HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Old Days Panel Group 03GROUP 3
Dorothy Dugger
Edna Sims Fazzino
Melvin Payton
Betty: We are proud to see you today. Before we start we are going to ask everybody to state
your name. And if you are working, state what you are doing. So we're going to start right here with Mr.
Payton here, Melvin Payton. WL have Ms Edward Sims and we have Ms. Dorothy Dugger.
Dorothy:
Betty:
about yourself.
Melvin:
Dugger.
Dugger, th
I'm Melvin
not familiarized with Brazos, r
wasn't Burleson County, it was
thing that I can remember why
kids and I walked quite a few rr
Betty: About how m
Melvin: I would say it
and I ask that I wanted to talk
name was Bill Clark and I said
you get out of this field. And I
Betty: About how of
Melvin: I was ten year
get them to chase me away froi
what cam out of my mouth wa:
owe me nothing and I'll leave
Alfalfa hay. The wind had corn
down through the planting and
Betty:
Melvin:
At ten years
That's right.
pay you the same thing that I p y these men.
Betty: And how mu h was that?
Melvin: It was very lyw pay. Back in those day. I can't quite remember the amount that I made.
But he told me at night we to I the trailer up with hay. And he said, `You are going to help do your part,
too, and help load that trailer. " And I said, "OK." I'll do it and when I got through going bailing and
time to load the hay on the tr ler, I would pick up me a bail then I would stand up on a another bail and
then put it up on the truck.
Betty: Now, where 'd your grandparents and great- grandparents live? Can you remember?
Melvin: I don't know where my great- grandparents lived, but my mother and daddy were
separated. I never got a chance
you. So we are going to start right now with Mr. Payton. Tell us a little
yton. I was born in Burleson County. I was raised in West Texas and I'm
of yet because I moved back here in `94. I can remember a little bit. It
Robinson County that we moved to before we moved to West Texas. One
n I was ten years old, I was wanting a job to help my mother support my
les and I found some men and a boss.
y miles?
s about 10 miles that I walked and when I got there they were standing up
to the boss and they pointed him out to me. So he told me his name. His
, `Mr. Bill Clark, I came to get a job; I want to work.' And he said, `Boy,
aid, `Yes, sir, I want to work. I've got to work.'
were you?
s old and all the men they were grown. Grown men. And he kept trying to
n there. And I open my mouth to tell him all right I'm going to leave. But
, `Mr. Bill Clark just give me a chance and if I don't do it right, you don't
.' And he said, `Get up boy ' and we were straightening up rows.
e and scattered it and it had to be straightened. And I got a fork and went
*oined them. And he gave me a job.
Id you had already made up your mind of what you were going to do?
What. And when I made it around then he told me, `You got a job ?' I'll
to see my daddy. I was more or less raised by mother and our step dad.
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Betty: So with these intentions you had already found you a job and you were on your way
Now, what were your parents' names?
Melvin: My mother's name was Savannah Goody and my step daddy's name was Rafael Goody.
Betty: So they were very good parents?
Melvin: That's right! Very good! And I was overwhelmed with joy that I worked week and he
paid me and then I took that money home and gave it to my mother. I was about the happiest kid, I guess.
Betty: At ten years old that was amazing. Where were you born?
Melvin: Here in Burle son County, Caldwell.
Betty: Now, what kind of transportation did you and your family use to move to our area? What
type of transportation did y' all l nave?
Melvin: A U -haul tru k.
Betty: What was thi year?
Melvin: No in `94; I oved here in `94.
Betty: OK. Why di your family happen to move to this area? Was it the money? job?
Melvin: No, huh I'm :7etired and I have a lot of relatives and I wanted to be around my relatives.
Get acquainted from the number of years that I had been separated from my relatives here, I wanted to
come back and be around the
Betty: And today y r age is?
Melvin: 67.
Betty: Why did yo family happen to move in this area you've already stated that, do your
have any relatives here already
Melvin: Oh, yea, ther 's hundreds of them.
Betty: It's amazing.
Melvin: It's hundre of them.
Betty: Now how di . you get to elementary school? Or did you attend?
Melvin: Now we I started school when I was 6 years old and I don't
Betty: What Year?
Melvin: I don't rem ber what year that was. I can remember age. And we walked it a good
ways and then we caught the b s.
Betty: About six es?
Melvin: That's right d then caught the bus and the bus would carry us. I attended school in
Mumford, Texas.
Betty: Do you reme ber that school's name or did it have one?
Melvin: Mumford.
Edna: Mumford In pendent School.
Betty: Mumford In pendent School?
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Melvin: That's right.
Betty: If you rode horse back, what did you do with your horse during school days?
Melvin: Well, we di 't have any horses when I was a kid. We just had some livestock, cows,
and hogs.
Betty: Now as a chil how did you get to church?
Melvin: We walked.
Betty: You walked t church, how many miles is that?
Melvin: I would say t t would be about 7 or 8 miles.
Betty: Was it the whole family?
Melvin: No just .... Mama was always helping me get ready to go to church.
Betty: Do you reme ber how you crossed the creeks and the rivers in the areas where you
were?
Melvin: In crossing the Little Brazos River we had to find a narrow place, we laid a log across it,
we called it a foot log.
Betty: You know th , Brazos River is very, very dangerous. Can you think of a time maybe
when it was raining and you • • to make that cross? What did you do?
Melvin: I would pull y shoes off and walk across it barefoot and then put my shoes back on
when I got across.
Betty: What about • i • s? Did you see any snakes?
Melvin: Oh yes, plen of snakes. Plenty.
Betty: So in those • ys you were always prepared, so what about food? Did you carry a
knapsack or anything of intere • ?
Melvin: Well at this something that I don't know .... I would be playing and I would feel an
urge to go into the woods. An I would get up, and quit playing and I would go in the woods looking for
different things to eat, so I can bring them home. And I would find wild peach orchards out in the woods
and I would fill my pockets and my shirt and I'd bring it home and I would always come back a different
way, so nobody seen me the ways I went.
Betty: During this time did you ever get lost? At this age you can't travel the same way all the
time
Melvin: I'd always gc a different direction.
Betty: And had it memorized?
Melvin: That's right.
Betty: Do you know anything about ferries, trains, wagons, horse and buggy? Tell us a little something
about that.
Melvin: Well see we would always on Saturday go to town anyway, the family would get
together. We would ride into tgwn in a wagon everyday.
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Betty: Well, what
Melvin: Well it was 1
Betty: What bout th
Melvin: The what?
Betty: The Ferry.
Melvin:
Betty: I believe the
the train. What about the train
Melvin: I got a chanc
when you get on the train do
the train and I was getting off
ut cars?
er, kind of a little later in life that we go a car. Our transportation was...
ferry? Was it popular?
rry was during this time, probably not. You were familiar with the wagon,
to ride the train once and I can remember I had n a new pair of shoes and
at the bottom, it says Watch Your Step. And I got on the train and rode
e train, all the people in front of me and they got off real polite, real nice
and I don't know what happened to me. I got to the top step. I stepped off and I went off. New shoes on
`cause they had rubber soles on. I got myself...
