Folklore, Lowndes County.
Folder contains 42 pages of Alabama folklore and stories compiled for the Works Progress Administration (WPA) in the late 1930s.IP.E ... -1- () '!h. Ha>nted Graftyard in Lolll1d•• Count:r;. • III a remote section or Lo_as County there i. a n.ighborhood knOlll1 as Hopewell; her. 19 looated a...
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Alabama Department of Archives and History
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| Online Access: | http://cdm17217.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/wpa/id/858 |
| format |
Electronic |
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| collection |
WPA Alabama Writers' Project Collection |
| building |
Alabama Department of Archives and History |
| publisher |
Alabama Department of Archives and History |
| topic |
WPA Alabama Writers' Project |
| spellingShingle |
WPA Alabama Writers' Project Folklore, Lowndes County. |
| fulltopic |
WPA Alabama Writers' Project African Americans--Alabama--Folklore; Folklore--Alabama; Alabama Writers' Project; Lowndes County (Ala.); United States. Works Progress Administration |
| description |
Folder contains 42 pages of Alabama folklore and stories compiled for the Works Progress Administration (WPA) in the late 1930s.IP.E ... -1- ()
'!h. Ha>nted Graftyard in Lolll1d•• Count:r;.
•
III a remote section or Lo_as County there i. a n.ighborhood knOlll1
as Hopewell; her. 19 looated a graveyard thought to be haunted.
To pae. this graveyard arter dark and 8S}ltCially on dreary nights 19
a dread or horror. Some think they can hear singl.ng, others Imagine they can
hear prayers and .till others se. forma or p.rsons. A young IIlSIl ~ was
returning to his hQlll8 at a late hour on Sunday night was rorc.d to pass
thi. haunted c....tery. All he pasesd this spot a rorm re.embling thet or
a M,.n crawled across the road before him. The beaut11\ll horse he ..
riding bucked an!. snort.d am the Y01l1g IIIUl b.c.... fright.ned. Be rod. V
IICI... at run sp.ed am or COll1's. told the .tory.
Ber"". this .tory bec..... ganerally kn01lll a boy or early t ..... waJI
going ror the doctor ror a memJ>.r or his ramily. It happened that he al.o
had to paes this dreadtUl spot. Upon reaching it, rearfully rri!.'lltened with
the ghost storiee he had heard long berore, a ball or fir. appeared an!. .....
whizzing 'roun am 'roun above the road ahead or him. Hi. hore. began bucking
and threw both rider an!. .addle b8Jl8ath the fiery bell.
'!hue and .lm1lar etoriee have been !>ended &>111 rrom one generatiOl1
to the other by old reeidents or the Hopewllli CODlDunlty. ~. "he one/"
Tisits the 11ttle conmunlty the residents lilee to tell the story or th.ir
"hanted" graveyard.
Consultant: W.D. Autrey, Dothsn, Ala. & IoIrs. Till, Lowar Wetumpka Road.
1Iagg1. Boswell•••10/17/3&. 150 "oros.
690. Marie Reeee
~
, .
.
"Loversleap· a v-I7 im. resting d ro nt.ic epot., is eit.uat.ed
on t. out.skirt.s ot C<lllir~ne, a smalJ. 1ilite vi lag" in the
sout.hwestern rt or LJwnde. F r year it. bae been the sc ne ...t many
r lIIEl1ltic me t nge, 'proP;) ls,
love atfaire.
d the t.r gic nOing ot orne unhappy
Local trl.Cl1t.ion is t. t. sever, 1 c ;)uples wit.h disappoint.ed h"p s,
clasp g hande ok th "tats1 lBllp" giving evi BIlC to th tact that.
eath tog t .. r ae tar n et.er t.lan living api<rt..
It is ala;) c la1m t. hen t.be camp tir.. s ot th "re men"
we e stUl burning in alXl around this v1l ge, r0U8 " Leapa"
were made tran theee mounte 800 the beautitul d picture &que ret.reat.
•
is truly Raun:t d with epir1t.e ot Ind.um Lor s and th at n ,ne dare not.
v nture near the evening l"st th.y be it with tomahawks, which are
.;aid to be paesing t.hru' the air constantly.
In any eVIIlt. L re Leap ia 1n actual ietence an is a most. p1c-in
r ad meat. an
tur sque dsscant trom what. 1e knwn as "Balers II, unto", an eteration
ne r tlJe South bou~y ot Collir.ne, .h re the
into rsect! on ot the H8¥flBYllle road.
Thie elevation 1s eaid t" be hun1rede ot teet and the hJ.&best.
alti t.uds bet. een B11'11i~ and II bile. Called so, • th.. pr 1. ance
was on the no huld1",g or one ot the prim~tive settle • ot the village.
ev. b"r, who lat I' h moved a q and b come a promn nt lIethodiet.
mini cr. A eon ot thie moist has _de goud 1n newspapel orld end
at pres t i. oruect d 1t.h n out. t..nding Daily, Aebvi_le, N. C•
•,
• Cleveland Babel •
f
llane Re e.e.
A tru .t.ory i. paa.ed ar und in whi ch)(r. Green ve. o~ Collirene
wa. the hero, and the Pre.b$1;erian Church at. Doool Churche. was the
.cene o~ th thrilling e perience. On a dark stoormy n1gbt. )(r. Rives
was making th .1C1111"1MlJ ~rom Benton too his ho_ in Colli rene on hurse baa.
The road w"s dark and lonely an the at rm terl'ific, ao he soUSlt.
retuge in th church, atter hitchi~ his mount too t.he pte o~ the adJa4eut.
cEIJ)J't,ery. He. on .aw an apparation at the altar at. ~st. h
supposed it. was on. seeking ahelt ... ~rcm the rains. he was, Ho_
ever, he on saw it as a b aut.1tul wOlJlln attired 1n "fiutt rwg white".
Soon ab begun to m t 1 him, to beckon him t.o her. Thi. con-tinu"
d ~or s vera! en did not go abe llOVed do t.he
a1sle t"warde him. Th n he dec1ded to J.. ave - "too leave 118 leavina
wa. good" - ~or during the "waving gestures" he had ch nged his sent.1ment",
ao to it. being a 881 perlDn. He wlIlt out and mounted his horse.
She followed suit. and m unted behind him. He rode ~ast and ~ast.er, she
She clung to h1. wa1st and ~a.ter rode t.be closer she 8IIbraced
( his waist., and h c uld not push h€1' o~~.
At. st the d race COil to dO end IIl1d on Tea ing light.. he rec0l>-
n1zed th ".uppo.ed ghost" ~or an art. who 1n ~orm r y r.
had fallen a victim of Dem ntia. In t.ho•• dn)'ll fac1li t. es for I:Ji.ndli I
such p iEOts were pObr, 80 insoJDe wq 1Ih" bad eecaped their vigtJance
and wandered too th altar which was t.o have been the .cene of the culmi-nation
of & beautiful ro ce.
Despite the bUy condition "f h r m1nd, thro-' the man,y years, Ilhe
had not"forgot.ten", nor cease to see th .. w rld t.hro. glaese. rosy hued
with ro mance.
f ) llarie ReeM
-Il~
Thi. Qr en Rive. ot -3 generat.ion. past. ... IiL prominent. pioneer
a t.Uer ot Cullirene d cla1llla the distinotion ot c..ing directly tran
the Old orld and ot French origin, at. that. tilDe pron unc1n& Rives -
:ilIA.
Hia grandson b e n-me i8 now a large p lbnter the re as ell
aa other outst
Hub Tuck
ng ID ber t this old FamiJ¥.
as &n;>ther resident ot Colllr_ who was known through-cut
wn es for rus "dr7 wit.". He belonge a very eccentr.i.C fami f
of 4. The p sonnel t lch a. 2 maiden. ot questionab age and 2
brother. o.ere lso unaet'ried. All were ill1t te and pecul.u.r.
(,n one occ s1:>n Hub deci ed to "step out and go "sparking" and attend
a ce liLt tht Co,rt Hou.e- HayneviUe. 'l'hi. IDElf.llt. the .,arUcipant
would b of th IIl-Jst outstanding tamni • ot Lo de.
He inv t d ontl ot the most charm ina girls .>t the ev ning to oanes
the "Virginia Reel" with r.lm and on her retllll he told h r alri ht, but
h.. told her to go to H--. She reporteo the insult to her br)ther 0
in return de d d an dia te apol gy. Hub willt ovel to the girl an
said, "Roue, I told Y u to go to H---, but y need n t go there".
he told the oth r. t the
qual tette that Emma would b at the
r Jewlark (two wo,ds lIIIed 80m ti
st t them catching a 'l'ewsome
in p oe t neethee.rt.) a8 s c uld
see both way. - g'Jing ana coming. ne of hI.. br "ther 8 s a victim ..I
T. B. and in the last. Stegd, whan a aistbr paased suddenly.
He eaid "lJaal, I WB 10 king tor Br • Bill to e, but II1s lIolly
sUpped up '" us". Hub onee ha a very cl se per.. al tli d • we
4.
aball call Abraha., th
I
lIar1e Ree. e.
