Bill Alston was a regular caller to TownTalk shows for years, and he was a wealth of knowledge about many things, from railroads to pocket watches.
Alston also was an avid collector, from Civil war artifacts to books on local history.
He died in 2020, and the time has come for his estate auction.
Elissa P. Yount and Bill Alston were friends with a common interest in auctions and local history.
Over the years, Alston collected items of interest, but he also inherited items that had been in the Alston family for generations.
“Bill was a prophet to know that these things would be so valuable,” Yount said on TownTalk. “He just had an eye and a knack for what would be important for future generations.”
A former English teacher, Yount said she is especially interested in the numerous diaries and different historical accounts that she said are among Alston’s collection.
There’s an entire collection of Warren County native Reynolds Price’s works – to Yount’s delight. Other local authors – from Thad Stem to Junius Rogers – are represented as well.
His collection of local histories is quite extensive, too. “He has a book for just about every county in North Carolina,” Yount said. “He was just a great, great collector.”
The auctions will contain many of the items that Alston collected over the years. Online bids are being accepted now and the winning bids will be announced, lot by lot, beginning at 1 p.m. each day on April 6, 7 and 8.
If you are interested in railroad items, bottles, baskets, the Civil War, Corbitt Trucks, locks and toys, check out Winstead’s Auction at
https://www.winsteadsauction.com.
Photos of the items for the April 6, 7 and 8 auctions also can be found at estatesales.net.
A couple of housekeeping notes regarding the online bidding for those who may not be familiar with how online auctions work:
- Bids can be placed until 1 p.m. on the day of the auction; lots will close one per minute. Any bids placed in the last five minutes will extend the bidding by five minutes.
Here’s a sneak peek about the history of the Alston family and some of the items that are included in the estate sale, as related by the auctioneers:
The Alston family were direct descendants of individuals associated with both Saxham Hall inWarrenton and Butterwood Plantation in Halifax County, NC.
The April 6 auction provides a unique opportunity to purchase authentic Americana items, including Alston’s lifetime book collections, including books on local history, genealogical records and other rare volumes.
The April 7 auction includes bottles from Panacea Springs, benches from Boyce Drug Store, locally handcrafted baskets, a Columbia phonograph and Corbitt memorabilia, just to list a few.
Items during the April 8 auction include antique portraits, a Philadelphia Tall Case clock, maritime memorabilia and authentic artifacts from the Civil War.
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FGV Partnership For Children Announces ‘Week Of The Young Child’ Activities April 1-7
/by WIZS StaffSince 1971, early childhood education proponents have celebrated The Week of the Young Child. The FGV Partnership for Children invites the community to help mark the special week – April 1-7 – by participating in numerous activities, all with children in mind.
FGV Partnership for Children’s Development Coordinator Garry Daeke will be a guest on Monday’s TownTalk, and he shared the schedule of events that will take place, including one that will be held Saturday, April 1.
A virtual kindergarten transition forum will be offered from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday. Tanya Daniels, M.Ed. will present “Belonging, Believing and Becoming of Tomorrow’s Children.” Register at www.fgvsmartstart.org.
Additional activities include:
The purpose of The Week of the Young Child is to focus public attention on the needs of young children and their families and to recognize the early childhood programs and services that meet those needs.
New Law Eliminates Need For Sheriff’s Offices To Issue Pistol Purchase Permits
/by WIZS StaffVance County Sheriff Curtis Brame issued a press release Thursday to reiterate the news coming out of the N.C. General Assembly about pistol purchase permit applications.
“Effective immediately, pistol purchase permits will no longer be issued by any sheriff in North Carolina,” Brame stated. “The Vance County Sheriff’s Office has stopped processing pistol purchase permit applications, including pending applications,” he continued.
All state laws regarding the issuance of pistol purchase permits by sheriffs in North Carolina were repealed on Wednesday morning following a vote by the General Assembly to override Gov. Roy Cooper’s veto of Senate Bill 41, Guarantee 2nd Amendment Freedom and Protections.
This means any person who wants to purchase or transfer a handgun in North Carolina no longer has to apply to the sheriff for a pistol purchase permit. However, any person who wants to purchase a handgun through a firearms dealer will still undergo the background check required under current law and either be sold the handgun or denied sale if the background check indicates the person is disqualified from possessing a firearm.
Brame stressed that it is important to understand that North Carolina concealed handgun laws have NOT changed.
Any person residing in Vance County who wishes to carry a concealed handgun in North Carolina must still apply for and be issued a concealed handgun permit by the sheriff.
Criminal penalties still apply for anyone that knowingly transfers a handgun to a person who may not lawfully possess the firearm (such as a convicted felon). Therefore, it is important for citizens to remember that anyone wishing to obtain or transfer any firearm, including a handgun, must still comply with federal and state laws governing who may lawfully possess a firearm.
TownTalk: Buy A Piece Of History At Alston Estate Sale
/by Laura GabelBill Alston was a regular caller to TownTalk shows for years, and he was a wealth of knowledge about many things, from railroads to pocket watches.
