From

Location

Message

Date Posted

South Arkansas

I am looking for a picture of this watermelon either as a photo or newspaper clipping. The watermelon was grown in North Carolina. lbright268@suddenlink.net

10/21/2018 3:25:47 PM

formerly RGG

Lloyd, perhaps the local newspapers wherever in North Carolina might have some photos in their archives. Seems like too big a news event to have gone ignored.

10/22/2018 12:36:38 AM

Lexington, Ky

Doubt that the picture in the attached link is the one you're looking for but it may get you pointed in the right direction. It's Stanton Viverette. There is some writing on the melon that I can make out, some I can't. Enfield, NC is clearly visible as well as "Viverette". His family has genealogical web page with contact info (email).

http://www.angelfire.com/tx4/vibes50/royastor.jpg

10/22/2018 12:48:02 PM

NE Arkansas

Looks like it says
NC Grown by
SS Viverette SR
Enfield, NC

10/22/2018 1:28:35 PM

Corryton, TN

found a pic of 2 in the 140 class from 63 but no 175. Still looking.

10/22/2018 3:35:03 PM

Eastern Shore of VA

Enfield ?
My neck of the woods !

10/22/2018 8:23:56 PM

South Arkansas

The grower also had a 187 a few years later but I am not sure of the year.

10/22/2018 10:44:08 PM

Lexington, Ky

There are several archived news articles that mention him and watermelons.

10/23/2018 8:43:53 AM

South Arkansas

Thanks for your responses. Things get misplaced and become out of sight after fifty or so years. I still would like a photo of one of the larger Viverette watermelons of North Carolina for my website. Such a posting would give credit to the grower whose seed collection was the starting point for the big melons currently being grown. There is a potential for finding lots of Viverette melon photos. President Kennedy presented a Viverette watermelon to Nikita Khrushchev. Other Viverette watermelons were given to members of congress and Viverette watermelons were frequent fair winners. Maybe someone's grandmother or great grandmother in Scotland Neck or Enfield has a scrapbook with some of these photos or newspaper articles.

11/20/2018 12:13:35 PM

Eastern Shore of VA

Viverette is a pretty common name in the area.
I knew several growing up there.
I’ll put some feelers out to my kinfolks.

11/21/2018 6:36:29 AM

Spring Hope, N.C. - USA

You might look at a rocky mount news paper. Evening Telegram or Nashville Graphic

11/21/2018 2:59:18 PM

Eastern Shore of VA

Danny’s right.
The library might have them on microfilm.

11/21/2018 8:22:51 PM

South Arkansas

Thanks Danny. Knowing newspaper names helps. I did find the names of watermelon kings of the area and found photos of the striped big watermelons grown in the area as far back as 1940. The Enfield Progress is also on microfilm. I hope to find a source for it online next.

11/24/2018 10:44:25 PM