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Mrs. Margaret Davis
(Original)
(Georgia)
As you go up a long flight of steps to
the tailor shop, you end up in a long dark hallway, where a light is kept
burning all the time, so that visitors and customers can see how to find
the doors.
A knock on the door and a very friendly voice said, "come in." The room at
the top of the steps is the sewing room, and has two long tables that are
used for cutting, and marking clothes for alterations. A long rack at one
end of the room was hanging full of clothes that were finished. A smaller
table between two large windows had a machine on each side, one was an
electric machine, but the other was just the old kind with a foot treadle.
A heater at one side of the room heats up the room, and several chairs
were placed around it for visitors as well as customers.
Mrs. Davis is a large, dark headed, and a very pleasant and friendly
woman. She was busy with several men from the different dry cleaning
places, and they had large bundles of clothes to be repaired. Mrs. Davis
asked the visitor to have a seat that she would be through in a few
minutes. After the customers were gone, and the Negro boy, Ed, had fixed
up the fire, and gone back to the room where he does all the pressing,
Mrs. Davis said, "did you think I would never get through with them? It is
that way all during the day, but that is where most of the business comes
from now, for I don't get as much from the stores as I used to but
business is not good as it should be for this time of the year. I have all
that I can do now, and I don't take but very few things to make since I
have been running the shop by myself, for I don't have time.
"But all this is not interesting to you, I know." But when the visitor
explained that she would like to get a story from her, she laughed and
said, "I do not think that my story would be interesting to anyone, as I
guess it is just like most any ones, I have had my troubles and pleasures
like most everyone does, but if you care for it, I will do the best I can,
if you care to listen while I work, I like to talk, and I do get lonesome
by myself, as I do not have any help except on busy days.
"I was born in Clarke County, on my Grandfather William Summer's place,
November 18, 1887, out near where Princeton is now, in a small two-room
log house. When I was still a baby, we moved to the paper mill, now called
the Cord Mill, but the old paper mill building is still standing, but in
too bad a condition to be used for anything now.
"My father and Jerome Wallace were the two men that run the paper machines
or "enjines" as they called them then. Of course, they had helpers, but
one of them had to be on duty all this time. If one of them was sick, or
off for any reason, the other one had to stay on the job until the one
that was off duty returned. Miss Mag Hale was the only woman that they
used in that part of the mill and she counted the paper. It was made in
large square sheets ready for the printers.
"Old Man Bishop was the man that run the finishing machine. I have watched
them work many a time when I was a child for it was all so interesting to
see the machines run. Out from the paper mill was the rag room, where the
rags were sortered out and put in different bins. Each color was put into
a separate bin to itself. They bought old clothes and rags to make the
paper, and all the buttons were cut off and they sure watched out for
that, for the button would ruin the machines.
"When I was six years old, I was sent to school. It was not like the
schools are now. School then was in the Old Hall, and was all in one room.
Miss Sally Ward was the teacher, and we didn't have but one teacher for
all the children, and she had about one hundred, all sizes and ages, from
six years up, and some of them were almost grown. Our books then were the
Old Blue Back Speller, arithmetic, and geography. We sure had to study,
but even at that we had lots fun and good times in that old schoolhouse
which in later years was made into a dwelling house, and is, I believe,
still standing at this time.
"It was a great thing for the children to work at the paper mill after we
were out of school. They were glad to have us to. Our job was sortering
out the rags. We enjoyed this work, and they paid us fifty cents (50¢) a
month, and that was a lots of money to us, but it wouldn't be much to kids
these days. People from all 'round sold their old clothes and rags at the
paper mill. Many times we found nickles and sometimes dimes in bags of
rags. They allowed us to keep the money when we found it that way, and we
would buy candy and have a big time.
"And one day, I sure do remember that time, as I think, pleasures and
disappointments in our childhood days, are better remembered than anything
else, we found a large bag of new clothes, and they were nice ones to
dress for women and children, underwear, stockings, and some shirts, we
dressed ourselves up, and we put these things aside, for we wanted to keep
them. But the very next morning a woman from town was out there hunting
her clothes. Her maid had sold them and kept the money, and as the old
saying goes 'our feathers fell,' for we had to give up all our pretty
dresses that we had put aside.
