Hudson, Reggie (1894-1989) |
Worcester County Library: Local History and Genealogy Collection, Snow Hill Branch, Snow Hill, MD
|
Interviewee: |
Reggie Hudson (1894-1989) |
| Interviewer: |
Karen Shockley |
| Date of interview: |
1982 April |
| Length of interview: |
31 Minutes, 28 Seconds |
| Transcribed by: |
Lisa Baylous |
| Preferred Citation: |
“Name, Oral History Collection, Date of Interview, Worcester County Library, Snow Hill Branch, Snow Hill, Maryland.” |
Topical Terms:
Prohibition
Transportation
Worcester County (Md.)—History
Worcester County (Md.)—Social life and customs
Location Terms:
Girdletree (Md.)
Interview Begin (Quality Poor)
Interviewer: When were you born?
Reggie: When was I born?
Interviewer: Yeah. Where, where and when—
Reggie: (unintelligible) along the seaside.
Interviewer: Um, when’s your birthday?
Reggie: Fifth of December, this coming. I was born in 1894.
Interviewer: Ok. What were the names of your parents?
Reggie: George and Mary. I had a little brother named Aaron (unintelligible). Of course, he died when I was young.
Interviewer: What did he die of?
Reggie: Well, I hardly know. He was so young. It was just one of those things.
Interviewer: Ok.
Reggie: (unintelligible) Anyway, he died when I was young. Better off, you know, anyway.
Interviewer: Were you born at home?
Reggie: Sure.
Interviewer: Ok. Um, (unintelligible).
Reggie: (unintelligible) down on the seaside where I was born.
Interviewer: Down by Girdletree?
Reggie: (unintelligible) the water (unintelligible).
Interviewer: Ok. Um, how many—Oh. Did you grow your food?
Reggie: Surely. Yeah.
Interviewer: What, what did you grow, Mr. Hudson?
Reggie: Born and raised down on the farm.
Interviewer: What—
Reggie: A long time before (unintelligible).
Interviewer: How did your mother preserve the (unintelligible)? Did she can?
Reggie: Oh, yeah. (unintelligible)
Interviewer: Ok. Where did you go to school?
Reggie: Right there in Girdletree. I went to grade school. That was in Girdletree. I learned my ABC’s and I learned how to write and spell and things.
Interviewer: Ok. How many kids did you have in your class?
Reggie: Oh, well, I don’t know off-hand. I would say (unintelligible) when I was going to school (unintelligible).
Interviewer: Ok. Um…
Reggie: (unintelligible)
Interviewer: Is that right?
LAUGHTER
Interviewer: Um, what was your first job? The first job you ever had. What was, what kind of work did you do?
Reggie: Well, (unintelligible)…I think I got as far as seventh or eighth grade and I stopped to go to work on the farm with my father.
Interviewer: Ok. Um, what did you do for recreation?
Reggie: What did I do for sports?
Interviewer: Yeah.
Reggie: Skating, fishing, horseback riding, sleigh riding.
Interviewer: Did you hunt? Did you ever hunt?
Reggie: Huh?
Interviewer: Did you ever go hunting?
Reggie: Why sure. Yeah. (unintelligible)
Interviewer: Ok. Um—
Reggie: (unintelligible)
Interviewer: Did you used to go to church?
Reggie: Yes, indeed.
Interviewer: What church did you go to?
Reggie: Methodist.
Interviewer: Here in Snow Hill?
Reggie: No. In Girdletree.
Interviewer: Girdletree.
Reggie: That is my hometown.
Interviewer: Ok.
Reggie: I went a whole year for Sunday School (unintelligible). Never missed a Sunday. A whole year. How about that?
Interviewer: That’s good. That’s good.
Reggie: (unintelligible)
Interviewer: Um…
Reggie: (unintelligible)
Interviewer: Oh, what kind of transportation did they have?
Reggie: Well, there wasn’t too many (unintelligible).
Interviewer: Did you (unintelligible) by horse and buggy?
Reggie: That’s right.
Interviewer: Did you have horse and buggies?
Reggie: Why, sure. Yeah.
Interviewer: How many horses did you have, Mr. Hudson?
Reggie: Oh, (unintelligible) many horses (unintelligible). Dad kept one for a driving horse. Three or four for work (unintelligible).
Interviewer: So, you had a separate horse for your buggy? Right?
Reggie: (unintelligible) yeah. (unintelligible) You wouldn’t have a big place for the big sleigh, you know. But (unintelligible), boy, she liked that.
Interviewer: She liked the sleigh ride.
Reggie: (unintelligible) since I’ve been here, (unintelligible)…several children, you know. And, they come (unintelligible) riding (unintelligible) their name (unintelligible) never forgot it (unintelligible).
Interviewer: How many people would your sled hold?
Reggie: Oh, about (unintelligible), I would think. (unintelligible) of course. I had one (unintelligible) hanging on the side everywhere.
Interviewer: Mm hmm. How about the buggy? How many people would the buggy hold?
Reggie: Well, (unintelligible).
Interviewer: Ok. What was your first car like?
Reggie: Car? I didn’t have no car.
