Narrator Caldwell, James

Age 71

A.S. # None City-State Newberry, S.C.

Ex-Slave: Yes [No?] Where --

Interviewer G.L. Summer Race B [W?]?

Narrative Title [Customs and Tradition]

Index Subject Work, CRAFTS

No. of Mss. 1   Mss. Dates 6/18/37, 6/25/37

No. of Versions 1         R.B. Vol. # None Photo: Yes [No?]

Project 1885-1
FOLKLORE
Spartanburg Dist. 4
June 25, 1937
Edited by:
Elmer Turnage

CUSTOMS and TRADITIONS

"Tan yard Hill" was about two miles north of Newberry Courthouse. It was here that a public tan yard was operated for many years before and after the Civil War. It was owned and operated by some hardware dealers.

Cotton pickings were held on farms near town. The cotton was picked by hand from the seed. When they were held by young people, a frolic followed the big supper that was given them. The older people participated only in the supper given by the host. Log-rollings, corn-shuckings, house-raisings, hand carding and spinning yarns, and quiltings were given. When a person wanted his house raised off the ground or moved, the neighbors would help. The folks knitted their own socks, gloves, table cloths etc. at home, with two small slender sticks.

The caprous pants were dyed purple out of a home-made dye which if gotten wet or perspired on would "run". Once a young man put on a pair, and when he perspired the color faded and dyed his skin. He thought he was in the throes of death, so he ran home very frightened and said he thought he was mortifying.

The chimneys were often made ten feet wide and out of wood which was mortared thickly with a kind of mud to keep it from catching fire. Skillets and other cooking utensils were placed inside for cooking, and some distance above these were hooks for hanging quarters of beef so they would dry thoroughly during the winter. Whole pieces of six-foot logs were placed in the fireplace.

Source: James Caldwell (71), Newberry, S.C. RFD Interviewer: G.L. Summer, Newberry [???]

Text from: Library of Congress, Manuscript Division, WPA Federal Writers' Project Collection