J C Hutson

Interviewer: Georgia Smith

Interviewee: J C Hutson

Other Persons:

Date of Interview:

Location: Bristow, Creek County Oklahoma

Transcriber: Abby Thompson

Organization: Bristow Historical Society, Inc.

Original Cassette Tape Location: OHP-2021-19 at 00:00 to 40:33

Abstract:

Preface: The following oral history testimony is the result of a cassette tape interview and is part of the Bristow Historical Society, Inc.'s collection of oral histories. The interview was transcribed and processed by the Bristow Historical Society, Inc., with financial assistance from the Montfort Jones & Allie Brown Jones Foundation. Rights to the material are held exclusively by the Bristow Historical Society, Inc.

The reader should bear in mind that he or she is reading a verbatim transcript of spoken, rather than written prose. Insofar as possible, this transcript tries to represent the spoken word. Thus, it should be read as a personal memoir and not as either a researched monograph or edited account.

To the extent possible, the spelling of place names, foreign words, and personal names have been verified, either by reference resources or directly by the interviewee. In some cases, a footnote has been added to the transcript in order to provide more information and/or to clarify a statement. Some uncertainties will inevitably remain regarding some words and their spellings. In these scenarios, a (ph) follows a word or name that is spelled phonetically. The notation [indecipherable] is used when the transcriber has not been able to comprehend the word or phrase being spoken. The notation [inaudible] is used where there is more mumbling than words, or when interference on the tape has made transcription impossible.

GS: This is Georgia Smith with the Bristow Historical Society in Bristow, Oklahoma and this interview is part of the historical societies ongoing oral history project. The date is July 19, 2021 and I am sitting here at the Rainbow Assisted Living Center with J C Hutson who's going to tell me a little bit about his history in the Bristow Area. Now, since J C can't see, I am going to be filling out his paperwork as I answer--ask some of these questions so there may be a little bit of a pause with the questions. Okay, once again J C what was your full name at birth?

JH: Johnny Cleo Hutson (ph)

GS: And where were you born?

JH: I was born in three miles north of Tuskegee, Oklahoma

GS: And what was your father's name?

JH: Wesley Monroe HutsonGS: And your mother's name?

JH: Lily--her married name?

GS: Her maiden name

JH: Lily A Hutson (ph)

GS: What was her maiden name?

JH: Carter

GS: And what was your spouse's name?

JH: Jacqueline June Hutson, Moore was her maiden name

GS: Do you remember how to spell Jacqueline?

JH: J. A. C. Q. U. E. L. I. N. E.

GS: Moore?

JH: Yes

GS: Okay. Do you remember when you got married?

JH: No I really don't

GS: That's okay, I've noticed most men don't. Okay, do you remember where you got married?

JH: Yes, out in Bristow

GS: Okay

JH: At her mother and dads home.

GS: Did you have any children

JH: Yes, we have one child

GS: And what is her name?

JH: Candace Lou Hutson (ph)

GS: And what education level did you achieve?

JH: One year of college

GS: And what about occupations? What have you done in your life work wise?

JH: The most lucrative, the best employment I ever did was with the tire shop, 00:03:00Bristow Tire Service.

GS: And you were the owner of that, weren't you?

JH: Yes, right.

GS: What years did you do that J C?

JH: Oh my gosh, I can't remember but it was probably about 20 to 25 years

GS: You were there a long time, my parents went to you then I did when I got grown, so you were there a long time. You were born by Tuskegee, when did your parents move to Bristow? Or when did you move to Bristow?

JH: Well we didn't move to Bristow, we moved five miles north east of Bristow.

GS: Okay

JH: And my dad was working for Central Oil and Gas Company

GS: Ah that's wonderful, my father worked for them also

JH: I think [Indecipherable]

GS: Yeah, yeah. And do you remember about what year you moved north of Bristow? Were you pretty small?

JH: Oh yes, I was small child.

GS: Okay, and your mother, was she a stay at home mom?

JH: Yes

GS: Okay. Tell me a little bit about your life as a child growing up

JH: Oh gosh, well we were living in the country and of course we didn't have running water, we didn't have electricity, we did have natural gas, we had gas lights and gas stove for heating and I went to school at Mountain Home, which was just across the street, across the road actually from us.

GS: So it was five miles north of Bristow?

