Vicki Rickerson interview with Jesse “Junior” Watson and Earl Godfrey

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 recording begins with Jesse Watson reminiscing on his upbringing in Ozark, Alabama, where he grew up poor and worked as a rabbit hunter and sawmill technician. Next, Earl Godfrey recalls his childhood in Calhoun, Georgia, two miles from Echota Cherokee Nation. At 1:49 Godfrey tells a story about his parents accidentally finding gold the Echota people buried in Sugar Valley Mountain before they were forced west to Oklahoma on the Trail of Tears. Next, at 5:10, Watson tells a story about a road trip his family took to Florida where they encountered rattle snakes and alligators. At 7:08 Watson and Godfrey discuss remedies their families used, including; castor oil, gourd leaves, keraseen, salt, and sut. Then Watson tells a few stories about hunting dogs, life as a farmer in poverty, and his grandfather learning to cook after his wife passed away. At 12:25 Godfrey talks about superstitions his family followed and holiday traditions, like eating black-eyed peas on New Years Day. Then he recalls punishments he received in school, such as his teacher picking a switch and washing his mouth with soap. Next at 15:18 Watson and Godfrey discuss ways they cleaned their teeth, including with sweet gum and charcoal. Then Watson describes his first car, a 1938 Plymouth. Godfrey tells a story at 16:40 about women who turned Pot O Gold brand flour sacks into underwear, then Watson tells a story about women who went swimming without wearing bathing suits. At 20:30, Godfrey tells a ghost story about a woman who drowned in a lake. Then he tells a cautionary tale about Gypsies who asked his grandmother to trade her son for a gold watch; he explains that his town scared children into staying by threatening that Gypsies would steal them. To conclude the interview, at 23:36, Godfrey tells a story about his father dressing like a woman in black face to scare a friend. Jesse Junior Watson (1925-2021) was born in Ozark, Alabama, to Taylor R. Watson (1896-1956) and Lillie Mae Hutto Watson (1900-1945). In 1943 he was drafted into the United States Armed Forces. Watson moved to Atlanta, Georgia, in 1948, then a year later married Sarah Burson Watson (1928-2021), with whom he had three children. In Atlanta he owned a landscape and ceramic tile business; in 1956 he joined the East Point Police Department, retiring in 1983 as a Lieutenant. Watson served as a deacon at Friendship Baptist Church for 50 years and was a member of the Georgia FreeMasons. James Earl Godfrey (1925-2008) was born in Dalton, Georgia, to Ed J. Godfrey (1897-?) and Nancy Godfrey (1901-?). His family moved to Calhoun, Georgia, when he was young. In 1943 Godfrey joined the United States Navy. Two years later he married Belle S. Godfrey (1924-2021). Godfrey served as Chief of Police in East Point, Georgia. Vicki Elaine Rickerson (1950-2018) was born to Harold Lanny Allan Rickerson (1923-2012) and Robbie Bobbie Lee Pierce (1927-2011) in Atlanta, Georgia. She was raised and lived the rest of her life in East Point, Georgia. She graduated from Headland High School and later from Georgia State University, after which she worked as an insurance account executive. Rickerson never married or had children. by VICKI nTr~l(li;HSON for ,JOHN mmnISON 2S MAY 70 "j' JeS8F'~ WeIJ, y[nll.~ well., thj~l is ,T1mior Vfn.tson.'.-........ n.lflay dOl'm, In Oy,;::l.rk.1 AlnlYlmn ... Bm'n In Dn,le COlln;tc,' 011t 'in-1lh-nhont 9 01"10 milA8 from tovm ollt Un0''1' a 'pecaD +,Y'8R~ ml.