, and from there delivered to “1,245 feet of tables” strung along the downtown streets. Around “3,000 cakes and pies” were to be baked and supplied by local citizens.

Following the meal, a parade was planned, along with speeches delivered from the west balcony of the Market House by Gov. J. Melville Broughton of North Carolina and Gov. E. J. Haley of South Carolina, as well as by several military officials. Broughton also was to make remarks at the State Teachers College venue along with Dr. Seabrook, according to the N&O. Capping off the day‘s events would be an evening street dance with different bands playing on designated blocks of Hay and Person streets: Duke University Band, Fayetteville High School Band, and two U.S. Army bands, according to the Winston-Salem Journal.

Few details were left unaddressed. For security purposes, 250 extra police personnel were hired for the day, according to The Robesonian. And publicity abounded: the Durham Herald-Sun, Charlotte Observer, as well as newspapers in High Point, Salisbury, Rocky Mount and others, all gave laudatory coverage to the upcoming event. Even the N&O joined in the enthusiasm.

Raeford and Lumberton newspapers reported that special invitations to the festival had been issued to many of Fayetteville’s neighboring towns. In particular, young ladies of these communities were encouraged to attend — after all, 20,000 soldiers would be hoping for partners for the street dance. The Robesonian reported that a special committee would decide what young ladies would be invited from the Lumberton area. The Raeford News-Journal listed chaperones who would accompany young ladies from that area who attended. And the Herald-Sun stated that women from 13 towns of the region would attend as chaperones.

The Fayetteville/Cumberland County community rallied impressively around the effort with few if any stumbling blocks; excitement mounted as Dec. 10 approached. But events beyond calamity interceded: the attack on Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941, and America’s entry into WWII on Dec. 8, 1941. Amid all the tumult and concern nationwide, there was a pressing decision to be made locally: proceed with Welcome Neighbor Day or cancel? Would the formidable outpouring of time, effort, money, and enthusiasm of the community come to naught? What about the 15,000 pounds of barbecue, 12,000 pounds of chicken, 10,800 pounds of cabbage, etc., on hand? Mayor McFadyen telephoned the appropriate authorities at Fort Bragg for a decision. He was given assurance that all the soldiers would indeed be in attendance as planned. As the N&O observed in an article dated Dec. 9: “The party will probably work something of a miracle in clearing the minds of everybody of the fearful dread that has lain like a pall of clouds above the community since Sunday afternoon.” The show went on — nothing was for naught.

Newspaper articles across the state uniformly praised the party as a resounding success. But more meaningful was the review of one Fort Bragg official. The day after the celebration, as Mayor McFadyen sat in his City Hall office overlooking Bow Street, he observed the arrival of several military vehicles. Shortly thereafter, Col. John T. Kennedy, then commander of Fort Bragg, was escorted into the Mayor’s office. After cordial greetings, Kennedy confessed that when plans for Welcome Neighbor Day were first presented to him, he thought the organizers were “damn fools” to undertake something so ambitious, believing the community would never be able to pull it off. But, he admitted, he was wrong — the event was planned and executed in spectacular fashion, he apologized for his prior thoughts, and he expressed his deep appreciation to the community. With Welcome Neighbor Day, Fayetteville had indeed proved its mettle, had shown supreme hospitality, and had made the soldiers feel more appreciated — more welcome — in Fayetteville.

Don’t let misfortune spoil an event you’re hosting — if Welcome Neighbor Day with 20,000 soldier guests can go on as planned two days after a World War clouds the skies, then certainly you can find a way to have your show go on.

Reggie Barton is a native of Fayetteville. He is a graduate of Davidson College and UNC-Chapel Hill Law School. He practiced law and was very civically involved in Fayetteville for a number of years. For the past 30 years he has lived in New York City, where he has practiced law and pursued acting. In recent years, he has enjoyed writing. The premiere of his first play “Bridge” was produced this year by the Belmont Theatre in York, Pennsylvania.

Read CityView Magazine’s “The Military Issue” July e-edition here.