Mike Shaw interview with Era Mae Adams (part one)

The John Burrison Georgia Folklore Archive recordings contains unedited versions of all interviews. Some material may contain descriptions of violence, offensive language, or negative stereotypes reflecting the culture or language of a particular period or place. There are instances of racist language and description, particularly in regards to African Americans. These items are presented as part of the historical record. This project is a repository for the stories, accounts, and memories of those who chose to share their experiences for educational purposes. The viewpoints expressed in this project do not necessarily represent the viewpoints of the Atlanta History Center or any of its officers, agents, employees, or volunteers. The Atlanta History Center makes no warranty as to the accuracy or completeness of any information contained in the interviews and expressly disclaims any liability therefore. If you believe you are the copyright holder of any of the content published in this collection and do not want it publicly available, please contact the Kenan Research Center at the Atlanta History Center at 404-814-4040 or reference@atlantahistorycenter.com. This is the first of a two part interivew in which Era Mae Adams plays the organ and discusses her background in music. It starts with her playing What a Friend We Have in Jesus on the organ until 02:37. Adams recalls attending music lessons in Fayetteville, Georgia. At 05:45 Adams plays Nearer My God to Thee on the organ and recalls other gospel songs. Next at 08:19, she plays Rock of Ages. and explains how the organ works, followed by When the Roll is Called Up Yonder along with her recollection of her mother purchasing the organ. At 11:06, plays Precious Memories. At 12:26 Era switches gears, telling stories about family gatherings at the family house. Specifically, she recalls dressing up and singing Christmas carols in her neighborhood. At 16:41 Era recounts the first time she danced during a party at a neighbors house. Next, Era retells stories about locals sitting around a fire after working in the fields at her family home. Era also describes playing a dancing game called twistification, in which dancers steal partners. She then talks about her school, where children only attended for two months because they worked in the fields the rest of the year. This recording ends when Adams grandchildren arrive. Era Mae Adams (1903-1983) was born in Fayette County, Georgia. Additional biographical information has not been determined. Organ AHC Oral History Cataloging Worksheet File Information Catalogue Mf;;() I C number 00.:),0'6;)0 Source Field" (ContentDM) ~ Release form Yes 6.r No ) Transcript Yes or No scanned: From Yes or No Default text: Contributed by an OR: Donated by individual: individual through <your org. name> Georgia Foiklore Collection through <your org. name> Object Information Enter .InformafIon about the ohnvsl'caI obll'ect here: Title lJI\~ . 'c....,/>" ~,,(vc~~.> Actr\."1.:'\,, (interviewee name and date of interview) Description lv'\' ~ 1'\0"" A,)""J.V" : b:>11\ R.b ~=, 1'1;"'1"1 <\",!""Ik,/;\1"" (,1'\ (bio on v "" , I interviewee) 1 Creator (Enter either an individual's Burrison Folklore Class name or an organization) Collection " Name (Within the Georgia Folklore Archives organization) Creation Date Exact Date (yyyy-mm-dd) (use only one) Year (if only the year is known) Circa (4 digit year) )q(!l~ . 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A--~.." r~\~ t:r\ (~:",)\!"~fJ\ ~i"'l-A. \;+L ~,h,,,,,;\ 0J\vyUV\ Su'S~' ,I, 'C'':;:} IT !'lAS DIFFERENT IN YOUR DAY For Mr. John Burrison By Mike shaw SPECIFICS: Informant-Mrs. Era Mae Adams, (known in the area as Mama Mae) Age-69 Date of Birth-Feburary 5, 1899 Place of birth-Fayetteville, Georgia Fayette County - Flat Creek Community Present Residence-54 Highway Fayetteville, Georgia Place of Collection-Informant's home om two visits. Participants- Tape no. 1- Mrs. Era Mae Adams, informant Ann McEachern, distant relative of informant Beverly Hightower, cousin to Ann Michael Shaw, collector Tape no. 2- Mrs. Era Mae Adams, informant Mrs. Mable Lord, Ann's grandmother Michael Shaw, collector INTRODUCTION: Mrs. Era Mae Adams, my informant, was born, raised and has lived in the Fayette County area all of her life. She is 69 years old and is now a widow. Mrs. Adams lives in a very comfortable home alone. I became acquainted with Mrs. Adams through Ann McEachern, my girlfrierld's cousin. When we arrived at the informant's home, I was surprised at the most cordial welcome we received, even before being introducted. Many urban people are skeptical of strangers, and not so quick to accept them. Ann, Beverly and I first visited Mrs. Adams on a Sunday afternoon. She was a gracious hostess and very loguacious. On this visit I made two tapes, however, by some mistake, the first tape did not record. So what I have marked as tape number I is actually the second part of my first visit. The tape marked number 2 was recorded on a second visit. I tried to mention some 6 the ghings