~-born In 1925, that.'s n long, lonr- t:it118 Clf~o" Hunted rabb:i'i',n for n livin I, plowed a l1111l" nnd snvnnill. Never did have t,oo good a l.ivjn'. Camn on :i D, F..arl, mec~t Vicki Hicln-3rnnn. ]i)J,rJ : Hello, Vicki. Mn; Hi. tTp-sse; This is E,.1.rl GodfY'oy, Vioki. E~arl ~ Vicki, my home tovm is Calhoun, Georgia. :r vns born in Dnltoil, Georr';a in Vfu:ii',fi81d C01Jnty nnd moved flovm to Cn.lhoun Ylhen J wn.s vnry young 1I D,nd p;r'owin I 1lP there we weY''' tn,up;ht to l18JJ.evc most ,werything. And to bo afraid of most everyth:ing. And ":1 most people lmow thni, is,,"h-home of the rt:chota--CherokeD nat:ion--ctbo\lt 2 m:n.OR froln wb~ro I ':ras r[l:\.sed no. ;md a 0011ple of Indian stories that :r been told by my father that I Id like to I'n.S8 on nnd-uh- one is ','lheY'G my mother and fn.ther were 0'1 a 11l0unten-oh-about 'lor 5 miles f'colil C'tlhoul1 c"lledS\lf(ar 1In,11oy Mounten. They wore picken I bJ llGberries one day nnd they go!; lost from one anot. huh. I\nd-nh-my fathoY' camo npon Itn iron stake st.iokon I on the f(round--abo1lt 2 feet abov" the surface of the e0rth--nnd-ub-Jn1oer on whon he-nh-paicl vory litt10 Ittontion to it, went on nncl Intor on whon ho got. b8,ck wi 10h ibn group and my mot,her-uh- they came on ],a,ck home , Hnd [1,11out. a month or so latOJ:" , thoy Yl'nre stHndin I up in Hss,;I.cka, Geol'r;i.A. on n. front of the starn norch, and a J'ndinn Clune t.hru fx'om CA.li ....uhOklnhoma, That it was ont 1oheY'e at the Indian reservation. And they VI1lZ te,lldn I to him on thuh poroh and-uh-this Indian pointed over 100 2 the mounten--same mounten that my mother and father were picken' blueberries on--and-uh-said on that mounten, said there's a ]'o.rrel of gold berried. And tbi s gold-.barrol 0' [':old--:Is marked by .on iron stake stinldn' in the ground. So my father nnd some other mon that were w~th hirn-frj.ends-asked the Indian to tak 'um and show them-uh-where tbe iron "in stake was and show them-uh- hov! to get OVHC there. He said he couldn' t do that, said if he did it, his people would kIll h:im--that he waddn't able to shovr them where It was at--but sai d on the mounton there wan a stake and a barrel 0' gold. So my father and other group, they went back fmd they looked for-oh, weeks or oft and on or months-and they never located this-uh- stake anymore. 'Phen sometiJne after that there was another Indian came thru in an old trailoB and he-uh-wuz looldn' for a place to " spend the night and they had a place out just about a mile and a half from our home called Henderson's fa.rm near the rivuh and-uh- he drove in out there and asked Hr. Henderson could he spend the n'i.ght out there, that he wouldn't bother anythinp; anel he 'el he gone early i.n the morning. And he just vmnkd to park his tra:i1or, so the ovmer of the farm gave hirn permIssIon and-uh-the next morning at elaylif~ht, when they-uh-f;ot up, they noticed that the trailor was gone. So they-uh-durinf; the day some of them were dovm neH)" tho creek where the creeR: goes into the rivuh and they notiood undor a treo there VIUZ alargo hole ah011t nw).':])() 301' ),. fed,-uh-widoa.nd ma.ybe tho same-uh-uh-probahly th1,t deep- I!, feet doep-was freshly dug 011t,. So they took it as that. \'ho Indian must ha.vo knovlGd that there vms some gold berried there and that he'd ,: came back and picked it up anel went on his vmy.