Betty: Well, Mr. Payton, you are what we call real lucky. It's quite interesting. Now what about
the buggy? Do you know anything about the buggy days?
Melvin: No, I was just here people didn't use buggies. I hadn't seen many. I don't know
transportation with buggies.
Betty:
Melvin: That's right.
Betty: All right. What were the roads like between Bryan, if you traveled to Bryan and College
Station. I know they weren't like they are today.
Melvin: No, it wouldn't have been no pavement just uh, mules and truck wagon. They had cut
tracks just so wide, the width if the wagon wheel. If you rode a horse where you just got on one of the
trucks.
Betty: So, in other words, walking was the main transportation going down.
Melvin: That's right.
Betty: What were ome of the first paved streets in Bryan or College Station? Can you
remember that? The first pave streets?
Melvin: No, see I wasn't here.
Betty: I see.
Melvin: No developing. By me being in Robertson County, I went to Calvert, so I wasn't raised
up here in Bryan/College Stati m. You know to know about the streets.
Betty: In Calvert, there's a large wide concrete street that has been there for years. In other
words, Calvert during those dys, I would say that there kind of like large space where you could go there
and trade. From Bryan cause l;ryan hadn't quite got their things together. And Calvert was the expedition
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town. How did you go back an forth between Bryan and College Station to do your family's shopping?
Did you shop or your mom?
Melvin: My mother. My mother did the shopping.
Betty: What about sits and friends?
Melvin: Course I visi But not in Bryan or College Station but back in Bryan, uh Calvert we
would walk and go visit frien
Betty: What about rk? I mean you've already stated you started t ten. So you had already
started your working. What ut your father? Mother?
Melvin: Well, we all rked. I had one brother, two sisters that we had two, another sister, some
more sisters and brothers we h< d the same mother but different daddy. And we all started work at an early
age.
Betty:
Melvin:
remember what year it was.
Betty: You weren't
Melvin: I kept watc
asked him if he could watch s
driving." and I said, "Yes sir,
you." I'm going to see can you
and I put it in low gear and in
tell you, I stayed in the bar dit
got back up on the highway, b
Betty: Did you con
Melvin: No, I didn't.
Betty:
Melvin:
Betty:
Melvin:
Now, can yo remember your first family automobile?
Nah, I don't ow what year it was, but we bought a twenty model Dodge and I didn't
the opportunity to learn how t i drive.
Yeah, about how long did it take you to learn how to drive?
Oh, I would my about two weeks. Pretty much about two weeks.
Would he le you take this car by yourself or was it only for the family.
No, he nev did trust me with me or my mother neither one. They never did trust me
by myself at that age to go to town anywhere. With him in the car., then I
You had ins rance?
We didn't w about insurance back then.
Tell us a li about the Interurban trolley system? Was it a trolley system during that
Betty:
Melvin:
Betty:
time?
Melvin: Not that I knew of.
Betty:
ving in these days?
ng my step dad and how he would shift the gear. One day it rained so I
I could "Can I drive for you ?" He said, "You don't know nothing about
I can drive that car." He said, "All right, I'm going to get in there with
drive the car, and I put in reverse and backed up and I got it out to the road
tead of staying in the road I got in the bar ditch and hit the mud. (laugh) I
h until I got to the next road that went up on the highway and that's how I
t I wasn't as good a driver as I thought I was.
ue or did you get yourself in trouble?
I kept, I kept trying until I learned how to drive. He gave me lessons and
Because you aid back, pretty well, you all walked a ways.
Melvin:
Betty:
Melvin:
Betty:
about that?
Melvin:
Betty:
Melvin:
Betty:
Melvin:
Betty:
that far?
Melvin:
a train.
Betty:
Melvin:
Betty:
Melvin:
Betty:
That's right.
Everything walkable.
Uh huh!
Tell me about the customs of the young ladies traveling alone. Do you know anything
Well, I never could remember you always
Did you have a sister or a cousin?
My sister they were always accompanied by someone.
They never went alone.
They never w:hnt alone, sure.
What about l us services between Bryan and College Station? Can you remember back
No not, I never did remember seeing a Greyhound bus station back when I was a kid, or
Now, what w
Just a train. E
What was thi
this date?
id airplane.
date now.
I wouldn't know the date. That would have been back during the thirties.
1930's, let's ee, explain the attitude towards the hitchhikers. The hitchhikers use to be
pretty bad, during the old days. Can you remember any hitchhikers or did you do any hitchhiking?
Melvin: Well normall if you was hitchhiking back in those days people's friendly they would
have a wagon, had ridden in a on well they would stop and give you a ride. Or if they were driving a
car they would stop and give y a ride.
Betty: Well, if they icked you up did you offer any gas or do you owe anything or were you
just dropped off.
Melvin: No there was no charge if someone gives you a ride or the word we would use was lift,
someone gave you a lift, then tl.ere was no charge.
Betty: Going back t the old days compared to today's living would you say that the old ways
days were better or would you stick to the modern days?
Melvin: Well, huh th only difference I can see, food and clothes was a lot cheaper then that it is
now. I remember hearing Paul arvey speak on the news concerning the price today is the same as it was
in the years that we came up. a says the difference is now is there's so many hidden taxes that you're
paying.
Betty: Do you pay tax or have you ever paid tax?
Melvin: Property tax, oh yeah, I paid property tax, sure.
Betty: In comparing would you say it just is about the same or there is a difference?
Melvin: Me I'm enjo . ng it better now, because I'm retired and can go and come as I please.
Back in the old days, I was con tantly working all the time.
Betty: Tell me abou people just passing through your town. Can you remember back that far
some of your relatives just 1•assing through town, and where did they spend the night and get
refreshments?
Melvin: A hitchhiker, sometimes they would use the word hobo, back in those days they would
find them a safe place to sleep in the woods, at the edge of the woods. They wouldn't go all the way in the
woods. They'd find them a safe place in the woods and some of them would go to different people's homes
and ask for food and people would give them food and they would get beyond the town where they knew
they wouldn't be seen and they'would catch a train.
Betty: And in com aring, what about yester years and in the time that you are living now
would you try any of those thin ?
Melvin: In yester ye s?
Betty: Yes.
Melvin: Well, I'd have to use al technique strategy in living today with some of my older days in what I've
accomplished sure I'd use it today.
Betty: And it still holds true.
Melvin: That's right, it was.
Betty: Do you have any experi nce riding an airplane? do you remember during the 1920's or 1949, were
you lucky enough to get on a p ane?
Melvin: Now in the 1930's t ey use to use airplanes to poison cotton crop fields and one of the pilots
wanted to get me and my brot er in the plane. But he never could get up in that plane. It would have been
a free ride. I don't know abo t enjoying it or anything like that but I knew we couldn't get up in that
plane, ain't no way you could et me up in that plane.
Betty: So you were afraid of th plane?
Melvin: That's right.
Betty: That since you gotten ol• have you ever tried the airplane ride?
Melvin:" Well sure. I've tried t and that's the best way to travel.
Betty: So you've had some e perience with this. You've gained something. What kind of transportation
did your family use to get crop to the market? Can you remember the early days.
Melvin: You used a wagon an a team to get cotton to the gin and then anything back in then was more or
less a wagon was the way of g tting things.
