Alvin L. Speer interview with Lila Elizabeth Henry Speer

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. -- Lila Henry Speer introduces this recording by recalling her father and how he enjoyed entertaining children. She explains that she learned many of the songs and stories recounted in this interview from him. Speer then provides some biographical context about her family and the location she was born in, Cherryville, North Carolina. Then at 01:25, she narrates a story about a church in Georgia rumored to be haunted, followed by a story about a bet made between boys and a drunkard in a graveyard. At 06:32, Speer tells a story about a vigilante group started during the Civil War named the Scouts who remained active after the end of the war. They decide to beat a man (later clarified as an intent to kill him) because they believed he was lazy and did not adequately provide for his family. Its likely that Speer is referencing the North Georgia Scouts led by Tom Polk Edmondson in Dalton, Georgia. Next, Speer sings a church song titled, There will be no blind in Heaven at 11:30. Then at 14:00, she retells a humorous story about a man named Frank getting even with dynamite in Canton, Georgia. And at 15:45 she sings two folk songs titled The Trundle Bed and My Father was a Roaming Gambler. Next Speer switches topics to food at 21:44, specifically how she and her family preserved vegetables for the winter. They used a potato hill that incorporated hay and sand to store vegetables such as lettuce and cabbage and hung green beans to dry them. The conversation moves to butchering swine at 24:20, with Speer noting that the best time to slaughter is in early November and detailing the process of killing, cleaning, and sectioning pigs. She ends the recording with a discussion around the production of rivel noodles and hominy. -- Lila Elizabeth Henry (1892-1976) was born in Cherryvale, North Carolina, to a family of 9 children. She married Leroy Speer Jr. (1916-1943) and had at least two children, Alvin Lynn Speer (Approximately 1939-2007) and Mary Sandra Speer (1942- ). Lila Henry likely worked as a weaver around 1940. Additional biographical information has not been determined. -- informant is hc Lila Ylizaeth etry p ccr, my rother, e live at 21CC ' p avcr .L., Ltlnta, Jeor'ia. ShE is oin to 'c 11 about sow of the t ,-. 1 n, that she 1L arne from her fathc-r, Albert :rnry :hcn she as a chil. floay is :T - ember 22, l7C. yana, uhen rcrc you horn? n lf92. ;hcrc were you bo'ri? Cherriville, North Carolina. you Say you learned most of the st ff from your father, :hich uoulf have been m re at- rsncifather? TTncer uhat circumstances 7 i you learn these thin, s? Ly father was [reat with yonCstcrs. .E' always hail. - articc at our ho:.c, dthe rathere to;cther anf can folhsons all binds of musical - all binfs of sonc - cuch arid tol stories of rhat hamnenE an what he bne, y a he true. I remember bin tellin us about a man, that they a1wc sai' at this c'urch -- now this was in or -ia. t this church, at F'icl s Chapel, they always was said to he a host in t h e chur ch thcr e An r the r'rcacber went bad: on day. e was -.oi.r_ 1 to pray in the nulpit, and so he went bad: and he hca such a tremendous noise that r st cxcit r an he 1 ft th church, an he cane rmnnin. ) out. -nothcr man that was c 2 waitin T outside for him heard the rachet, an so be. went in - he was a clrinkin, man, he ras (uit,c lit - so h. rent in o see what this trouble ras all ahout. So, when he' got in 'here, why, a litter of haws r'.'n out from uner the pulrit cm that 1-a-. b' en all of the trouhlc v ith the aosts that had on in. the church. "ut just out in t ir cemetery, they had seen one there, mw this old drunk ran, sorb bOyS [ct toethcr, so they told '.'L that they'd Live hi-i five o lIars if he - a a-' and sit on that . onuiri nt until the yhost came. They all believed in thie I-ost So h rent ur there an" took his ju., and cettin' u:' there au he ke-t wait in' a: waitin' nd not!-.in ! cone . coe oys ruite to s. cc cn ht -i" come n 'ircctly a ::hitc souc thin to appear at the back of the man. 