..t.t...r 1 acun' a v"rr r ugh, alaoat. nociv1l1z d
xis nce and boasting o~ ..1 a unb"Ue~ a illdependenee in t.he L1~e.
B yond. The Death &.qJel vi a1 t.ed hie home nd c lled bv h8a. Hub
•
went. av r t.o ~ the et. t.ribllt.e and as he st.ood gadna into the ~ace
lona
o~ hia ~riend, prepared ~or the :last. aleep, with tears atreemina down
hia che ka h eaid· Poor Ab ell dressed up d DO where t.) go". II aning
~ course the l1~e be lead made hllll i el1g1bl t.o a ~we "When
The Roll ia Ca ed Up Yonder". In flUlville, ther ae pathetic inoi-nat.
rati g the tie exiat.iDg bet een a d g 1m mast. • A gentle- I
un who ned a &_11 et. dog died. All the while the r(:JIII!I.1na were &till
1h the hoawt.the lit.t.le dvg W8l1t in the l1vina room anc. atAred aa cl~aa
as possible t. the corplle. He ~ollo.ed the hearse to the ccetery.
Afi- ward beiug miesed at. home be would be ~ound at the grave aClat.eh1ng
anc. digging th all ie a1gb t. 1n th.. newly made Mund, trying II<J har d
to 9lt. h.e _lit... , lilly baa 1JIIost. burrowed a le to tb casket. For
aev"ral &ya t.hia wall rep_tad, till he had to bs confined.
Long at"ter, t.h1nldbg be had ~CII'got.ten be ne r leaa d, an when
again ~oWld be 11&.11 dea4 on the grave ~ his sam old ~r1md.
e u~ th .",_tea' majlU8IIt.et.iona ot devotions a dog to it.1I
o er W8 a V,at. t a eLg ot mine to JD;)'II ~ ~CYr the pa t ~our year. lIT
brother gav me a lara- dog to prot.ect me. He W8a a hand80me anjrnal
allllHiar to the hOWlda used t.o ~Ilrd the penit.enUriee. Last. year JD;)'
rlt calleo. lIIe every day to a ProJect. in Jia¥neville. He would toll.ow _
a lock h re I had to go - Join the P&rV who tranaport a me to bI14 ~ro.
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DISTRICT OFFICE
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WORKS PROGRESS ADMINISTRATION
OF ALABAMA
DISTRiCT OFFICE
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WORKS PROGRESS ADMINISTRATION
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WORKS PROGRESS ADMINISTRATION
OF ALABAMA
DISTRICT OFFICE
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WORKS PROGRESS ADMINISTRATION
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DiSTRICT OFFICE
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WORKS PROGRESS ADMINISTRATION
OF ALABA"'A
DISTRICT O'-FICE
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The lIIOst intarest.1ng and outstanding occasions in ths
re" of Ne.;I'o 11fe in these environmenta, are the funerals and
•
the manner in which ahey are conducted. Most of these colored
I
people ere members of burial organizetions which enables th
to ce ebrate in a Bi ~.
an a member is re orted dlU'lgerouslj' ill all friend,
relatives and associate members beb"in extensive prepara ions
for e coming event, --" shing u ," pressing and ironing
costumes to ear. Those 1th u l' tter purse but "mourning."
The '"P ss1ng" is announced instantly by ringing a planut10n
bell or knocking the sweep as many times, as the
deceased is years of age, then the real celebret10n is on.
USu.ALy they embalm the remains and it .ept out as 10llL as a
week. Huge crowcle every night at the "setting up." Where they
•
make merry with coffee drink and so ething stron6er.
Mostly 11e waiting for interment they in sowe way att~ch
an electric 11ght to the hsed 01' the casket. as they say to
"light the ay" to the other aide and at 1nterv la sing "Lead
Kindl,y L1...,ht."
ot 10I16 since Nesro &..0116 the "upper crust" died aoo
the final cer8lll0ny was most intare t1ng. Elaborate pa rs on
his 11fe were re ,8010s eung and 10 ~er the
des1;;ns, etc, etc •• hel OCIIIpoee the tuner 1 roce8sion.
Howev_er, an ap"ointad &..te is named for the real f'uner 1
month or more lata.'. An old colored preach r was conduct,:uJB
b. ceet1l16 in one of the pl..1n t10n churches "Hope Wi 1" 2 miles
south of Lowndesboro--Haynev111e cross roads on road #80.
•
(
..
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He asked e ch one in hie cOngr8bation who was prepbred to
s end hili or her eternity in the "beautiful beyond to etand
up. Several rose and gave teet1Jnony that they were willing and
ready to die.
old brother rose and siad Bro. Sims: I knows Helen is
mah home. I knows I'm ginnie to "it der when de roll is calledJ,a
but sisters and brothers. Ise here to tel~ you Ise not a d--
..
bit homeeick. Later on the minister made stt>l1 another
proposition ~or those to 8 nd and give their experience.
One sister rose and 8aid "~lesB Jesus mine i8 not fUr de public.
won't stand 8pection.
The old preacher was very fond of chicken and had bathered
in so many of hi8 nei6hbor8 fowls that they had decided to call
in the next com'erence .. Uew De.. and send him to another
charge. In hi8 new church just as he was about to bebin and
take his test he sa the sheriff ~rom his old community come
in and sit in the rear. He u:mx eaid siste a and brothers it
w..s my a to apeak uv de resurrexion today, but after looki
•
over die co~tiation I epee I better chunGe de tex to--"To
h1Jn dat knoweth hole hie ton.,uea" and I will see him atter de
ie over.
On col_ection day the darkiee march to the altar and drop
their offerin in the plate. They charloe the money into very
mall coins and go up the aisle I1S 10 as it laste.
•
On one occasion one marched up end drop.ind in her coin
and eiad "Ood .a.,.atllxllX loveth a cheerful biver." A second
11 e..id, e that giveth ;to the poor lendeth to the Lord." The
•
- 3 -
third dropped hie in rather reluctantly lind siA" fool und
his money is soon parted."
In the crO'. ded church a big buxom eist.er cat::.e in and found
defficulty in securing a selit and sitt~ near a brother she
accidentJ.. nearly sit JIbr. on his hat. He siad "Look here oman,
you knows what you settillL on, "Shs ssz I'ze been settin' on it
fur de last 40 year.
Hub Tucker a comic and unique character collircue a,Nle a
visit into the city and returned with 8ClUSing accounts of his
experiences at the gr berteria, whe;'e he said everyone got
hun...,ry at once.
He d covered a feather in his sausa~e. The .'iter suid
they ere all right, only Lade out of a bird dog. Nsxt he asked
if the e~e were good and fresh. ait.er said he had only been
there 6 months and eggs were there when he cllljl8.
His host next carried him to services' he,e the minister
was bone dry and uninaeresting. A samll mische1vous boy at the
rear as throwing chestnuts at the cOl1Lret>ation. Finally the old
man corrected him. The boy hol ored back. "You tend yo your v
business nod I will ~eep , wake for you.
Hub alBo reMarked that one man in elma the scsne of his ,
outin,,--I.a'. Co. wust have had more doUt)l than anyone mere as
he 0 ned an interest in rear by every business, and he could t.ell
this by the sibns.
BevilB en is a small tract of land situated near Lowndes-bol'O
on the •• of a. The railro d ssa~ through it miles
- 4 -
•
from Lawn eaboro atetion and <!~ milee f'rom white hal. It has a
picture esque located on cypress creek and has so e sent1mentel,
also haunted ~dditions in connection. /
1. the tims en Indians were in possession of these parts
this spot we ths scene of one of the Indian camps and wnong
this creek tribe was a beautiful young half-bresd woman.
On account of her grsat beauty she w~s desired as a wife by
man,y. Her father de Wlded her marriage to a big Indian and in her
refusal uhe .as tOrtured to death. T~is she bore bravely as a
roof of loyalty to her eeal lover.
Later the tribe W88 captured and many kil.!.ed by the white
an. The strtl&Sle was so hot •. nil fierce, it was cal ed Devils
Garden. Later a lovel,( plantation house was built there, but
tr~dition claims that there were so many lives lost there till
the departed spirits returned to distaub the peace and prevent
the growth of one thin",;, so the hace was long since abandoned
• nil>ht pussers tell spooky teles of sights seen and sounds heard
there. They c18i that the camp fires still are seen to burn at
night and the moana of the Indian t-irl who died for love cal.!. lso
still be heard. This halloted spot is a part of the own estate
Capt. Bra n being one of the outstanding boys of 60' s. 'nlis estatA
a180 includes rown Hi 1, which is the loc tion of the historic 1
01 flour mill, but the locations of the two interestiO/> landmarke
are miles apart. Capt. Brown holds an interellti~ place in the
~ist ry of this section of Alabama. He ordered heroic services
to his country in 1. e tela GtuoUB days at the 60' s and is a member
of the Saffold clan, well known in Alabama.