JH: Yes

GS: Okay, Mountain Home school district

JH: There were several little--every little school district had a couple of schools

GS: Okay

JH: And that's where I went to school until I was in the junior high in Bristow, 00:05:00then my dad and mother, and of course we had--also some people who lived in the area that were working for Central. There was three houses in the area we lived and we--our families would take turns hauling us to school in Bristow.

GS: All right, you did some carpooling back then

JH: Uh-huh

GS: So you went--you started going to Bristow in Junior High, right?

JH: Yes

GS: In--growing up--

JH: Probably not until--not until I was in high school

GS: Oh, in high school, okay. At home, did you have chores that you had to do?

JH: At home? Yes. Yeah we always had chickens and cows and of course we had to--we'd clean up, keep the yard clean

GS: Sure

JH: And there was just lots of new projects, you know, when you live in the country [Indecipherable]. Of course she always had a big garden, which I hated 00:06:00to work in it but I loved to--

GS: Eat the fresh veggies?

JH: Yes, we lived right across the street, it's not the street, the road from mountain road school

GS: Okay, were you the only child?

JH: Oh no

GS: How many children did--

JH: Four and four

GS: Four and--

JH: Eight children

GS: Oh my goodness

JH: Four boys and four girls

GS: Are any of them living today?

JH: No

GS: Aw, did you have to share your beds with your siblings?

JH: Yes, always yes.

GS: What kind of toys did you have as a child?

JH: What?

GS: What games or toys did you have as a child?

JH: Oh my gosh, we played with rubber guns and [Indecipherable] flips and we dug caves and we built tree houses and of course we played cowboy and Indian and we 00:07:00had a beautiful big croquet court

GS: Yes

JH: We seemed to always have a lot of fun

GS: I'm sure you did, sounds like my husband's upbringing.

JH: Yeah

GS: Now your mom, it sounds like your house was pretty self-sufficient. You grew your vegetables, you grew your own meat, did she come into town to shop at any of the local grocery stores?

JH: I'm not sure, usually over the weekend on Saturday

GS: Okay okay, and what--do you remember what markets were open then?

JH: [Indecipherable]

GS: What ones she traded with?

JH: There was a store named Barrel, Barrel Grocery (ph), and I think Bishops 00:08:00might've sold stuff, them too.

GS: Okay

JH: And of course Safeway was here and there were several--we had a beautiful town, we had several grocery stores.

GS: We did have a nice town back then. Since you grew some vegetables and meat, did your mom can the vegetables?

JH: She always, all the vegetables in the garden, she usually canned several of them

GS: Did you get in on helping with that?

JH: Oh yeah, we always had to get in on all the peeling and corn and all the stuff that you knew you had to do when you're canning

GS: Did she make any jelly?

JH: Oh yes, yes.

GS: Did she grow the--

JH: We didn't grow any grapes or any kind of fruit, we always had to buy that

GS: Okay, what about blackberries? Did you go out and pick the wild blackberries?

JH: Yes, we did

GS: Did your family employ any household help? With all those kids probably not.

JH: No

GS: What kind of clothes did you wear as a child?

JH: What kind of clothes?

GS: Uh-huh

JH: I can give you a picture of it right here

GS: Oh alright! I'm going to pause for just a minute

JH: That's striped

GS: Yes

JH: Stripe and overalls

GS: I love it, I love it. Before I leave, can I take a screenshot of that with my phone?

JH: Sure, yes uh-huh

GS: Oh thank you so much J C, we'll lay it right here and don't let me forget that. Do you remember your grandparents?

JH: Yes, my grandparents?

GS: Yes

JH: Yes, they were, their name was Carter, W. H. Carter, he was a Freewill Baptist preacher

GS: Oh, how wonderful! I did not know that

JH: What?

GS: Was that your dads--no that would've been your moms

JH: My mothers, my mothers

GS: Okay, any other older people that you remember besides your grandparents Carters?

JH: You mean in the family?

GS: Uh-huh

JH: No, not really

GS: Okay, did you ever see your Hutson grandparents? Did you ever see your Hutson grandparents?

JH: Yes, my--not my grandmother, she passed away before I came along. But yeah he came to visit us, his name was Jim

GS: Okay

JH: And he lived out in Lawton, Oklahoma, he came once a year to visit us

GS: That's a ways, especially back then

JH: Yes

GS: Travel took a lot longer, didn't it?

