I don’t even know what to say about this one.
Goldsboro News-Argus, 10 January 1939.
The story of Stantonsburg’s mastodon (whale? dinosaur?) caromed around the state for a week or so, then faded away. Perhaps a call to the North Carolina State Natural History Museum is in order.
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In 1940, Moses Rountree registered for the World War II draft in Wilson County. Per his registration card, he was born 24 October 1906 in Saratoga, N.C.; lived at 413 Warren Street, Wilson; his contact was wife Mamie Mitchell Rountree; and he worked for the W.P.A.
Lisa, this reminds me of a Georgia giant sloth whose bones were uncovered in the early 1820s (but probably earlier) by enslaved people, though they were never given any serious credit, just a passing mention in the newspaper. There’s a history of that sort of belittling behavior of the discoveries of enslaved people among naturalists (and botanists, too, which is why I was looking into it). Google “Skidaway Sloth” or search in Georgia Historic Newspapers (or I’ve got more info).
This is one accounting of the story.
https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2024/06/paradise-stolen-skidaway-island-plantation-landings/
I know Moses Rountree’s grandchildren, and plan to follow up to find out what they’ve heard about this story.