Mrs. Adams had previously told me, but that I failed 00 get recorded. TAPE 41' 1 Mrs. Adams -- Playing old Pump Organ --"lo/hat A Friend We Have In Jesus". (See photograph) I love to hear the organ. Mike That is great, where did you get thatoorgan? Was it handed down from your family? Mrs. Adams -- No it, uh uh, my mama got it for me and my sister when we was little bitty kids and there never has had a thing done to it, not one thing done. Bev. Did you take music lessons or how did you learn to play? Mrs. Adams -- Well, I never did take many music lessons I, uh Do you know Mr. Quiremire, don't you. Ann - ... Yes rna lIDo <F Mrs. Adams -- They said she graduated from high school, uh, 1909 and uh, now graduated from high school. Ann -- I never thought about her. She would be a good one to talk to. Mrs. Adams -- Do you know her? Mike -- No ma'm. -+ Mrs. Adams -- Uh she graduated in 1909 and, uh she is still g~v~ng music lessons, cause a friend of my, uh, little boy is taking and uh, she has been teaching now; she taught at this school house I was telling you about and stayed with my mama and them down in this and uh, they got this organ and uh and she showed us a little bit uh, when she would you know, come home from school and then uh I took just a few lessons from a teacher out at Fayetteville and uh, that is all I ever took;now we went to uh uh school, uh I mean we called it singing school, uh, they use to have singing school two or three weeks and uh and thats all I never did, I told uh,little Alice was a telling me the other day uh she goes in uh with Eddie sometimes and uh she told me uh; she said Mr. Quiremire graduated from high school and she is just six and she is just getting ready toostart, you know, and she said, uh in 1909; I know it is a long time she said they was 3 boys and 2 girls and that is all there was in that class. Mike -- Oh, that small, yes. Mrs Adams -- umhum, small class. Mike -- That is a long time ago. MUs. Adams -- What I'm talking about is that she is still supply teaching, I thank. Mike -- You mean she is still teaching1 Mrs. Adams -- yes, umllm, and uh she could tell alots I magine don't you Ann? You magine she could? Ann -- I magine she could. Mrs. Adams -- She don't and she probably uh if you have time uh, she lives right there on Railroad Street, what do they call it, Jeff Davis Drive? Bev. Yea, Jeff Davis Drive. Mrs. Adams -- Well ~<n~W she'll talk to you I know cause thats all I ever took from her and I don't know much about music. Bev. -- Well, did you learn, you know, all the notes and everything, don I t you Mrs. Adams -- yea, I learnt em. Music ---- organ Mrs. Adams -- Learn,I just --- this is what I think is pretty. Music ---- Mrs. Adams playing organ "Nearer My God To Thee" Mrs. Adams -- I think, I always did love this song. Mike Bev. That is pretty. \fhat's the name of it? Mrs. Adams & Mike ---- "Nearer My God to Whee" Mike -- You know that, you know the one they sung when the Titanic sunk. "Nearer My God to Thee". That is a pretty song. Mrs. Adams -- Ha, Ha. I love that song. Mike -- It has a good melody. Mrs. Adams -- I never have uh I mean they have alwasy sing it all my life; I never had Imowed nothing else but singing "Nearer My God to Thee" and "What A Frctend We Have In Jesus". Mike -- Do you know any other old onesyou use to sing when you were a young girl a long time ago? Mrs. Adams -- Well, uh, I can't think of can't think of them to much uh uh jus the church songs we uh; I tell you that about uh the most that I know anything about is church songs. Mike -- You know you were telling us about how you use to go around from house to house and singing. Mrs. Adams Unhu. Mike -- What are some of the songs you use to sing then? Which church songs? Mrs. Adams I can maybe find Well, uh, just -- let me get one of the books. some. I know the~as one that uh. Bev. Did you ever have any that you know, that everybody just kind of adopted and made up, and that wasn't really in a song book? Mrs. Adams -- No. I can't uh, I don't think I do. I do remember Music --- Mrs. Adams playing organ -----"Rock of Ages'" Mrs. Adams -- Uh, we use to sing all of these. Mike -- Yea. That is pretty song. Mrs Adams -- Unhu It is , it is really pretty. Bev. Do you call that a pump organ or Mike Yes, how does that operate? I've been watching you. Mrs. Adams -- Uh, you have to uh see, there is these things here and you have to uh see, it won't do if you don't. Mike Yes, that is to pump the ... Bev. IS it really a pump organ? Mrs. Adams Uh, I don't know what you call it, it has just got pedals and these, these is what they call pedals. Mike Yes, you pump those. Bev. How do you know how hard to pump them? Mrs. Adams -- Well, you just have to go by the song I recon. Mike -- Some things you just have to knOl'. Mrs. Adams -- You just kind of go by the song I recon, uh, uh, at least I do cause I don't, I don't know, uh, you know, I don't know too much about music, and uh, we use to just gather around there and sing . Music -- Mrs. Adams playing the pump organ --- "Hhen The Roll Is Called Up Younder" Mrs. Adams -- Now we use