(motifl N563 Trea.sure 3 seekers find hole from wh1ch trcasure has rocently been removed) .Jesne: Wal, that sounds p:rntty good, e:al'lo r.Oll1'88, I wa,s born, x'oj.sed dovm-ya knrbTr-where tho rattJ esnakes are. V,on' 1, novel' fOl'eet!,he time I was goin 1 dovm ta Florida. We had what they cal:! a Hoovuh cart-tha.t's L\ tvro wheel cart with 'n old, bold burrah-- J'8,V{ -' horny lImlo. V[8 "far..; goj n I off dovm there n.nn we had tn rest {I So wo pulled up at tho side and there was a creek or a lakoy place. We got off the vwgon, walkorl out thero to sed down on WI1'1t we-- wha1, we thOllf':rt WllZ slog. We seddoym and tlmt waS a hi[( rattlB- 81\[l,1{(:~ \'fB sedd6wn on. lIn ntarted;;)lHlOvin I nY'olllld, we jumped up and fell down and rolled doym ta that oreek ffi d fell in and two alIi gators l:Lkta got us 'fore we got ant. I won 1 t neV1th for/;et that ono, (motif: XI32l.1,1(s) v0rJ' large Slvtb, scares people from cert.a.in path :in woods) IN it "mzn It lonr: after thnt, we vru.2', go:il1 I thaI' agin and that vruz 0'00 of the riehest places I eva)' seen :in my life, It would gr01'1 anything. Ili fact, they had tllrnips dow11 thar so bif': Vlhen the ch:l ckons started peckin' a nest they could pock 'lUll a. nest hole out in there al d lay a.nd hatch thoir old d<ens out. I'v() nevllh seen nothing H.S rich as 'ohnt. (motif: XlJ!Jl.l L:i.ES about bi[': turnips) l"jy daddy sed they l,'{I1~, f':oin 1 do-wn thrlJ Lher'p on(~ timo nnd-uh- when he wmd. in t.he edge of t-h:is field, S()(] he vruz ridin 1 a mule and he SCHl he had a feVl-uh- rmcllrnecr SOGd. in his pocket. So he just got off--offuh his mllJe--down the edge of thuh field, k:i.ckod up " some fresh dirt, planted them cueumber seed and sod ho s'GClrtod on across the f1 eldand he not:ieed thesf) vim'" a growin lUp. Got't,uh lookin 1 F,8.rl~ 'r behind h:im and thone vines -rIElS gl'owin I, ,jost kop cOli/In I, 1<:8P camin I, v/Uz grovrLn' sa fn."t. And sect pretty soon the v'ine bewm to wrap hIm and the mule U]1 in cucumber vine, m d sed they [':o"'tuh wrnppIn' :u'oun' 1,1", mule, sect he reached in his pot:ldt to git his knife to cut the vine, Ded he pulled out a cucumber 6 inches lone dun gr'owed in Ids pockit. (moM fl x1532 Hich soH produces Nlmarkab1e crop) And, brother, I "lIl.nna tell J'a, that ,'nw, 8 f,ood'VD. l11at sound like a ;iokA---(to 1'8.1'1) You got anything to match that? Nooo, I vms .iust thinldn' about some of the old "rmnedies we used ta takA and-uh-back and we usod for different ills. And one of--wnm-one of the favorite n.nd most usod remedy vms caster on. And-uh-we hn.d D. doc';' tor that -uh-prescribed caster oi.1 for everyt.hIng---sorta like our local doctor tha)', vie have around here these days vii. tIl shots and so forth. But this caster o:iJ is~uh .. somethin,c that's s 'poRod to be good for everything and there's one thing it is cood for a.nd there 's no doubt a..bout it, andllh.... that. is, :Lf you-uh-vlOre like we were a.J d your rest roorn j s a li.tt.lr dist.ance from the house a1 d your-nh-motber w01Jlcl nevah have tdYlOrry ; ahout you strayin 1 off too fnr if she give you a dose of caster oil a,nyl;Lme dnrin' t,he day. ,Jesse: Yeah, you used FJ could tell how far va.-Uh-ollthol1S8 wuz from the house accordin I [-,0 the clotheR hanr,in I on thn Jjllc--~whnt colen'" t.hpy l,'l1.lZ, ytt lc:~ .knOYl " " li'm') ~ Yeah ..... IJesse: '" .d~1.fferent spots on 'um" F.8.rl: ". "rle vrern -uh",-f11.l,'rnys,-lJh~tFtURht to eat carrots cause it mtlde us hnve Earl t 5 good vied on. ,Tesse: Well, Farl, I tell ya, we had a lot of old remedies down Alabama, too. You take vrhen :I<Ou got. t.he ground itch--most. poople don't have that thoso days,-bnt when ya foot. svrel18d up ,,11t.h t.hat ol l ground itch,ya know, my momma'ud [(0 out and git a gourd leaf and put. it. in t.he ovon;she would git. it r:ood and warm and then put. it. around ya. foot., and see, t.hat.'d Just. clrmmd eveqrt.hing out.a yer foot. Pret.t.y soon ya foot's well .And, also, there's the clay pili1t.ice. When ya vl1'ench yer foot. or ye ankle, put. t.ho.t. around t.here wit.h vinop;er in it. a1 d pret.t.y soon n,' s wolJ.. Vlha1. about. the lc8raseen-'-,....,Y[~all ever Use that fot' cuts? Yeah, "fe llsed leer-asecn and Yfe-uh....n.ctl1ally I never in my younp;8Y' nays, T nRvel' knn\'fed of too mrmy p80111e-l1h..... cut themsolves or r;oi n I to tho doctor nnd bein l sevrecl u.po nil+' if I'm-uh-I kno\'J of a cauDle t:LmefT nnd once I nImost cnt my fjnf~8r off and. vm nsed-llh-t.hp. old )"emedy of Y'unY1in I in thn~"'l)h-VlOod stovp :l.no .