Alston also was an avid collector, from Civil war artifacts to books on local history.
He died in 2020, and the time has come for his estate auction.
Elissa P. Yount and Bill Alston were friends with a common interest in auctions and local history.
Over the years, Alston collected items of interest, but he also inherited items that had been in the Alston family for generations.
“Bill was a prophet to know that these things would be so valuable,” Yount said on TownTalk. “He just had an eye and a knack for what would be important for future generations.”
A former English teacher, Yount said she is especially interested in the numerous diaries and different historical accounts that she said are among Alston’s collection.
There’s an entire collection of Warren County native Reynolds Price’s works – to Yount’s delight. Other local authors – from Thad Stem to Junius Rogers – are represented as well.
His collection of local histories is quite extensive, too. “He has a book for just about every county in North Carolina,” Yount said. “He was just a great, great collector.”
The auctions will contain many of the items that Alston collected over the years. Online bids are being accepted now and the winning bids will be announced, lot by lot, beginning at 1 p.m. each day on April 6, 7 and 8.
If you are interested in railroad items, bottles, baskets, the Civil War, Corbitt Trucks, locks and toys, check out Winstead’s Auction at
https://www.winsteadsauction.com.
Photos of the items for the April 6, 7 and 8 auctions also can be found at estatesales.net.
A couple of housekeeping notes regarding the online bidding for those who may not be familiar with how online auctions work:
Here’s a sneak peek about the history of the Alston family and some of the items that are included in the estate sale, as related by the auctioneers:
The Alston family were direct descendants of individuals associated with both Saxham Hall inWarrenton and Butterwood Plantation in Halifax County, NC.
The April 6 auction provides a unique opportunity to purchase authentic Americana items, including Alston’s lifetime book collections, including books on local history, genealogical records and other rare volumes.
The April 7 auction includes bottles from Panacea Springs, benches from Boyce Drug Store, locally handcrafted baskets, a Columbia phonograph and Corbitt memorabilia, just to list a few.
Items during the April 8 auction include antique portraits, a Philadelphia Tall Case clock, maritime memorabilia and authentic artifacts from the Civil War.
CLICK PLAY!
SportsTalk: Swartz Looking For A Future In Pro Basketball
/by Bill HarrisIt’s the dream of most basketball players to play in the pros after their college career comes to an end and that’s exactly what Georgia Tech’s Cameron Swartz hopes to do. Swartz, who is the great granddaughter of Leon and Rebecca Frazier of Bear Pond, here in Vance County, is finishing up her college career and is now turning her attention to playing either overseas or in the WNBA.
“I have some international offers,” Swartz said on Thursday’s SportsTalk. “Most likely I will play in Spain. It’s a great way to travel and see the world,” Swartz added. The WNBA is also not out of the question. “I could be drafted in the second or third round,” Swartz added. However, she thinks playing in Spain is her most likely destination. She will work on improving her game and hopefully draw attention from the WNBA.
At the moment, Swartz is rehabbing a knee. Swartz played for three years at Boston College before transferring to Georgia Tech and has become a strong three point shooter and a scrappy player.
Once her playing career finishes she plans on staying involved in basketball in some form. “I’d like to be a college coach or go into broadcasting,” Swartz commented.
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WIZS Radio Local News Audio 03-30-23 Noon
/by Bill HarrisClick Play to Listen. On Air at 8am, 12pm, 5pm M-F
WIZS Radio ~ 100.1FM/1450AM
Cooperative Extension with Jamon Glover: Balancing Family And Work, Pt. 1
/by Bill HarrisListen live at 100.1 FM / 1450 AM / or on the live stream at WIZS.com at 11:50 a.m. Mon, Tues & Thurs.
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Granville Chamber Taking Nominations For 2022 Small Business Of The Year Through April 17
/by WIZS StaffThe Granville Chamber of Commerce is accepting nominations for the 2022 Small Business of the Year through April 17.
There are a few criteria to keep in mind about the business being nominated:
Any individual can nominate a business that they feel deserves recognition and companies may self-nominate.
All nominated companies will be required to submit a written application and return it to the Chamber office no later than April 17. All applications will remain confidential.
Visit https://granville-chamber.com/ to download the nomination form.
Forms should be returned to the Chamber office no later than 5 p.m. on April 17 via email, U.S. mail or hand-delivered.
Send completed nomination forms to lauren@granville-chamber.com; mail to Granville Chamber of Commerce, P.O. Box 820, Oxford, NC 27565 or hand deliver to the office, located at 124 Hillsboro St., Oxford.
SportsTalk: Mark Packer Remembers His Father, Billy Packer
/by John C. RoseEnjoy this post of Mark Packer speaking about his father, legendary basketball announcer Billy Packer.
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WIZS Radio Local News Audio 03-29-23 Noon
/by Bill HarrisClick Play to Listen. On Air at 8am, 12pm, 5pm M-F
WIZS Radio ~ 100.1FM/1450AM
Home And Garden Show
/by Bill HarrisOn the Home and Garden Show with Vance Co. Cooperative Ext.
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