to sing that song. Mike I like that. That is "Hhen The Role is Called Up Yonder". That is a nice organ. Mrs. Adams -- Uh, we uh, we uh, they mean went so uh Soiny and got this. going, I can remember when uh, went to Eberneezer I I remember uh, mama and them Mike -- You can remember when they picked it up. Mrs. Adams -- I didn't go, but mama and them did and I can remember when they went and got it. I love this song. Music -- Mrs. Adams playing the organ -- "Precious Memories',' Mrs. Adams -- That is "Precious Memories". Mike -- I have neverhheard that one. Mrs. Adams -- You din't, oh uh they sang that at uh my husband's funeral, "Precious Memories", and I uh think it is so pretty, and uh Mike -- The tune is or do you call it the melody, now it's familar but Mrs. Adams -- Yea, yea I was just thinking about some more that we use to singo Mike -- I bet you use to have a good time though. Mrs. Adams -- Yea we did use to have a good time, I said really people live such a fast live now that they don't have near as good a time as we use to Bev. -- Did you use to get out and have dinners and eat? Mrs. Adams -- Yea, we use to have uh get togethers you know like uh down younder at mama's and thems they use to uh to they'd have a family reunion and everybody comes. Bev. -- Even people you didn't even know. Mrs. Adams -- Yea, around you know we would just get together and uh mama and uh papa would always have uh you know reunion uh their brother and uh I mean mama's sisters they was seven of um and uh the gir~s and thay ain't but one of them living now; she lived in Tyrone I don't know whether you know of them or not, she is a Mrs. Thompson who lives in Fairburn Mike -- Do you know her Ann? Mrs. Adams -- Earl Thompson's mother, William Earl and Darlene uh she married Glen Higgins and uh, you know Preacher Higgins son. They uh, Darlene did, that is uh Aunt Willis' grandchild and so uh . _ Bev. -- How about, did ya'll celebrate Christmas and everything. Did you get toys and things like that? Mrs. Adams -- Oh, uh ah we'd go serenating. Bev. -- Go singing you mean? Mrs. Adams -- No, SERENADING: Bev. -- l~at's that? Mrs. Adams -- We would dress up you know, and go out and sing and uh I said that uh, maybe take uh a day or night and go serenading and sing songs, stop at houses and sing carols you know. Mike -- That sounds like a lot of fun. Mrs. Adams -- Yea, I tell you uh I think we live such a rushy life now til we don't have time for all that, but we use to and we never did get lonesome. Mike Always had things to do I guess. Mrs. Adams -- Yea. Bev. -- Did ya'll have a fireside and everything like everybody? Mrs. Adams -- Yea, uh, we uh uh until the latter years after all of us children got off we just had a fireplace and had uh, my daddy cut wood you know and kept a fire burning and people would come and maybe they would sit until bed-time, and uh, we would have popcorn and peanuts and throw the peanut hulls in the fire you know, just sit around the fire and talk. Bev. \~at did you talk about? Mrs. Oh uh, justa lot of things. Bev. Gossip? Mrs. Yea, gossip. Not about nobody. Bev. Oh, what's gossip, then? Mrs. Adams -- I mean nothing bad, just Mike -- Yea. Mrs. Adams -- Just sit around and have a good time and laugh. Mrs. Adams -- And go on and neighbors would come in maybe, and they would work you know, and the~ all day and say let's go up and sit with so and so, you know, tonight a while and we'd eat peanuts and popcorn and sit around the fire and it was, and we uh, we use to have get togethers; the boys and the girls and I never had known nothing but a croud of young people, you know. Bev. IVhat did ya'll do? Mrs. Adams -- Oh, we just had the biggest time, we uh played twistification, ha ha. Everybody -- Ha, Ha! Bev. -- Played what. IVhat's that? I don't know what that is, I couldn't spell it either. Mrs. Adams -- lfu, uh, stealing partners uh, we would uh have partners you know down at that old hall down at mama's. I tell you my mama would always rather for us to have company at home '<1'~ than for us to go off and we had a croud, we always had a croud there, you know, and we had uh, we'd get in there and uh, of course, you'd have partners and oh you would uh twist uh twistification. Bev. -- Dance? Mrs. Adams -- Well it wonn't dancing cause I never did see anybody but one time dancing till we got our television dance, but hh, uh uh Bev. -- TWISTIFICATION ????? Mrs. Adams -- Yea, unhu twistification, tm t was what they called it and stealing partners and uh. Mike --- I have never heard of that. Mrs. Adams -- And uh one day uh I never did saw nobody square-dance, and my mama uh, hadn't I don't recon, but my daddy had uh and this friend of mine said his aunt was going to have, you know, have uh a dance, I mean a square-dance uh, he asked uh said his aunt wanted him to come, said uh, he said I am not coming unless she comes, talking abbut me, you know, and uh so I said it is your night to ask now; where we can go or not. I didn't have a bita idea that daddy and them would let us go, but it was his night to ask. Well, I'd ask one week uh and on Saturday