Betty: So the wagon was the ain?
Melvin: Of what I seem to remember back then...
Betty: Had you owned a truck some type of automobile in your life?
Melvin: Uh huh, sure.
Betty: In comparing, what yo are doing now, you're retired, was that life better for you or the life that
you're living now?
Melvin: I don't know how to compare because I enjoyed the work. Working to me was like once I learned
the trade, learned my position, which was what I was supposed to learn, which was no problem because I
paid attention to things, I thing
Betty: In your life, were you ev
Melvin: Not that I know of?
Betty: Very few people can say
Melvin: I don't remember getti
that. Very few men.
ng my self in that situation.
Betty: Now when you were trjvveling, how far did y'all go? Did you ever go to California or the larger
cities mainly in Texas?
Melvin: I've been to Californi Arizona, and some of the other states in traveling.
Betty: Would you compare an say Texas is the best place or would you rather travel more?
Melvin: I'd rather live my lif the way I'm living it now. My children, I've had 14 children. I guess we
raised 12 and we have 11 livin and some wants me to come stay 2 or 3 months with them and I tell them
I'm busy back here. I don't ha e time to spend 2 or 3 days and then I come back home.
Betty: Well, you've had a wonderful life and you had 14 children. Where did you go to elementary school?
Was it Brazos or?
Melvin: It would not have bee Brazos , but Robertson. Robertson, I know providence would have been in
Robinson. I remember going t Providence Elementary School.
Betty: All right. What was so e of the subjects that you studies?
Melvin: Well, uh, Geography, in English, Mathematics, spelling. Well reading, and arithmetic seemed to
have been my most favorite an spelling.
Betty: Now most of the time ys won't stick to subjects. So what about reading?
Melvin: Reading was excellen
Betty: Too many men can't s that. Where did you go to middle school? Did they have a middle school
and what grades were include in that?
Melvin: No, I only went to the 7th grade and then I had to quit to go to work full time.
Betty: Did you obtain a lot of 1- arning while you were in the grades, compared to today's education?
Melvin: Yeah, I did.
Betty: In raising your children could you pretty well help them?
Melvin: Yes, sure.
Betty: So you retained quite a bit. How many students did one teacher have?
real close. It just kept me working all the time.
r caught in a trap tat you couldn't get yourself out of?
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Melvin: Back then you had on teacher taught so many grades. In where I went to school in Providence,
we had one teacher, they just two classrooms and one teacher in there, she had, would have from the
1st to the 5th, 4th or 5th grade and then when you passed that then you went to the other classroom and
that was from the 5th all the wy up to the 8th or 9th grade.
Betty: Can you remember anybody graduating from that area when you were going to school?
Melvin: No, yea it was some di graduate.
Betty: In other words you all nt as far as the 8th grade and then you finished.
Melvin: and then you had to go to Calvert.
Betty: Oh, so you were transfe ed.?
Melvin: You got transferred to 'gh School in Calvert, Texas.
Betty: In thinking back about our education, would you say you wouldn't trade it today for anything,
would you compare it to today' education.
Melvin: No, no I wouldn't tr my experience or my education for anything.
Betty: Now how many grades were required for graduation. did you know?
Melvin: I believe you went to the 12th.
Betty: So in those days the graces were divided, the elementary was to itself and then the high school was
to itself.
Melvin: That's right.
Betty: What recreation was av lable to young people, in your times?
Melvin: Well about the only t ng that we had, we had basketball, football. We didn't know anything
about a bat and a glove back them.
Betty: In other words, you raise yourself if it had been. Tell me about your school dances. Were you
allowed, did you get this far?
Melvin: No, I didn't get that f
Betty: For a school dance?
Melvin: That's right.
Betty: What did you and your 'ends do for fun after school and in the summer?
Melvin: Oh, we played. We ma our own toys.
Betty: Most families would say well we had to farm, we didn't have time for all of this fun and stuff. But
you got a chance to play.
Melvin: A little recreation or p ying, but I couldn't rule out that work was important to us.
Betty: That came first.
Melvin: That's right.
Betty: Describe a typical Christ holiday. How was your Christmas holiday?
Melvin: We had good Christmas, good Christmas holidays.
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Betty: Cause mainly the Thank. giving and Christmas, they were the 2 normal holidays.
Melvin: Well, I didn't know anything about Thanksgiving, I but always was glad when Christmas came
around.
Betty: Now did your family take the full 30 days or just the week of Christmas or did you all just have a
week of Christmas.
Melvin: Just the week of Christmas, we didn't have the full 30 days.
Betty: What sports or clubs did you participate in?
Melvin: Well we didn't have any clubs.
Betty: So mostly everything wad done at home?
Melvin: That's right.
Betty: And for the family. How did you go out and eat?
Melvin: Now in our eating in, lirey would give us $.25 on Saturday.
Betty: Now this was in the fam ly?
Melvin: That's right.
Betty: Because you only made, uh, well if you had jobs then you could afford to go out but if you just had
farming it was very cult to go out.
Melvin: Well, we worked and mama just gave each one of us $.25 and she managed the money and I'm
proud of that because she was a lot wiser with the money than we were and I was surprised.
Today when I look k and see what that $.25 bought, and what you can buy today with, and
that helped me out a of too. I had several companies that I worked for offered college to learn,
get your education.
Betty: Did you get a chance to ttend?
Melvin: (To go to them ?) Sure did.
Betty: That's quite interesting. Because a lot of companies won't do that. Then in the end you would get
zero. You'd get a ch ce to go. But was money required? Did you have to pay?
Melvin: No.
Betty: It's free?
Melvin: It's free while you a end college and your time was getting on just like you was at work. And
they gave you so much to spend. They gave you more than enough. They would give you more
than enough, but they would always take some of your money in case you run out.
Betty: Was this in Bryan or C ege Station or was this the other area?
Melvin: No, this was in New exico.
Betty Oh - what was it? Did y and your family own a business during 1920 - 1949?
Melvin: No, we didn't have on
Betty: What was the name of t e street or road your business was on?
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Melvin: In the business that I
Melvin: Well, uh, we weren't
yard work.
in, I believe the address was 209 North Main Street.
Betty: What was the first business private location.? Do you remember back then or did they have any
business other than your own?
Melvin: There's several other business.
Betty: And you own your property?
Melvin: Yes.
Betty: When you look down the street or road, what do you see in life? When you look down the street or
road, what do you see?
Melvin: Well, today, modern y, I see a lot of cars, new cars. I see a lot of new that than I ever seen
wagons and teams on the stree s.
Betty: So you'd say we've adv ced?
Melvin: that's right.
Betty: Who were the business eighbors on either side of yours, can you remember some of your friends
that had a business?
Melvin: I'd say Arthur Mayfie d, he had a business and Uncle Same, he had a business.
Betty: How many people world in your business? Can you remember?
Melvin: My whole family.
Betty: That's interesting. And hey were paid?
Melvin: That's right.
Betty: How many family mem - rs worked there, do you know? Oh, you said your whole family.
Melvin: That's right. My wife, too, she was involved.
Betty: What were your busines hours and days closed? Did you work on Sunday?
