Steve Foster interview with Alta Henry, Phyllis Henry, Willie Denny, Newman Denny, Alton Foster, Georgia Foster, and Jim Foster (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. Part one of this interview begins with Alton and Georgia Foster describing a grave that was facing a unique direction. Afterwards, Alton Foster retells a story about a man who hid in a cemetery. Georgia Foster then describes a 150 yard long stone wall her father constructed after the Civil War that was torn down because of highway construction. At 8:30 Alton Foster recounts details about his grandfathers experience as a Confederate soldier. Next, at 10:00, Alton Foster discusses the belief that the lunar cycle determines the best times to plant, fish, and hunt. Foster also describes his knowledge of moonshiners, which leads into a discussion about a man named Jim Davis who was rumored to have murdered 30 people (including his father), 27 of whom were Black. At 16:30, Alton and Georgia Foster detail how to brew persimmon beer and peach whisky, which required the use of a government still. At 19:40, Alton Foster recalls becoming a teacher, including the requirements. Georgia Foster details how farm labor was divided by gender, especially during corn-shuckings at 21:30. Women remained at home to quilt, while men congregated in barn corrals to husk the corn. Alton Foster explains that red corn was rare, so if you found one, you were often rewarded with a drink or a kiss. Georgia Foster elaborates on quilting beliefs and practices. Next at 25:20, Alton Foster then recites two speeches he was required to memorize (one about a bachelor tax and one about the consequences of alcoholism) when he was eight. Afterward, Georgia Foster tells a few humorous stories about a church and a man who faked his death. Alta Henry then recounts a racist story, intended to be humorous, about two Black men determining what they would do if they received a large amount of money. Steve Foster also tells a few humorous stories. Afterwards at 39:20, Phyllis Henry recalls sighting a UFO and an invisible telephone booth. She also explains a series of dreams she had in high school that came true. At 46:40, an unidentified interviewee describes getting their fortune told and rumors of a light entering a mans house a day before he died. The recording ends with Alton Foster listing methods to ward off bad luck and disease. James Jim Foster (1888-1975) was born to George Foster (1854-1936) and Victoria Foster (1852-1922) in Carroll, Georgia. He married Frances McWhorter (1890-1979) and they had five children, including Levi Alton Foster (1914-1993), who was born in Randolph County, Alabama, and raised in Heard County, Georgia. Alton married Georgia Shadinger (1911-2004) in 1941. Shadinger was born in Carroll County, Georgia, to William (1857-1926) and Burma Shadinger (1869-1948). Levi Alton and Georgia Foster lived in Carrollton, Georgia and had at least two children, including Stephen (1943-2017) and Larry (1947-) Foster. Alton Foster worked as a vocational teacher. Willie Denney (1899-1984) and Newman (1885-1976) Denney were married between 1910 and 1918 and they had seven children. In 1918, Newman Denney was drafted into the United States military. He worked as a teacher and later as a farmer. Alta (1914-1995) and Phyllis Ellen (1922-2017) Henry were two of 10 children born to Isaac Marion (1870-1943) and Mary Ellen (1873-1956) Henry in Missouri. Alta married Everett Lawrence Jacks (1910-1970) in 1959 and had four children. Phyllis married Carl Walker (1913-2003) and had two sons. Additional biographical information has not been determined. Session I Collector is Steve Foster. The informants are Mrs. Alta Henry arid her daughter Phyllis Henry. Mrs. Henry was born in Hara1 on County and is about fifty-five years old. She has lived most of her life in Haraidson County. Phyllis Henry was born on October 31, 1949, in Key West, Florida. She lives with her parents, about five miles north of Tallapoosa, Georgia, on Highway 100. The session was taped there on the evening of October 30, 1970. "Apologetic" Mrs. Henry: They used to have people apologize to the church for any misbehaving. This one poor old man was up for swearing. Have I told you this one before? Foster: No. Mrs. Henry: And he said, (laughs) well, he wanted to apologize to the church, he was sorry he was swearing and he knew it wasn't the thing to do, and he, uh, asked the church's forgiveness, but, and he said he'd try not to do it anymore, but he said that people just got him so goddamned fixed sometime till he couldn't help it. (laughter) Omit: Joke in which the ending is not remembered. "Proper Grief" Mrs. Henry: ... to get his insurance. Where they got the body to put in the car, nobody ever knew - but they burned the car; the man burned his own car and had this body in it, and it was discovered, and they thought he had burned inside the car, you know. And so, they had the funeral and the