'y that tier he'd almost fell asleep, he was noddin' over an'hc'd ct his juy i d. take smother sup and then he'd rod over a ain. And cUre ctly be binda woke -- end the y was watch n' close, the'- cord Th't Laa' no that that was -- ar' a hiy whte hilly oat hit h5ri in the hac' an hnocked him oUa the monument, an b.c jumped U" all that they heard him say -- "on't hrechmuh juy." And that was th i yh.ost in yield's Chard cemetery. Do you remember you told me one time about daddy as ri cUn, orn the road in a '-u y with a travelinL'; salesman ar a Yes. Pate 3 diat was that ?hat n-'.s near canton, Ccoria an. it was at yi htoor Cu-ch. hcn 'aI11js? hhen this story 1 eCan nwst bave hccn aout, oh, I woul' say, about 1900. Then thE story startc. Put hit had ]asted on until about nineteen anti s'ven. Am: my, busban d then was about 18 years oJ.f. he and. a fricn: of his was corain' from up in Porsyth County -- his father run a stable there, a livery stable thcre in Canton -- anf so -LL}.-icy was comin back home andhe ha C! so many tinesdrivcn over this place, this hiyhway, and he ha never- seen snythin there, but t .e story b.a always been, other reolc, raany ocoplo, bad s con thisth in. there And it was a man, they ts seen a man mcoe out of the woods, 1c-C was a and he'd been billed at this place. is hca was comrlctciy cut off nd so that man had b en seen at this place so many times -- walk acros hr roa '. h had on a white shirt, ul; no head and dark suit. Lnd that niyht my husband an /ItS fricn was drivin' alon comm t in bone 'bout ;idnijht. k so they's just a t, al and all at once try --it tall:in' . This ;an Talk d o.t from on si r e o.f, t be roar, '.alked between their buy- ahce1s and went rift on across the roa. Neither one of 'cm said anythiny for about a il , it scared ' em so. nd one of 'cm said to the other said 'hid you see that?" lie said his buddy reached over and. yive the horse a Pae ) whar uith the whip, and said they run the 'roroe, and ellosec1 thc. horse gettin home. (ihr rot.e r had toll this story tore .eforc, and at that fine said that ny dad and his friend agreed incident for fear of bein lau:hed at, later they ddjoll the story at a ghos of the druEJtore in Ccnton, coria.) You told me one :nic about a lazy I think it was -- not to tell anyone of She s aid that some years story session in ont .-ian t t lived in Canton, 'To, that wasup in orth Carliner (sic) In iiorth Carolina. 1- 7c What was that about? This man, wasso lazy, and "the scouts" used. to o 'roan' and ihip the men when tey wouldn't work and surort their fa'iil;. Scouts? Scouts, they rcre called scouts. Jhat were they? It was an organization l urlin the Civil War, on ,'. 11icn :en y out from thc war, why they t cd o ro nd and get 1 en and turn 'en in aacl they were called scouts. jnd of lil:c Vigilantes Yea, something lihe that, Jell anyway they went, this nan oulJn't ;ork, he wouldn't sug:ort his farily, so. they had told tha they's just onna take bh,i on, that e 'd he hilled, you know, that they uz :onna whin him. So they met two of the farmers there that was tak5.n' some corn torarket, had a load a corn to rtarke t ut then they coul take t, and they wouldn't have to shuck it , just turn it over asis. And so they :he f , stoncd the rr n end said "yell what are you onna do with him" They sai(71, --they knew the man. Said, well he 1Taonna be boat. ou mean ili him? lea. So he uz la--in' down in the wa on, and these rcople sto red 'er:, and they says "cll"-says- "I'll tell ye"-says- "1el :ive ira this load of corn, if ho '11 o bach hone ai d shuck it, a- d prearc for his fa'iily to '-e fed from it." And. he raised u--) end looked and he says - "ac it been shucked?" And they said "yo." And so he told 'em uust to "rive on. T at as a lazy man ow that was a true story, too. I asked you to try to re ncmbcr some sone and you toli rae there was one called, "There '11 Be r Tlind in ycavcn". This son I learned when I was a very :ount irl, I 'r,a sure asy father was the onc we heard sin S it :iostl. And it's of the blind in. It oes like this: 2ae A ?hey tell me father that tonight You vied another brides That she will lay her Lraccful head "here my dear mother T er ictre T s ban')_n'- on the wall) Fer Biic layin. ; near. And, there's