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DAN AND AMELIA THREET
(Commonly known as Doc Threet)
(Florida)
Located on the West side of "Washington
Park" lying between 7th St, in North Lakeland, (commonly known as Teaspoon
Hill) is located Dan and Amelia Threet. He is known by all as Doc Threet.
They live in a four room house that was once set aside for a community
house in the Park.
Some years ago this plot of ground was donated to the City by Mr. Vinc
Stephenson, who is known as Judge, he was once a Justice of Peace in
Lakeland. This white gentleman deeded this track of land to the City of
Lakeland to be used as a Park for Negroes. In 1910 the City of Lakeland
accepted it. In 1926, Louise Rochelle (now Louise Diggs) organized a group
called, "The Civic Improvement League" saw fit to improve it. In making
their plea to the City Fathers, they were granted the necessary funds to
make the necessary improvements.
At that time in 1926, they erected a band stand, layed cement walks, and
built tennis courts with lights for night playing. A sun dial was placed
east of the band stand, and a building to the west side for a community
house. The park has numerous water oaks scattered in it, which makes it a
very desirable place to relax. During the year of 1934 the F E R A
remodeled the band stand.
In the mean time through the popularity of this beautiful park, there was
need for someone to care for it. L.B. Brown was first given the priviledge
to live in this cottage. After he left in 1935. Doc, was given the job as
care taker. This position he holds today along with the responsibility of
taking care of other City owned property built for Negroes in Lakeland,
Florida. The Colored Auditorium, and the Colored Library.
Doc, was approached for an interview. He was sitting on the porch smoking.
He said, "come in and have a seat." "Well I am nothing but a hard working
man, and there is not much that I can tell, But I have seen plenty go on
here in Lakeland.
This conspicuous character is seen daily around, and is known by all of
the older citizens, and boys and girls who visit the Park. He is very
pleasant and obliging at all times. Doc is five feet and six inches in
height, weigh one hundred and thirty five pounds, dark brown in
complexion, with a few gray hairs visible in his head.
"I was born in Valdosta, Georgia. My parents were Wash and and Hattie
Winn. After the death of my father, my mothered married again to Nero
Threet There were share-croppers on a large farm, and I remained on the
farm and worked part of the time. Doc's family only consisted of his two
sisters, Viola and rosa, (deceased) " I remained on the farm until I was
ten years old, during that time I attended school. I was taken to Florida
by my uncle Charlie Williams. They settled in Layfette County. I married
my wife Amelia Roberson, August 18, 1898 and later came to Lakeland,
Florida, in December 1914."
"I recall the first jail, which was a one story wooden building located in
front of the Adair Atheletic Field, on North Florida Avenue, near Third
Street. This spot is now the home training ground for the Detroit Tigers.
And is considered one of the best training grounds in Florida."
"There were only three houses located this side of Pear St. They were
located in groves and woodland. One of the houses I purchased."
"While in Georgia I learned my A B C's. We studied out of the Blue Back
Webster. I lived in a town called Luraville, where I was made to attend
school four months out of the year. I went to school often and on for
sixteen years. I went as far in the Arithmetic as the United States Money.
At that time that was considered good. Prof. W.A. Rochelle, the principal
of the Elementary Department at Washington Park High School taught me for
a couple of years in Lauraville. He was considered a fine teacher at that
time. Through my schooling, what little I had, it has made me see what I
could do for my children. Some have finished the High School, and [om?]
the grades. All of them are able to know right from wrong."
"Lottie Mae and Farabelle live with me,
they both have finished the Washington Park High School. Lottie Mae works
on the N Y A, assisting in the recreation department. Farabelle remains at
home and takes care of her mother who had a stroke in December, 1937.
Farabelle is not a very well girl, at times she suffers with her heart."
Farabelle was sitting on the front porch in a rocking chair. She is very
pleasant and seems to be very dutiful around the house. Lottie Mae was
sitting in her mother's bed room talking to her mother. Both girls were
neatly dressed. Lottie Mae asked how the people liked the Pageant that was
held at Bethel A M E Church. She was one of the participants in the play.
Those away from home are Nero, (who is married and lives in Morehead, a
colored section of Lakeland.) Alice, (she is married and lives on 8th St,)
K. C. Hattie and Rosa are away from home and are still single.
" When I was sixteen I began working in the gin mill, ginning cotton. I
stayed on this job until I became boss man. At that time there was plenty
of cotton growing in the northern part of the State. My first job in
Lakeland was with the American Express company. I was a helper during the
Christmas Holidays. Afterward they kept me because I was a good worker.
Later they cut help and kept the old helpers. I looked around and found a
job with the Lakeland Manufacturing Company, hauling lumber. On this job I
received $1.50 per day."
"After working for several years, I began carpenter work, and taking
contracts for grubbing. This I followed until I accepted a job with the
Washington Park High School, as janitor. I began working on this job in
1930, and remained until 1935. They paid me $60.00 a month. I learned a
great deal on this job by coming in contact with the teachers. Of course I
lost out on this job due to colored folks mouth. A lie was told on me, and
I could never straighten it out."
"During this time I became ill, and nearly lost my health, after going on
relief. You remember when you put me on relief, when you had charge at the
Old Colored Hospital. Well soon afterwards they sent you away, and the
treatments I took put me back on my feet. After I was able to work again,
the City gave me more work taking care of the grounds and the building for
our people."