JH: Yeah

GS: How did they travel to come and see you?

JH: Well usually he--he usually took the bus

GS: Okay, and we had bus service here then, didn't we?

JH: Yes. Uh-huh

GS: Grey Hound Bus service

JH: Uh-huh

GS: Do you remember going to pick him up from the bus station?

JH: Yes, I probably was out playing somewhere and someone else would drive in 00:11:00and pick him up

GS: Sure, yeah.

JH: In a Model-A Ford

GS: Oh how wonderful, how--a model-a Ford. I didn't ask you about your first teacher, do you remember your first teacher? It's okay if you don't

JH: No, I--my mom, I was thinking maybe it was [Indecipherable] was her name, well I'm not sure

GS: Okay, what about high school? Were you active in any activities when you were in high school?

JH: Yes, I played basketball and I was in the junior play

GS: Oh, do you remember the play?

JH: Something in King Arthurs Court

GS: Oh how fun

JH: You know about that?

GS: Yes, yes

JH: Okay, and Ms. Borris (ph) was the director of it

GS: Oh okay, and I guess she was the speech or drama teacher?

JH: Yes

GS: Any--were you in any sports?

JH: Yeah basketball

GS: Basketball. Did they have women's basketball also back then in Bristow?

JH: No I don't think so; I don't think so.

GS: Don't think so. Did you pack your food? Did you have a sack lunch that you took to school every day? A sack lunch?

JH: No, we usually had just the cafeteria

GS: Okay, was the food--

JH: Or downtown bought a meal

GS: How was the food in the cafeteria?

JH: Pretty good

GS: Pretty good food, of course back then they made it all by hand, didn't they?

JH: Yes

GS: When you were growing up at home, did you attend church with your family?

JH: Yes

GS: Where was that?

JH: Cleveland First Freewill Baptist Church, my granddad was the preacher. Not 00:13:00the preacher but then, but he was a preacher in the denomination [Indecipherable]

GS: Had he retired or was he in a different church? Had he retired or was he in a different church?

JH: He was in a different church

GS: Okay. You--do you remember any of the songs that they sang?

JH: Oh my gosh, I do but I'm [Indecipherable]

GS: That's okay, that's okay. Did they do special things for Christmas or holidays?

JH: Yes, usually yes

GS: What did they do?

JH: You mean the church?

GS: Uh-huh

JH: They usually had a little skit, you know, the manger and all this stuff and then we sang Christmas songs.

GS: Did--

JH: [Indecipherable]

GS: Did the children do that or adults?

JH: Both

GS: Both?

JH: MhmGS: Very good. Did you or your mother or your dad sing in the choir?

JH: No, but I did

GS: Okay

JH: And two of my sisters did and a brother did.

GS: Did you keep singing as you grew older, did you keep singing?

JH: Did I teach it?

GS: Did you keep on singing?

JH: Yes, I really did

GS: Well good, good. We need more singers.

JH: I was in the choir at First Baptist church

GS: Okay, for a long time?

JH: Yes, it's been a long time.

GS: When did you start going to First Baptist?

JH: I guess probably when I married, started going with Jaqueline.

GS: Is that where she went?

JH: Yes

GS: Okay we're gonna switch gears and go with what was medical care like when 00:15:00you were a child? Did you ever have to go to the doctor?

JH: Not very often, no. Unless you had a bad case of poison ivy or something like this that's, you know, the only way that you ever went to the doctor.

GS: Do you remember your family doctor?

JH: Doctor Sisler (ph)

GS: Dr. Sisler from Sisler Clinic. Did your mother give birth at home to all of you?

JH: Yes

GS: And did Doctor Sisler or one of the doctors--no, one of the--a doctor came out

JH: [Indecipherable]

GS: Okay

JH: And that's something all four--all eight of us

GS: All eight delivered at home, that's marvelous. She didn't have any still births that you know of or miscarriages? What are your recollections of Bristow when you were young? Your earliest recollections of Bristow?