~nh-[rr"rl,bben n hnndflJ1. of snt and-u11-" .. J sal t and miwin' 4.t with i.t; and T st.ill h".ve t,],(; so,"r to shOY! fop H,---although it healed roal Yioll. Josse: T,ooks Like tho sut's still on your skin. Yeah, H, probably have a litt.le sut left and-uh-we ha.d tho --nhere we'd cut a. le.rge--maybe gash or somethin' in a. arm or a, ]er; or they would take the old keraseen oil ,"Dd Just. pour it direct] y on tho-uhvround. and it vronl<1 and it v{Quld~'~l1b...h8P] up (l.nd-uh~. 0 ,Tessol Dh, there a] so V!Cl.:J the asph"Lti ty string Lhpy t.ied m'01111d yer nock keep from [;pttin' nnything---we beli.cwod in that--but I t.ell ya, Ji;.'ll'l, vre \'i117. so pOl'O dovm horne than mas t. of you poonl e was up there 6 around Dog RivB.hp --s8e., 1"[8 vms only issuerl ODe :)13te to (:ut ont of. That wac: [l tin pla.t.A !md my daddy1d n:dJ that 1;0 the table weith a 20 penny nail, and, p.'3,rtne)', you dj dn It glt 8.nothnrn untjl yon floppnd t.he hA[1,1 off that 20 D"nny nail---nnd it took .oJ ot. of noppinr, t.o [;it the he8.d off that ph----20 l1"nny na.il. nut,11h, my oaddy c."d he WrS hnntin I one Vb"". He loved his hound dogs. He 1'fRS out at this old stort-l, sod he Irl bOUf;h L h:im a cHn of sardixlr:s Dnd erctc}(ers. And sed he was setten ' out there at the wood p11 e in this oJ d oountrv ntore anrkisoo the,' t had I'n 01' hie: vfOodAn maul _..:r lenow you seen wooden mn.1,l" with iron wooFes~"' -sed thir; IiI 01' guy warl S Ipon(~d to hr one of the ronf-:hnst Trlen in in j.}l[lt cOllldT. He ned he hnd heis sard:;Y1"'s a sittin' th"re anr} his Cl'FlCkoT'8 o ,A,nel SAn. tllDt liT 01 1 p;vy (1Ol)lP out tJl2r and ldek tl-!nIn th~inr;s ?O frAt off Ollt, aOT'Of1R t,hnn~ Jlnd snd hp I d snc:nt hj fl 1nst dim0. he hrtd fpY' t,hmn 8D.rd:tn0.::1" Hn sed th,~ t--lln1ll1-~"'n1~1111 WHD lHyi.n I th~l'f), r,ro hn r:rHl'lhed IIp "j'-,h'J.t Tn.'l.111 ADO nt,nY'tc;o h.ilJtin I t.hn.t, man on t.he; hAd and sa~r hr (lrovn hiTr'J 11p GO his kme8n in t)hn,t, h.'l.pd oirt, And ned th:'!', maD I'm" still f'igbtin' when h8 '.'Inlked off and left hi.m --h1JH d1'01l8 up knee-deep in that hard diyt, BJ1ri he Via', a gritty onn. (motif: x9h5 Lie: I'81narkablc hitter Ol~ nLriker) Novl I won It ever forg:Lt, bhe t:iInG my [~r,rr\(kIIJ>~kl.y'~-afte"C my granrJmothnr di8d-,~hn i'/8,S h:l."'Jin I tU.h k"("r house ,~'(:r hisnplf, lInd ~;(:d (rn:8:I)h(YI:~tuirl { he got 11p on t,ho yv.conp; side of the bed, Sed oV"l'thin[; in the world VlGnt wroll'> He ned he vms tryin ' t\lh walen up bisCl,j ~,n and sori he \no I em IIp ~,o his elhows-dOHgh. ~nd sed thorn 01 I hound ,dogs Vias sittin' outs idA the }61.chon 1'[8 fed OUt'S .... ? What, did y'n11 fned y:l, hound dogs? 7 mitc] WiVl tha"~, eilt "'tnd jest "[,"leker] him "p and 1:'ollnrl h:lm np in that Qn112:h f1Drl throw,;n r,jm Oll-!', th'-l (~oor nnrl fied 0D8 of thnm hound dop;n swn,lloWPd him.. lfnought 110 vm7, a hj sket:..? Sed that yras nbOllt, a 1."our;h Pnn'iRhment: bn:inp, ,nten by v dnr'".) Uh--Y'n\:.l p)'obablv usedto have ;1, ] at of 01 t llollnd dogs ) t.oo, doym ::pcunrl. ~rouY' n] AJ~O., eli dn I +.. V', ? Yeah, ~'((~ had nome. I-nl'-mo,9-J-:, of the th:tngs I can tldnk al,out t8 people lJei.n I fwpm'sti. iJ()l)S_~,l'ike-' J r;'H~SS) fl lot or ponnl (-'! ntill. b8.r1 Jl1r,k to l'O(~J( a rOr'Jdn l ch:l,:-lr nnd nobody sittin l in ~'It" .