When I came along in the late 40’s, my Grandparents still owned what they called the Joe Place, although they had moved to a 50 acre farm close to Rockingham N.C. For years, Granddad leased the Joe Place to other farmers who grew corn on the place but he still loved to visit the Ol’ farm above Ellerbe. So happened, my Bolton family were Methodist and every...
Read MoreThe Joe Place
Seems when you ask older folks where they were brought up, or about directions, they refer to places such as the Jim Place, Terry Place or the Henderson Place. In this story, I’m going to tell you about a place my folks referred to as the Joe Place. This old farm was located in northern Richmond Co., close to the intersection of Concord Church Rd. and...
Read MoreLife on Mountain Creek
This week we continue with stories of early homesteading along the Mountain Creek area of Richmond Co., N.C. Also I’ll relate some of my own family stories I’ve heard from my kinfolk. Before the twentieth century, rural folks in the south had little way of preserving their food. Why they would just build what they called spring houses. This small building...
Read MoreWhere the grass still grows in the road
There is a place in upper Richmond Co, N.C. that is dear to my heart. No, there is no large building or fancy landscape but lots of white flint rocks, clay-land and cut over timber. A place where time seems to stand still. The few curvy hard-top roads that remain were first dirt trails used by oxen, mules and horses pulling wagons or buggies. The cold...
Read MoreBubba, the Champion Loafer
Bubba Brown was a colorful character well-known around Wadesboro and Anson Co. some years ago. He could frequently be seen walking the streets or roads in the area between Lilesville and Wadesboro, where he made his home. Some folks said Bubba won’t quite right under the hat. Why, when he went out on his long walks, he would be barefooted with his pants...
Read MoreDriving the Big Rigs and Snake Handling
Being raised on a farm, I started driving tractors when I was five years old. As I reached my early teens I was driving every truck and vehicle around except an eighteen-wheeler. As I got older, I drove a school bus for two years. When I went to work at a public job, I drove all types of trucks and heavy equipment but not an eighteen-wheeler. Why, I...
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