Melvin: We had to work on S days.
Betty: What about Saturdays?
Melvin: We worked seven da s a week, and sometimes I had to go buy flood lights and work at night
`cause I was so far behind.
Betty: What kind of recreation did you give your family if you had to work most of the time?
Melvin: After it rained.
Betty: And you were off and vat about summer, did you get any vacation?
Melvin: No, we didn't take variation.
Betty: Were you a very close 't family?
Melvin: That's right.
Betty: What did people buy from you?
in the business of selling merchandise or anything. I did landscaping and
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Betty: That's interesting. How aid you get the goods you sold?
Melvin: Well, uh, I wasn't sel ing anything. It was just furnishing them labor in the type of work that
required what we did. We wer., very successful ion doing it. I knew we had to be the best. To compete
with someone, you have to know what you are doing.
Betty: Describe a good work da■ and a bad work day and what did you all eat, lunch?
Melvin: I would carry them to restaurant, and let them eat dinner. A square meal.
Betty: Everybody chose what th y wanted to eat?
Melvin: That's right. They get eir menus.
Betty: Well, did the cost of livi g? How was it? Was is where you could afford?
Melvin: Sure, in business for y rself.
Betty: and you saved amount money. Let's see. How id the depression effect your business? Did you
have nay depression in your b mess, and you family?
Melvin: No, I had no depression. When they got up of age they wanted to so, some wanted to get married,
join the marines. And I said y'�all have that privilege, you've done worked, I've done taught you how to
work and what your going to h II 've to do is continue in life. To support yourself to have to work for it.
Betty: Did you go to World W I or II?
Melvin: No.
Betty: How did it effect your bu Mess, the wars?
Melvin: I imagine in 1945, I working then. And when I married in 1945, and we were going to have
children, and I remember the s rvice selection sent a card, a paper to fill our and they had put me in class
1A. And they sent me another d I had enough children and they didn't want me in the service with the
number of kids that I had.
Betty: You just continue to wor and you paid taxes? Your wife still living?
Melvin: Sure.
Betty: What do you have in th way of memorabilia, photos, old drawings, maps, paper of 1920 or 1949?
did you bring anything?
Melvin: No, I didn't have any otos, just the memories in my mind of things that occurred from the time
I can remember from 6 years o
Betty: Would you be willing t share any of the above? Copies can be made and the originals returned
unharmed. Your life has been s wonderful and your memory is excellent. And we want t o continue to do
that. Are you a church worker now, continue with your church? And what about gardens? Do you have
anything of interest that you ke p up?
Melvin: No. I did gardening until I became disabled. I was involved in a car accident in `84. So then I had
to file for disability `cause I wbs unable to work. My life is now tremendous happiness and joy back in
Brazos County.
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Betty: Well, we certainly want to thank you Mr. Payton. And if any of this information would be useable,
would you agree to let the club or Memory Lanes do this? All right then, you might have to fill out some
papers. Would you be willing t< do that? We want to thank you and your life and for oral history.
Betty: Edna Sims Fazzino. Now, Ms. Fazzino, it's just wonderful you came today and we want to thank
you. And of course you've heard all these questions so you've had time in your mind to gather your
thought and tell us a little abou: yourself and your family and if your willing , and we'll go from there.
Edna: Well, I was married in 1 944 and I had 2 girls. And, uh, I lost my oldest daughter in 1979 and the
baby girl lives here in College tation, and I was born and raised in Brazos County. And I lived in Peach
Creek and I went to school, the first year I went to school was in Millican and we had to walk 6 miles a
day to school. Then we moved ut at Peach Creek with my aunt, after my daddy got killed in `29 and we
worked on the farm, we farmed.
Betty: Now, how old were you I when you moved to Brazos?
Edna: I beg your pardon.
Betty: How old were you when ou moved to the Brazos Area?
Edna: I was born in Brazos Co nty, and raised in Brazos County.
Betty: You didn't move from ywhere? You were born right here?
Edna: No, I was born in Milli
Betty: do you remember anythi g about Millican?
Edna: It used to be a nice lift e place. The first year I went to school was in Millican, but now there's
nothing there now.
Betty: The old memory is gone.
Edna: Yea, the old school h se is gone and it's just the railroad station is gone, all the stores and
everything is gone.
Betty: Are your grandparents still living? Or your great- grandparents?
Edna: Oh, honey, I never did .' emember my grandparents. I never did see either one of them. My mother
has been dead, my father got killed in `29.
Betty: What were your parents names?
Edna: Sidney Sims and Rena Mae Sims.
Betty: Now, where were they born, were they born...?
Edna: My daddy was born in Brazos County, my mother was born in Arkansas, no in Mississippi; Laurel,
Mississippi.
Betty: Did your family ever s t down, as far as you can remember, did they ever set down and tell you
where they were from or did you ask them, or were you too young?
Edna: I wasn't too young. I j t wasn't interested because I figured they would tell me what they wanted
me to know.
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Betty: Well, sure.
Edna: Well, sometimes, we'd and I found out a grandpa, my mother's daddy was in Arkansas when
he passed away. And just one t 'ng my mama said, she was born in Laurel, Mississippi. But I never could
find none of her people.
Betty: Did it ever bother you ut this? Where your great grand parents were from or what they did or
how they met? It never passed Tour mind? What kind of transportation did your family use to move her?
Oh, you were already here so you didn't have to move.
Edna: Well, we moved from 'Rican out to Peach Creek. We had a, my mother had a wagon, and some
mules, that was our transportat on.
Betty: Was Peach Creek simila to where you moved from?
Edna: Honey, Peach Creek had a school house, two rooms . It's a farm community, it was just a
community.
Betty: So, in other words, there was a difference? Where did you go to elementary school?
Edna: The first year I went to school it was in Millican.
Betty: How did you get there?
Edna: Walked, six miles.
Betty: There and back?
Edna: That's right. Well, 3 the e and 3 back. And we'd see gypsies. My daddy would always tell me when
you see a wagon with a cover n it, it's gypsies. You'd better hide because they'll get you. He'd scare us
kids to death. We hid in the nter time. It was dark when we'd leave the house and it was dark when
we'd get back. But my daddy ould meet us and it was just, well, those were the happiest days of our
lives, we didn't have sense en gh to know it.
Betty: Would you exchange fo today, would you exchange those memories for today's memories?
Edna: No.
Betty: If you rode horse back, where did you leave your horse during the school day?
Edna: We'd put him in the p re by the house.
Betty: How did you get to chur h?
Edna: We walked.
Betty: What Church they invo ved, can you remember back in those days?
Edna: We had the Church in t e school house.
Betty: Most Churches during t at era were in the school houses.
Dorothy:: Can I add a point Any church that wanted to any congregation could come in and hold
services.
Betty: Tell me about your ex ience riding a ferry, train, wagon, or horse and buggy.
Edna: The year I married I mo ed to Houston and I'd ride the train back up there.
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Betty: So you did get a chance to ride the train?
Edna: Oh, yes. That's how we came to the doctor in Navasota and that's how we'd get up there. We'd ride
the train.
Betty: What about wagons? Were they prevalent in during those times?