"I clean up the Auditorium and the Library and take care of the grounds.
They pay me $44.00 a month. Of course this amount is not enough to take
care of my family. What little bit Lottie Mae makes goes for her clothes.
You see she is young, and needs pretty things like other girls to wear. I
try hard to look after everything in connection with my work. What I am
thankful is that I have a good boss man Mr. Alderman, who is the Director
of the Recreation Department of the City of Lakeland, Florida.
"Speaking of voting- thats something that a man has to know what he is
doing. I use to vote regular in the City elections, but of late I have
only registered. I work for the city folks and if I go messing in politic
I might vote for the wrong man, and off goes my head. No Siree! I don't
fool with voting. You know a half loaf of bread is better than no loaf. I
mean it is better for folks to be satisfied with what they have sometime
than to be grabbing ,and miss out. You know what them old one's will do,
but you have no guarantee on them new one when they get in office."
"I need my job now, with my wife sick in there. She is helpless and we
have to tote ' her from place to place. Now what would I look like fooling
around now. Huh! all I can do is to attend to my own business."
"All of my life I have had good jobs, and made a living for my family."
Amelia, who can hardly talk, expressed herself at this remark, and said,
"he certainly has taken care of his family and is doing a man's part now."
Amelia sits in a rocking chair during the day time, when the weather is
good she is moved to the front porch, and allowed to sit in the sun. "You
know I thought I was a goner when I was stricken down with rhumatism in
1933." Doc said. "I worried more than I should, but thanks the good Lord I
am still able to work and take care of my wife."
"That's the reason why I try to keep faith with God. I have always been
religious. I have been a member of Bethel A M E Church, located on North
Dakota Avenue, for twenty seven years. My whole family belongs to this
church. I have served in every office in this church. I have been Sunday
School Superintendent for thirteen years. I don't go to church as regular
as I should. I hate to say it, but if you don't have money now there is no
need of going to church, you don't get that old time religion any more."
"I need all the money I can rake and scrape. My medical bills is awful
high. Every time you call a Doctor it takes your weekly salary; to say
nothing about the cost of the prescription. I still feel the effects from
my rhumatism, and take some little pills now and then. Farabelle, has to
have medicine too. All of this expenses fall on me."
The little cottage contains four rooms, very badly in need of painting on
the exterior, the rooms are very small and the walls are ceiled with
beaver board, two of the rooms are used for bed rooms, kitchen and a bath
room that is modernly equipped. They have the use of electricity furnished
by the City free, and their rent is likewise. Doc has built on the north
side of the house a small stand from which he sells snowballs, candy, soft
drinks, and etc. This priviledge is granted by the City.
In front of the house there are benches scattered around under the water
oaks that give shade to the place. There are flowers and shrubbery growing
in front of the house. In the back of his house he has wired in a large
space used for chickens. Penned up in a small box was a coon, that was
captured when he was small. Doc has tamed him, on taking him out of the
box he climbed all over his head and shoulders.
Doc, in talking drifted back to his childrens, stating that one was
drowned while swimming in a clay hole, another was accidently shot by a
boy playing with a gun. The rest died natural deaths from illness.
Amelia said, "that she was a good women when she was well. I was a mother
of thirteen childrens, only seven living now. If all of my children had
married I don't know what would have happened to me. Since I got in this
fix." Amelia is very small and her lower limbs look like they have wasted
away since she has been unable to walk. Amelia said, "that her appetite
was very good, and she likes plenty of chicken."
The general appearence of the interior was clean, the bed rooms were
furnished with inexpensive furniture.
Lottie Mae begged to be excused, and went into the kitchen to prepare
dinner. She was asked what good things she was preparing. She said, "my
mother has to have some special things cooked. But we like most anything.
My father is a great meat eater, but we don't give him very much since he
had that sick spell, We use a plenty of vegetables with corn bread and
biscuits. We eat very little sweets because we can't afford them. I
studied home economics while in High School, and I understand what is good
for people to eat. I am a pretty good cook if I must say so. Ha! Ha!.
Maybe I will get a good husband some day.
Doc said, "you aught to get a good husband." Lottie Mae replied, "
Changing her attitude about a good husband, what for? to starve to death.
Men now of days can hardly take care of them selves. Much less trying to
take care of a wife." As the conversation ran on about marrying, Doc said,
" all young girls should marry before it is too late."
Doc is very handy around the house, most of the article built around his
place was made by him. He showed me a chair that was built, which was
durable and well built. He is considered a home man. When not busy round
the park attending to the lawns and shrubbery, he can be found sitting on
the front porch near his little shop chatting with friends who constantly
visit the place.
Farabelle is considered a good tennis player, and she makes use of the
tennis court that is about fifty feet from the house. Lottie mae is
musical and has a nice voice, and some what interested in dramatics. She
recently assisted with a WPA play.
This seems to be the way that they find pleasure in their liesure time
activities.
Federal Writers' Project
Paul Diggs
Lakeland, Florida
January 6th, 1939
Threet, Dan and Amelia
Washington Park
Lakeland, Florida
Text from: Library of
Congress, Manuscript Division, WPA Federal Writers' Project Collection
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