({.nd Jof r,01H."nn.'l th(~ f~pven yn,'1Y'8 hAd l11Ck on bY'0nki.:rl l n. lOb'roY'., Iind'~'11h-,,,,,, tr'teha didn't fned'em what Farl: Vnry Jjtt1e beea1l8e i.!lere vradrln't very little ld'i" llR\n1Jy. Ear1 ~ I -r,ll'ink we had "LJ18 sJdnni Rst h01H10 d0f,~n :in Nortb Gn(~rr~:ia. ,)8,",,,e: Y" knmf you cfJ1'ld nrnmt th"j1:' r"iT,s a mile off, But if tho:\' p;ot reall J' \1" hard 111'", ya know, fer somth:in' b111 e'1:', we alrl8ys had a bllnch 0 ~ pa.per fll thnHl pnp'-n~ sacks flnd -l-,h-r(lw t j-, to thnrn dOr~8 Hnd they I d swalJ,ovr 1nlJ1 I fore Ji';:rrl. : thew ImoVfed whai, it was, I don't, know tt18Y direst, 'it, but they'd eat them pape)' sacks wi.th that Syrl1p on ii" (moti f: Xl nr:; LLes 8,bollt dors) VIe were nlvmys---anothorn }~emedy we I d nse-~~ea t:i np; D. lot of f~ood p:r-enn le+,tllrp nnd rrmke your skin white .....nd clenl'<'l T donlt, know how 1Ou"h tl'l1th that is, but we were tHu[~ht to eat a lot of creon 1ettuoe. ,J8888: lTIl--onn time, I vTent dOVJ11 to pasture-- I V[3.5 mad with a 1J1HD\l I WllZ r,onrw, whip trim. J\fJked his wei fe where he's at, sed he was down rllnnin I tnr--you know how to l'\ll1 iiar--ya rt,it these 1.:1 r~h-rJ0r knots and nllt them in a ean and build a fire undm' the cfln and makes it when t.he li.f~hter lm.ots p;its hot, r:uns t,hr; tHr 0\1 t--tht1tIS t.he way cloym there io wlll1Yl tJI,o.ttrny,:va knmr what he was dCl'in'? He was pi.")<en up lirrhtol' knClts and twisten' em out wi th h+s hilnd. I deci.dc,d I would let. lrlm f~O 1Jl:iS till\(=J, T wouldn't 'I'lhin him t.his ti.H1e.(rnotif: x9L8 T,ic-, l remarkablo twister) a WOOC10D school house seven ~reHrn as Jenp;t.l1 of cou.rse ~in school() I\nel t,horels n. bi.f~ chanr:e nnw, hut. t.hen wn yrsl'O nrmt to fwl1oo1 if, nnd tf vre mi.sbehnvnd or "fern Olnri shnd any vfny then we hnd to [~O 0111', Fmel 01lt our ovm h-i Cko~('i.8fl or sw [',:LrJhes nnd-uh..-:Lf they vmddn' t 1arge enuf when we hl'O't, 'ern back to tho 1. happened tllh rrli ntn,kr n.nd make a mislJck OJ' somthin I and 1188 n 1,] ttlp 9 profanity l"Ie l"I<'re tnken to UJe ro"t room wi th the teacher an d washed am' mouth out vrU,lJ soap andvmllflNcl she s,m snw to it that it vms p;ood and stronl~ and lot/Ln, times 1t, Wl.17, a li.iJtl e oct.a.f';on BOHr and-llh-i11 1(811 oovm .9, lot of pl'0fHYl~ty in thn school Y'oom e Ylhp,l1 you '1,'111'7, H kid? Well, Vie llRed a s\'wet. p;um hrush and n, litt.le [wlt, H lot -uh-+,.;'nes :If we v/R,nterl to briten them up H 1 i :btl" ,dt we I rI nse soch, , Jesse: Oh, we used tuh brnsh 0111' to(>1"h w;:I.)J-uh-f:lY>f' coals. YOll J'nm-r, bln,r,k fiT'A con18? ThAtis r,oocl~ That's rOl1r:l1.'J it c:lean :VB t00th all 1'i r~11te rl~(lat 1 S r'(;[lJ p;ood 6 rrhnt.' S Trot, we unodl) Vie never eli d h;lVc-3 the lTIOllCY to hl1:r 110 sal.t Il"nd Roon wi.th .. FerJ; l'roJ 1, wo chewred a lot ()f' 00,,1 tar. T P:U8SR thnt, leop or,r t,O(,"I".h cJ can, Jesse~ ~refd:. Rum, yn kno':f, Jlarl t e an<1-11h-W8,f) very fevl-llh .....people thn,t ...young "('l80p1 e l,yi t.h ha.d hren,i,h. .TesR8: Did T over toJl ya nhout the first onr T 'Ner f':ot'l Oh, that vms :3,Yl old '"" I '3fl ):llYliloth. rI18''''x' had S8"n on" with the ge:lr up on the ste8:rjnr~ I hn+,dhp thn.t cn.T' di.dn t +, hHve n foot sqnare on i.t. th:l,t it "\'IDdcln 1t bent up, but I lJked th8 look" of th"t gectr, 'l'h8t thing W,3S "bout h inohes in d-inmGt,8"t' 8n(1 -It, would turn n1] the vmy aW1\1l\d the nteedn I th;y{', ~nnY' levp.y l:ikn -iL WHS,11.Tl thnre on