Black History Month:Dixon was a downtown fixture

Squire Dixon was a man many people who visited downtown Kinston in the middle of last century remember well.

Dixon was blinded as a child after losing one eye in a fireplace accident and the other in a farming incident. As he grew older, work was hard to come by for Dixon, so he resorted to shaking a cup in front of businesses.

He moved from place to place until his aunt, who lived in Kinston, passed away. In her will, she left her East Street home to Dixon.

During the late 1940s, Dixon had set up with his cup in front of a downtown business, but was asked to move by the owner. It happened again at another business.

But Dave “The Clothier” Bronstein overheard the second conversation and allowed Dixon to sit in front of his downtown clothing store. Bronstein told Dixon the blind man could sit in front of his store as long as he wished. Later, Bronstein even told his son to allow Dixon to sit in front of the store until the blind man died.

Many times, people would steal from Dixon and some even wondered if he was really blind. Nonetheless, Dixon continued to sell his religious song books and other items to make ends meet. Nothing could stop Dixon from shaking his cup — or from telling those who gave, “God bless you.”

The best times for Dixon were at Christmas and Easter. Many of Kinston’s young people learned to give by watching their parents contribute to Dixon.

Jones was principal of Savannah and Contentnea schools

Jim Henry Jones is best remembered as a principal at Savannah and Contentnea schools, but he was also a valuable member of his community.

Jones, the oldest of two sons born to James W. and Arlena Bryant Jones, was born in Lenoir County. After graduation from high school, he served with distinction in the U.S. Navy during World War II. When he finished serving his country full-time, he enlisted in the Army Reserve and enrolled at North Carolina A&T in Greensboro, where he earned his bachelor of science in history.

He earned his graduate degree at Appalachian State University and later earned his masters in educational administration at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, which he used in his tenure at Savannah and Contentnea.

In his lifetime, Jones was associated with the American Legion Harris Croom Post 219, the N.C. Association of School Administrators, the Knights of Columbus, the Omega Psi Phi fraternity, the Friends of the Homeless, the Association for Retarded Citizens and was a member of the board of commissioners for the Kinston Housing Authority.

A Boy Scout scoutmaster, he also was a devoted member of Our Lady of the Atonement, where he was an usher and lector.

He and his wife, Cora Edward Jones, were the proud parents of one daughter, Colise.