JH: Oh gosh, it was all--we had so many nice stores, you could buy about 00:16:00anything you wanted to buy in Bristow and usually on Sunday evening, everybody had their bath and we went to town and we had lots of the oil field people

GS: Yes

JH: I mean a lot of them

GS: Yes

JH: And they would kind of gang up on the street and talk and you just tell one lie, but they--everybody was so friendly and they were--we were happy to see each other and it was just a gathering place of, oh I don't know what the word I want to use, but it was happy occasions that everybody--the streets would be full of people and full of cars and all the stores will be open and doing business and it was just a wonderful time

GS: It sounds like it, sounds like something we need now

JH: And you looked forward to meeting some new friends

GS: Sure, it was a big social event wasn't it?

JH: Yes, it sure was

GS: Did they ever have entertainment during these times?

JH: You mean a street entertainer or something?

GS: MhmJH: No, not that I remember

GS: Just everybody just visited and told stories

JH: Yes, uh-huh

GS: Okay, that sounds really nice. What did you want to be when you grew up when you were a child?

JH: You know [Indecipherable]

GS: Oh, that's okay. And your first job, what was your first good paying job?

JH: I guess working at a grocery store

GS: Okay. Do you remember the name of that store?

JH: I think it was the Warehouse Market

GS: Oh okay

JH: We had a Warehouse Market here

GS: How old were you?

JH: Oh I was probably 18, 17 or 18

GS: Still in high school?

JH: What?

GS: Were you still in high school

JH: Yes, uh-huh. And also I worked JC Penny (ph)

GS: Okay, we had one of those back then too

JH: Yeah we had Anthonys, we had Pennys, we had Safeway, we's just--all the good stores we had here.

GS: Now I know you were pretty young during the depression, what are your memories of the depression?

JH: I really don't have any

GS: Don't have any, it didn't affect your family much did it?

JH: No, not at all.

GS: With being self-sufficient on the farm

JH: All we did, people worried all the time you know, about their family and about their job

GS: Sure

JH: Excuse me, what did you ask?

GS: No that's fine, yeah that's good. Did you serve in the military in WWII?

JH: Yes

GS: What branch?

JH: I was in the air force

GS: In the air force. What were your duties there?

JH: I was a tail gunner on a B-17 flying fortress

GS: Oh my goodness, did you have some pretty scary moments--

JH: Yes

GS: --During that time?

JH: We did have; I only flew six missions. We went to, we would always get up real early, probably about 3 o'clock in the morning and we would go to the sergeant cafeteria but they called it the mess hall

GS: Yes

JH: And before I even got into the mess hall, I started having pains in my stomach. And anyway, as I sat there before everything started, I started vomiting

GS: Oh myJH: And I went to the, what do you call it? Doctor, same as doctors. You remember what they called the doctors in the--

GS: In the service? I don't

JH: Infirmary probably

GS: Oh yes

JH: Anyway they took me down there and said that I had appendicitis

GS: Oh myJH: But I didn't--wasn't operated on at that time. Anyway, they got another young man from the area and he flew in my place and that plane was shot down that day

GS: Oh my, J C

JH: Yeah, the only people who got out was the pilot and co-pilot and the side gunner and I have been--felt kind of guilt, they called in for a replacement for me, but I have felt guilty ever since then that I didn't--I wasn't doing really what I needed to do, but I couldn't help it. I felt like--

GS: Like it should've been you up there

JH: Yes

GS: Did your replacement, did he pass away?

JH: What?

GS: Did your replacement live?

JH: He got killed

GS: He got killed

JH: MhmGS: Yeah but--

JH: Everybody was killed except the pilot, co-pilot, and the side gunner

GS: Well, God knew that you were needed for--

JH: They were shot down, what?

GS: God knew you were needed for something later on

JH: Well evidently I don't know what it would be

GS: Isn't it odd how appendicitis could save you

JH: Yes

GS: But it did

JH: I'm sure it was for some reason

GS: I'm sure it was. Did you see--after, I'm sorry I apologize. After that, did you see any active combat up there?

JH: No, nothing, the war was over in just about a week or two

GS: Oh that's wonderful, that's good. And where did you meet Jackie?

JH: Well of course I've known her all--I met her in high school

GS: Okay, so you met in high school and did you date in high school?

JH: No

GS: No, waited until after you got out?

JH: What?

GS: What brought you together?

JH: I don't know, we--she went to the Baptist church and I did too and of course we were in the same classes in school in high school and, I don't know we just had--we were in the same circles, we had the same friends and it's, you know, it just grew better and better all the time

GS: Sure, sure. Tell me about traveling back then. Travel, after you were a young man did you have a vehicle or did you take buses, trains?

