Another memory of my father, is watching him re-sole and mend out shoes. With four active children in the family, someone's shoes always needed repairing.
My mother cut the hair of my father and brothers all the while we lived in Mt. Pleasant, and for a number of years after we moved to Chattanooga. I wore my hair in long curls until me senior year in high school, when “bobbed” hair became fashionable and Mother cut off my curls, shedding many tears in the process.
My childhood memories are very happy ones. Our family was affectionate. We were taught to be courteous and mannerly. Always respectful to our parents and anyone older than ourselves. Our talents were encouraged; we were urged to read and appreciate good literature.
-- Charlotte A. Raymo, 1976
My father was superintendent of the phosphate mines in Mt. Pleasant. It takes lots of water to mine phosphate hydraulically, and a beautiful stream ran through the mining property. During the summer months the Negro churches would ask permission to have “Baptizings” in the stream on Sunday afternoon. It was great fun to attend these gatherings and see the men and women get dunked in the water and come up with shouts of “Hallelujah!”, “Praise the Lord!” or “Amen, Brother!”
Our houses were heated with fireplaces and stoves; and we cooked on a four-burner kerosene oil stove. Our father was a very good carpenter and made many pieces of furniture—chests, dressers, tables, chairs. He also made much of our play equipment—merry-go-round, see-saw, swings, climbing bars, doll houses, sleighs, kites, scooters, etc.
Dad played the violin, harmonica and organ and the entire family was encouraged to sing and enjoy music. Our most cherished possession during this period was probably our Edison Phonograph. The wax records were cylindrical, and the needle was a diamond that never needed changing. Records cost 35 cents each or 3 for $1.00. We bought 6 records each month—patriotic, humorous, classical. We children learned to recite Lincoln's Gettysburg speech and “Paul Revere's Ride” by listening to the records.