"About this time they put in a bag machine to make paper bags. The machine
would cut a hundred bags at a time, and was a great curiosity to the folks
back then. The bags were folded, and put up in bundles, two hundred bags
to a bundle. This was another job that we kids could do. It was fun to do
this. We folded half of them one way and half another way, and tied up the
bundles.
"They also used jute to make paper, and this was bought in large bales.
That was another job for us to do, for we could tare the jute up in small
pieces to have it ready for the machines. One day we found a lots of paper
money in one of the bales of jute, but two of the women that worked there
took this money, and said they would have to send it back. But folks said
that they kept all the money and bought them a home with it. Of course, I
don't know if that was right or not, but we did know that we didn't get
any of it.
"Did you know that they made paper out of wood even in those days? Well
they did, I don't remember what kind of wood it was, but they ground small
sappling into a pulp ready for the paper machines. The paper that was made
from wood was a heavy brown paper such as they use for wrapping paper, and
was called manila paper.
"People was paid once a month then for their work, and it was the usual
thing then, for them to buy a months supply of provisions at that time at
the company store. All the men liked their tobacco, and this was one
supply that was not forgotten when groceries were bought. It was something
they felt like they could not do without. And kids would slip tobacco out
and chew it, the boys especially. One day some of the kids swiped some of
their dads tobacco, and told me I would have to hide it for them, and I
had better put it some place, where it would not be found. I decided that
on the sills in the top of the old well would be the best place. I had to
climb to reach the sills, but I made it, and laid the tobacco along the
sills. It started to raining that same night and rained for a week. After
the rain was over, the kids told me to get their tobacco for them. I went
to the old well to get it, the rain had come through the holes in the roof
and soaked the tobacco, and it had swelled until it was as thick again as
it should have been, and ruined. I almost got a whipping from that crowd
of kids, but they chewed it, and of course was sick, every blessed one of
them. No, I didn't chew any, for I knew mama would sure tan my hide.
"I had some older sisters and our house was just a gathering place for the
young folks. There was a crowd of them there most all the time, and I
could get the biggest thrill out of watching and listening to them talk.
One night two girls, Jule Lee and Gertrude Richards, came to our house to
set a dumb supper. I was just about seven then, and I cried because they
put me to bed, for they had these suppers at midnight, just on the stroke
of twelve. They started their supper and one of my sisters and Cordellia
Noells put on pants and was going to scare them. I could hear them
talking, for I wasn't asleep, if I was in bed, and I slipped up and told
one of my uncles what they was doing, and it was a disgrace in those days
for girls to dress up like boys. So he said he would fix them, and when my
sister and the other girl slipped out to go around to the kitchen to scare
the other girls, my uncle got after them, and did they holler, but any way
it broke up the supper, and I was satisfied.
"Didn't you ever hear about them old
time dumb suppers? They were very popular back in them days. That was the
way girls found out who their future husband would be. I know it seems
funny now, to look back on times as they were then, but after all I think
people really enjoyed life more then than they do now. There was not so
many places to go, and people were closer together in every way, but I
will try to tell you how they cooked the suppers.
"Two girls did the cooking, set the table, and each one used their right
hand, everything was done backwards, even to making the bread. They did
everything together, they only used one hand, and could not speak, not one
word from the time they started, until it was over. If they did, the spell
was broken and no one would come. Everything must be ready just at twelve,
the table set for four and also on the table was placed a Bible and a pint
bottle. Then the wind was suppose to blow and the doors come open, so that
the men could walk in and eat. They were not supposed to speak either just
eat and walk out, if they picked up the Bible, then they would make a good
husband, but beware of the man that moved the bottle for you would sure
get a man that would turn out bad and be a drunkard sure. If no one came
into eat, then you was doomed to die an old maid. These suppers were lots
of fun, for most times, the girls would get scared and wake everybody in
the house up. Oh, yes, they had to be the only two people up in the house,
but they were good old days.
"Now as it is 'most Christmas time, I'm going to tell you about one
Christmas when I was still a little girl. For Christmas then lasted a
week, from Christmas Eve, 'til New Years Eve. On this Christmas, mama was
looking for her half-sister, and family from Alabama to spend Christmas
with us. We had never seen them and were looking forward to that visit,
and was having a big supper on Christmas Eve night, also a dance. We kids
were just on tip toes, so excited, just couldn't wait. Of course, we were
also looking for Santa Claus.