man was hidden out in the church - over here at the church. Foster: What church was this? Mrs. Henry: Yea, Pleasant Hill was where they had the funeral. And so he was hidden out in the attic of the church and was watching the funeral and his wife didn't show the proper grief, and his wife didn't grieve as much as the man thought she should have at the funeral, so he just made himself known. He got real mad about it and came down and made himself known. Now, how their case ever came out, I don't know; I don't think they ever didn't prove anything, and they never found out how they got this body they put in it. Foster: Did they ever know whose body was in the car? Mrs. Henry: No, they never did. 2 Foster: Never did know. "Finances" Mrs. Henry: How are we going to talk about it now? We can't say - Foster: Yes you can! Absolutely! Mrs. Henry: Two old nigra men were talking about finances, and one of them asked the other one, he said. "What would you do if you had all de money der is in de world?" And this other one gave it a considerable thought, and he said: "Well," he said, "if I had all de money der is in de world, I would buy myself a big Packard car, and I would buy my wife one, and I would buy me dis big estate and dis big house." He went on to a lot of things that he would buy. Then he turned to his friend, and he said: "If you had all de money in de world, what would you buy? He said: "I would go down to de bank and put it on my debts - as far as it would go." "Good Reasons" Foster: Okay, this is Steve Foster, and I am recording this as told to me by Mrs. Alta Henry of Haraldson County, and the story goes - she was told this by her father. As the story goes, one man had - was supposed to buy a mule from another man, and he had kept the mule for a while and didn't pay him, and they were in court because after not paying him, he had not brought the mule back. And so in court, the judge asked the man why he had not brought the mule back, and he said there were twenty-seven good reasons why he hadn't brought the mule back, and the judge said, well, let's hear them. And the man said that the first reason was that the mule was dead. 3 "Sick Enough" Foster: Okay, this is a continuation. There was a story about a man who was on trial for being drunk, and the witness, a lady was a witness against him, and she was testifying, and she testified that she was pretty sure he was drunk because she had seen him riding in his wagon leaning up against another man, so the, uh, defendant's lawyer was cross - examening her,and he asked her, why, you know, that she thought he was that drunk, and she said because he was leaning up against the other man, and so, so the lawyer said: "He coulda been sick." The woman said: "I didn't know people ever got that sick." And he said: "Lady, sometimes people get sick enough to die." "At the Windshield, Nearly" Phyllis Henry: ... scared, so we went to the police station. Foster: So what did the police say? Phyllis Henry: Right on up there, so we told them that we saw a flying saucer - that's when all that mess about flying saucers was going around, and everything., because one of the cops down there saw one too, the very same night. Foster: So, what did it look like? Phyllis Henry: It was this big mass like a big mass of fire or something coming towards the car. Foster: Did it have any particular shape or anything? 1. Foster: Did it have any particular shape or anything? Phyllis Henry: Nothing, it didn't have any, have any shape at all. It was this big light in the sky coming at the car. Foster: Did it make any noise? Phyllis Henry: No, it just started coming at the sky in the sky. Foster: How high up was it? Phyllis Henry: It wasn't very high up - about at the windshield nearly. Foster: Was it coming along... Phyllis Henry: I don't remember; it was a long time ago - just a bright light. Foster: Just a kind of a bright... Phyllis Henry: Just a kind of a flash or something - just a big old flash of light. Foster: So, the policemen seemed to think that it was a pretty ordinary occurance? Phyllis Henry: Well, they didn't think anything about it because one of the policemen that same night saw something like it, and they said something about picking up something on the radar somewhere. Foster: Okay, now Phyllis, about this flying saucer, now where did this occur? Phyllis Henry: It was on the way on Highway 100 going into Tallapoosa. Foster: About how long ago was this? Phyllis Henry: Six or seven years ago. 5 "Disappearing Phone Booth" Foster: Okay, now you were going to tell me about an invisible or non-existent telephone booth that you and Judy saw, okay? Phyllis Henry: Okay, this was when I was in the ninth grade about eight years ago. Foster: Was this in Connecticut? No, this had to be right... Phyllis Henry: This was here. All right we were going to town. We got out of school one day to go to town to eat some lunch and we were in the car with a bunch of girls, so we were