•
• - 5 -
One warning on leavin... home he 1nf'or<.:ed his fauil,y that
he was riding over to his other place Devils Garden and his
emall son said nOh, Daddy, ! le ss sir, bring me a little
devil." rt true story two old egross who were well known
chicken house rowleI's rai ed a nei6hbors chicken house wne
night in a wholesale manner. All their boot happened to be
white or black. They carried them in the rear plU't of an old
Ne 0 cer.etary to divide, "nd in p s' iog in they drop!,ed ::. at
the gate. A white hen and a black on". third old darkie
overheard the division, hich suid you take dis and I ilake dot
or you tu.ke de w:.ite un, I takes de black Un."
The superstitious old man w s fri6htened out of his wits
and ran to his muster saying " orse Jim, de judlllllent day dun
c e. Lord and de debil is up in dat bone yard riding out
•
de foke. The lllllster tl!-il~ to pacify him decided to !l('company him
back to the ce etary and Bee what io wa all about. In arriving
there he too heard the words divid~ the spoil, you take de
"hite un I takes de b ck un. "bout this t1lr.e the prowlers discovered
that they had lost 2 white chick na near the gate and re~eated
)ou take the hite un and I takes de black un. The old d kies
s id thinking of course they moaned the white I!8n and the black
man. Hear dat Boss, I dane told you. Dey rw.y bit you, but dey
will have to ~it a mure 7????? to ketch dis her ni ·sr. Ise
long gone. ith that he bot in High and ran home and jumped in
bed bur~ himself in the bed clothes and barricaded the door
nd placed his wife behind it ith an axe. Hapi-flned at private
•
.6·
"rave yard on Turner plant.at.ion on Ordeysville road 7 miles
southwest. of Haynevil~e county seat. of Lowndes.
Interviewing an old slavery t.ke negI'''. recsnt.ly ahe t.old
me she could see 'em, which is an expression used t.o indicat.e
one could see spirits or haunt.s and I heard somet.hing I'd never
heard bufure in all roy listening in all Fall Tales. She eaid
t.hose ho could see e ere born with a ball over t.heir faces
which 6ave them this po er.
Said ahe was born with one, which was a m st. delic t.e
_nvisible 6, read over the face and re ved at. birth and put. al y
She e~id long as this was kept. the person held the power t.o
see e • The st.ory cont.inued that. when her ~other died and as
laced in her c l'fin, the at.t.ending physician placed the call
which had been preserved in the coffin and her abilit.y t.o see
t.he hant.s was destroyed.
She t.olf me her powers were thoroughly known for miles and
l!liles and she would be celled upon t.o come and point. out. depart.ed
spirit.~ t.o eurviving loved ones and cla ed she saw them in
different. forms. Some would be most. beaut.iful in whit.e and
could be readily recognized
around without. heads, somethin6 without. arms. "good brain or
CO" st.ory is told by a local part.y who butchers cows weekly to
carry into ths cit.y markets. He claims to have ~lled a beef
recently and cut off the head, retJoving the brains and carelessly
threw the c .w head in the car st.anding ne by. He carries it
along and trades it off to the Uegroes for potstoes , ei;6s I etc.
While the br ins were beifl6 pre"ared and aleo the cow, the head
• ( ( )
.,:l4.t ~ • ("0 ~ 7/'U..I.- - I
/tu.-n< I<.<A. ~ "I''' - S~Lk_f.
"..?'-I «,/.... ~! 1. .t. "(,, • 4<".., «~ •"'-'
t.ru .tlll',y is Puse ar und in whi ch 1Ir. Gre
.....rie eese•
ivea or C01lirene
wa. the hero, and tha PI' .blteri.... hurch at Doubl.. Churches w s th
scene or th thrilling erience. Cn a dSl'k st..rJll.Y njght • Rives
was m ing th Bemon to s t in Collire' e on h,rse bt •
The road w/ls d k and 10ne and the st I'm terrific, so he s,,~t
ret'uge in the church, a er hitchi ~ his m"unt
JacieDt c£... ter,y. R s n .aw an apparat..on at
th E9--te o~ the ade
aJ.tar at t'J.r st he I
suppos d it e one aeelt1ng shelt f em the I' nas ha was, o
evaI', he s> n wit aa b autit'ul 01180 attir"d in "fiutt I' g whitil".
Soon sh begun m ti him, to backon him t her, This con-tinu
d ~or s vel' ailIG't. and an did !JOt go she moved w :n the
aisle t w rds him. Th n he ded ea to 1. BV - "to eava .hile 1ebvil g
was g )od" - ~or dIll1ng th "waVing gestur~s" he bu ell ngdd his sel timent
,a to it being a sal J!trll) n. H WlI'lt out aD<,. mounted his hoI' •
She ~ollow suit and III unt d behind hilll. He I ode ~ast and ~astsr, she
Sha to his waIst t. ~BSter h rode the cloBer she 8IIbrace (
hiB wsiat, d h c uld not push h..r o~~.
At at the d ....c co n lIDd on e c i08 lights t. reco -
nizad th "supp Bed ghol5t.'" ~ ,I' old sw..a art ho in ~ol'm r ,y.AJ a
bad tall n II victim o~ [; ntia. In tho.e .YB ~ac i . t_ ea tor ndli g
such p i ... ts w e poor, 8) in ome W83 lib had escaped thdr vigi nca
and wandered to th altar which W6S t;> have bean the BCM ot the culmi-nation
01' a beaut~ul 11) c.
Despi th }azy condition ~ h I' llIi d, thro' the years, a
bad not"torgott rr, nor case to se th W Irld tbro. glassas rosy hued
ith 11) ceo
I
I
n /
Mara ,e e.
• (
1ng t courae e lit. he lead made him i ..eUgible ,to a swe. "When
The Ro ia C&l e Up YOll ern. In ba..:nevil.l.e, the a8 pa eUc inci-natrat.!
g the tie xi5't1ng bet een d g 118..1.<.1'. A g8"t.18-
who ned a s 11 et og died. All the while t.be r 1n8 ware ill
1h the h t. e little d ,g. 1. in living r m an stAlJed as cl se
6B POBBible t. the corpse. H toll ,wlId the h ars to the cem 1. rye
rward belI g mined at. to he would be tound at the 1'liVe BC at.c ng
an digging all is 111gb 1. in th n wly ma(l.e m und, trying B.J bar
to 91t. h. s Bt ,6Dt. a. ala,) blrru dale to cask t. For
BeY ral ya t. e waa rep. ,t.!ll he haa to be c tina •
Long ter, thinld.b& t.t n he _B r leaacd,
again tound he .e dud on th grave of hia 88m old t d.
Cn t th teat. matlites t.iona ot dev.:lt.! DII a cbg lots
o er w a t. t c. cLg ot mine m;ys It tor th pe. 1. tour ye r. II;y
er v me a large g to prot.ect me. HB waa a hand801ll8 animal
eimilar to the hounus used to ~urd the penlt.,t1rles. Laat year m;y
k calle llle avery y a roJ ct. in Hayneville. Re would tollo. JIllI
a block whe e I had 1. J01n a part,y 0 tor ;sport... me to d t o.
shall call br ,th .....t.t. r 1 u.ng a v roy r ugh, at nncivilized
x.is nce and boaliUng ot .is unb"l1et am i pendence in t.he Lite.
B yond. The Death ~ 1 Vl at ted his holllll nd c ned br. baa•
• ent. <:IV r to pay the 1. at. t.ribut.e and as r, at.ood ga..ing into the tace
long
ot h1e tr1llnd, repnre tor the Jast. eleep, w1th 1. 'BI'S st...II1II108 do n
his cbe ka h a id ~:' or /.b" ell drllslled up f d no where 1. go". II 80-
-
ie Heese.
to.",,,,," C'~u.A-(
, ,
IIy home is in the very heart of' the !:llack t.Il8 negroe s are
plent1:ru1 on the extensive f'arm lends and f'rom getting quite a f'ew expressions
and experiences !'rom them Ybich seem rather amusing to me end some of' these
.L wi.l~ pass on to you.
'1ret .L shall tell you of' an actual incident which oceuretl in -negroCbIla
f'ew years past on one of' the large plsntati ns of' a prominent local planter.
A regro man and wif'e had a big quarrel and the WOmBn -f'aded fran t he picture-,
Her disappearance was so complete that oomitions become suspicious.