Edna: Yea, my mother owned ier own mules and wagons and that's the only was, like every July they'd
have like a dinner or somethin Mr. Jim Barlur would have a big "to do ". And we'd get our wagon and
our team and then we'd go. An if we'd go visiting, we'd go in our wagon.
Betty: so y'all kept the holiday 11. What were the roads like between Bryan and College Station? do you
remember that?
Edna: Well, I remember when they build Highway 6 from Millican to Peach Creek, was mud about knee
deep.
Betty: Can you remember the first road they built in Millican or did they build a bridge? Nothing was
done about that? What was so e of the first paved streets in Bryan and College Station, remember that?
Edna: Main Street because it ued to be muddy streets, and a horse and wagon.
Betty: And the horse and wag Ii was pretty prevalent?
Edna: Oh that was the only transportation we had. And then later you might see a T Model run by every
once in a while.
Betty: If you could afford, Ling was prevalent, what about College Station? Can you remember
anything about College Station during the 20's, 40's?
Edna: Well, I started from Pe h Creek when I got up in the higher grades. I started Consolidated, and I
was in the 9th and 10th.
Betty: And what year was this?
Edna: About `35. And I'd g t in the car, the one that would go pick the school kids up that came to
Consolidated. I came with ther1 every morning to go to school about two weeks, and I'd go back home so
I got tired of going to school, s• I went down to the A &M Library. Mr. George Ayres ran it. So I got me a
job there. That was about `36.
Betty: How old were you?
Edna: About 14. and I worked there from `36 to `42.
Betty: So working was prevalent. Did you finish your education?
Edna: No.
Betty: If you had to go back to that time would you continue or what would you do? How would you
compare to that? You wouldn't want to. all right, tell me about your first train ride.
Edna: Well, I thought it was j st wonderful. We rode from Millican to Houston for a dollar.
Betty: How did you go back an forth from Bryan and College Station to do the family shopping and visit
friends and you just mentioned work.
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Edna: Well, there's a fellow li ved down there and he had a truck, a big truck, and he'd come to town and
we'd ride with him. And then when I got a job at college, well I rented a room from a family that I knew
and then I walked from where the Ramada Inn is over at College, over at the laundry to work and then
when I got off, I'd walk back.
Betty: All right, tell me about your first automobile trip outside this area and how long did it take you?
How long would it take you to walk?
Edna: Well, honey, I went to eno, Nevada. That was my first long trip.
Betty: How much did it cost?
Edna: To go over there?
Betty: Yes.
Edna: I don't know how much it took. We went in a care and drove.
Betty: Oh, well, during that ti e, if you drove, would you get out of the car to say, `Thank you. "?
Edna: Well, the ones I went with didn't have to get out of the car and tell them, "Thank You." because it
was my car.
Laughter.
Betty: Tell me about the customs of the young ladies traveling alone `cause it seems as if you should
know a little about this since you did travel.
Edna: Well, it was always, we didn't have to go alone. It was 7 of us kids, brothers, 4 brothers and 3
sisters and we were all together most of the time. And the only place we went by ourselves, we lived down
there, we'd just go from our Douse to visit some of the neighbors place. That's the only place we ever
went.
Betty: Did you ever ride the bus? Tell me about the bus service from Bryan to College Station.
Edna: No, I walked from Coll a to Bryan.
Betty: so, you know what ng is?
Edna: Yes, I do. And where L by's is, there used to be nothing in there but timber
Betty: Those, those are good m mories.
Edna: Yes, sir. I know. Now, I had it do to today, I couldn't get but about 3 blocks. I'd have to come
back...
Betty: Now, could you tell us = little about the attitude towards hitch hikers. Did you ever learn anything
in the early days about hitchhil 'ng?
Edna: No.
Betty: Never heard of anythin
Edna: Oh, yeah, I knew about it, but we never did run in it. Just like I said a while ago, if we'd see them,
we always go "Hi."
Betty: Tell me about the peop e just passing through town. Did you hear anybody mention about where
would they would stay at night And...
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Edna: Well, you see, hobo's come by, and my mother never would turn anybody down. She'd always feed
them. And she'd tell them , the
"Well, you can stay out there a
them stay in the house. But she
Betty: So, we would say that
the experiences you had riding
Edna: No, I never did ride bu
off that I never rode another.
Betty: What kind of transportation did you or your family have? To get goods, uh...
Edna: wagon.
Betty: Across to the market? Y all had, did you do any, uh, farming, or...
Edna: Honey, I worked in the field all my life. And I said if I ever got married, I never would, and I
married the biggest farmer in t e Brazos Bottom.
Betty: Now, how old were you hen?
Edna: When?
Betty: During this time. Were you in your 20's or late 30's?
Edna: When I got married?
Betty Yes.
Edna: I was 24.
Betty: Where did you take the and how far was it?
Edna: Excuse me?
Betty: What kind of transporta
Edna: When I got married?
Betty: Yes.
Edna: My husband had a truck He lived in Brazos Bottom. and he would come to the house and get me.
Betty: Well, that's good trans nation. Where did you take, tell me about your family's gardening and
farming. Did y'all do a little?
Edna: My daddy got killed in '
them. We had a garden, and w
Betty: Now, did your husband 1
Edna: Well, he farmed, but, t
after we left, we run that 5 yews, and after that, well he bought 2 cotton pickers and he'd go to Mississippi
and out west Texas and all out ike that and he'd pick cotton.
Betty: Was this in the lower en ' of Bryan, or...
Edna: Beg your pardon?
Betty: Was this in the lower en ' of Bryan?
'd say they had to go on their way when they'd get through, and she says,
the barn if you want to,. There's plenty of room." But she never would let
never did turn anybody away.
rdd to them helping others were prevalent in these times. Tell us about
ai rplanes.
one time, and I don't want to ride no more. And I was so sick when I got
on, where'd you take them and how far was it?
9 and my mother always had a beautiful garden. In fact, she had 2 or 3 of
had cows and we worked in other people's fields.
ve any business, or operate any business?
n after we got married in `50, well he bought a night club out. And then
C
Edna: It was in the Brazos Bottom. The Mumford Steel Store.
Betty: Where did you go to elem school?
Edna: Peach Creek.
Betty: What studies, do you remember what studies, subjects that you studied?
Edna: Arithmetic and reading and writing.
Betty: Well, now, even though ou took these, as you grew up, were they a help to you?
Edna: Yes, and after I got into - gh, after I started at Consolidated, well I had algebra, and I could not just
work that. And that's when I it school. And the teacher down home was teaching us, he told me, he
said, "If you'll go back, I'll co e up to your house and help you with your algebra every night." and I
said, "No, thank you." I had go a job in the mean time.
Betty: Well, where did you go o middle school and what grades were included in this school? Did you
ever go to middle school?
Edna: No, when I started to sc ool, I went to first, second, and third grade out at Millican and I don't
know how high that they taught out there, how high the grades were they taught out there. That's been too
many years ago.
Betty; And then, then you were ransferred over...
Edna: No, we moved from Millcan to Peach Creek and that's where I started school out there.
Betty: all right. How many studE
Edna: All of Peach Creek. I gue
then one for the big kids.
Betty: O.K.. Where did you go t
Edna: 12.