the Lary her fincrs to1chec1) Ind here's her vacant chair. And is her steps so soft and ii ht1 her voice so :ceh said. MW AM father Co you think She'll love your blind and hclnlesz child.. ow let me kneel Roun by your side And to the Saviour pray) That Col l n ri t band will Igi d e you loth Thronyb life's lone weary way. He turned to raise her in his arias , short shrill cry was Liven, nd as he raised her in his arms) His blind child was in heaven. He layed her Q her mother's side, nd. placed a marble there. And on t.e stone these words were wrote, They' 11 be no lind ones there. rm;c 7 Laaia, tell .r tic s for: you tol2 mc JhEfl I mao a ii a'out he re urs a coulc of rotLeuo aroun' Canton ti at all ins of racanmess - r.a one o2 them ccd.c' to yet even rith the tomu an' ic soncth1n o Dyoo'' remember that.' This ha enc-d at Canton, Ceoryla ar t crc mao t'-is one 'oy thC rc. TT rasm t as 'oa: as ever bod always ac him of cvcr thin umL his nae was Fran!, Jarvis, he 's ni stiedama o;,,,; 1 1-on- my aye . So, everyth in', tha ha 0fl00, mhy everybony'e always say - "' Tell rank Jarvis di th a Jar v 4 that So they's hnv!n' court, n ht court, . hcn as bat ' That was 'bout 1911. n2. ho mcnt over on a mretty biTh hill there in Canton. Uhich there's hills ever I way -- but anyway he's over on this hill. : decided that he mould. ive 'cm surlpin' to tall: about at court that nil, ht. So he tier1 about ten s ticlIs of dynamite in the top of 0. tree an set his "use where he hi-iou us- t about ,,hat tine i'it'd 'o off. So he -ot bach to the courthouse and. they's settin' there in court and tosc iyncmites emplodc.na it hrol:e some dishes in town, and. one man ho-red tie in bach of the court and sail'' Jarvis 0c1 T at." Franh o mm and says "I be:: your pardon," "I've been here since court started.." So that .:ive bin credit, '-:'t we al .-rays rererthercd that Prap h yot even (.fter tIc rccordirr session horn told mc that she l:now 'ran!- Jarvis exploded. the dyna ite because h e was a friend of 'y father's. rane 1' Also this incient, she sa s, is in the court record.) Yhat was that sony you was tollin' r about "The 011 Tomestead" one tic? You said that uas "Old : riestc or soicthin; else . hell, this could lave b een "Thc-. Trmdle 'ed". I don't rericuher Just ihich it was, hut this son uas1L favorite of ny fathcr end :'other both and we used to sinn it 'ro..'nd in the cveninh . It ocs likc this. As I wander arourL the homestead, 11any a dear faailiar spot brought within -iy recollection, Scenes Id secuin, ly .for:ot Yore thc orchard ueaow yonder . There the deep oll fashion well' hith ith old moss coverEd bucket Sent a thrill no tonuc can tell Thouch th- house he hell by stran3crs All renamed the sar:ic wi thin Just as when a child I ranlcd) Up uJ own anT out arid in, To the attic dark ascendin , Once a source of chil.ish dread Pocrin throuh the rusty cobwebs, ' Lo 1 saw .ry trundle bed Wick I drew it from the rnThbish ovorcd 'ocr with Thst so Men ''eirol' I heard in fancy Strains of one fa riliar son Often sunC by ny fear other/ To rio in rr tr;ndle bec I:ush riy :car, lie still anr'. slur:fier1 ::oly onels nuard thy bed. (Iet stanza spoken) hcn ny :iother 'ocr Do bcndin:) Prayed in earnest cords but aild car :rj -prayer 0 Heavenly Father, Bless 0 1 blcss ) ny orecious chil - ( 1 g *) Yet I an but only rcain1 lever be a chil anuiri :I my years has that near '-totter In :1c cniet church yard lay. Put the rccniory of her counsel, 'Ocr my path a liit has sled, Daily callinb ne to heaven, given fro--o ny trndle bed. 9 :'a(--c, 10 Thisi s a son!, I used to hear ' r father sin r was a re .t uw to - o uith us youn nstersjbo an kinT of : rtiejnd all kinds of -- UO Called son,-:s -- hut anwa- this one that he usecto -*n, -,a lot was 'L rather was a os:in' Cawlcr't. This is the wa it oes: .Lv father was a ro iint awblor He taught we how to play. Ie taut we how to shuffle those cards Ana' he taut me Jack from, trey. I roaried all over coria And bcI: to Alaba:' 'Jhcn I wet with a -cc!