:L'hese suspicions increased until the consen!:. of' opinions were that her
husband removed her f'rom the pathway of' lif'e, so.1o.QP would be f'ree to take
unto himself' a new Helpmate. He was at once arrested and mde a -guest of'
LQWndes (;ounty-'., in the .Jail at J1auneville. In due t:lJne he was tried f'or
the murder of' his wif'e.. !Juring this procedure the evidence was overwhelmingly
against him. .Lt was proved the t he severed her head from her body, cut the
body in p1e ces, weighted them and cast them into the Alabama river.
ong list of' witnesses gave testimony to this and the small chiJdren
of' the doo!ll8d man swore af'ter th e most rigid cross examinations to have seen
the gruesome work. Despite the ef'f'orts of' abled legal assistance, he was convic
,~",,, .
ted ~ lift sentence.
At'ter having spent 2 years "building t1me u , one cay, the \\Omn who was
proved to have been murdered was seen walking lei surely up road #80 on Delsny
Hill near !:lenton a snaU village ,.in1the western part of' Lowndes and si tuated
on the Alabama River and through which road nBO allJJ the Westero of'
Alabama railroad passes.
Delany Hill on road nBO is a long cangerous Hill approaching Benton and
is an old landmark: of'the yeateryears. Here !!lAny f'atal motor accidents have
cc cured. Onl,y a f'ew months recent it was the seene of' the accident of' the
young soh of' Howell '1'Urner, Sec. of' State, who died from r ewlts am who had
just won the highest scholarship record for the
his age in the United Statea.
mentelity to
The suppoeed murder, just mentioned was emong the tenants on the old
Gra~es plantation near Gravas Lending on the Alabams River, 1 mile from Manack.
This is on ex-river lendi~g, was prominent in the ~teemboat days of
glory. The landing was the Komestead location of ~he Gov. Grqves ancestors.
The old home has bean burned years sgo end tbe plantstion lends now
owned by the Robinson's - grandsons of ··aj. Wm. Robinson w' 0 bought and moved
the old Dome from the capitol of Cahaba and put it on a local church in the
early 1840' s.
In every negro community, the negro praacher is the most important negro.
He never selects preaching as his career. He first saes the light and hears
the call. Us mus' rus' follow n &e steps uv St. Paul on de rode 'ascus. Ua
mus see and hear. The most popular preacher is the sensational. 01. long
• since, I met a negro trudging along on a dusty plantation road and he was carrying
a briefcasa and large umbrella and by thes', I mede a safe guess and asked
him if he was a preachar. Yas, man, 'tia he repliad and I se gwine to
praach tonight at de mewning star (Lboro Station, 3 miles away).
But he say" Boss de collect'ons em turrible. I don'know hatda matter
wid dese niggers. I can't git nut'in outen em. A smsll boy with several
other "pickeninnys" hed ~oined us and said Rev. Garrett, you ain't neer gwine
git nutin' outen fur po'self til youse gits ter shoutin' ~nd s uslin'. Youse
don't do nuff squalin'. ese niggers lures to, fallout, I heard a heap a
sistern' saz dat 'bout you. "Huh", says the colored Rev. ~istern sez'dat?
Waal you can't git hed ~o wimmen. De Lawd fixe up dat in dat morial garten
whilli ¥lbin Ebe temps de fust msn.
Debbles merster gib de wimmens dog bones, and de men's only git 208.
Eber since dat time wen a tmln mess wid a women, de 'oman thow him ebery time.
With this he looked at the dropping sun and said, "Wall I spec' des 1 1 nig_er
•
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am rita. I8se moving on, so de brethern
to ketch and hold de wimmins w'en dey 'aotionel end shout end git ter fellin'
out.
Rev. Dixon another colored preecher told me this amusing story. He wes
wall-to-do. He toiled for himsalf, as well aa for the Lawd therefore trying
to store up treasuras on earth as well as in heaven. He told me how a
brother parson lost out.
Dis de way t ,wa, we bofe had big congr gations, I wua married. My
old 'oman wus a sicknu~s. He had no wife, minas wus might sherpe, but I'se
still sharper she neer gwine ketch up wid me. Weel I wus kinder messing
bout wid some three or four of de sistern in my bongregatton and he was messan
'bout wid da seme number in his'n.
Ona daY I sez, Brer, ith 'spose us git dis 'rangment b'twixt US parsons.
You carrie on wid de istern in my flock pnd I "carrie" on wid des sistern
in yo' floc k, and neder uf us will gi t in no trouble. WAS 1 do you knows dat
ign, ant nigser wouldn't pay my 'vice no min. He kep messin' on wid de wimmen.
Den he goes up to Mongomy and cotes a yaller city gsl dat wear laud close,
roaches her hair and fools de ole nigger into gittin a pere liscences end
dey merry. We'n de pair arrives back here, de sistern thro s him clean out
de church.
A few years ago I attende' the funeral of a colored woman at a local
negro church at "Hope Well" on a large plantat on near Scott Hill on road
#80, 5 miles below Lowndesboro cross roads.
I
Silva, the de" women was in a neat gray casket, the usual type that Y
a~rurnished by the buralal associationa. Her relatives sat in the front
pew and wore deap mourning. Negroes fro~ far and wide througed there end
filled the church to overflowing. a big negro and officer in the
I
-t-
•
"Ledy Knights at Love". The pulpit wes crowded with preachers leymen end ley
sisters. The preecher seid, "Brethern and Sistern we ere gethered here todey
to say oUr las' goodbye to ~ister Silve. ~ good 'omen hes gone back to de
soIl and ebout to turn to de dus' where bhe cum trum.
All de deys '* her lite she wus e good 'oman (voices i'1 the CX) ngre-gation)
Fore Gawd dets de trut). he preieed Jesus wid her las' breet-let -
(amen). She trusted in de Lewd dat wus her maker. She paid her burying
"tews" on de dot. She wus lek de Rose at Sheron end de lily uv de velley.
She w s one uv de mersters chillun and he dun called her home (Lewd have macy)
Silva dun let her busban' behind her en de dhillun. Dey will mise e gond
memay , but bes ye at good cher, she'S gwine to a better len' tlowln' wid milk
and honey. Wher dere ein't no mo' pein nur sorrow nur _It nur worr1mmlt •
• Rite now she is res'in de erms uv Jesus on hes bresh in away de teers (Go on
brother. Amen. Amen. Dets de gospel trut. Laud eppleuse).
The person continues, Fors dat is 'cerned none uv us. case laks to die".
"Fur zemple, once whin I' us a boy, my memmy sez, Ike de person gwine be here
rur dinner dis coming Sundey. You go out dar en peft up det dominecker roester
o
WeAl, I went out det ebening but Sundown end det rooster wes nowheres.
I looked de nex day eni de nex end yit ~o rroster. Den when hit wes too
late er boil him rur ~unday, behole, I aees him up in de chinny berrie tree.
Det aho' ue no boddie went ter die and when h't oum ter me I exe Gewd to
•
spere dis' nigger till Gebel blow his hawn. (amen).
Brethern and Sistern git reedy. ''Whet you gwin' ter tell dat engel,
Whin he cume tur you ter sign dat death war'ant trum de marster? Et you
ein't purpered youse gwlne". (Amen - amen) All at once on usher got ligion
aM. loped up end down the aisle, eoon the excitment spreed like wild tire,
end the oo~gre8ation wes so "worked up" it wes in a pandemonium.
They were shout ng, shrieking, end screaming. 0 Lewd, seve us, seve us.
Let us m~et dis sister on de udder shoo •
The negco underteker is also an important person, es most of the negroea
even of the poorest claa5 foin the burial a550C iation to insure a decent
!put away". A 5to~ is passed around about a colored man by the nome of
..
Mos.. 3e died and the undertaker was employed to pnepare the body for
burial. He cerried the body to his place of business and the family or
Mose bought e fine new su t to bury him in and sent to the undert~ker. Jhe
re~ine was returned to the late home of Mose raady for interment. It was
strongly advised by the undertaker not to open the casket under plea that the
body was in no condition to be seen •
.~en the relatives of the deceased returned from the cemetery, they
beoome suspicious in reg-rd to the new suit and worried th-t maybe Mose would
have to face the lIldy angels without apparel. Final)y they decided to disinter
the body and on doing so, find him as was suspected, clad in his ekin.
Over n~ht they further decided to consult an attorney. While they
were discussing ways and means to do so, the news of their discovery reached
the ears of the undertaker and he also made a second visit to the cemetery
and hoat ly placed the suit at the feet of the corpse.
The next day the relat ves eccused him and thereatened suit. He denied
the accuaations and suggested a disinterment to prove him right.