gonna make a telephone call. And so, we were in a hurry because we weren't supposed to be, you know, away from school. And so when we got out of the car, Judy saw a telephone booth, and she said why didn't we make the call here. And so, I saw it too, and I said, Judy, we don't have time. I remembered exactly where the telephone booth was because a friend of mine had screamed out from the window of the newspaper office, which was right next to where the telephone booth was - the street and everything. Foster: This was in Tallapoosa? Phyllis Henry: In Tallapoosa. And she had said something to us - that's why I knew it was on that street. So we went back the next weekend to make a telephone call and were on the same street, and the telephone booth wasn't there. Foster: You're kidding. Phyllis Henry: No, and so we thought they must have moved it or something, you know, we couldn't figure out, you know. It really got us, you know. And so we were asking around different people. We didn't tell them, you know, that we saw one. We asked them if one was there and found out that there never had been one there. Foster: Never had been one there. Phyllis Henry: C Never had been one there at all! Foster: This was about when? About eight years ago, right? Phyllis Henry: This was eight years ago when I was in the ninth grade. Foster: Lemme tell you a coincidence. I'm Going to add a coincidence because the guy who lives in a room from across from where I live - at that time was in charge of putting in and taking out telephones in this area. Omit: Dream of no consequence. a Session II Collector is Steve Foster. The informants are his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Alton Foster, and Mrs. Foster's sister, Mrs. Willie Mprte Denney, and her husband, Newman Denney. Willie Myrte Denney was born on May 8,,,i1899, in Carroll County, Georgia, and has lived all of her life in Heard and Carroll counties, Georgia. Newman Denney was born on November 13, 1885, in Heard County, Georgia. He has lived all of his life in Heard and Carroll counties, Georgia Alton Foster was born on February 14, 1914, in Randolph County, Alabama. He has lived most of his life in Heard and Carroll counties. Georgia Shadinger Foster was born on January 29, 1911, in Carroll County, Georgia, and has lived most of her life in Heard and Carroll counties. The session was taped on the morning of October 31, 1970, at the home of Mr. and Pers. Denney off Highway 27, four miles south of Carrollton, Georgia on Route 3. 8 Omits Talk about adjusting the tape. 'Her Own Business" Steve Foster: Now where -- where -- where did Mahalia Lancaster live? Newman Denney: In Heard County -- Georgia. Steve Fosters That was down around Ephesus? Newman Denneys Caneyhead -- Methodist Church. Her pedple went to church at Caneyhead. Steve Fosters She's been dead a few years, hasn't she? Newman Denney: Sure. Told fortunes. Made lots of money. Steve Foster: Yea. Newman Denney: Saved lots of money. Built a fine house. Steve Foster: Lot of people... Newman Denney: Oh, yea. Lots of people knew her. Steve Foster: So, what -- how old were you when she told your fortune? Newman Denney: I was about grown. Steve Fosteri Uh, huh. Alion Fosters What did she tell you? Newman Denney: Can't remember, so many things... Willie Myrte Denney: You lost your watch, didn't you? Didn't you go to her for that? Newman Denney: That's another old lady...I don't remember her name. Willie YWrte Denney: Murphy. 9 Newman Denney: Murphy -- Aunt Francis Murphy. Steve Foster: Yea. Newman Denney: She described the place where I was, you know. I was right at your daddy's. Right there. Willie Myrte Denney: Same house, I think. Newman Denney: And there was a back path down to the spring down south of the house, and that's the way she thought -- she said the fellow went when he left with the watch. Steve Fosters h, Somebody had stole your watch? Newman Denney: Yea... Willie Myrte Denney: They had a singing there. Newman Denney: ...stole it out of my room when I was asleep, one Sunday night. He came in the window, no doubt. My clothes was near the window. He got my watch. I never did find the watch. Steve Foster: You never did find out, huh? Newman Denney: No, I never did find out. Omit: A misunderstanding about a wallet. Alton Fosters Do you remember her telling the fortune of any other person? Newman Denney: Well, she done it all around. Alton Foster: Well do you remember any particular one? Newman Denney: No, I... Alton Foster: Your brother, or your father -- any of your relatives or any close friends. Do you remember what they said abott them? 10 Newman Denney: No, I can't remember -- just anything imaginable. Steve Fosters Yea. `What did people think about Mahalia Lancaster? Newman Denney: Oh, they thought she was pretty good. Steve Foster: Was she... Newman Denney: Good fortune teller. Steve Foster: Was she generally honest? Newman Denney: Yea, Yea, fine family of old people. Steve Fosters