tl1Ut nteorin 1 whepl. rrhnt, vn17, +. the lntp.st thinr: and t.he pUY'i'.:IP,At t.hjnf~ T ever 800n" lJh....anothp.r r,ll:l n,n; J )1Cl. knoYf, t,hn t, '"yC! (lion' 1', 8eo :1,n;y of in our t,ol,lrn 'T'lG m:in:i ski'r'-Lfl o Yn hnd t,l)h~ \10 MOAt of nn [lnd "~'lh~:1n 011Y' fmni] ies nnd most thn (fjr18 ",rero fort.l1nnt.n to have-llh..fFl,nc:,rl..,hings to YfBnl' nnd "[ jmarrine sornp of r,hC' fR.ney thin:':s hut j f 1+, 1'[nS [I p:ood winely dn.y and f.he vdnd was hlowin I yon 00111 cl usual,]y t,olJ. whnt kindn lyiskets t,hrdr momma. wan ba.ldn f at home ll T!:::J.rl ~ And-llh--- ,10888 ~ Il 0 m:i r:h-l,y purn or snlf-l';r;nn I 11';rrJ. 1 .,. \IOf1elf-r'isen I or somet;ime ;\r01.1. 1d nee :1, hip: shoop or R, swan or H rcd.nfavorite of H lot of folks round our p'P~':-.:ion. lJcflse: I'fun!"' f1.bont. t1'10 b'1.t}1jn' fmii',;j? V[n-re the vromen rlhoT"c you co:n(~ from gain sydJl1nrin "d),ll bathin' nldt~; on? uh--T rlon'-l~ thillk I don't X"cJ\I'lemhr;:t:' scein'nm .. ParI: n Ollr old overalls off 8. t the knee ann po flwimrn:i n" T :remember- my brrot. hor hy'jngin n puY't,y ,n:) rl,'"'yn. know, shp. har:! rec) pnint nnd powder on her""""'ovor :in .AlabAma YiB didn If; S8fJ mueh of that? And J 'lmnt 8vo'r\' f()rf~-i.t the t:iJn(~ hn tol d nlP to hold hep hand. vllri] e WA was A1J r~onnn go int.o l,he 1"iv11h xv..crRtL He Has :~()nna f'~O np the rjv1Jh thern ,'l.nn elJB.n~A "lothos. But wflal, he didn't kno\'i---I was b"Gn tot.en his panl.s for hjm I tey'o hj A pant.s fnll 0' hal ps. ~.nd T tool( hi s I:j rl nnd walked on ~(wm the rivllh Hl1 of U~{ FInd nont1.11 slN"imnrln. A.fter a Y,hil.A he r:ome down t.here, with ole tOJ'e np pants,I I d tore "]l--hp.' d I:ot 1)n thGl'O n..nc1 ""t. AU."kn 2nd sewed them t.h)n"" un vl1th st) ck8--100koo Ii ko a por]<ypinc) vrhcn he comA rl()YI)~ with Hl1 them ntinks sttnken ()vta hin britches .. Yeah, vreuhnh-I tn11 '!to. n. lot. of things, Jess", it.'s gooEl to talk nbont. R.nd I know we en;ioyed ('cminjs)wc a lj ttle bit.-nh-tho scarcity of thjnr~A and the-uh-T [':uess-thcy- VTn call [i,em good t:iJ110S. T know thd,:." th0Y used tuh como dOlm from tho mountens with vmr~on lOR cis of apples I w; th the old covored wagons. An'l they'd park llP ;l i, t.ho C01rd, House Sqllnl'n [lno t.hny always had nn lJ:I(! il":< GOlnr~ down ;QIc11Ic kH1 :1, i"8d ha.ndanllh t:.:icd !ll'(nnHl ILis {1"I'li, :1.:ld rJ. lJvteher knji\'!3 :It I"Hu1 what T thOHp:ht was .";t:i.r~km1 in his arm H,nd I{f.d go on dnvln rrhen he come in n.nd I I d ho c10ym "l.,hm"0 when he'd start to l.eFlve--~~Jt70 \'[niton tuh G80-1.lh-~ do"t.l'in:ln h:l.s arm who)'o he lmd tlwt knife thru :Lt. And-uh-tlloro' d be n lot. of olel mecli(dnc 8how:'l come thrl"l vd th eli ffoI'ont th:i J1F8 a.hcl I recal] one demonnt.:r:'atloll there of SO}l1C~ of t.he p:ood 8trong lin:bncmt that. th ey h" d nnd tho '111m had about a 2 by 2 )noh block that's s 'posod to b" the harclost '{{ood )nthe world. And he'd-uh-hold it up eI,"y I? and 11"11r this 1j n"!lnnnt on Ol1n side an d say a few wocds n.nd turn it over c:m r1 il,' rl ,'::JJ.:r'eady vrent thT'l) (-,he Vlood So 1,'[0 kDHW it was pln'ty lXl'Lnnt o tTesso: Yeah, thpy 11.:3ed to 00 f)1r/.-tj/j,~ shoe soles thataway dunn home, you know, there :in Lhe heart or Oz,D.l"'k o n~.t ou.t tllP}~8 n.nd pour smne linmrlc:mt on tllHt nllnc~ sale 8.nd....uh- rCAl f:;ho)....tl;y ;you Id see where j t l,yont thru on the other side. DJ.rl I ev'Or t("11 ya sbont oJ e Hed "'y hound elor~ that r1ln so f""t I", couldn I t ]lm'k? He r11n so fas L wh,m hn ~ot Hfte1:' 8. 