The group made viSit #3 to the cemiltery and of course the undertaker
was vindicated. t did I tell you niggers, Dar is ~se' suit rite at
his feet an' he wout hat er reach fur to git hit when Gobul blows de hewn•
• |
| title |
Folklore, Lowndes County. |
| titleStr |
Folklore, Lowndes County. |
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ADAHwpa858 |
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http://cdm17217.contentdm.oclc.org/utils/getthumbnail/collection/wpa/id/858 |
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1743797183474302976 |
| spelling |
GSU# SG022773_00490-00532SG022773_00490_00532Folklore, Lowndes County.Folder contains 42 pages of Alabama folklore and stories compiled for the Works Progress Administration (WPA) in the late 1930s.1936-1938 circa1930-1939African Americans--Alabama--Folklore; Folklore--Alabama; Alabama Writers' Project; Lowndes County (Ala.); United States. Works Progress AdministrationTextDocumentsAlabama. Dept. of Archives and HistoryWorks Progress Administration filesSG022773WPA Alabama Writers' Project, Folklore, Lowndes County, #3Alabama Dept. of Archives and History, 624 Washington Ave., Montgomery, AL 36130EnglishThis material may be protected under U. S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S. Code) which governs the making of photocopies or reproductions of copyrighted materials. You may use the digitized material for private study, scholarship, or research. Though ADAH has physical ownership of the material in its collections, in some cases we may not own the copyright to the material. It is the patron's obligation to determine and satisfy copyright restrictions when publishing or otherwise distributing materials found in our collections.96 dpi tiffIP.E ... -1- ()
'!h. Ha>nted Graftyard in Lolll1d•• Count:r;.
•
III a remote section or Lo_as County there i. a n.ighborhood knOlll1
as Hopewell; her. 19 looated a graveyard thought to be haunted.
To pae. this graveyard arter dark and 8S}ltCially on dreary nights 19
a dread or horror. Some think they can hear singl.ng, others Imagine they can
hear prayers and .till others se. forma or p.rsons. A young IIlSIl ~ was
returning to his hQlll8 at a late hour on Sunday night was rorc.d to pass
thi. haunted c....tery. All he pasesd this spot a rorm re.embling thet or
a M,.n crawled across the road before him. The beaut11\ll horse he ..
riding bucked an!. snort.d am the Y01l1g IIIUl b.c.... fright.ned. Be rod. V
IICI... at run sp.ed am or COll1's. told the .tory.
Ber"". this .tory bec..... ganerally kn01lll a boy or early t ..... waJI
going ror the doctor ror a memJ>.r or his ramily. It happened that he al.o
had to paes this dreadtUl spot. Upon reaching it, rearfully rri!.'lltened with
the ghost storiee he had heard long berore, a ball or fir. appeared an!. .....
whizzing 'roun am 'roun above the road ahead or him. Hi. hore. began bucking
and threw both rider an!. .addle b8Jl8ath the fiery bell.
'!hue and .lm1lar etoriee have been !>ended &>111 rrom one generatiOl1
to the other by old reeidents or the Hopewllli CODlDunlty. ~. "he one/"
Tisits the 11ttle conmunlty the residents lilee to tell the story or th.ir
"hanted" graveyard.
Consultant: W.D. Autrey, Dothsn, Ala. & IoIrs. Till, Lowar Wetumpka Road.
1Iagg1. Boswell•••10/17/3&. 150 "oros.
690. Marie Reeee
~
, .
.
"Loversleap· a v-I7 im. resting d ro nt.ic epot., is eit.uat.ed
on t. out.skirt.s ot C<lllir~ne, a smalJ. 1ilite vi lag" in the
sout.hwestern rt or LJwnde. F r year it. bae been the sc ne ...t many
r lIIEl1ltic me t nge, 'proP;) ls,
love atfaire.
d the t.r gic nOing ot orne unhappy
Local trl.Cl1t.ion is t. t. sever, 1 c ;)uples wit.h disappoint.ed h"p s,
clasp g hande ok th "tats1 lBllp" giving evi BIlC to th tact that.
eath tog t .. r ae tar n et.er t.lan living api<rt..
It is ala;) c la1m t. hen t.be camp tir.. s ot th "re men"
we e stUl burning in alXl around this v1l ge, r0U8 " Leapa"
were made tran theee mounte 800 the beautitul d picture &que ret.reat.
•
is truly Raun:t d with epir1t.e ot Ind.um Lor s and th at n ,ne dare not.
v nture near the evening l"st th.y be it with tomahawks, which are
.;aid to be paesing t.hru' the air constantly.
In any eVIIlt. L re Leap ia 1n actual ietence an is a most. p1c-in
r ad meat. an
tur sque dsscant trom what. 1e knwn as "Balers II, unto", an eteration
ne r tlJe South bou~y ot Collir.ne, .h re the
into rsect! on ot the H8¥flBYllle road.
Thie elevation 1s eaid t" be hun1rede ot teet and the hJ.&best.
alti t.uds bet. een B11'11i~ and II bile. Called so, • th.. pr 1. ance
was on the no huld1",g or one ot the prim~tive settle • ot the village.
ev. b"r, who lat I' h moved a q and b come a promn nt lIethodiet.
mini cr. A eon ot thie moist has _de goud 1n newspapel orld end
at pres t i. oruect d 1t.h n out. t..nding Daily, Aebvi_le, N. C•
•,
• Cleveland Babel •
f
llane Re e.e.
A tru .t.ory i. paa.ed ar und in whi ch)(r. Green ve. o~ Collirene
wa. the hero, and the Pre.b$1;erian Church at. Doool Churche. was the
.cene o~ th thrilling e perience. On a dark stoormy n1gbt. )(r. Rives
was making th .1C1111"1MlJ ~rom Benton too his ho_ in Colli rene on hurse baa.
The road w"s dark and lonely an the at rm terl'ific, ao he soUSlt.
retuge in th church, atter hitchi~ his mount too t.he pte o~ the adJa4eut.
cEIJ)J't,ery. He. on .aw an apparation at the altar at. ~st. h
supposed it. was on. seeking ahelt ... ~rcm the rains. he was, Ho_
ever, he on saw it as a b aut.1tul wOlJlln attired 1n "fiutt rwg white".
Soon ab begun to m t 1 him, to beckon him t.o her. Thi. con-tinu"
d ~or s vera! en did not go abe llOVed do t.he
a1sle t"warde him. Th n he dec1ded to J.. ave - "too leave 118 leavina
wa. good" - ~or during the "waving gestures" he had ch nged his sent.1ment",
ao to it. being a 881 perlDn. He wlIlt out and mounted his horse.
She followed suit. and m unted behind him. He rode ~ast and ~ast.er, she
She clung to h1. wa1st and ~a.ter rode t.be closer she 8IIbraced
( his waist., and h c uld not push h€1' o~~.
At. st the d race COil to dO end IIl1d on Tea ing light.. he rec0l>-
n1zed th ".uppo.ed ghost" ~or an art. who 1n ~orm r y r.
had fallen a victim of Dem ntia. In t.ho•• dn)'ll fac1li t. es for I:Ji.ndli I
such p iEOts were pObr, 80 insoJDe wq 1Ih" bad eecaped their vigtJance
and wandered too th altar which was t.o have been the .cene of the culmi-nation
of & beautiful ro ce.
Despite the bUy condition "f h r m1nd, thro-' the man,y years, Ilhe
had not"forgot.ten", nor cease to see th .. w rld t.hro. glaese. rosy hued
with ro mance.
f ) llarie ReeM
-Il~
Thi. Qr en Rive. ot -3 generat.ion. past. ... IiL prominent. pioneer
a t.Uer ot Cullirene d cla1llla the distinotion ot c..ing directly tran
the Old orld and ot French origin, at. that. tilDe pron unc1n& Rives -
:ilIA.
Hia grandson b e n-me i8 now a large p lbnter the re as ell
aa other outst
Hub Tuck
ng ID ber t this old FamiJ¥.
as &n;>ther resident ot Colllr_ who was known through-cut
wn es for rus "dr7 wit.". He belonge a very eccentr.i.C fami f
of 4. The p sonnel t lch a. 2 maiden. ot questionab age and 2
brother. o.ere lso unaet'ried. All were ill1t te and pecul.u.r.
(,n one occ s1:>n Hub deci ed to "step out and go "sparking" and attend
a ce liLt tht Co,rt Hou.e- HayneviUe. 'l'hi. IDElf.llt. the .,arUcipant
would b of th IIl-Jst outstanding tamni • ot Lo de.
He inv t d ontl ot the most charm ina girls .>t the ev ning to oanes
the "Virginia Reel" with r.lm and on her retllll he told h r alri ht, but
h.. told her to go to H--. She reporteo the insult to her br)ther 0
in return de d d an dia te apol gy. Hub willt ovel to the girl an
said, "Roue, I told Y u to go to H---, but y need n t go there".
he told the oth r. t the
qual tette that Emma would b at the
r Jewlark (two wo,ds lIIIed 80m ti
st t them catching a 'l'ewsome
in p oe t neethee.rt.) a8 s c uld
see both way. - g'Jing ana coming. ne of hI.. br "ther 8 s a victim ..I
T. B. and in the last. Stegd, whan a aistbr paased suddenly.
He eaid "lJaal, I WB 10 king tor Br • Bill to e, but II1s lIolly
sUpped up '" us". Hub onee ha a very cl se per.. al tli d • we
4.
aball call Abraha., th
I
lIar1e Ree. e.