She wasn't like a gypsy or something, was she... Newman Denney: Oh, no. Steve Foster: She just grew up... Newman Denney: She stayed at home... Steve Foster: Yea. Newman Denney: ...and tended to her own business, "Saw the Light" L - Note name confusion Steve Fosters Daddy, you was gonna tell me about the Wilson Shirah killing down in - down in close to Heard County? Alton Fosters I don't know whether Uncle Newman had heard this or not, but it's been told, and I don't know who told it, that on the night before Wilson Shirah was killed by Ireson Ballard, that a light entered Mr. Wilson's house -- in 11 the hallway. It was more or less an open hallway. And that this light moved slowly from the front of the house toward the rear of the house, and it was said that Mrs. Wilson saw the light. And it was the next day that Mr. Ballard killed Mr. Shirah. Steve Foster: Well, what was it about, do you remember? Alton Fosters The argument was over some children riding to school -- in a buggy, I believe. Newman Denney: Alton Fosters And Mr. Wilson went up to Mr. Shirah 'S home, and the killing occurred out behind a small building just across the road in front of the house. It was just over in Carroll County, so the court case was tried in Carroll County rather than Heard County even though Mr. Wilson lived... Georgia Foster: Mr. Ballard. Alton Foster: Mr. Ballard lived right in the house at the time. The house near the Carroll-Heard line. Newman Denney: Line -- I know, I know... Alton Foster: Actually, the house was in Heard County, but the killing occurred far enough ngrth... Willie Myrte Denney: In Carroll, Newman Denney: Yea, back up this way; I know where it was at. Alton Foster: Now, he did serve some time in prison. Steve Foster: What did people think about it? Did anybody say what that light meant, or what they thought about it, or something? Alton Foster: Well, it was considered as a omen of the comming death... Steve Foster: Uh, huh. Alton Fosters ..just as people say now that if a screech owl hollers at night close to the house, there's going to be a death in the family. 12 Willie Myrte Denney: Yea. Alton Foster: Is that what you heard? Newman Denney: Yea. Alton Foster: Now also, there's a saying that if a cricket chirps in the house there's not going to be a death. Newman Denney: In other words, good times. Steve Foster: Good times. Alton Foster: Yes, good times. Newman Denney: Yea, I know exactly where that man was killed, down on the side of the road. We passed there by every time we went that way -- by the side of the road, between his house and the next house. Alton Foster: Is Mr. Shirah dead now? Newman Denney: Yea, Alton Foster: He died just a year or two ago, didn't he? I know I've seen him in Roopville... Newman Denney: Yea, Alton Foster: ...and he wore dark glasses. Steve Foster: He was trying to hide, more or less, wasn't he? Alton Foster: , .: No, I think that his eyes must have been bad. Steve Foster: Oh. Georgia Foster: He served his time. 13 Steve Foster: Yea. Did you hear what people thought about that light, or anything, or have you heard about that light? Newman Denney: Not that I remember. Steve Fosters IIh, huh. Daddy, you was telling me about a -- about the saying that when a guy was walking along the road and uh, what he would do to protect himself from bad luck or when a black cat crossed the road in front of him, what would he do to protect himself? Georgia Foster: Turn around his hat. Alton Foster: Used to, the saying is that if a black cat crosses the road in front of you, you're gonna have bad luck. Steve Fosters Yea, well, how do you... Alton Fosters To ward off this bad luck you can turn your cap around; that's one way isn't it? Willie Myrte Denney: Yes, I've heard that. Alton Foster: Or, you can turn around and go backwards some, isn't it, and come back again? Steve Fosters What was that time that you would do -- that you would either spit on a rock and throw it over your shoulder, or spit on the rock and put it back? Alton Foster: The saying is, that if your side hurts while you're walking or as you're walking... Newman Denney: Yea, I know that. Alton Foster: ... if you stop and pick up a rock and spit on the bottom of it, and put it back in place or throw it over the back of your head -- that the hurting will go away. Newman Denney: Yea, that's right. Willie Myrte Denney: Yes, we used to try that, I think it would. I don't know if it's the stopping and stooping and all that helps your side, or what... 14 Newman Denney: Rest! Stitch in time saves nine. Steve Foster: Yea, that's pretty good. What was that you were saying while ago about the spider webs and rain? Willie rte Denney: Uh, if you get up in the morning and spider webs -- see spider webs hanging with dew on them, it's not a gonna rain. And all on the ground and grass. It's a real good sign. I've watched it, and it hardly ever does miss. Alton Fosters Another sign for rain is some smoke comming out of a chimney