1~'lhbH, he ooul eln'topen Ids month ,mel bilrk, If hn d:l.d it'd ,jest turn his mouth ,n'onr, side Olll, ho I s runnon Sil. .f;t)'}t. (mo+;i r: Xl?l.r; T,i.ns n110111', dor~s) We hn.d-llh-old mil] pond. tl1nT'O near our }\olQe--near a m:ilJ vn.la.ge-'~- fllld Lhn story (f088 th:l,t t,hoy vJ'P.re some VlOmal1 thc1-. had pot rh'()','rood there 0 And that at nlp;ht, tha.t nhH 1'10111.d comc' out across t.h(~-i-~ W:)3 thp, nt:r:'unt. U11der a litt.lp brc:mr.h that rnl") nnder the st,Y'eot-- and it was dark and rl lot of wIldness thrl1 thn, t. section nnd most of us when vre vr0P8 younp: we 1d r,o to walk to tovrn to see llh movie [md if j t WA'r'8 ;If't.Ar dR.}"k oomin h1.ck, we'd. all nt-ink OUT' hen.ds davin Bnd close our "yes as much as possible and r1ll1 sbout 3/4 of s. mi.le until vr" [',ot Un'l!. i,,, -l..,hnt scct:ton ~he nll'fays come out ell, rdr:hL and she vm1k8d .;Jr:ross ano she \'/0111 d cry Hnrl. holler ;l.t peopln as thf'Y eome lly" Vrf'll., tlUll", Vfns maybe a ffood. thjllp:_ee(Yl1o"t','if: "fi'.l!.l'-.f. npovmcr1~xrrson <;nnnoL l'8St tn prn0,(~) tTonn(~: ThHt WH:') ('1111 r 'La run for ') ~ ~ . i.t leAP n. lot of 11n kids nl". hom(~ n f"L0.Y dark' ~ tJesSBf. Yp.nll-, it IS J.ike thn cats ;'[n killecl" One i;:lrr10 0l1P. of t.hmn COlnG ~".~ we cm+, his hnnrl o-rf.'-~~ ..,'[(') killed him throG tSlOes and hn Dome Ilnc:k .. 13 '('hi.8 tim" We cut h1s hearl off, Yuu Imovr in about two )~hours he "onw F2.rl % h:lok up thrn'e with his head jn his month. ShOr'A eNd .. cats is hCl.J'd tuh kill, I know whn, t, yon fllf}Rl11 " nOHl2 of them We]l, Vi-cki, T clon 't knovr ;8 thif1~llh-it's probably so faJ' l'ofore YOll)' day thn-l-,oM011h-I don It know l.'fhr:ther '[,h:i s-u'h-you 'menlbrrr hAAJ"ro)l nny of th(~~18 stor:i_(~s or anyth:lnr~ like thi 8 hn raro? ITnnse: YH don't, thj)"lk yR 8ver hn:::I.l"cl any of theso-nh-1,'j'oll it's beAn nice tnlkin "j, tHh ylall .. Vh-you'll }vnrn to r:0I118 11<1.k nnrl 8ee 11.8 nnr. 0' th0;,(~ dnys .. IJot' s llrlv(~ Rome mOl~r: p;oorHe8. r.8r'iJ1.inly 811:\ r)yed :i t And-uh- fllnylJ8 we III hnve some JHOY'8 pood onps :lnd- Ai-, th-i S poird, Farl left nnrl tJesse ,'lna T chatt.ed R.S T FFl.thrn"erl 11"fl mY-' 8n,lli pl!lsnt.. lfa:cl n::l.lHe back -i n ,1.fev{ m~inl1t(~rl., sny~inr~ tho. t hA I rl remembered tho trro f'ollovrinr: nt-aries" ;'lO Ftfter settJnr, Ull my eqll"'i pl'lp.nt, WG bep:nn Rr:rd Yl, Vl,~ki., I \Y[lnt(~d to "1-.(111 yon fino ;-her story; '\-~h'i8 1.8 truc ,1nrI my mother told me that yf'!:rrs aro they l1,')('rl l~o have CaraV<lDR r;? of p:ypsies come thY'll ~ r::mJl'~1A t.lley coYne) thru thC::1o smaJ l toyrns on t:hc way from on(~ -'1 )Vlrt of "1,h' stQ.tn-Uni.ted r:tl.!,OR- to anot.hnY'" ,finn thC'r'f' 18 H l\'")ncl of (~Yr)8les Cnliln th:rllin n Dal:-aVCln o.f' Yf,'-l.f!,ons fl.rlrl-uh-they Dame over to tOJ.' grHndmother1o house rmrl-llh- t.hO"1F liked Ojl(~ of tJI(~ lei d:1 t,l'8"rp,,jt YUJS ,'=tn unclp of ndne [md h:1.f1 DFl)np HUS Vii] :I :~ no ho -'.Til.S very ;',1"0 llD,!;, Wel S ~.-told h8r H. was-' a solid reold vmtch for her boy Will. 80 t!",y didn I I', l1h-of e011rso, she didn't trnd"., J....n't b11.t; ther's a lot of sto1:'ies abo11t tho r,ypsj P,fJ nnd We VmY'A nlvfays t,'l,u~ht to hn oaroful. 'when thp:T (mID thrll +'ovn1 tha.t they- would pnl, 118 in :Y\'TA,(fOn Pri r1 (~fl.rxy us off and-llh~, we I d nevor r:nt to cum b,?:k home, so to St-FlY In thn house when thr:y Vi,V; condn thl'll, our RP-r.t;nno) (mol,i.f' mrmt:ioned in clnss; :tt i,8 ,') vHrlrmt of Tndif1ns yr:1.ntinr t.o trade foY' a ch:iJd) lliy dad \lseel to pl."y a lotof t1:'i,,1m on his fricmels ll1:'oll11d th1:'11 th8 :r 1'8"al1 th"t-uh- J,n elN)SS8d up as " ,,010r8el vroman :nurn and ho Jlad hie friend tell anot,hnr fr-lrmel yJut th:d; -11h-thnre was 8. renl, ni"e-looJcin ,.,._ \'Ioman th" t, wantpd to meet hoi m "nd the. f.