Our tree was all ready. Mama had killed turkeys, chickens, and had cooked
cakes and pies for two weeks. But at last they came, now child, I am going
to tell you this, just as I remember it, and I don't know if you will care
to use it or not, but we have had many laughs over this Christmas, so many
years ago. My aunt and uncle got here several days before the children
did. They did not have enough money for all them to ride. So they started
the children on days before they left, walking part of the way and riding
most of the way with some of their friends. The two girls and one boy got
in on Christmas Eve, and if they wasn't a sight, one of the girls weighed
over two hundred pounds, and had walked the soles off her shoes.
"All of our folks and lots of our friends were there, and one of mama's
nieces, who had married a man named Stencile, also one of my uncles and
his daughter. They were to furnish the music for the dance, for they both
played fiddles. Everything was cleared out of two rooms for dancing. About
three o'clock in the afternoon, the young folks started the dance. We kids
were happy for we could watch them long as we wanted, didn't have to go to
bed on Christmas.
"The older women were busy cooking and getting the supper ready, everybody
was having good time, the man calling for the dance would holler, 'swing
your partner.' Oh, it was a grand time, and yet happy as we were, we kids
were so interested in the fat girl from Alabama, that we stayed pretty
close around her. She did not seem to want to dance, and we could not
understand that. When we saw one of the young men start toward her, we
just had to hear what he said. He asked her if she would dance the next
set with him. We held our breath for her answer, and this is what she
said, 'I had jest as lief dance with you as anybody else, but I has walked
all the way from Alabamy to see Aunt Sis, and am too tired and galleded
from walking to dance with anybody.
"About five o'clock the supper started, for there was eight tables full,
besides the kids like me. We had to wait until the grown folks had all eat
before we were allowed to go to the table. And how we watched that table.
The man Stencile went to the first table, and, Honey, that man stayed
there with all eight tables. I never have seen no one person eat as much
in all my life. Of course, there was plenty to eat, but we was so afraid
that he would eat it all, and as the last table finished eating, he
reached over and took the last piece of turkey. I never wanted to say
something as bad as I did then, but I knew better, and with all we had to
eat, we couldn't enjoy it for thinking of that last piece of turkey.
"The dance lasted all night. Of course, we kids had to give it up and go
to bed after midnight, but we were up for the breakfast early on Christmas
morning and to see what Santa had left. There was not so many things for
children to get then, as they have now, but we got many nice things. When
it was time for dinner, mama put some turkey aside for us kids, and I
guess it was a good thing for Stancile was there. But that was the way we
spent our Christmas then, eating and dancing, and parties all through the
week. But after New Years it was all over, and it was back to school and
work.
"I had just about finished school there when the old Paper Mill closed
down. We moved to Athens, near the old check mill, which is on Broad
Street. We went to work in the mill. I still remember that old mill very
well. It had large posts all through it. One day my sister was leaning
against one of these post resting. One of the women saw her, and thinking
that she would have some fun, she yelled out at her to move quick. It
scared my sister, and she jumped catching her hair on a nail in the post,
and pulled a handful of her hair out. Of course everybody laughed, but it
made me so mad, I hit her so hard that she fell in the floor. We were new
folks in the settlement, and were in for a lot of teasing, but after that
day they did not tease us any more. We were soon well satisfied there, and
had the same good times there as we did in our old home.
"Just when I was thinking that I was grown, I was visiting my sister, and
it was there that I met my present husband. He came to see my
brother-in-law, and had the prettiest horse and buggy. He carried me to
ride, but we just went down the road not far enough to even get out of
sight of the house, but even at that mama heard about it. She didn't
believe much in whipping, but she sure could find other ways of punishing,
and just for that little short ride, I had to stay home for three long
months. I mean I was not even allowed to go to church and Sundayschool.