Betty: What recreations were av
Edna: Well, I don't know. I di
anything, had to work on the f
what I want.
Betty: Well, tell me about your ochool dances. Were you allowed o go?
Edna: Honey, I didn't even know what a school dance was.
Betty: Well, what did you and your friends do for fun after school and in the summer?
Edna: Well, now you wouldn't want to know that.
Laughter.
Edna: In other words, I was the Devil of Peach Creek. Oh, me.
Betty: So, you had a good time uring that time? Describe a typical Christmas Holiday. did you have a big
celebration?
Edna: Oh, yeah. We'd go out i the woods and cut a great big tree and we'd bring it to school and put it
up and take Manila paper and ake rings. Pop popcorn and string it.
nts did one teacher have?
s about, I'd say about 15 to 20. We just had 2 rooms for the little kids and
High School and how many grades were required for graduation?
ailable for young people during that era?
dn't go to school but 2 weeks up there. I decided, well we didn't have
trm all the time, and I decided I wanted to go to work for I could have
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Betty: Sure, in other words, thin Christmas was a, it was a big thing.
Edna: Yeah, it really was. WEB didn't even have no electric lights. Didn't even have no bulbs on the
Christmas tree.
Betty: Well, how long did your family celebrate to whole 30 days or did you just have Christmas?
Edna: We just had Christmas, then back to the fields.
Betty: Well, generally, that is where you start making things, and...
Edna: Well, that's when we were, the week or 2 we were going to school, we'd start making that and get
it ready when the, when we got ready to put the tree up.
Betty: Did you continue this in tour family life, when you had your husband and children?
Edna: Yeah, we built us a nice
my kids and my grand kids.
Betty: What was the most enjo
Dorothy; Recess.
Edna: All right, Dorothy, that',
Betty: Well, where did you go c
home down there and every Christmas I'd have a huge Christmas tree for
le part of your school days?
enough.
ut to eat?
Edna: At home. No, we never c go out to eat.
Betty: Now, what further educaion did you pursue after High School?
Edna: Nothing.
Betty: In other words, you just ot a job and continued- -
Edna: that's right.
Betty: Did you or your family o a business during 1920 or `49?
Edna: No.
Betty; What was the name of the street or road your business was on? What was the first business to
occupy that location? Who own,d, did y'all own your own property?
Edna: Yes. After I got married we did. But before it wasn't, it was my aunt's. We lived on my aunt's uh,
in, home.
Betty: When you look down the street or road, what do you see?
Edna: Beg your pardon?
Betty: When you look down th street or road, what do you see? In other words, in your life you had to
strive and...
Edna: Just hard work.
Betty: But out of this, what did ou gain? You didn't gain love or anything with your children?
Edna: Well, you mean before I ot married?
Betty: Yes.
Edna: well, the only think I c say is those were the happiest days of our lives, but we didn't have sense
enough to know it. But now yo can look back on it and see.
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Betty: Describe a good work thy and a bad work day.
Edna: Well, a good work day is when you didn't have to go to the field barefooted and work all day.
Betty: where did you eat lunch.
Edna: My aunt. We'd go to th field and come back to the house and my aunt would cook for us. And
we'd eat there.
Betty: So you didn't have to bu anything? You had home meals?
Edna: Yes.
Betty: How did the depression ect your business and your family? You said y'all didn't have a business,
and uh, what about World War . Did it effect your family?
Edna: Well, I just had 3 brothe s in the service.
Betty: Now, what do you have i the way of photos, old drawing, anything memorial or...
Edna: Well, I got, the first year I went to Millican School, I've got an old picture about this big that, of all
the kids and everybody that we t to school down there.
Betty: What about papers? Do u have nay birth certificates or some old relic of your mother?
Edna: No.
Betty: As far as pictures?
Edna: Well, I've got some old pictures of my mother, but, uh, that old picture we had made at school out
there where we went.
Betty: Do you have any, any, can you think of anything else old that you saved? Would you be willing to
share any of the above with the
to you if you let them have then and unharmed. Would you be willing to sign a paper for this occasion?
Edna: If I could, that old pictu e, when I was the first year in school. If they would return it, it would be
all right.
Dorothy: You know what I nee ' you to do? I need you to catch some armadillos and turn `em loose at the
church.
Betty: You should have told us hat at the beginning. Thank you so much. Tell us a little about yourself.
Dorothy. Well, you have quite : bit because I sat through one of these one time. But, I need to tell you a
little more about Peach Creek. ike we said, we had the two room school house. That was our community
area.
Betty: How old were you at this time when you moved to Brazos?
Dorothy: I was born in Millic• , Brazos County. I've lived in Brazos County until, well I got married a
year or so afterwards and live • in Robinson County a while, but don't ask me where. Alan and I came
back to Brazos County a year . o in February.
Betty: So, how many years to • have you lived here?
Dorothy: What?
Betty: How many years total ha e you lived in this area?
City History Project? Copies can be made and these things will be returned
Dorothy: Oh, let's see, 24. A..' t 25 is all. But I'm a native. Went to High School, finished High School
here at A &M Consolidated an , you know, went to
Betty: So you're a native of the razos area?
Dorothy: Yeah, I've owned pro c - rty here the whole time. I've been a property payer and everything.
Betty: Now, where did your gr dparents and great grandparents live? Can you remember that?
Dorothy: Well, uh...
Betty: And your parents, maybe
Dorothy: My mother was Ida Lena Marquart, her mother was a Curd that settled here, oh way back
yonder (check Brazos County h ?.tory).
Betty: 17 - 1800.
Dorothy: And in the 1800's. E. ly 1800's I would guess.
Betty: What was the family's nine?
Dorothy: My maiden name was len. My dad owned a ranch out at Peach Creek. H was raised at Grimes
County and my mother was rai ed here in Brazos county and in the Brazos County History Book, there's
quite a bit about the Curd famil , my mother's maternal family, and her dad was an orphan. He was raised
down at Independence, but he clme, was adopted by somebody out of St. Louis, Missouri. Daddy's family,
I can't go back that far. Only ew his mother. They were from Grimes County and they were quite
prominent there.
Betty: So you have a good famil history?
Dorothy: Well, yes.
Batty: What kind of transpirati did you and your family use to move, when you moved here?
Dorothy: Well, Mama did move here for a while. My parents, daddy never drove a car. My mother got her
first car in 1925, a T- Model w *ch she immediately turned over with all of us kids in it. I think she got it
and took off again, but before hat she had a buggy, but we had wagons and horses a lot. My daddy
worked a saw mill for a while. Ve used oxen for that.
Betty: Now, you have relatives s ill living today?
Dorothy: I got brothers and sist s.
Betty: How did you get to eleme tary school? Can you remember that?
Dorothy: Walked, if the weathe was too bad Mama took us.
Betty: If you had, if you rode ho se back, what did you do with your horses during the school day?
Dorothy: Tied them to the fenc We didn't ride horse back to school much. We walked most of the time.
We were only about a mile from the school.
Betty: How did y'all get to church?
Dorothy: Well, Mama took us i the "T" model. The church was at the school too.
Betty: Now, did y'all cross any eeks, rivers at this time?