Interviewer: You never owned a car? Did your dad ever own a car?
Reggie: No.
Interviewer: No.
Reggie: (unintelligible)
Interviewer: Did you ever get a driver’s license?
Reggie: No. (unintelligible)
Interviewer: (unintelligible)
Reggie: (unintelligible)
Interviewer: What kind of job did you have after you helped your father on the farm?
Reggie: Well, I kind of got tired of working on the farm (unintelligible). I went down to (unintelligible) place called (unintelligible) on a dairy farm. I worked there about three or four months (unintelligible)… home, you know.
Interviewer: Ok. Um, what was the town of Snow Hill like? Did it have, um, a lot of businesses? More stores than there is now?
Reggie: (unintelligible) on the corner (unintelligible).
Interviewer: Uh—
Reggie: --(unintelligible) courthouse (unintelligible). Did you ever skate with ice skates?
Interviewer: I’ve tried it, but—
Reggie: --(unintelligible). I’m no expert (unintelligible). I put my (unintelligible) skate backwards (unintelligible) circle (unintelligible).
Interviewer: Where did you used to go ice skating at?
Reggie: Oh, different places. We used to go to a place called Girdletree (unintelligible). In Stockton, we called it (unintelligible).
Interviewer: Ok. What kind of (unintelligible) and customs did they have? Like, um, do you remember your mother ever making soap?
Reggie: (unintelligible)
Interviewer: How did she make it, Mr. Hudson?
Reggie: (unintelligible)
Interviewer: Did she make butter?
Reggie: (unintelligible) churn (unintelligible) butter down this well.
Interviewer: In a bucket?
Reggie: Yeah, yeah. (unintelligible) out. Now, you talk about a deep well. (unintelligible) covered up (unintelligible).
Interviewer: Did she also, did she ever dry any vegetables or fruit (unintelligible)?
Reggie: (unintelligible)
Interviewer: Dried fruits and canned fruits?
Reggie: (unintelligible)
Interviewer: Ok. Do you remember, um, anybody making molasses?
Reggie: No.
Interviewer: Ok. Do you remember any executions or lynches that they had?
Reggie: (unintelligible)
Interviewer: Anybody hanged that you can remember?
Reggie: (unintelligible)
Interviewer: Where did they hang him?
Reggie: (unintelligible)…And, I heard this woman (unintelligible)…Killed him. (Unintelligible) He shot this fella. (Unintelligible) Afterwards, (unintelligible) he shot him once and then he turned around (unintelligible). So, he went back and shot him a second time. (unintelligible) talk about (unintelligible).
Interviewer: So, they hanged him?
Reggie: What?
Interviewer: They hanged him?
Reggie: Yes.
Interviewer: Did you go to the hanging?
Reggie: I did. I got a piece of rope he was hung by.
Interviewer: Is that right?
Reggie: I sure have. (unintelligible)
Interviewer: Now, how did they hang him? (unintelligible)
Reggie: (unintelligible) rope around his neck (unintelligible) swinging…(unintelligible)…he looked around (unintelligible)…somebody goodbye. I thought to myself (unintelligible). Well, I was walking down (unintelligible)…took him piece for piece (unintelligible)…and all that kind of stuff. (unintelligible)…when all this was going on (unintelligible)…seen it happen. (unintelligible) Maybe I shouldn’t tell (unintelligible). Do you mind me talking to you?
Interviewer: Huh uh. No. (unintelligible)
Reggie: (unintelligible)
Interviewer: So—
Reggie: (unintelligible)
Interviewer: So, when they hanged him, they took him up to the gallows and just put the rope around (unintelligible)—
Reggie: (unintelligible) I was working down in Delaware when I heard, so I come down (unintelligible)… people had the horse and buggy (unintelligible) the east side of the road (unintelligible). Well, that was an exciting time (unintelligible).
Interviewer: You were scared.
Reggie: (unintelligible)
Interviewer: Ok.
Reggie: (unintelligible)…Do you want to (unintelligible) how I got this sleigh?
Interviewer: Ok.
Reggie: (unintelligible)
Interviewer: (unintelligible)
Reggie: (unintelligible)…on the streets, you know. (unintelligible)…we had a sleigh that we had for a long time (unintelligible). Well, one day, I went down (unintelligible)…he said, I’ve got a sleigh I don’t (unintelligible)”. He said, “I have a cow that I want milked. I want a couple of pigs. (unintelligible) let you have it (unintelligible).
Interviewer: So, would you?
Reggie: Well, (unintelligible). I told my father (unintelligible)…brought it home. (unintelligible) repair work on it (unintelligible)…and a pretty woman sitting on the back (unintelligible)—
Interviewer: Ok.
Reggie: --(unintelligible) joy.
Interviewer: Do you remember when they passed Prohibition?
Reggie: Yeah. (unintelligible)
Interviewer: What was Prohibition like, Mr. Hudson?
Reggie: Well, I hardly know (unintelligible).
Interviewer: Were there a lot of bootleggers ?