night and he'd ask if we could go; if we was going to visit somebody you know, and uh, uh, I didn't have no more idear that my mama and my daddy would let me go see them or not. And we all get in the truck and go together you know Bev. How about working in the fields --- did you ever get out and work in the . Mrs. Adams -- Ask me how much I mean, I mean. Bev. did ya'll get up early in the morning what you and when did you eat and things like that? Mrs. Adams -- Uh, well we just, uh we always went to school~course, we didn't have school like 9 months like they do now, they had uh 2 months or 6 weeks in the summer time but uh we'd go to school and come back and help um in the fields, you know, and uh I just enjoyed it and we uh uh I I said a lot of times after in the fall when my daddy would get his cotton uh baled, in bales and have um in that yard down younder and the moon shin.y nights we'd get out there you know and jump~from one bale of cotton to another and we'd have a big time, you know, till we got so tired we didn't know what to do, uh anybody just don't; you know chil~en this day and time just don't know what it is r Bev. -- Did ya'll ever steal watermellons I've heard of people stealing watermellons. Mrs. Adams -- We just always had them I don't recon I don't remember ever stealing any but uh, we'd always have um and uh and friends of mine use to come uh uh spend like revival would be on up at the church; this week the first week in August they'd come spend the week with me and I'd go and spend a week with them and uh uh all we really enjoyed it; we just had plenty of uh. Bev. -- How about ..... Mrs. Adams -- Well, I wonder who that truck is? Bev. -- How about the 4th of July and things like that? Mrs. Adams -- \Ve'd have usually uh. Ann -- and Aunt Dor is. Mrs. Adams --- Is it? They use to have fish fries. Bev. -- Oh, yea, yea. Mrs. Adams -- Yea, that's the days they had fish fries, unhn Mrs. Adams Ya'll Get Out -----OH I SEE SOMEBODY (Mrs. Adams' grandchildren arrivedl TAPE 1F 2 Mike -- I have some notes here some of the things we were talking about before like, for example, you were telling me about some of the preachers around this area and about the time at the service when he kicked his shoe off. Can you tell me that again? Mrs. Adams -- Yea, uh it was down at uh Ebineezer Methodist Church. Brother DeBardleben was uh he was just preaching away and all at onst he he uh his shoe came off and he like to hit a lady there you know uh and he didn't even stop, he just said Satin's just after me and uh uh just went right on and never stop preaching and uh got up, got out of the pulpit and went down and got his shoe and put it on and went on back and he never did even stop at all. Mike Oh gosh Mike Oh me, do you remember any of the other things that use to ~~pen say in chuvch you were a little girl or younger or even even m~ybe more recent? Soem of the meetings you use to have, say for example, the bush arbor meetings you mentioned. Mrs. Adams -- Well, uh you know we were a talkin, I don't know if you got it down about when we din't uh it was when we didn't have full-time services Mike -- You mean like you didn't meet every Sunday? Mrs. Adams -- Well, we met, had Sunday School but we didn't have uh uh preaching but onest a month. Mike -- IVhy was that? Mrs. Adams -- Well, it just wasn't full time and ever church that I knew just had preaching one Sunday out of the month, but we had Sunday School and uh then uh my daddy was a methodist and uh my mama was a baptist, she'd been a baptist ever since she was 13 years old and till she was almost 86 at this church right up here and uh we, he, they'd onthe first Sunday we go up here to preaching and the second Sunday, he put us in uh uh double buggy; they was three boys and two girls and mama and papa and they'd put us and we'd go, put us in this dpuble buggy, they called it surrey you know, and we'd go down there to preaching on the uh uh second Sunday but we'd always have Sunday School in the afternoon but we didn't have training union at that time cause they didn't have no training union at that time. But at night then uh lots Sunday nights we'd meet together you know uh uh that old organ uh do,<U at mama's it was in the living room and we'd meet and sing round that old organ at night and uh maybe the next Sunday night at somebody else's house and we'd just walk around in the community you know uh crouds of us. Mike -- Gosh Mrs. Adams -- And have singings and stand around the organ and sing in and uh that uh Mike -- How did these uh bush arbor meetings,how did they get their name? Mrs. Adams -- I don't know I never did know how they go urn uh I just don't know but I guess it was because they'd get out and uh uh fix you know uh uh in them days and times they uh just get out and cut the and make urn a ~op you know .out of you know the bushes and thangs to keep off the rain and sun and uh uh all that's the way Imagine uh that Mike -- Oh yea that sounds like a logical explanation anyway. Mrs. Adams -- Unhu, I thank that's uh I never did ask I just assumed that was what it was. Mike -- How