..t.t...r 1 acun' a v"rr r ugh, alaoat. nociv1l1z d
xis nce and boasting o~ ..1 a unb"Ue~ a illdependenee in t.he L1~e.
B yond. The Death &.qJel vi a1 t.ed hie home nd c lled bv h8a. Hub
•
went. av r t.o ~ the et. t.ribllt.e and as he st.ood gadna into the ~ace
lona
o~ hia ~riend, prepared ~or the :last. aleep, with tears atreemina down
hia che ka h eaid· Poor Ab ell dressed up d DO where t.) go". II aning
~ course the l1~e be lead made hllll i el1g1bl t.o a ~we "When
The Roll ia Ca ed Up Yonder". In flUlville, ther ae pathetic inoi-nat.
rati g the tie exiat.iDg bet een a d g 1m mast. • A gentle- I
un who ned a &_11 et. dog died. All the while the r(:JIII!I.1na were &till
1h the hoawt.the lit.t.le dvg W8l1t in the l1vina room anc. atAred aa cl~aa
as possible t. the corplle. He ~ollo.ed the hearse to the ccetery.
Afi- ward beiug miesed at. home be would be ~ound at the grave aClat.eh1ng
anc. digging th all ie a1gb t. 1n th.. newly made Mund, trying II<J har d
to 9lt. h.e _lit... , lilly baa 1JIIost. burrowed a le to tb casket. For
aev"ral &ya t.hia wall rep_tad, till he had to bs confined.
Long at"ter, t.h1nldbg be had ~CII'got.ten be ne r leaa d, an when
again ~oWld be 11&.11 dea4 on the grave ~ his sam old ~r1md.
e u~ th .",_tea' majlU8IIt.et.iona ot devotions a dog to it.1I
o er W8 a V,at. t a eLg ot mine to JD;)'II ~ ~CYr the pa t ~our year. lIT
brother gav me a lara- dog to prot.ect me. He W8a a hand80me anjrnal
allllHiar to the hOWlda used t.o ~Ilrd the penit.enUriee. Last. year JD;)'
rlt calleo. lIIe every day to a ProJect. in Jia¥neville. He would toll.ow _
a lock h re I had to go - Join the P&rV who tranaport a me to bI14 ~ro.
WORKS PROGRESS ADMINISTRATION
OF ALABAMA
DISTRICT OFFICE
• ;:. ( • _ .. J 0 () ; I~ L CJ S 6 °UI cb (.U{J J7Z6 i.AJ ~ u 6 lV<:..(./· YI.J ~,....J u
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-
WORKS PROGRESS ADMINISTRATION
OF ALABAMA
DISTRICT OFFICE
•
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•
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WORKS PROGRFSS ADMINISTRATION
OF ALABAMA
DISTRICT OFFICE
r . Un,~' d C//(OY
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WORKS PROGRESS ADMINISTRATION
OF ALABAMA
DISTRiCT OFFICE
-
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•
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WORKS PROGRESS ADMINISTRATION
OF ALABAMA
DISTRICT OFFICE
/0
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WORKS PROGRESS ADMINISTRATION
OF ALABAMA
DISTRICT OFFICE
ltV
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WORKS PROGRESS ADMINISTRATION
OF ALABAMA
DiSTRICT OFFICE
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•
• •
WORKS PROGRESS ADMINISTRATION
OF ALABA"'A
DISTRICT O'-FICE
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•
- 1 -
The lIIOst intarest.1ng and outstanding occasions in ths
re" of Ne.;I'o 11fe in these environmenta, are the funerals and
•
the manner in which ahey are conducted. Most of these colored
I
people ere members of burial organizetions which enables th
to ce ebrate in a Bi ~.
an a member is re orted dlU'lgerouslj' ill all friend,
relatives and associate members beb"in extensive prepara ions
for e coming event, --" shing u ," pressing and ironing
costumes to ear. Those 1th u l' tter purse but "mourning."
The '"P ss1ng" is announced instantly by ringing a planut10n
bell or knocking the sweep as many times, as the
deceased is years of age, then the real celebret10n is on.
USu.ALy they embalm the remains and it .ept out as 10llL as a
week. Huge crowcle every night at the "setting up." Where they
•
make merry with coffee drink and so ething stron6er.
Mostly 11e waiting for interment they in sowe way att~ch
an electric 11ght to the hsed 01' the casket. as they say to
"light the ay" to the other aide and at 1nterv la sing "Lead
Kindl,y L1...,ht."
ot 10I16 since Nesro &..0116 the "upper crust" died aoo
the final cer8lll0ny was most intare t1ng. Elaborate pa rs on
his 11fe were re ,8010s eung and 10 ~er the
des1;;ns, etc, etc •• hel OCIIIpoee the tuner 1 roce8sion.
Howev_er, an ap"ointad &..te is named for the real f'uner 1
month or more lata.'. An old colored preach r was conduct,:uJB
b. ceet1l16 in one of the pl..1n t10n churches "Hope Wi 1" 2 miles
south of Lowndesboro--Haynev111e cross roads on road #80.
•
(
..
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He asked e ch one in hie cOngr8bation who was prepbred to
s end hili or her eternity in the "beautiful beyond to etand
up. Several rose and gave teet1Jnony that they were willing and
ready to die.
old brother rose and siad Bro. Sims: I knows Helen is
mah home. I knows I'm ginnie to "it der when de roll is calledJ,a
but sisters and brothers. Ise here to tel~ you Ise not a d--
..
bit homeeick. Later on the minister made stt>l1 another
proposition ~or those to 8 nd and give their experience.
One sister rose and 8aid "~lesB Jesus mine i8 not fUr de public.
won't stand 8pection.
The old preacher was very fond of chicken and had bathered
in so many of hi8 nei6hbor8 fowls that they had decided to call
in the next com'erence .. Uew De.. and send him to another
charge. In hi8 new church just as he was about to bebin and
take his test he sa the sheriff ~rom his old community come
in and sit in the rear. He u:mx eaid siste a and brothers it
w..s my a to apeak uv de resurrexion today, but after looki
•
over die co~tiation I epee I better chunGe de tex to--"To
h1Jn dat knoweth hole hie ton.,uea" and I will see him atter de
ie over.
On col_ection day the darkiee march to the altar and drop
their offerin in the plate. They charloe the money into very
mall coins and go up the aisle I1S 10 as it laste.
•
On one occasion one marched up end drop.ind in her coin
and eiad "Ood .a.,.atllxllX loveth a cheerful biver." A second
11 e..id, e that giveth ;to the poor lendeth to the Lord." The
•
- 3 -
third dropped hie in rather reluctantly lind siA" fool und
his money is soon parted."
In the crO'. ded church a big buxom eist.er cat::.e in and found
defficulty in securing a selit and sitt~ near a brother she
accidentJ.. nearly sit JIbr. on his hat. He siad "Look here oman,
you knows what you settillL on, "Shs ssz I'ze been settin' on it
fur de last 40 year.
Hub Tucker a comic and unique character collircue a,Nle a
visit into the city and returned with 8ClUSing accounts of his
experiences at the gr berteria, whe;'e he said everyone got
hun...,ry at once.
He d covered a feather in his sausa~e. The .'iter suid
they ere all right, only Lade out of a bird dog. Nsxt he asked
if the e~e were good and fresh. ait.er said he had only been
there 6 months and eggs were there when he cllljl8.
His host next carried him to services' he,e the minister
was bone dry and uninaeresting. A samll mische1vous boy at the
rear as throwing chestnuts at the cOl1Lret>ation. Finally the old
man corrected him. The boy hol ored back. "You tend yo your v
business nod I will ~eep , wake for you.
Hub alBo reMarked that one man in elma the scsne of his ,
outin,,--I.a'. Co. wust have had more doUt)l than anyone mere as
he 0 ned an interest in rear by every business, and he could t.ell
this by the sibns.
BevilB en is a small tract of land situated near Lowndes-bol'O
on the •• of a. The railro d ssa~ through it miles
- 4 -
•
from Lawn eaboro atetion and <!~ milee f'rom white hal. It has a
picture esque located on cypress creek and has so e sent1mentel,
also haunted ~dditions in connection. /
1. the tims en Indians were in possession of these parts
this spot we ths scene of one of the Indian camps and wnong
this creek tribe was a beautiful young half-bresd woman.
On account of her grsat beauty she w~s desired as a wife by
man,y. Her father de Wlded her marriage to a big Indian and in her
refusal uhe .as tOrtured to death. T~is she bore bravely as a
roof of loyalty to her eeal lover.