goes toward the ground rather than going... Newman Denney: Straight up. Alton Foster: ...straight up. Newman Denney: Yea. Alton Fosters That's a sign it's going to rain. Newman Denney: That's right. Willie Nj7rte Denney: A red sunset is a sign it's not a gonna rain, but red sunrise, it'll nearly rain. Steve Foster: Is there a rhyme that goes with that? Willie Myrte Denney: I'm not -- I don't know. Georgia Foster: Evening -- let's see. Willie Myrte Denney' Evening red and morning gray sends a traveler... Georgia Foster: .on his way. Morning read and evening gray -- can't remember now. Alton Foster: You've heard the saying that a morning's rain is like an old womanfs dance... Newman Denney: ...didn't last long. 15 CLeughteri Georgia Foster: I remember, we usta when you had warts on your hand, you would take a stick and rub it on your wart, and let somebody blindfold you and carry you around and not let you know where you -- carrying you to, and you dig a place and bury that stick, and then take you back maybe where you started from and not let you know where that stick is, your warts would go away. I remember doing that, and they carried me down to the cemetery at Oak Grove, and I didn't know to a long time after then that that's where I buried that stick in the cemetery. Willie Hyrte Denney: You don't remember if your warts wents away? Georgia Fosters No, I don't remember about that. Omits Discussion about preacher. Georgia Fosters We usta have what do you call -- a foot pedlar. It was a Jew... Newman Denney: Yea. Georgia Foster: Jake Maloof would come around, and we would look forward to seeing him, and he would have... Willie ?rte Denney: There was seven of them brothers that come from a foreign country. You see that name now in Atlanta. Newman Denney: Wagons, mule, covered wagon -- buy chickens and eggs. Georgia Foster: Used to spend the night with us. Newman Denney: Yea. Willie r rte Denney: This one didn't but nothing like that. He just sold cloth. Newman Denney: Chibken peddling -- going through `.the country buying chickens. 16 Steve Fosters Did they ever have any special ways about them that was kinda strange or different from people here? Newman Denney: I don't know about that... Willie Myrte Denney: We couldn't hardly understand his speech. Newman Denney: ...buy chickens and eggs, they were cheap, ten cents a dozen. Everything was cheap then. Alton Foster: Newman, did you ever hear this story about a foot pedlar that went to a farmer's house, and they'd been bothered with so many foot pedlars, they kindly gotten tired of it? Newman Denney: Uh, huh. Alton Foster: And the man made it up with his son that the next one -- foot pedlar that cane to the house, that the son would come up and ask the father about the maddock. And this occurred on this particular occasion, and the father asked the son about the maddock. And he answered the fatherI "It's over yonder where we buried that damned foot pedlar last week." L aughter^ Alton Fosters And the toot pedlar left in a hurry. Steve Foster: You was telling me that other day about the two Nigrassthat wanted -- didn't know why they didn't make as much money as a white man? Alton Foster: Newman may have heard this one in another way. Our preacher was telling this. There's two Nigras were working under a white man as a foreman. And the foreman wasn't doing anything, but the two Nigras was doing the hard work, and one of the Nigras says: "Why is it this white man makes more money than we does, we do the hard work?" Well the Nigra answered: "You go ask him." So he goes and asks him -- says: "White man, why is it that we does all the work, and you don't do any work, and you make more money than we does?" He says: "It's like this." 17 And he put his hand on a tree and says: "Now you draw back your fist and hit my hand as hard as you can." Now he drew back, and, of course, the white man withdrew his hand. Then he bruised his fist up. So the Nigra goes back to the other, and the other Nigra asked him -- says: "What did he tell you?" He Says: "I can show you better than I can tell you." So he holds his hand up over his face and tells the other Nigra -- says: "You draw back and hit my face as hard as you can." And just before the Nigra hit his hand, he pulled his hand out of the uay, and he hit him in the face. I don't know whether the Nigra got the message or not. Omit: Talk about swamp gas. Alton Foster: Remember the one about being able to see before you marry, the one whom you are going to marry? On the first day of May isn't it, you take a looking glass, and you go out and look down in the well and... Georgia Foster: I tried to do that. Alton Fosters ...shine the light down in the well. And you can see the house, or some building or something that will give you an idea as to whom you're going to marry. Have you heard that one? Newman Denney: Oh, yea, sure, Willie Myrte Denney: I think girls used to try all of that -- on the first day of May. Georgia Fosters! When Sun was shining in the well. Alton Foster: Sun reflected it into the mirror, and the mirror reflects it into the well, and the reflection of the water in the well they can see some indication or some evidence of the person, or the place of, the person they're going to marry. Newman Denney: Yea, sure. Omits Wishbone, Negro Chicken Thief, and a funeral. 