did the uh Methodist and the Baptist around this area get along, you were telling me about them. Mrs. Adams -- Oh, just fine uh uh I've knowed five or six preachers to be at my mama's and daddy's house and uh eat. Mable Part of urn be Baptist and part of them be Methodist. Mrs. Adams -- Part of urn be Baptist and part Methodist and one of urn would say to mama we goin to make a Methodist our of you and the Baptist would turn around and say to uh my daddy we jus gonna make a Baptist out of you, you know so thats the way, but now we have uh full-time service and you can't do that, you can't go to one from one church to another, you hafe to; because we got full-time. Mable-- uh hu Mike -- You mean you'd like visit two churches on one Sunday maybe like the Baptist on the morning and the Methodist at night or something like this. Mrs. Adams --We have uh uh whenever they didn't have uh.uh we'd ahlSYs to go uh to revivals you know, we'd always to to \lh to the churches. Mable -- The Baptist and the Methodist wouldn't have the revivals at the same time Mrs. Adams -- Revivals at the same time. Mable -- Uh hu and the B?ptist would go to the Methodist and the Methodist would to the Baptist. Mrs. Adams -- In fact, when they gotthere you didn't know the difference. Mable -- I know it, that's right. Mrs. Adams -- Yes, you didn't Mable -- After, I know over at Corinth, you know, they'd have church maybe twicest a month. Mrs. Adams -- un hu. Mable -- Maybe the first and the third Sunday or eighter the second and the forth Sunday. Mrs. Adams -- un hum Mable -- and then the next Sunday maybe then Mrs. Adams -- You'd go to the other one. Mable -- Un hu we'd go to another church Mrs. Adams -- We always had Sunday school up here but we didn't have this full-time and so that's the reason we could do it, now you can't cause, you just YOUpust busy Mable -- Let'me see Flatrock is a Baptist and Ebineezer is Methodist. ~trs. Adams -- Flatcreek , Mable -- Yea, Flatcreek, I mean and Ebinneezer is a Methodist. Mrs. Adams -- A Methodist and uh they'd always I know when uh when uh uh at mama's funeral uh preacher why you didn't know but papa wooudnft uh uh belong up here uh he was one of urn I know and uh during the funeral uh the remarks that th~preacher Moore, Preacher Henry Moore he said uh uh Uncle Turner was uh uh one of ours too, he had gone on first and this was mama's funeral and said uh Uncle Turner was one of us too, Said uh uh and I can remember him saying that at the funeral that day so. Mable -- Although, he was a Methodist Mrs. Adams -- Un hun he was and he loved up there just said cause you see the land goes up to the church; mama and them's did and they we uh up here we never did ride we always walked up through the woods, I said that was the prettiest little old woods right up there cause I walked up there so many times night and day. Mable -- Cherish memories and all. Mrs. Adams -- Yea, it is cherished memories around uh I said when you uh roots is so deep, I never have uh I didn't move from down younder till I married. Mike -- urn hum Mrs. Adams -- And my husband didn't move so I uh uh next place from down there was my husband's daddy's so uh we uh Mable -- You've always lived right around in this area. Mrs. Adams -- Un hum, and th roots is so deep I said I felt uh like it was was differently where your roots where your roots were so deep that you knew everybody just like most of the older ones that have gone on from around now but hh Miss Emily Adams up here, she's 86 uh be 87 her birthday and uh I didn't know uh nothing but them to be up there.Hermother and daddy/never ~oved and uh he and her mother and daddy was uh her dadd~it waJthome and he never did move and his uh daddy and mama is buried right the other side of the house that's just a little piece. Mable -- urn hm Mrs. Adams ~- And uh so I tell you when your'r like that uh your roots arei~f""d""eep you can't they is something about it that you can't explain. Mable -- urn hum Mrs. Adams -- So many memories and uh she they was talkin about it the other day and then I ask her for sure I been thanking her daddy had never moved and she said no he was born and raised right up there and she was born and raised and now she is 87 will be the first Mable -- Well, now like Mr. Walt McEachern out younder, you know is about 88 isn't he, 88 years old and still weather boarding and everything on"the side of the house where he was born and raised in that house and raised his whole family in that house. Mrs. Adams -- Uh, mama use to go and stay with uh uh ~tt. Walt's mama you know when they were uh laid up after they were laid up and I I said it uh you just love people like that I don't, they so different and uh uh Mable -- I love to get with anybody that's old and talk to them. ",\ Mlta. Adams -- I do too, theys is just som""in about them and I uh told them last Sunday I said Ann~s grandaddy had walked across the two the two pastures uh mama wouldn't let me I wouldn't stay up at night and never had I've been a home body at night unless sickness and I could help somebody then I didn't thank anythang