Later the tribe W88 captured and many kil.!.ed by the white
an. The strtl&Sle was so hot •. nil fierce, it was cal ed Devils
Garden. Later a lovel,( plantation house was built there, but
tr~dition claims that there were so many lives lost there till
the departed spirits returned to distaub the peace and prevent
the growth of one thin",;, so the hace was long since abandoned
• nil>ht pussers tell spooky teles of sights seen and sounds heard
there. They c18i that the camp fires still are seen to burn at
night and the moana of the Indian t-irl who died for love cal.!. lso
still be heard. This halloted spot is a part of the own estate
Capt. Bra n being one of the outstanding boys of 60' s. 'nlis estatA
a180 includes rown Hi 1, which is the loc tion of the historic 1
01 flour mill, but the locations of the two interestiO/> landmarke
are miles apart. Capt. Brown holds an interellti~ place in the
~ist ry of this section of Alabama. He ordered heroic services
to his country in 1. e tela GtuoUB days at the 60' s and is a member
of the Saffold clan, well known in Alabama.
•
• - 5 -
One warning on leavin... home he 1nf'or<.:ed his fauil,y that
he was riding over to his other place Devils Garden and his
emall son said nOh, Daddy, ! le ss sir, bring me a little
devil." rt true story two old egross who were well known
chicken house rowleI's rai ed a nei6hbors chicken house wne
night in a wholesale manner. All their boot happened to be
white or black. They carried them in the rear plU't of an old
Ne 0 cer.etary to divide, "nd in p s' iog in they drop!,ed ::. at
the gate. A white hen and a black on". third old darkie
overheard the division, hich suid you take dis and I ilake dot
or you tu.ke de w:.ite un, I takes de black Un."
The superstitious old man w s fri6htened out of his wits
and ran to his muster saying " orse Jim, de judlllllent day dun
c e. Lord and de debil is up in dat bone yard riding out
•
de foke. The lllllster tl!-il~ to pacify him decided to !l('company him
back to the ce etary and Bee what io wa all about. In arriving
there he too heard the words divid~ the spoil, you take de
"hite un I takes de b ck un. "bout this t1lr.e the prowlers discovered
that they had lost 2 white chick na near the gate and re~eated
)ou take the hite un and I takes de black un. The old d kies
s id thinking of course they moaned the white I!8n and the black
man. Hear dat Boss, I dane told you. Dey rw.y bit you, but dey
will have to ~it a mure 7????? to ketch dis her ni ·sr. Ise
long gone. ith that he bot in High and ran home and jumped in
bed bur~ himself in the bed clothes and barricaded the door
nd placed his wife behind it ith an axe. Hapi-flned at private
•
.6·
"rave yard on Turner plant.at.ion on Ordeysville road 7 miles
southwest. of Haynevil~e county seat. of Lowndes.
Interviewing an old slavery t.ke negI'''. recsnt.ly ahe t.old
me she could see 'em, which is an expression used t.o indicat.e
one could see spirits or haunt.s and I heard somet.hing I'd never
heard bufure in all roy listening in all Fall Tales. She eaid
t.hose ho could see e ere born with a ball over t.heir faces
which 6ave them this po er.
Said ahe was born with one, which was a m st. delic t.e
_nvisible 6, read over the face and re ved at. birth and put. al y
She e~id long as this was kept. the person held the power t.o
see e • The st.ory cont.inued that. when her ~other died and as
laced in her c l'fin, the at.t.ending physician placed the call
which had been preserved in the coffin and her abilit.y t.o see
t.he hant.s was destroyed.
She t.olf me her powers were thoroughly known for miles and
l!liles and she would be celled upon t.o come and point. out. depart.ed
spirit.~ t.o eurviving loved ones and cla ed she saw them in
different. forms. Some would be most. beaut.iful in whit.e and
could be readily recognized
around without. heads, somethin6 without. arms. "good brain or
CO" st.ory is told by a local part.y who butchers cows weekly to
carry into ths cit.y markets. He claims to have ~lled a beef
recently and cut off the head, retJoving the brains and carelessly
threw the c .w head in the car st.anding ne by. He carries it
along and trades it off to the Uegroes for potstoes , ei;6s I etc.
While the br ins were beifl6 pre"ared and aleo the cow, the head
• ( ( )
.,:l4.t ~ • ("0 ~ 7/'U..I.- - I
/tu.-n< I<.<A. ~ "I''' - S~Lk_f.
"..?'-I «,/.... ~! 1. .t. "(,, • 4<".., «~ •"'-'
t.ru .tlll',y is Puse ar und in whi ch 1Ir. Gre
.....rie eese•
ivea or C01lirene
wa. the hero, and tha PI' .blteri.... hurch at Doubl.. Churches w s th
scene or th thrilling erience. Cn a dSl'k st..rJll.Y njght • Rives
was m ing th Bemon to s t in Collire' e on h,rse bt •
The road w/ls d k and 10ne and the st I'm terrific, so he s,,~t
ret'uge in the church, a er hitchi ~ his m"unt
JacieDt c£... ter,y. R s n .aw an apparat..on at
th E9--te o~ the ade
aJ.tar at t'J.r st he I
suppos d it e one aeelt1ng shelt f em the I' nas ha was, o
evaI', he s> n wit aa b autit'ul 01180 attir"d in "fiutt I' g whitil".
Soon sh begun m ti him, to backon him t her, This con-tinu
d ~or s vel' ailIG't. and an did !JOt go she moved w :n the
aisle t w rds him. Th n he ded ea to 1. BV - "to eava .hile 1ebvil g
was g )od" - ~or dIll1ng th "waVing gestur~s" he bu ell ngdd his sel timent
,a to it being a sal J!trll) n. H WlI'lt out aD<,. mounted his hoI' •
She ~ollow suit and III unt d behind hilll. He I ode ~ast and ~astsr, she
Sha to his waIst t. ~BSter h rode the cloBer she 8IIbrace (
hiB wsiat, d h c uld not push h..r o~~.
At at the d ....c co n lIDd on e c i08 lights t. reco -
nizad th "supp Bed ghol5t.'" ~ ,I' old sw..a art ho in ~ol'm r ,y.AJ a
bad tall n II victim o~ [; ntia. In tho.e .YB ~ac i . t_ ea tor ndli g
such p i ... ts w e poor, 8) in ome W83 lib had escaped thdr vigi nca
and wandered to th altar which W6S t;> have bean the BCM ot the culmi-nation
01' a beaut~ul 11) c.
Despi th }azy condition ~ h I' llIi d, thro' the years, a
bad not"torgott rr, nor case to se th W Irld tbro. glassas rosy hued
ith 11) ceo
I
I
n /
Mara ,e e.
• (
1ng t courae e lit. he lead made him i ..eUgible ,to a swe. "When
The Ro ia C&l e Up YOll ern. In ba..:nevil.l.e, the a8 pa eUc inci-natrat.!
g the tie xi5't1ng bet een d g 118..1.<.1'. A g8"t.18-
who ned a s 11 et og died. All the while t.be r 1n8 ware ill
1h the h t. e little d ,g. 1. in living r m an stAlJed as cl se
6B POBBible t. the corpse. H toll ,wlId the h ars to the cem 1. rye
rward belI g mined at. to he would be tound at the 1'liVe BC at.c ng
an digging all is 111gb 1. in th n wly ma(l.e m und, trying B.J bar
to 91t. h. s Bt ,6Dt. a. ala,) blrru dale to cask t. For
BeY ral ya t. e waa rep. ,t.!ll he haa to be c tina •
Long ter, thinld.b& t.t n he _B r leaacd,
again tound he .e dud on th grave of hia 88m old t d.
Cn t th teat. matlites t.iona ot dev.:lt.! DII a cbg lots
o er w a t. t c. cLg ot mine m;ys It tor th pe. 1. tour ye r. II;y
er v me a large g to prot.ect me. HB waa a hand801ll8 animal
eimilar to the hounus used to ~urd the penlt.,t1rles. Laat year m;y
k calle llle avery y a roJ ct. in Hayneville. Re would tollo. JIllI
a block whe e I had 1. J01n a part,y 0 tor ;sport... me to d t o.
shall call br ,th .....t.t. r 1 u.ng a v roy r ugh, at nncivilized
x.is nce and boaliUng ot .is unb"l1et am i pendence in t.he Lite.
B yond. The Death ~ 1 Vl at ted his holllll nd c ned br. baa•
• ent. <:IV r to pay the 1. at. t.ribut.e and as r, at.ood ga..ing into the tace
long
ot h1e tr1llnd, repnre tor the Jast. eleep, w1th 1. 'BI'S st...II1II108 do n
his cbe ka h a id ~:' or /.b" ell drllslled up f d no where 1. go". II 80-
-
ie Heese.
to.",,,,," C'~u.A-(
, ,
IIy home is in the very heart of' the !:llack t.Il8 negroe s are
plent1:ru1 on the extensive f'arm lends and f'rom getting quite a f'ew expressions
and experiences !'rom them Ybich seem rather amusing to me end some of' these
.L wi.l~ pass on to you.
'1ret .L shall tell you of' an actual incident which oceuretl in -negroCbIla
f'ew years past on one of' the large plsntati ns of' a prominent local planter.
A regro man and wif'e had a big quarrel and the WOmBn -f'aded fran t he picture-,
Her disappearance was so complete that oomitions become suspicious.