Dorothy: Yeah, oh yes. We h
across. If the water was down,
cattle and things.
Betty: So you had a pretty good
Dorothy: Oh, yes. We had a wo
Betty: Can you tell me about yo
Dorothy: There's no ferries in t
Betty: What about trains?
Dorothy: I guess my first train
running and the school kids colt)
called it (calvicade ?) and all thi,,
Betty: That was way back then.
Dorothy: 36.
Betty: Well, how many was in y
property on both sides of the Navasota River. Sometimes you boated
e rode horses across. I rode horses a lot because we used them to gather
ime and memory of your younger days?
derful childhood. Didn't have any conveniences, but we had fun.
r experiences riding a ferry? Can you remember?
e area. You asked that question. There were no ferries here, period.
ide was to the Texas Centennial in 1936. We went up. There was a train
ld ride up there and you got your lunch and you got to go I think they
was five dollars.
ur family? Can you remember?
Dorothy: I had 4 brothers and 3 sisters. There were 8 of us.
Betty: Did y'all have 'a wagon o a horse?
Dorothy: Oh, yes. We had all of that. My dad had about 7,000 acres of land down on the Navasota River,
so we had horses, buggies, and just about anything that was available then.
Betty: What were the roads like' Can you remember?
Dorothy: Mud, mud.
Betty: What were some of the fi? st paved streets in Bryan?
Dorothy: Well, I guess the Main Street in Bryan because I heard Daddy say he drove hogs down Main
Street when it was mud. I don't remember.
Betty: How about College Station? Anything in College Station?
Dorothy: Well, there wasn't mu;h except for the school here and about the only way students came in was
by train, and that's why College Station, Texas A &M, and that's why it's named College Station. We
either had to come through a dirt road and gravel through Rock Prairie and up to College Station, or we
had to go out to Millican and I can't remember. That used to be Main Road in Houston -- Wellborn Road.
And I don't remember it not bei ng paved somewhere.
Betty: What about the weather? Was it raining all the time? Was it hot?
Dorothy: Well, it's like now days. You didn't know. Yes we had cold.
Betty: Did you ever attend scho4 while the school was on the campus of Texas A &M?
Dorothy: Yes, I attended over h ..re in Phuffer Hall when it was part of Texas A &M. It was one of theirs.
We used the college library, the A &M Library. Mechanical Drawing, over at Texas A &M under some of
their students with some of their equipment.
Betty: So you had a good life and memory of your old memory days?
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Dorothy: Oh, yes.
Betty: Tell me about your first 'ly automobile.
Dorothy: Well, it was a 1925 M 1"T".
Betty: Did y'all take any trips outside, and how long did you stay?
Dorothy: No, people didn't take vacations back in, farm people especially. Now, I guess we went to
Houston, Baytown, and there wits Pelly down there Mama had 2 sisters that lived down there in that area.
Mama had a brother who lived in Houston.
Betty: What about train rides. Iinw much did it cost?
Dorothy: Don't ask me. I didn't
Betty: Did you ever ride the trol
Dorothy: There was not a troll
system between Bryan and Coll
Betty: what about tokens?
Dorothy: Yes, we bought tokens
like them things too well.
ey system?
y system here. Now, during World War II and before, there was a bus
g e Station that you could ride for $.90 a week, everyday, 6 days a week.
as I worked at A &M and lived in Bryan.
Betty: Did your sisters and you rer travel alone?
Dorothy: Well, no. 1 don't guels we did in those days. I don't remember. We didn't do much traveling
back when we were teenagers. or one thing, by the time I was a teenager, World War II you didn't do
much of anything then.
Betty: What about hitchhikers?
Dorothy: The thing I remember
a hitchhiker. But now during th
anywhere. I mean they could hi
them up if you had room. Took
Betty: Did y'all keep any or giv
Dorothy: No, A &M students di
your homes.
Betty: So you say it wasn't safe?
Dorothy: Well, probably didn't
Betty: What kind of transportati
Dorothy: We had, we had a vehi
Betty: Did y'all have any crops?
Dorothy: Yes.
Betty: Did you take your food th
Dorothy: But it wasn't by motor ehicle.
Betty: How far was it?
Dorothy: According to where th
most about hitchhikers is that we lived on back roads. You would pick up
30's and early 40's, A &M students, anybody stopped and picked the up
: chhike anywhere they wanted to go. If they had a uniform on you picked
th em where ever you were going.
them food?
n 't. You'd give them hobo food now and then. You didn't keep them in
ave room.
n did you and your family use to get goods?
le. We had trucks.
t you raised to the market?
market was.
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Betty: Tell me about your family's gardening, or...
Dorothy: Well, we gardened all the time.
Betty: Well, where did you go to elementary school and what subjects
Dorothy: Peach, Peach Creek.
Betty: And, what do you remem r the courses you took or what...
Dorothy: Courses?
Betty: Subjects that you studied'
Dorothy: Well, mainly it was reading, the 3 R's, and the getting into mischief is all.
Betty: Well, did you have a micdle school?
Dorothy: Well, we had no midc e school. We came from there up into high school here.
Betty: What grades were you i
Dorothy: Well, we went to the
was in high school.
Betty: Well, the question I had
did you go to high school?
Dorothy: Well, I went to high s
Betty: What year was that?
Dorothy: I graduated in 1943.
that time. There was 50 of us t
Betty: What, what recreations
Dorothy: Well, of course they
course we couldn't come in her
did such things, as we went to o
one game we played you probab y never heard of was "Anti Over ".
Betty: "Anti Over ".
Dorothy: Well, if we were c. ping or something, that was the only time we could slip out. We'd go
outside the kitchen and throw a ball over the house and that was Anti Over.
Betty: What about your school dances? Did you have any dances?
Dorothy: They had them but w l didn't go.
Betty: What did you and your friends do after school and in the summer?
Dorothy: We went home, we worked and of course we played. We rode horseback as I said, softball, and
basketball, and...
Betty: What about the typical C istmas holiday?
Dorothy: Those, as Ms Fazzino said, we did at school. It was a community project and they still down
there do this as a community project. They still have their Christmas tree at the community center, now.
Betty: What was the most enjoyable part of your school days? And what sports did you participate in?
this school?
ighth grade then when I came and the 12th grade was instituted while I
asked the others was how many students did one teacher have and where
hool here at A &M Consolidated. And I can't...
And in 1943 we were the biggest class that ever graduated from here at
at graduated.
d the young people have during this era?
ad football and all this stuff here at A &M, at A &M Consolidated but of
because gasoline was rationed. I mean we couldn't take the car in it. We
r local, little old school, we played, they played softball, they played, we,
Dorothy: I didn't participate in sports.
Betty: Did you go out to eat?
Dorothy: We only went out to t when we were in town for shopping and there was a Maurice Dice that
had a little hamburger joint on ack street, it was Bryan Street. You got a hamburger for a nickel. You
could get an ice cream cone around the corner for a nickel, and you could get a coke for a nickel at
Maurice' s.
Betty: We would sure like thos days to come back.
Dorothy: No we wouldn't beca se you would be making but 29 cents an hour.
Betty: Did you finish you education after you finished high school?