about it. Mable -- That's right you've always been good to help. Mrs. Adams -- Uh yea, I mean I always wanted to but after uh uh when I was at home, mama let me go over there with Mr. Mastel and them get ready to wash our feet you know everybody had to wash their feet before they go read to bed. Mable -- Big wash pan aD wash tub to wash one to wash their feet in Mike -- \1hat was that,what do you mean, now I don't understand that. Mrs. Adams -we just had a there. Well, uh uh they don't have bathrooms like they do now big old wash basins and they was a croud of chillen over rr Mable -- Everybody got their wash raggyou know and wash their feet you kno",. Mrs. Adams -- Wash it all of us would get around you know and I'd stand around and to!recelly I would say Mr. McEachern I said Mr. Walt would you walk across the pasture with me and I have got the first time to ask him to come and he didn't come, he'd come right out there where I could see the house and I'd run on to the house. Mike --Goo-lee, That was real nice of him. '{c~)t;;;;;; fA. ofe Mrs. [Adams -- Un hum, its so nice that's what I said they when you'rejdeep. We use to papa, in the fall would get uh the cotton uh take it to the gin and bring it back and have it ginned and put it back in that yard out hhere and when it was ,,arm enough in the fall, after I can, I can see it now the moon would come out and be shinting so btight, we'd jump them bales of cotton. Mike Oh, you were telling me about that now Mrs. Adams -- Ye1, uh I uh just I can just the memory of it that's what I said it; a home means so much now Mable -- Things like that stay with you. }~s. Adams -- Uh hm, yea it stays with you. Mable -- But lots of children now this day and time they had't got time to, I know whe,*qe was little you know we'd get out in the woods you know, and fix us a playhouse and put out them broke pieces of dishes on there and }~s. Adams -- Couldn't hardly get us in to eat. Mable -- Yea, I know it, get uh the broom~s, you know, get out and rake us a little broome straw broom to sweep our playhouse out but children don't realize Mrs. Adams And have it just as clean, I know uh uh we just played I don't uh uh whethere he knows what a strmq broomilll is or not. Mike -- I'm not sure now what is it? Can you describe it to me? Mrs. Adams -- I got one to show you. Mike -- O.K. good enough Pauge Mable See picture of broom~ Yes, you know what a straw broom, is Mike -- Literally that is straw Mrs. Adams -- Well, you go ring and they you ~o ring it Mable -- Yea, you go ring it and then you twist your cord, you know and make you uh Mrs. Adams -- And you have uh you tal~uh an old fork and knife and you uh uh clean I mean you uh clean it down I mean you clean it down turn it this away and you clean there with the knife and fork and uh get all them old things off and that's what you call a broom Course this is an old one you know and I even swept the driveway. Mike -- How long have you had that? Mrs. Adams -- Oh, there ain't no telling; I got two or three out younder now, now that I went and ringed and uh made me some broomes and uh I guess its old timey, you know and Mike -- I've never seen one like that before. MrS. Adams -- Well, that's the reason I said uh this morning, when I picked it up I said I was gonna after he comes I'm gonna show him that broome. Mike -- I would like to get a picture of it, as a matter of fact, I will. Mrs. Adams -- Yea, I think, 1 think I've got my new one so it will show up high so you will know its high. Mike Oh you mean does it wear down as you use it? Mrs. Adams -- Yea. Mable -- As you use it, you know, it wears it down. Mrs. Adams -- I had that one there for years. Mable -. For a while, it was a whole lot higher than that. Mike How high was this one to start with? Mrs. Adams -- ah, about that high aren't they? Mable -- Uh hum, about 5 or 6 foot. Mike -- I'd like to get a picture of that. Mrs. Adams -- Well, we get uh a new one; and I want to show him this old high bed of mama's; I bet he ain't never saw don't know whether you ever seen one or not. I got my curtains, come back here. Mable -- It'd be nice for him to get a picture, I'd like for him to sometime get a picture of a bowl that I have that's about lih about 100 right at 125 years old, I wouldn't take nothing for it. Pause See picture of High Bed Mrs. Adams -- Well do you know uh you've heard em talk about uh when you use to cook on a fire and uh have uh they had a iron hit hit I don't have the top but I do have the other the bottom part of it. And hit and they cook in the fireplace and put coals on the top of it was Mable Grandma Lord done that Mrs. Adams -- I'll show you what I'm talking about. Pause --- See picture of iron skillet. Mable -- Made biscuits in it that just melt in your mouth. Mrs. Adams -- Yea, un hum Mable -- She taken uh we come down one time uh me and John after just after we were married and we sat around for a while Grandma says well uh says I guess I better fix us a mouthful to eat. Mrs. Adams -- Its been sitting here but I don't know where the top got to and I wouldn't know how old it is but you know