"I had a girl friend that I used to spend the night with real often, and
she would visit me also. One night when I was spending the night with her,
her father and mother were off visiting their people and there was just
the children at home. Of course, she had brothers and sisters much older
than we were, but we decided that when everybody got to sleep that we
would get up and set us a dumb supper, for we had always wanted to, and
they would tell us that we were too little. Sure enough, after everybody
was in bed, we got up, yes we were scared, but was just going to show them
that we could do it as well as they, and we did get the supper ready. We
didn't even forget the bottle and Bible. Two boys that knew us had been
fishing and was on their way home, seeing the light in the kitchen, they
thought someone was sick, and decided they had better stop and see if
there was anything that they could do, but when they saw us through the
window, and knew what we were doing, they just pushed opened the door,
walked in, picked up the bottle and walked out. Well, we were scared
stiff, couldn't move or speak, for sometime, but when we did get to where
we could yell it wasn't long until everything in the house was up. That
was my first and only time to try to set a dumb supper, but strange as it
may seem, one of those boys is now my husband, and my girl friend married
the other one.
"I was married the first time when I was just about sixteen. We used to
have big picnics, everybody would go, and we in tally-hos filled with
straw. There was most times a ball game, after we had finished dinner.
That is where I met my first husband, at one of these picnic. It was just
a short time after we met, that we went with a large crowd of boys and
girls to the old Beaverdam Church to one of their footwashings. After that
was over we went over to the Jim Smith place and one of the guards showed
us all around. There was so many prisoners there, some crippled up in
different ways, some with one arm, and some had one leg gone, but they all
had to work. It was the way on that Frank asked me to marry him, and in
about three months we were married?.
"We went to housekeeping, and lived a very happy life until he died in
1907. After he passed away, I went back home to stay with mama and daddy,
but I was blue and discouraged. I decided that I would go to work, and see
if that would help me. I went to work in the Climax Hosiery mill, and
worked there for several months.
"Mr. Head started a tailor shop in town and I went to work for him in
1908. I had not ever done any of this kind of work then and I don't think
any of the others had either. But he got two Bohemians to learn us the
tailor trade, and that is how I learned to be a tailor. I worked there for
five years when I went into business with Mrs. Sally Baughoum.
"One day as I was walking up Broad Street who should I meet, but the boy
that come to my dumb supper. He had married also, but he had lost his
wife, not so very long after my husband died, and that meeting was the
beginning of a friendship that later ended in marriage. He was then, and
still is a great teaser. He enjoys playing jokes on me. One night he came
down to see me and asked me and one of my sisters to go to the show with
him. Shows were only five and ten cents then. Well, when we were almost
there, he told us, that we could go in and that he would wait on the
outside, as he did not have enough money for all of us.
"I was embarrassed and said we would just go back home. He insisted that
we go on, but I got mad and told him that I could pay my own way. My
sister just laughed, it seemed as if she could tell that he was teasing.
So she told him to just give her her dime, and she would buy peanuts and
candy. We went on to the show. Oh, yes, he went too, but I was so mad, I
couldn't enjoy it. He and my sister still tease me about going to the
picture show, but I wouldn't let him come to see me again for a long time
after that. One night when one of my sisters was fixing to get married, he
came walking in, told mama that it would be a double wedding for he was
going to marry me that night also. I quarreled and fussed, told them that
it wasn't so, that I did not ever intend to marry him, but the more I
fussed, the more he laughed. He had everybody there believing him, until
the wedding was over. But he won out and in 1913 we were married.
He has his barber shop, and I have my tailor shop. We have no children, no
one but ourselves. When we married we bought a home on Nacoochee Ave., and
we are still living there. We have a nice little home, and some lovely
flowers but he does most of the work with them. I don't have much time to
work at anything at home.
Mrs. Baughoum and I went into business upstairs on Clayton Street, but in
a short time we moved down here on Jackson Street, and have been here ever
since. I have run the shop by myself since Sally passed away last year.
But it is lonesome without her, for we were together so long. I have three
rooms, this is my work room, and the next room is the dressing room. There
is a large mirror, and a table and some chairs in there, and sometimes
people come in and wait in there, while I fix their clothes. The last room
is the pressing room, and Ed looks after that for me. I don't know hardly
what I would do without Ed. He has been with me so long that he knows just
how I want everything done.
"I know that I have not been able to tell you anything that will be of
enough interest for you to get a story out of, but I do hope that it will
help you some. I am glad that you came to see me, and come back again.
ORIGINAL AND UNEDITED
CONTINUITY
(LIFE HISTORY)
GRACE MCCUNE
December 9, 1938
Mrs. Margaret Davis
193 Nacoochee Ave.
Athens, Georgia
Text from: Library of
Congress, Manuscript Division, WPA Federal Writers' Project Collection
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