JH: No we took short trips in [Indecipherable] or a car, but we had several nice trips. We went to--we had, go on two or three cruises, we went to San Francisco 00:23:00and all the California areas. Drove down [Indecipherable] and drove down highway [Indecipherable] to the Hurst, went through the Hurst mansion. And the funny thing happened, we went into the, what's the capital of California?

GS: Is it Sacramento?

JH: Sacramento, and we was just, it was almost time to eat so we went into a place not too far from the capital and as you were sitting there eating, and we were looking out the window and I said "Jackie, there is J.D. Dobson", he graduated with us in high school

GS: Oh my word, what a coincidence

JH: And Jackie said "No that's not J" I said "Yeah hunny, it's J.D." so I went 00:24:00to the front of the door that they were entering and walked in behind him and said "J.D.", he turned around and quickly recognized me. And Jackie, he was real sweet on Jackie in high school

GS: Oh myJH: But we had a very interesting talk and then we also, we took two or three cruises and we were on, we were in New York Harbor, [Indecipherable] ready to sail after midnight on 9/11

GS: Oh my word

JH: So we went ahead and took our little cruise and I guess it was about three 00:25:00days later, it was about time to come home, and we couldn't get a plane, just about everything was grounded

GS: Yes

JH: But we did finally get a plane into [Indecipherable] Georgia and then flew back home from there

GS: Wow

JH: But that was a wonderful trip, but we had a lot of, like--we took two or three cruises and we went up to--after that, we went to, back to New York and then we got a car and drove way up into Maine and then back down then we, they called us [Indecipherable] and they called the little people that came in, they called them leaf peepers. You know, the pretty leaves?

GS: Yes

JH: And we drove from Maine all the way back down to [Indecipherable]. Anyway, as we were driving along one evening about supper time, there was a big sign on 00:26:00the church that said "leaf peepers welcome, dinner tonight at so-and-so"

GS: Wow

JH: I said "Jackie, you wanna try that" she said "sure" so we went and had dinner with them

GS: Well how nice is that

JH: And they were very nice, we really enjoyed it. But we had a lot of nice trips like that, and of course we went to the cruise, went to England, Ireland, Scotland, so we had a really nice life, Jackie and I did.

GS: That's wonderful

JH: Even though we were kind of poor

GS: I don't think you were kind of poor

JH: But anyway, we both were working and we had fun

GS: When did you lose Jackie? When did Jackie pass away?

JH: 8 years ago, I believe it is

GS: 8 years ago

JH: Yes, I can't remember the date

GS: I'm sorry

JH: [Indecipherable] I'm getting to where I can't remember anything

GS: Well dates are hard for everyone to remember, dates always have been. Tell 00:27:00me a little bit about your Bristow Tire business.

JH: I was selling bread for Bottom Bread company at that time for quite a while, and my father-in-law was getting old, he owned Bristow Tire

GS: Oh, your father-in-law owned it!

JH: Yes

GS: And his last name was Carter, right?

JH: No his last name was Moore

GS: No Moore, Moore. What was his first name?

JH: P. M. we called him

GS: P. M. Moore owned Bristow tire before you did

JH: Yeah

GS: Okay

JH: And he was getting old and wasn't able to just do things, you know, like he should so he and his wife came to me and asked me if I'd like to, you know, be in the tire business and I said sure. So I went to work for him, and worked for 00:28:00quite some time

GS: Sure

JH: And then he decided to sell it to me, so he did, I don't know what year it was but I was down there for thirty years

GS: Oh my goodness

JH: But anyway, I took over the tire business

GS: Was it the 50's? Was it in the 50's? Was it in the 1950's do you think?

JH: It could be, yes

GS: Okay

JH: I don't really remember. But anyway the Lord has been good to me, has blessed us with a real nice business, I couldn't have asked for anything any better, and of course I got to work right here at home, and my customers were, you know, I don't know the word I want to use but they were always happy that they could do business with someone that was honest.

GS: Yes, I think that's why my parents did business with you.

JH: Right, but anyway as I said the Lord was good to us, he gave us enough money 00:29:00to get a new home and take care of our child that went to college, so everything--I've had a pretty good life [Indecipherable]

GS: Where did Candy go to college?