18 Steve Foster: Do you remember any stories about -- that people said that somebody had died and came back, or somebody heard somebody's voice after they were dead, or anything like that? Anybody remember anything like that? Newman Denney:: Well, I've heard of such things. Steve Foster: Yea. Newman Denney: But I couldn't tell you. Willie I(yrte Denney: I heard a man say, not too long ago, that -- that he was talking at church, Steve Foster: IIh, huh. Willie Myrte Denney: He had lost his wife, and he couldn't make up his mind to start a garden, or anything. Steve Foster: Yea. Willie &yrte Denney: But, uh, he -- he finally started his garden and said she appeared out there, you know, standing around with him, just as plain as he ld ever seen her, just like she was there, Omits Section aboutNewman Denney's early school days CBegin side two of first tape] Steve Foster: Daddy, you were telling me earlier about people used to have these wooden things over the graves -- the story about the guy who... Alton Fosters What's the name of these buildings over graves and cemeteries, Newman? I couldn't think of the name the other day. Willie rte Denney: Is it C-R-I-P-T, Cripts? Steve Foster: We're talking about the type on top. Alton Foster: To keep the rain off the grave. What is that name? There's a special name for that, isn't it? 19 Omit: Rambling talk about different graves. Steve Foster: Daddy you was telling me a story about the guy who came out of the rain In one of those wooden... Alton Foster: I don't know whether Uncle Newman has heard this one, or not. I remember my father telling me that, uh, several years ago, and I don't remember how long, there was a fellow comming home from going to see his girl. So another fellow thought he would have some fun out of him, as he passeddthe cemetary there at Centralhatche2 Baptist Church. The cemetery is just across the road from the church and... Steve Foster: This was in Heard County, now? Alton Fosters So this fellow that thought he would have some fun out of the other one, got under the shelter there in the cemetery, just hid. Steve Foster: That's one of those little grave shelters? Alton Foster: Yes, so when the fellow came by, it was raining, or it may not have been raining, I'm not sure how it was told. Anyway this fellow in the cemetery who was hiding called out. And the fellow's name who was walking home was Johnny. He said: "Come by Johnny and come in out of the rain." So Johnny didn't come by out of the rain, he hurried home -- said h e knocked the door down, when he reached home. A7on Foster: Had you heard that one. Newman Denney: I believe not. Omit: Conversation with rock wall. 21 [hue to time problems, the remainder of the written portion of this project will be summarized or omitted, except for a few direct quotations. -- S. Fj Omit: Discussion of the rock wall and the Civil War. Planting Alton Foster says that his father said to plant watermelons on the first day of May before sunrise. Also, syrup cane is planted during new moon in order to make it grow tall. Hog Killing Newman Denney says that the best time to kill hogs is during the decrease of the moon. One gets more grease at this time. Fishing Alton Foster says that he has heard that the best time to go fishing is-when the signs are in the tail of the moon, because there will be more blood in the tail of the fish than in its mouth, and the mouth will not be as sensitive to the hook. Omit: Section on moonshining and Jim Daniel, the Heard County killer. Persimmon Beer Alton Foster recalls-how his father made Persimmon beer. Old bread, either biscuit or cornbread, #3ersianaons, and sugar, are placed in water and allowed to ferment as long as one wished. The mixture is then strained. Children's School Rhymes Newman Denney: Had a little pig, His name was Bud. Last time I saw him, He was rootin t in the mud. Newman Denney: Had a little Mule, His name was Jack. Put him in the stable, And he jumped through a crack. Newman Denney: The Boy was standing on the burning deck, Eating goobers by the peck. His daddy said he could not go, Because he loved his goobers so. 22 Corn Shucking Willie Myrte and Newman Denney recount corn shucking at Newman's father's farm. The men would shuck the corn while the women cooked supper and held a quilting in the house. The man who found a red ear got a drink, and jug was passed around. Shaking the Cat Willie Myrte Denney recalls that at the end of a quilting, the younger folks would put a cat in the middle of the quilt and ^-- then shake the quilt. Whoever the cat ran nearest would be the first to marry. New