Reggie: (unintelligible)…and, I haven’t seen it all, yet. (unintelligible)…exhibits (unintelligible) beautiful (unintelligible)...I stood in line (unintelligible)…you say (unintelligible) never met no stranger (unintelligible)…have a cup of coffee (unintelligible)…talking like I’m talking to you (unintelligible)…In the meantime, (unintelligible)…Well, I walk around in these (unintelligible)…I would turn around (unintelligible). I said (unintelligible)…I done that three or four times. I don’t know what I’d done (unintelligible)…when I got home, I said, “It’s the least I can do (unintelligible)”…You mind if I tell you (unintelligible)?
Interviewer: No.
Reggie: (unintelligible) getting tired of (unintelligible).
Interviewer: No! Huh uh! This is fun(unintelligible).
Reggie: Well, (unintelligible)…strap myself in (unintelligible) while they were talking (unintelligible)…I said, “Lady, did you make out all right?” (unintelligible)
Interviewer: Um, do you remember The Depression?
Reggie: Yeah. (unintelligible)
Interviewer: What was that like?
Reggie: What was it like?
Interviewer: Yeah.
Reggie: (unintelligible)…ration for sugar (unintelligible)…ration for sugar (unintelligible).
Interviewer: I think we always forget. Tell us, tell us how that worked.
Reggie: (unintelligible)
Interviewer: Did you have, like, coupons that you had to use?
Reggie: (unintelligible)…I forget what it was. (unintelligible)…That was something.
Interviewer: A lot of people out of work?
Reggie: Yeah.
Interviewer: Did you work on the farm?
Reggie: Well, I (unintelligible) on the farm (unintelligible) a little bit of money (unintelligible)…go to Ocean City, ride on the Merry-Go-Round. That was a thrill that day. (unintelligible)
Interviewer: Do you remember any folk tales or legends or superstitions about the area?
Reggie: (unintelligible)
Interviewer: Tell me about (unintelligible) Bridge. Do you know anything about (unintelligible) Bridge?
Reggie: (unintelligible)
Interviewer: Ok. Um—
Reggie: A lot of water around (unintelligible).
Interviewer: Do you remember any foreigners that came to town?
Reggie: (unintelligible)
Interviewer: Ok. Did—
Reggie: (unintelligible)
Interviewer: Did the, um, people of this town look down on foreigners?
Reggie: (unintelligible) years and years. (Unintelligible).
Interviewer: (unintelligible)
Reggie: (unintelligible)
Interviewer: When was this?
Reggie: Huh?
Interviewer: When was this? What period of time?
Reggie: (unintelligible)
Interviewer: World War II?
Reggie: Yeah. (unintelligible)
Interviewer: Did you ever have to fight in a war?
Reggie: That’s what I’m telling you, now, (unintelligible).
Interviewer: (unintelligible). Do you remember any fires? The big fire in town?
Reggie: (unintelligible)
Interviewer: (unintelligible)
Reggie: (unintelligible) What did you say, honey?
Interviewer: Do you remember any fires? The big fire that, uh—
Reggie: Why sure. (unintelligible) That was years ago.
Interviewer: What was that like? They didn’t have any fire trucks. Did they?
Reggie: (unintelligible)…Baptist Church. Up in the balcony. And, you know, when lightning struck that (unintelligible) come out (unintelligible) work a whole lot quicker now. I’m telling you (unintelligible)… we tried saving some of the pew and benches and things. (Unintelligible).
Interviewer: This is in Girdletree? Ok. Do you remember any steamboats?
Reggie: What?
Interviewer: Steamboats. On the Pocomoke River.
Reggie: Why sure.
Interviewer: Did you ever ride on one?
Reggie: Yeah. (unintelligible)
Interviewer: (unintelligible) Baltimore.
Reggie: (unintelligible)
Interviewer: Mr. Hudson, how long did it take to get from Snow Hill to Baltimore by steamboat?
Reggie: (unintelligible)
Interviewer: What was Farmer’s Day like?
Reggie: (unintelligible)
Interviewer: Ok. What was Farmer’s Day like? You remember that?
Reggie: (unintelligible)
Interviewer: Ok. How about the Pocomoke Fairgrounds? Did you ever go there?
Reggie: I have.
Interviewer: What was it like?
Reggie: (unintelligible)…Horse racing. Beautiful place (unintelligible).
Interviewer: What was Ocean City like?
Reggie: (unintelligible)
Interviewer: Ok. How about Public Landing? Do you remember what that was like?
Reggie: (unintelligible)
Interviewer: Ok. (unintelligible)
Reggie: I’m not too sure about that one. (unintelligible)
Interviewer: How about the doctors around here? Did they used to make house calls?
Reggie: Yes, indeed. (Unintelligible)
Interviewer: Ok.
Reggie: (unintelligible)
Interviewer: Ok. Um, how about funerals? Are funerals conducted today like they were, um, back then?
Reggie: (unintelligible)
Interviewer: How about weddings? Do you remember weddings back then?
Reggie: (unintelligible)
Interviewer: Mm hmm. Hoop skirt.
Reggie: Hoop skirt (unintelligible) the bottom of the dress (unintelligible).
END OF INTERVIEW