:L'hese suspicions increased until the consen!:. of' opinions were that her
husband removed her f'rom the pathway of' lif'e, so.1o.QP would be f'ree to take
unto himself' a new Helpmate. He was at once arrested and mde a -guest of'
LQWndes (;ounty-'., in the .Jail at J1auneville. In due t:lJne he was tried f'or
the murder of' his wif'e.. !Juring this procedure the evidence was overwhelmingly
against him. .Lt was proved the t he severed her head from her body, cut the
body in p1e ces, weighted them and cast them into the Alabama river.
ong list of' witnesses gave testimony to this and the small chiJdren
of' the doo!ll8d man swore af'ter th e most rigid cross examinations to have seen
the gruesome work. Despite the ef'f'orts of' abled legal assistance, he was convic
,~",,, .
ted ~ lift sentence.
At'ter having spent 2 years "building t1me u , one cay, the \\Omn who was
proved to have been murdered was seen walking lei surely up road #80 on Delsny
Hill near !:lenton a snaU village ,.in1the western part of' Lowndes and si tuated
on the Alabama River and through which road nBO allJJ the Westero of'
Alabama railroad passes.
Delany Hill on road nBO is a long cangerous Hill approaching Benton and
is an old landmark: of'the yeateryears. Here !!lAny f'atal motor accidents have
cc cured. Onl,y a f'ew months recent it was the seene of' the accident of' the
young soh of' Howell '1'Urner, Sec. of' State, who died from r ewlts am who had
just won the highest scholarship record for the
his age in the United Statea.
mentelity to
The suppoeed murder, just mentioned was emong the tenants on the old
Gra~es plantation near Gravas Lending on the Alabams River, 1 mile from Manack.
This is on ex-river lendi~g, was prominent in the ~teemboat days of
glory. The landing was the Komestead location of ~he Gov. Grqves ancestors.
The old home has bean burned years sgo end tbe plantstion lends now
owned by the Robinson's - grandsons of ··aj. Wm. Robinson w' 0 bought and moved
the old Dome from the capitol of Cahaba and put it on a local church in the
early 1840' s.
In every negro community, the negro praacher is the most important negro.
He never selects preaching as his career. He first saes the light and hears
the call. Us mus' rus' follow n &e steps uv St. Paul on de rode 'ascus. Ua
mus see and hear. The most popular preacher is the sensational. 01. long
• since, I met a negro trudging along on a dusty plantation road and he was carrying
a briefcasa and large umbrella and by thes', I mede a safe guess and asked
him if he was a preachar. Yas, man, 'tia he repliad and I se gwine to
praach tonight at de mewning star (Lboro Station, 3 miles away).
But he say" Boss de collect'ons em turrible. I don'know hatda matter
wid dese niggers. I can't git nut'in outen em. A smsll boy with several
other "pickeninnys" hed ~oined us and said Rev. Garrett, you ain't neer gwine
git nutin' outen fur po'self til youse gits ter shoutin' ~nd s uslin'. Youse
don't do nuff squalin'. ese niggers lures to, fallout, I heard a heap a
sistern' saz dat 'bout you. "Huh", says the colored Rev. ~istern sez'dat?
Waal you can't git hed ~o wimmen. De Lawd fixe up dat in dat morial garten
whilli ¥lbin Ebe temps de fust msn.
Debbles merster gib de wimmens dog bones, and de men's only git 208.
Eber since dat time wen a tmln mess wid a women, de 'oman thow him ebery time.
With this he looked at the dropping sun and said, "Wall I spec' des 1 1 nig_er
•
-3
am rita. I8se moving on, so de brethern
to ketch and hold de wimmins w'en dey 'aotionel end shout end git ter fellin'
out.
Rev. Dixon another colored preecher told me this amusing story. He wes
wall-to-do. He toiled for himsalf, as well aa for the Lawd therefore trying
to store up treasuras on earth as well as in heaven. He told me how a
brother parson lost out.
Dis de way t ,wa, we bofe had big congr gations, I wua married. My
old 'oman wus a sicknu~s. He had no wife, minas wus might sherpe, but I'se
still sharper she neer gwine ketch up wid me. Weel I wus kinder messing
bout wid some three or four of de sistern in my bongregatton and he was messan
'bout wid da seme number in his'n.
Ona daY I sez, Brer, ith 'spose us git dis 'rangment b'twixt US parsons.
You carrie on wid de istern in my flock pnd I "carrie" on wid des sistern
in yo' floc k, and neder uf us will gi t in no trouble. WAS 1 do you knows dat
ign, ant nigser wouldn't pay my 'vice no min. He kep messin' on wid de wimmen.
Den he goes up to Mongomy and cotes a yaller city gsl dat wear laud close,
roaches her hair and fools de ole nigger into gittin a pere liscences end
dey merry. We'n de pair arrives back here, de sistern thro s him clean out
de church.
A few years ago I attende' the funeral of a colored woman at a local
negro church at "Hope Well" on a large plantat on near Scott Hill on road
#80, 5 miles below Lowndesboro cross roads.
I
Silva, the de" women was in a neat gray casket, the usual type that Y
a~rurnished by the buralal associationa. Her relatives sat in the front
pew and wore deap mourning. Negroes fro~ far and wide througed there end
filled the church to overflowing. a big negro and officer in the
I
-t-
•
"Ledy Knights at Love". The pulpit wes crowded with preachers leymen end ley
sisters. The preecher seid, "Brethern and Sistern we ere gethered here todey
to say oUr las' goodbye to ~ister Silve. ~ good 'omen hes gone back to de
soIl and ebout to turn to de dus' where bhe cum trum.
All de deys '* her lite she wus e good 'oman (voices i'1 the CX) ngre-gation)
Fore Gawd dets de trut). he preieed Jesus wid her las' breet-let -
(amen). She trusted in de Lewd dat wus her maker. She paid her burying
"tews" on de dot. She wus lek de Rose at Sheron end de lily uv de velley.
She w s one uv de mersters chillun and he dun called her home (Lewd have macy)
Silva dun let her busban' behind her en de dhillun. Dey will mise e gond
memay , but bes ye at good cher, she'S gwine to a better len' tlowln' wid milk
and honey. Wher dere ein't no mo' pein nur sorrow nur _It nur worr1mmlt •
• Rite now she is res'in de erms uv Jesus on hes bresh in away de teers (Go on
brother. Amen. Amen. Dets de gospel trut. Laud eppleuse).
The person continues, Fors dat is 'cerned none uv us. case laks to die".
"Fur zemple, once whin I' us a boy, my memmy sez, Ike de person gwine be here
rur dinner dis coming Sundey. You go out dar en peft up det dominecker roester
o
WeAl, I went out det ebening but Sundown end det rooster wes nowheres.
I looked de nex day eni de nex end yit ~o rroster. Den when hit wes too
late er boil him rur ~unday, behole, I aees him up in de chinny berrie tree.
Det aho' ue no boddie went ter die and when h't oum ter me I exe Gewd to
•
spere dis' nigger till Gebel blow his hawn. (amen).
Brethern and Sistern git reedy. ''Whet you gwin' ter tell dat engel,
Whin he cume tur you ter sign dat death war'ant trum de marster? Et you
ein't purpered youse gwlne". (Amen - amen) All at once on usher got ligion
aM. loped up end down the aisle, eoon the excitment spreed like wild tire,
end the oo~gre8ation wes so "worked up" it wes in a pandemonium.
They were shout ng, shrieking, end screaming. 0 Lewd, seve us, seve us.
Let us m~et dis sister on de udder shoo •
The negco underteker is also an important person, es most of the negroea
even of the poorest claa5 foin the burial a550C iation to insure a decent
!put away". A 5to~ is passed around about a colored man by the nome of
..
Mos.. 3e died and the undertaker was employed to pnepare the body for
burial. He cerried the body to his place of business and the family or
Mose bought e fine new su t to bury him in and sent to the undert~ker. Jhe
re~ine was returned to the late home of Mose raady for interment. It was
strongly advised by the undertaker not to open the casket under plea that the
body was in no condition to be seen •
.~en the relatives of the deceased returned from the cemetery, they
beoome suspicious in reg-rd to the new suit and worried th-t maybe Mose would
have to face the lIldy angels without apparel. Final)y they decided to disinter
the body and on doing so, find him as was suspected, clad in his ekin.
Over n~ht they further decided to consult an attorney. While they
were discussing ways and means to do so, the news of their discovery reached
the ears of the undertaker and he also made a second visit to the cemetery
and hoat ly placed the suit at the feet of the corpse.
The next day the relat ves eccused him and thereatened suit. He denied
the accuaations and suggested a disinterment to prove him right.
The group made viSit #3 to the cemiltery and of course the undertaker
was vindicated. t did I tell you niggers, Dar is ~se' suit rite at
his feet an' he wout hat er reach fur to git hit when Gobul blows de hewn•
•http://cdm17217.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/wpa/id/858 |