Quilt Georgia Foster tells that after a new quilt is made, if ^L the first perrn to sleep under the quilt has a dream, the dream will come true Names Willie ?irte Denney says that young people would plant trees and flowers, naming them after those whom they desired as sweethearts, in order to gain the affection of those persons named. The following verses were memorized by Newman Denney in a Heard County grammar school at about 1893 to 1895. The Bachelor's Dream I dreamed a dream in the midst of my slumbers, And as fast as I dreamed, they were coined into numbers. My thoughts run along as beautiful meter. I'm sure I never saw any portrait sweeter. It seemed that a law had been recently made, That a tax on bachelors (much?) should be laid. And in order to make them all willing to marry, The tax was as large as a man could well carry. The bachelors grumbled, said it t twas no use. T twas cruel injustice and hard abuse. And to save their heartblood from spilling From such a vile tax they'd never pay a shilling. But the rulers, determined their scheme to pursue, Put all the bachelors up at vendue. A crier was sent through town to and fro, To rattle his bells and his trumphets to blow. And he bawled out to all that he met on his way, Ho, forty old bachelors sold here today. And presently, all the old maids of the town Each one in their very best bonnet and gown. From thirty to sixty, fair, plain, red, and pale, Of ever description all flocked to the sale. The auctioneer then in his labor began, He cried out alound as he helped ( ? ) How much for a bachelor, who wants to buy? And in a twinkle each maiden responded, If It It And shortly and a (?) huge extravagent price The bachelors were sold off in a thrice. And forty old maidens, some younger, some older, Each lugged an old bachelor home on her shoulder. The Price of a Drink Five cents a glass, does anyone think That is really the price of a drink? Five cents a glass I hear you say. Why that isn't very much to pay. Oh no indeed, t' is a very small sum, You're passing over your fingers and thumb. And if that were all that you had to pay It wouldn't be very much to pay. Now the price of a drink if you want to know What some are willing to pay for it go Through wretched (tentments ?) over there ( ? ) windows and broken stair. Where a foul disease like a vampire falls With outstretched wings o'er the muddy walls. There poverty dwells with a hungary brood, Wide eyed as demons for lack of food. There shame, in a corner, crouches low. There violence leaves her cruel blow. And innocent ones are thus encouraged To pay the price of another t s thirst. 23 But the price of a drink, let that one tell, Who sleeps tonight in a murderer's cell. And feels within him the fires of hell. Honor and virtue and love and truth And all the glory and pride of youth And hopes of manhood, (wrath ?), or fame, High endeavor and noble aim. These are the treasures thrown away As the price of a drink from day to day. And the price of a drink, let that one tell Who sleeps tonight in a murderer's cell. And feels within him the fires of hell. Honor and virtue and love and truth And all the glory and pride of youth Hopes of manhood, (wrath ?), or fame High endeavor and noble aim. These are the treasures thrown away As the price of a drink from day to day. So, the five cents a glass, if that were all, The sacrifice would endeed be small. But the money's worth is the least amount To be paid, and whoever would keep account Will learn the terrible waste and blight That follows the ruin's appetite. Steve Foster:interjects childhood rhymes Had a little rooster, Fed him on peas, Got so fat I couldn't see his knees. Georgia Foster says that when someone would ask where an object was "at", the answer would be, "behind the at." Begin Tape two -- Side onel Omit: Talk of school plays, exibitions, etcetera 24 Session III Collector is Steve Foster. Informants are Alton Foster (previously mentioned) and his father, Jim Foster, who was born on May 18, 1888, in Carroll County, Georgia. He has lived most of his life in Heard County, Georgia. The session was taped at Jim Foster's home, off Highway 27, on Route 2, Franklin, near the community of Glenloch, on the afternoon of November 7, 1970. 