-llh-he 'd Pi xnd hi m 1'11 a. datA. 80 Tny clad n11t, on i.hn drecm anel thA IDakellp ,"nd bladrAd his far.A and-uhvillar; e thero vlhi.oh th(~'IY~ vrn~-; no h(1):-in8 arollnd aDd p.vAY'ythinf~ nnd lri n f'ri.end t,o] rl th i ,9 nHrt,:i enl<J.r Illrl n !,hn. t he I d ""llh~thA. t hp, I d-uh- she I (J thny'o :xrounrl lX'll1ind somA t,Y'8pn a.nd he cnmp. i? J"lmnin out Rnn. sed., IlT".1'fSy, hpy dcr'p', Hi.Rtcr, I benn wHntpd to m0.ot ;roll '1. I.Ollf'. t:imp., bHhy,,1I ~1f]A.rerl t.h(()ld man to oonth .'lnn 1,'"'c.l,ll h hn h01110 Bnd,-uh-so -U1('~Y wern up +,0 a lot of ~ 01 rl f,ricks lj kp I,he.t, m d-llh-uSlJ2) 1y that' n-11Il som" nP th8i r wr) 1, yOll lll'i,',ht. SB~,1.", .11181-. :l.h,ut n11 thnv hn.rl to iJ):, do F!Y'nllntfl thp, mnn11 +.0\-\rn.? ) 'T'hrn~n waRn I L~ VAry mnr:h to no :lno they hn.d FI ('ontI id::rIll (-,ilno pInyin I tr'j oks on one 8110th8Y'? qiELEASEDy letting us collect your traditions--stories, songs, music, sayings, riddles, or beliefso:if earlier days--you have made a valuable contribution to preserving and understanding Southern history, and especially the history and way of life of your co~nunity. Because you have given unselfishly of your time to do this, the Georgia Folklore Archives, ~Ihose representatives are dedicated to preserving these traditions, wants to protect your rights to this material by guaranteeing that it will not be used for unscrupulous commercial profits. By signing this sheet, you are giving us permission to use this mater~ ial for educational purposes so that people who are interested can understand how life was in the old-timey days. Your material will probably not be printed or issued on a record, but if it is, and you don't l~ant your name to be used, say so--we respect your right to privacy. Thank you for the time you have given to help us record a heritage that is an important part of American life. If you remember any more old-timey thir.gs that you l-Iant to send along to us so that it will ahlays be preserved, l~ite to: Georgia Folklore Archives c/o Prof. John Burrison Georgia State University 33 Gilmer Street South East Atlanta, Georgia 30303 ---------------.._---------------- For Ga. Fl. Archives: Witness Date I 3 ,}'(\eucs 20 >It c;dELEASE- ,,,!,. By letting us collect your traditions--stories, songs, music, sayings, riddles, or beliefs of earlier days--you have made a valuable contribution to preserving and understanding Southern history, and especially the history and way of life of your co~nunity. Because you have given unselfishly of your time to do this, the Georgia Folklore Archives, whose representatives are dedicated to preserving these traditions, wants to protect your rights to this lnaterial by guaranteeing that it will not be used for unscrupulous co~ercial profits. By signing this sheet, you are giving us permission to use this material for educational purposes so that people who are interested can understand how life was in the old-timey days. Your material will probably not be printed, or issued on a record, but if it is, and you don't want your name to be used, say so--we respect your right to privacy. Thanlt you for the time you have given to help us record a heritage that is an important part of American life. If you remember any more old-timey thir.gs that you want to send along to us so that it will always be preserved, write to: Georgia Folklore Archives c/o Prof. John Burrison Georgia State University 33 Gilmer Street South East Atlanta, Georgia 30303 Address .3c:'c:f?c;j '2I&~ #~.~- For Ga. Fl. Archives: \'1itness 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.