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I was
just 7 years old, when my Mama, Bonnie Sanders move us to
Tucapau. Life in Tucapau for our family began near the
railroad crossing up near the P & N Station not too far from
Highway 29.
There
were 6 members of our family when we moved into the little
3-room shack on the lower side of the tracks. Our family was the
only white family on that side of the tracks. There was
Mama, Me, Sister Naomi, Brothers, Johnny, Red & Robert all
living in that small frame shack. We lived in this house
for about a year before Mama managed to get us moved up across
the tracks to another house just one room larger than the old
one. Mama worked the 2nd shift at the mills in the
spinning room.
I started to school at age 7 while living here. We kids would
catch a bus up by the Community Cash Store and go to Tucapau
Elementary School. I remember the big majestic school
building as well as the Baptist Church being up on that high
hill. Further up the road was the Wesley Methodist
Church. One fellow Frank Cooper (His Father, Levy Cooper
Managed the Company Store) once persuaded me to play roll
around, he had me crawl into an old tire, darned if he didn't
push me and that tire down the hill and over the high steps I
think about 20 steps high. That tire with me in it went
down those steps and crashed into the retaining wall across the
road. Lucky I was only bruised.
I attended this school from 1st grade until the 7th grade.
Miss Sarah Boiter was my 1st Grade teacher (Sarah taught my
little sister Naomi, all three of my brothers in the first
grade). Other teachers who come to mind at that time are:
Principal Mr. Snow, Miss O’Shields 4th grade, Mrs.
Sloan 6th grade and Mr. Tucker 7th grade, Mr. Tucker was also
the football coach when Pop Warner football was instituted in
Tucapau.
About
the time I was in 3rd grade, Mama moved us again, this time down
into the village at 20 Oak Street.
I can still call name of some of the kids I know then: Hugh
Freeman, Cecil Bentley, Betty Jo Lane, her brother Michael,
(Their Dad had a barber shop in the old Movie house bottom near
the Community Store. Melvin Snow, Donald Snow, There was Ross
Hoard. There were many other kids I know but some of the name
slips my memory, I too remember Margaret Occaletree, her father
had a shoe shop up the street from our house. I must also
say I remember Faye Bridwell, Carolyn Bridwell, Linda Woodward,
Marie Stroud, I was sweet from time to time on a few of the
girls, for a time I called several of them my sweetheart.
I was madly in love with Carolyn Bridwell but too naive to ever tell
her so.
We lived at 20 Oak Street when President Roosevelt died and
Harry Truman became president. At that time the roads were
not hard surfaced just covered with old cinders. I can
also recall that there were several community garages used by
those fortunate enough to own a car. As I recall all
theses were torn down when the new Baptist Church was built
there. Mama always took us to church at the Methodist Church, I
fail to recall who was the preacher when we moved to Oak Street,
and I do remember that he had been there a long time. I can
remember Preacher Hipp and that bullet nose Studebaker he drove.
Other
folks who come to mind from the Oak Street area are" Clint
& Sarah Dobbins, who worked with the MYF group at the
church.
Mama
moves us again down to #3 Ash Street, down by the pond, We lived
there at the time WWII came to an end, I can remember other
friends from that area as well, Barbara Wilson, Virginia
Stevens. Lenell Southern, Edith & Catherine Barnett, The
Edge Boys, The Quinn’s, The Tessinier boys. Harold
Robbins (remember his loosing some fingers in a fireworks mishap
one Christmas and another fellow, I think was named Kenneth
Dobbins was injured as well. One of these two also lose an eye.
All the
time we kids were attending the old Tucapau School. And we moved
again down the street to 7 Ash Street. It was while living
there we lost our little sister Naomi at age 9. Shortly
after we lost Naomi, Mama married Lewis Wofford who worked
in the Bleachery. Lewis also was the Projectionist at Town
Movie Theater.
After
Naomi died, with the help of the Methodist Church Mama placed me
& brother Johnny in Epworth Children's Home in Columbia
where we stayed for about a year. After returning home.
Mama & Lewis moved us up to 12 Maple Street where I lived
until I entered the Marine Corps. I enlisted in Marine
Corps January 1950 - I lied about my age to get in and
persuaded Mama to sign papers. I would remain on active
duty for over 30 years before retiring. Having served in
USMC, USAF & USN I saw combat duty in Korea &
Vietnam. I can write much more about the good times at
Tucapau all good times, and the many good lifelong friends, such
as Buddy Powell, Gerald Frost, Ben Wheeler, Betty Cantrell,
Roberta Whissanete, Kay Williams & Jimmy Sudduth from over
on 500. Oh I can go on and on with such good memories. I am
reminded of Carolyn Turner, Hugh Hawkins, J. W. Brown &
Harold Fortenberry two boys with whom I would serve with in the
Marine Corps.
Of course I must not forget to mention Rural Policeman Charles
Taylor who kept all the village kids like me in line.
Growing up in this mill village taught me the art of respecting
elders, enjoying friends, helping neighbors, loving GOD and
never forgetting where my roots are.
I have
several other lasting memories of my life in Tucapau which I
will be happy to share with everyone interested. Most of those
are told in my forth coming book "From Tucapau to
Texas-A Young Warrior's Story" Due to
publish in mid March 2005.
I know
a lot of folks will remember how the Mill managers used to block
off Main St., and put up a stage and seats in the street where
we went to listen to various musical groups. Particularly Arthur
"Guitar" Smith. And who can ever forget the" Goat
Man" and his wagon train pulled by goats setting up in the
field where the New Startex Elementary School was built next to
the Methodist Church. In my book I give vivid details about the
time I acting on a dare, climbed the water tower behind the
Methodist Church and took down the red blinker light, climbed
down only to have Policeman Taylor catch me and make me take it
back up there, then he took me home to Mama, who really
administered discipline, I did not sit down for weeks after
that. For a while I attended WLT in the 8th & 9th grade,
then some of the 9th grade over at Old DR Hill School in Duncan.
I left school in the 9th grade to enlist in Marine Corps (My
whole 30 year military career is in the book) |
