"I keep working until I got a room where I could see both ways... so I could see clear across the water."

ARE YOU ORIGINALLY FROM AROUND HERE?

No, I’m from Virginia, the hills of Virginia, way up in the hills. So far up, you couldn’t get no further. I came from the top of the mountain, down. My people lived there. We were raised there, all of our lives. And I was the first one ever to leave and come out. They thought I was crazy...

WHAT PROMPTED YOU TO LEAVE?

I just wanted to see that part of the world I read about in the paper. And I didn’t see why not. It was calm and people didn’t bother each other much.

DID YOU COME BY YOURSELF

Yes, and you know, back then, you weren't supposed to marry somebody out of another group. But me, I always say, go with who you love, not with what they tell ya.

DID YOU KNOW ANYBODY down here then?

Nope, didn’t know anybody. Somewhere around here was an old home, and this woman, she rented rooms. She gave me a room and I could see westward but not the other. I keep working until I got a room where I could see both ways... so I could see clear across the water.

WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST JOB?

Let me see what was it? I worked in a soda shop, I guess you would call it, making sandwiches, and making soup every morning. Being on a stove for the first time we made a big pot of soup.

WHAT HAVE YOU SEEN CHANGE OVER THE YEARS ?

The people. It used to be real calm people, everybody loved each other. Now they don’t give a damn whether you go or come.

People just don’t respect each other, or look at you, or even speak half the time. You know that. I don’t have to tell ya...