phey put that down and they put top just like this I don't know where it got to and all its round, I guess it got lost I don't remember seeing it Mable -- But you pul~ed the coals out Mrs. Adams -- Yea, you sat that down and put your coals over it. Mike -- Why? Mrs. Adams -- Cook with it, cook in the fire place. Mable -- If you had a lid you see you'd put your biscuits in there and then take that top and put coals over that and have coals under them and over it both, Mrs. Adams in there Yes, and it would cook anything else you wanted to eat Mable -- And them biscuits would really be good; mamals would melt in your mouth, Mike Goo-lee Mrs. Adams -- Un hum, yea they'd just, I don't know when about that come from the family way back somewhere. I said I was going to show you that old bed because there's not too many of'em that high, that's a high one of the highest one's I've seen but, , Mable -- No, I don't think I've ever seen one any higher Mrs, Adams -- And I took my beds down, one of em and put that bed up uh, I got the other one up stairs Mike -- Yea Mable -- Have you got your pillow shams, you know, you use't put shams Mrs. Adams -- No I haven't got any pillow shams. Mable -- Put uh you know put your pillows you know and you'd have uh kind of like a curtain like a sham that'd come down over them, well Grandmama Lord had them when me and uh when she lived with us Mrs. Adams -- She uh, she did? uh Mable -- Yes, she'd fix her bed you know and put them shams on them. Mrs, Adams -- And uh and uh they'd be jus so-so ~able -- Ub hum, Just starched just as stiff as a cardboard I won't never forget that Mrs. Adams them. Yes, I seen em too, but I don't have any of Mable -- You know people now these days and times they don't never quilt no quilts or nothing like that Mrs. Adams -- Ub hum, no. Mable -- Well lord, you know, that that was our enjoyment even before I was married Q Mrs. Adams -- I don't spect he's ever seen anybody quilt. Mike -- No ma'm I haven't to be honest with you. Mable -- You know, they was somebody come over one time to mama when she had the quilt up and they said well uh how to you get up there to quilt it you know, we'd have to roll it you know up the ~oft, and says well how you going to get up there and quilt it! That was the funniest thing the day I was, I guess I was about 11 or 12 years old but I knowed how they was doing, you know Mrs. Adams -- Well, they had uh see they had a string a cord uh fo four corners and then uh if they didn't some times it took 'em several days to quilt and putft up uh the top of the 10ft. Mable -- Out of the way you know, and then when you got ready to quilt why you'd uh let down again. Mike -- Oh me. Mrs. Adams would you tell me a little bit about the uh the thrash, you know this is the Mrs. Adams Yea, uh \'Ie "Jas talking abbut conguring the thrash Mable -- Lawd -- la\'ld Mrs. Adams -- And uh you'd uh I don't know what they done but they taken uh when uh the thrash'd break out in a baby's mouth, they would take'em and uh take em to smmebody that could and they always told me that uh it was somebody that uh never had seen their daddy, their daddy died before they were born, uh hum Mable -- Now Mr. Walt Charnes you know he could do that of course Mr. Walt's dead now. v Mrs. Adams -- They'd take 'em and I don't know \'Ihat they'd do but uh well they'd rub in the mouth Mable -- Put uh, put, put some I think I've heard mama say something about they'd put something or other on a uh cloth you know and uh put that cloth over their finger and then rub it you kno\'l at the roof of their mouth. Mrs. Adams -- Well, I I know I in in my day and time I've kno\'ln to take em you kno\'l to people like that. Mike -- Didn't you say Someone was related to you who could do that? 0~A Mrs. Adams -- Yea, uh uh hum but I can't uh who~it they used to take it to, I just can't remember now, but uh they \'las uh \'Ie \'Iere talking about fortune telling. Mike -- Oh, yea Mr~ Adams -- Yea, I uh uh figured I was telling him about lih uh , people used to really believe in fortune telling, and uh papa'd always, my daddy always said, uh his uncle had, of course he had [of course he ha~a big farm and a cvoud of boys and he had uh good many uh uh animals, mules and horses well he'd have fine houses and and they, something would happen to 'em they'd get sick and die. Well he didn't know what was a happenmng, so he goes to the fortune teller to find out and he told him, said you well didn't ever know you had an enemy saidpou, you was honestly you know you always got along with people but said you got an enemy and and said you go home and uh said they are feeding uh poison comeing in there uh and putting in the feeding and uh at night, says well you go home and and take in your barn and your house, all around together, get you a bi-big dog and uh put him in there in the yard and said you won't lose anymore. He go, went and got a big ol'dog uh my daddy said it was named Frank, they named uh it Frank and said you could run that dog uh to death outside but when he'd get inside the fence he'd put them feet up on that uh gate and