25 The third verse as recited by Newman Denney: Manhood Life's best prizes are won, Not by (orderliness ?) or sharpness, Not by skill or strength, But by the grandest thing known on Earth -- Manhood. If you would climb to the highest places And carry off the richest prizes And get the most enjoyment out of life And have the sublimest old age You must conquer the base elements of nature. You must have every atom and the dross of dishonesty' Squeezed, hammered, -- burned out, ifnnecessary. You must be determined to be what you would appear. There is a premium on men like that. The great world, disgusted with frauds, And pretenders, and shams of all kinds, Will know such a man as soon as he appears. It will prize him, honor him, reward him, Make him famous, and render him immortal. Omit: Discussion of cat ball and town ball. The Details of cat and town ball on tape may be in correct or reversed in the telling. Also omit more talk of early school days. Fantastic Riders The group recalls the "Fantastic Riders" of Christmas time, Their goodnatured hell raising, their disguises, ritual, and their reception by members of the community. Omit: Family talk when they don't know that they are being recorded. Be i Planting Sayings - ,r Jim Foster says that one should plant corn threee or four Sess "2 N days before the full moon until ten days after the full moon. He says that syrup cane should be planted "on the new of the moon." This makes it grow taller. Jim's father's time to plant watermelons was the first three days of May -- before sun up. This always worked. Hog Killing Jim Foster states that hog killing should be done during the decrease of the moon. This is done in order to get more grease. He is certain that this works. 26 Jim Visits Mahalia Lancaster She tells him that if he found some money buried near where he lived, he wouldn't ever have to work again. She Ives him directions which apparently he never thought to check to the alledged site. There follows a discussion among Jim, Alton, and Steve, about the ancestor involved, Johnny Jackson, and. the possibility of there being a buried treasure. The following is the phonetic spelling of two words which Alton Foster says were used by Indians thought to be a Creek tribe who traded with his ancestors. Ne-ha ----butter Choca-laki -milk Jim Crow Sign Jim Foster recalls seeing a sign in Centralhatchge, Georgia, which said: "Nigger, don't let the sun go down on you here." "Scrooch" Owl Jim cites the sound of a Screech Owl near a house at night as a sign of death. He says that this happened three nights before the death of his own father. Rain Sign Jim says that the sound of a Hoot Owl is a sign of rain. Also, if smoke goes to the ground from the chimney, instead of going up, ,it. will, rain. Cold Winter Jim states that thick shucks on corn is a sign of a cold winter. When an animal's fur is thicker it will be a hard winter. Also, a hornet's nest close to the ground is a sign of the same thing. Omit: Talk about geese. Jim Daniel Jim Foster recounts the exploits of Jim Daniel who, he said, had the ears of seven Negroes on a string. Jim Daniels brother fled to Texas to avoid arrest for murder. 27 Soon a very heavy casket returned. Jim Daniel would let no one open the casket. It was thought that this was a ruse to aid his brother, and that the casket contained rocks. Omit: More on Jim Daniel, Lon George, moonshining, and shingle making. [Begin second half of second tape A Hanging Jim Foster tells how the previous occupant of his house was allegded to have been hung by his wife with a sheet. Their children later said that they found their father hanging from the joists. The body was exhumed, but nothing was determined. Jim sees the alleged murderess's illness as a sign of justice. Omit: Section on the Ku Klux Klan, slavery, and the Civil War. Logrolling Jim describes logrolling as he knew it. This involved the neighbor men helping to move the large pine tops of trees which had been cut as saw timber. The men would lift the tops with hand sticks and throw them into piles. Crib Raising Jim says that the neighboring men would again assemble to help build a corn crib made from split logs. The crib would be abbot sight by sixteen feet. Three logs were sawed out at one end in order to make a door. Omits Christmas serenading and tricks, drownings in the Chattahoochee, flower pits, and beer seeds. - .q. Ice Box Jim described how he made an icebox. It was a small box within a larger box, with a layer of sawdust in the space between. Hog Castration Jim says that the best time to castrate a hog is during the decrease of the moon. Meat Processing Jim saysthat the meat is placed in salt for six or seven weeks. Red peppers are then soaked in hot water. The meat is then washed in this liquid. This process makes the meat better tasting and helps'. in preserving it. Sausage can be dried by leaving it hanging near a stove for a while. 28 Intercourse Alton Foster says that he has heard that after sexual intercourse, if the woman turns on her right side, the child will be a boy, and if she turns on to her left side, the shill will be a girl. He thinks that he heard this from his grandfather, and says that he does not believe that it is true. Water witching Jim Foster describes his method of water witching. He says he has used a Persimmon stick but hickory is his favorite. He holds the stick in both hands by the pronged ends, with the body facing up. The stick must be green. It will find the place where the water is closest to the surface. The body of the stick will bend towards the ground, often strongly enough to break the bark. 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.