Dorothy: No, not formally. I hive been associated with higher education the whole time but not formally.
Betty: Did your family own a business between 1920 and 1949?
Dorothy: No. Other than the ranch out there.
Betty: What was the name of th ! street or road that your business was on?
Dorothy: We didn't own a business.
Betty: OK. When you look down the street or road of life what do you see?
Dorothy: Some of the things were better then, and some worse.
Betty: All right, how many family members worked? You say you didn't have a business.
Dorothy: Well, my ex- husband vas in the field of education.
Betty: Describe a good work da and a bad work day. And where did you eat lunch?
Dorothy: Well, the only time }ve took lunch out is when we were out horseback riding, I mean, out
gathering cattle or something and sometimes we had biscuits with butter or sugar in them and Momma
didn't have anything else to put
Moderator: If you ate out, what
Dorothy: 15 cents.
Betty: Did the depression affect
Dorothy: yes, very much so.
Betty: What about World War I
Dorothy: World War I? Now y talking about WWII? You're saying I...
Betty: World War II.
Dorothy: Well, just about every I knew was in the service. I mean the male, just to be honest with
you.
Betty: Did you bring any type o hoto or drawings, maps?
Dorothy: They have some mater al already of mine.
Betty: OK. Would you be willi to share any of these and if we use...
Dorothy: I have already.
Betty: This, would you be willin_, to sign a paper stating that you would be willing to...
n them because we did not have electricity until the 1950s.
lid it cost you to eat?
your family during this time?
Can you remember that?
C Dorothy: As I say, they have ore.
HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMITTEE
City of College Station, Texas 77840
ORAL HISTORY DATA SHEET
I hereby give and grant to the HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMITTEE, City of College
Station, Texas, for whatever purposes may be determined, the tape recordings, transcriptions, and
contents of this oral history interview. Also, permission is hereby given for any duplications of
original photos, documents, maps, etc. useful to the history project to be returned unharmed.
Interviewee releases, relinquishes and discharges CITY, its officers, agents and employees, from all
claims, demands, and causes of action of every kind and character, including the cost of defense
thereof, for any injury to, including the cost of defense thereof for any injury to, including death of,
any person, whether that person be a third person, Interviewee, or an employee of either of the
parties hereto, and any loss of or damage to property, whether the same be that either of the parties
hereto or of third parties, caused by or alleged to be caused by, arising out of, or in connection with
Interviewee provision of historical information, whether or not said claims, demands and causes of
action in whole or in part are covered by insurance.
CO) CC, ^,
Interviewee (Please int)
Signature of Interviewee
ff
Interv3 ewer ( Print)
�t
Signat e of Intervie
Place of Interview
List of photos, documents, mans. etc.
Date
Initial
INTERVIEW STATUS: Completed
In progress
Name
90S A&tnezzna o
Address 6
C S Tx
Telephone — 6 q 4 g 7
Date of Birth
Place of Birth
Interviewee agrees to and shall indemnify and hold harmless CITY, its officers, agents and
employees, from and against any and all claims, losses, damages, causes of action, suits and liability
of every kind, attorney's fees, for injury to or death of any person, or for damage to any property,
arising out of or in connection with the use of the items and information referenced aboved by
CITY, its agents, representatives, assigns, invitees, and participants under this grant. Such
indemnity shall apply where the claims, losses damages, causes of action, suits or liability arise in
whole or in part from the negligence of city.
Sig.- ure o Interviewer
4
Place of Interview
List of nhotos. documents. mans. etc.
HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMITTEE
City of College Station, Texas 77840
ORAL HISTORY DATA SHEET
I hereby give and grant to the HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMITTEE, City of College
Station, Texas, for whatever purposes may be determined, the tape recordings, transcriptions, and
contents of this oral history interview. Also, permission is hereby given for any duplications of
original photos, documents, maps, etc. useful to the history project to be returned, unharmed.
Interviewee releases, relinquishes and discharges CITY, its officers, agents and employees, from all
claims, demands, and causes of action of every kind and character, including the cost of defense
thereof, for any injury to, including the cost of defense thereof for any injury to, including death of,
any person, whether that person be a third person, Interviewee, or an employee of either of the
parties hereto, and any loss of or damage to property, whether the same be that either of the parties
hereto or of third parties, caused by or alleged to be caused by, arising out of, or in connection with
Interviewee provision of historical information, whether or not said claims, demands and causes of
action in whole or in part are covered by insurance.
Art /P vin/ 1 YT/t/
Interviewee (Please print)
Signature of Interviewee
Name
63 ClIAA.L.C41,at
Address
C
Telephone — '7c, ({- 770‘,
Date of Birth
c k:77 77/ OilTace of Birth
Interviewer (Plebe Print)
INTERVIEW STATUS: Completed
Date
Initial
In progress
Interviewee agrees to and shall indemnify and hold harmless CITY, its officers, agents and
employees, from and against any and all claims, losses, damages, causes of action, suits and liability
of every kind, attorney's fees, for injury to or death of any person, or for damage to any property,
arising out of or in connection with the use of the items and information referenced aboved by
CITY, its agents, representatives, assigns, invitees, and participants under this grant. Such
indemnity shall apply where the claims, losses damages, causes of action, suits or liability arise in
whole or in part from the negligence of city.
HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMITTEE
City of College Station, Texas 77840
ORAL HISTORY DATA SHEET
I hereby give and grant to the HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMITTEE, City of College
Station, Texas, for whatever purposes may be determined, the tape recordings, transcriptions, and
contents of this oral history interview. Also, permission is hereby given for any duplications of
original photos, documents, maps, etc. useful to the history project to be returned unharmed.
Interviewee releases, relinquishes and discharges CITY, its officers, agents and employees, from all
claims, demands, and causes of action of every kind and character, including the cost of defense
thereof, for any injury to, including the cost of defense thereof for any injury to, including death of,
any person, whether that person be a third person, Interviewee, or an employee of either of the
parties hereto, and any loss of or damage to property, whether the same be that either of the parties
hereto or of third parties, caused by or alleged to be caused by, arising out of, or in connection with
Interviewee provision of historical information, whether or not said claims, demands and causes of
action in whole or in part are covered by insurance.
Y'G C _12 „4, �!
erviewe ' (PlpaK. print)
Signaturei6f Interaridwee
Name
Address
7 .7 1% --05 �
Telephone
Date of Births /ff z5
/ 6 �� 6 0 R ( T Place of Birth,/,y - -- 7
y� � U/ /
Interviewer APlease P int)
ro ��
Signature of Mute v. , wer
A<./
Plac4 of Interview
List of photos. documents. mans. etc.
INTERVIEW STATUS: Completed
In progress
Interviewee agrees to and shall indemnify and hold harmless CITY, its officers, agents and
employees, from and against any and all claims, losses, damages, causes of action, suits and liability
of every kind, attorney's fees, for injury to or death of any person, or for damage to any property,
arising out of or in connection with the use of the items and information referenced aboved by
CITY, its agents, representatives, assigns, invitees, and participants under this grant. Such
indemnity shall apply where the claims, losses damages, causes of action, suits or liability arise in
whole or in part from the negligence of city.
Date
Initial