uh dare you to come in, and said that uh the boys'd be out and they'd always call Frank to escort them to the door you know. Papa said once he liked to got him, he called him but he didn't)he was round at the back somewhere and he said he happened~ to make it in but he just did, but he'd go with him thtough::the door if he knew you. Well, they never lost another house. And I said well I knew anything like that and we were tandng about uh a last night a friend of mine and we were talking about things like that and I said well I had heard uh years ago a man who uh when they used to carry the cotton to gin he went to gin that morning they was just a lot of 'em around the gin and uh so they was a fellow come up then to sit up there a while with him. Little did he think about losing, something was going to happen to his pocketbook, billfold, he had some money in it then. It was a good bit for that day and time and uh so he found out that uh it was missing after he got home. He went. to a fortune teller uh uh a day or two afterwards he tried to think, tried to find it and he uh she told him said YOi\ went to gin and he didn't tell her a thing and she says you went,gin with a bale of cotton that morning they always you know put it on wagons and uh he said while he was waiting there was a lot of'em there he said there was a fellow who came and got up on uh the the uh bale of cotton to sit there with you, you didn't think about it.but uh said your billfold went missing your money and uh said he come on and put it in a hollow tree. But he was two or three days after that when he went to talk to her. Of course, he's moved it and she he said he went by and uh uh there was a hollow tlree and he said he uh that fellow did cmne, and it all went to prove that it was uh you know by telling the that hollow tree was at that fellows house. So he never did get it, of course, it had been several days by the time he talked to uh fortune teller uh but she told him Mike -- Oh, it had been move since then 11rs, Adams ~~ Hu? Mike -- And it had ben moved you knmv before he got to the tree1 Mrs, Adams ~- Yea, it had in the meantime uh hum hit had been moved. Mike -- Yes, ma'm Mrs. Adams ~~ And so uh I said it hu and he was talking about uh Sunday about uh uh superstitions, you know, and uh Mable -- I've heard so many superstitions Mrs. Adams -~ I have too, you know, brake a mirror --- seven years of bad luck and uh Mable -- I know, and uh biliack cat run across the road you know that's bad luck Mrs. Adams Yea, and uh uh a stitch in time saves nine. Mable -- Yea, uh, that uh uncle of mine one time why he wouldn't why if he'd started to towt.nd a black cat or any or any kind of cat went across the roa , why he'd always take you know and uh, turn around and go back and start anew, he wouldn't go on. He'd always go back. Mrs. Adams -- Cause it brought bad luck. And uh, uh, this girl uh, this friend I was talking to last night said yea, we I just laughed said uh, a whistling girl and a crowing hen never do come to a good end. Mable -- I've always heard uh, a whistling girl and a crowing hen, always comes to some bad end. Mrs, Adams == Yea, we were talking uh, uh, about old times, they's so many things even in my day and I, I said it it was so much different and I told her Mable -- It was different in my day, so I know it was different in your day. II IDEA]~II rUMP ORGAN J:!IH.S. ADAMS rLAYING OHGAN ~ffiS. ADAlI1S WITH HAND-MADE S'rRAW BROOM WillS. A.DANlS WITH HAND-JI!rADJ~ STRAW BROOIJI AND pm, ''1',.. \". ,,:.-; '.;,';, HAND-NAl)]~ CHES'r m' DRAWII11S HAND-MADE CABINET , , ~ ,), . .- ~ HIGH ANTIQUE BED I\I[[{S. ADAMS HOME A PDF transcript exists for this recording. Please contact an archivist for access. Professor John Burrison founded the Atlanta Folklore Archive Project in 1967 at Georgia State University. He trained undergraduates and graduate students enrolled in his folklore curriculum to conduct oral history interviews. Students interviewed men, women, and children of various demographics in Georgia and across the southeast on crafts, storytelling, music, religion, rural life, and traditions. As archivists, we acknowledge our role as stewards of information, which places us inaposition to choose how individuals and organizations are represented and described in our archives. We are not neutral, andbias isreflected in our descriptions, whichmay not convey the racist or offensive aspects of collection materialsaccurately.Archivists make mistakes and might use poor judgment.We often re-use language used by the former owners and creators, which provides context but also includes bias and prejudices of the time it was created.Additionally,our work to use reparative languagewhereLibrary of Congress subject termsareinaccurate and obsolete isongoing. Kenan Research Center welcomes feedback and questions regarding our archival descriptions. If you encounter harmful, offensive, or insensitive terminology or description please let us know by emailingreference@atlantahistorycenter.com. Your comments are essential to our work to create inclusive and thoughtful description.