- of car 's, So willinly I'd set doun, So vTjlljflly I'd. set cown, So will-In ly I'd set doun. And uTen I MCt with a dock of cards so willingly I'd set doun. roaricd all over tcorIja Ind hack to Tennessee I foil in love v2ih a :pretty little girl And her in love with. 7-C And her in love with mc, And, her in love with me. I fell in love with a T) r. little ,ir1 And her in love with rae Pa,--e 11 She ashecl rae in her parlor, She coolclac ui1T. her ran. She rLisijerod low in her roti:er 's ear I love that LanbllnFnan, I love that I love that She Th. isrer I 1 ove teat a'iblinc :an. L'ablinr: rcan. d low in her iot1cr's car, a: blin., ran Ch, daurhter, dear da tcr, Kota can you treat :ae so. To leave your poor olc iother, n1 with a a.:ahlcr o, nP with a arabler o, Anc7 ;rith a arbler 'o To leave :our -Door ol-i mot}cr, !nd with a arthlcr 'o . Oh, mother, c1 ear :other, It 's true I love you well. Put the love I have for the anblin- r. n, Po human tonpae can tell, To hrrian tongue can tell., ::o human tongue can tell. The love I have or t} amblin man, P0 human ton[1c can tell. Page 12 i araa, bell mc soi;le of the ways you all used to keep foo like for wintertime. Je used u'-at we called notatoc bills. ;Jc ha lots of hay and it was aluags stacked in bc fields, tin around a nob and we c go in there and we" take sand an ut in at,-ion it; we'd nut our notatoes,orr turnips, and cabbage, t i fix h ills of cabbac that ira c'd in that 0 back in the uintr and we'd di 1 erl out ancthey wouldn't freeze in there. Put tern inside the haystack? Yea. !I,- atwas the sand for? That give'eri some oistLiTe so they wouldn't get hard dry. Have you ever heard of 'Leather britch cs'" Oh yes, _other used make a lot of them, and o did grandriother. They would be almost as good as fresh green beans in the winter. You'd tap e 'em and pick the young beans, don't let 'cm et too full. .nd you'd pick those beans nd/you'd take heavy string, ltke a crochet tread or some tnng o tat nrm. nd you 'dinut ? (-., i on Ion s tr-ngs an you'(; nut 'cm out and dry 'em tint 11 they was conplc be by d ri cd Eut not Ic t the color change if nor rut 'era in the sun it'd bake the color awaL from 'em. 13ut you just nut 'or' out in the air an' et en dry-- we 'd hang Pac 13 'cm in c aaoieiiouse lots/of times, and 'r-7- 'em. how nut 'era in the shade? bee Put where t wasn t da:lp. So then in the winter r'-,-n ow wanted to cook 'em rr rO12'0, take 'em 'oun nd nut 'era in col rater and let 'can sets for about an hour, in cold water, an then ou'd wash 'cm a:ain, ;ood, and nut 'cm in hot water nd nut you in a piece of boilini, bacon and you had the sac, almost, as fresh Teen beans. I remember, I was very small, hut I can remember oinp to rcncknothc an,' she'd have rae to put water in the ash hopper. The ash horror, t he bounder n eonic wouldn't remember or know anything about now. .ut re -j-as oJoox an it ms nuit in a f nnel shape. You took your ashes from the fir eplaco, a lways wen t oak ashes because it had. more acid in it an -me took t.bc ashes from the fireplace and put in this ash ho--)per. .nd then we tn1 Tut water in there an in a for das it would hE yin to drcin throuh the ashes, the rater would. Pay after day me mc ld add cmtra mater and this would 1 nir nith a small drippin, which would make lye. Into a barrel? Into a barrel, an' it'd make lye, he used that truke lye soap and it was also uses/to make horainy. The honainy, the one I 'an talin of non, we'd take the corn, IN 0 N Pace l just the shelled corn. And we'd put in a earthern jar, an we i,akethis lye anr ;our over this honiny. Ana let it stay for a"out fio clays and the corn would swell 'til very 1are. An then ve l d take this outta the lye anf wash it off. And re'3 tusk off the outsic of the corn onfit woul 1 be then really uhite, like hominy is today. Then we'd, to kee p it, we l l either rut it in cans (mason jars) and seal i:, up hot. ho rut it somctiries in carthern jars and they always had a 1111 to then that would have a rue Ter around it, anj we'd out it in that an we'd rut it in this weakened lye which waila keep it, an it'd he hot - we'c put it in that and you could open that up in the niddle of the suiir-ier end you'd have fresh horiiny, Mich was very yood. -- 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. 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