JH: She went down to OBU for a while, and then to Edmond

GS: And where does she live now?

JH: She lives in Tulsa

GS: In Tulsa, for some reason I thought she lived in New York

JH: No, uh-uh

GS: Okay, well I sure didn't know that. Let's see here, what memories do you have of Bristow when you had the tire shop? You know, like maybe businesses you did business with or events that they had, like Western Heritage Days, they had the Western Heritage Days.

JH: Yeah, my father-in-law had horses and I decided that I'd like to be a 00:30:00cowboy, so I started riding one of his horses and he said Well [Indecipherable] guy try to teach you, you know, to be a [Indecipherable]. I tried that for a while, but you don't just decide [Indecipherable]

GS: Yes

JH: And I kind of hurt my back one evening riding the horse, and Jackie said "I think that's the end of your cowboying". And of course Candy was little.

GS: Uh-huh

JH: But anyway, we had lots of fun

GS: Good, did you belong to any organizations in Bristow?

JH: Yeah, I belonged to the Rotary Club and of course was a member of First 00:31:00Baptist church

GS: Right, were there any project you were active--were there any projects that you were active in in those two organizations?

JH: Yes, Rotary Club usually had some kind of fundraisers or I was cleaning up the city or doing something like this about all the time. Of course it depended on what kind of a President we had, whether he wanted to do projects or not.

GS: Right, right. What kind of tires did you sell at Bristow Tire?

JH: Goodyear was my main tire and I used some, I bought some cheaper tires--

GS: For people to afford, yeah

JH: What Hun?

GS: If they couldn't afford the Goodyear tires?

JH: Yes, right

GS: Yes. Did you have good business dealings with your--did you have good business with your suppliers?

JH: Oh yes, you bet

GS: Good, good, good. Any big thoughts stand out while you had Bristow Tire? Anything stand out while you owned that? I take--

JH: Well I have one, there was a lady that came in one day and she said, and I thought it was pretty nice, she said "You're a Christian, aren't you?" I said "Yes ma'am, I am". I said "How'd you know?", she said "Because you always have a smile on your face"

GS: Aw how wonderful

JH: And that meant a lot to me

GS: Well you better believe it, that was a good witness too

JH: Yeah

GS: That's wonderful, do you--

JH: Of course we had lots of people who weren't smiling also

GS: Yes, there always are

JH: Yeah

GS: When did you sell your Bristow Tire?

JH: Oh my gosh, let's see. I'd guess it's been probably 15 years ago or so

GS: And you sold to Jack Smith?

JH: Jack Smith, uh-huh

GS: Okay. And now his son is running it, Elliot Smith

JH: Yes

GS: Yes, any other memories of main street?

JH: No, just the memories of back in the 30's and 40's when all the oil fields here

GS: Did you ever see Bob Wills when he came through town?

JH: Oh yeah, uh-huh

GS: At the J&J Café?

JH: No, it was in--Bob Wills was at Hamburger King

GS: I meant Hamburger King, I said J&J but I knew it was Hamburger King

JH: Well he--he was a Hamburger King man

GS: That's right

JH: No I never did go to any of the performances

GS: But you got to see him here in town

JH: Yes, mhm: How did you get information about the war when you were in the 40's?

JH: How did I get information?

GS: Uh-huh, like over the radio, television?

JH: [Indecipherable] well all we got was--on the radio, of course until we went into the army, and we got very little even when we were in the army just on what we were doing and maybe what we were gonna do.

GS: Yes, they wouldn't give you any more information, would they?

JH: No, no. Not lots of information

GS: What would you consider to be the most important change that has happened in your lifetime?

JH: A what?

GS: An invention or maybe an invention--an important invention?

JH: No I can't remember one, there were so many little--you know, when you were raised, when you're a little country boy, everything is new and kind of nice kind of to you

GS: True

JH: So everything was very interesting then.

GS: Yes, it was

JH: Lots of changes taking place

GS: There were, how is the world different today than it was back then?

JH: One thing I think we were much friendlier back then, and of course the--we get so much information now so easily and they didn't back then

GS: Right

JH: We had to depend on the radio or the newspaper, sometimes that was a little bit late coming out

GS: Right, what newspaper did you read?

JH: Tulsa World, and the Bristow News--Bristow Record

GS: Bristow Record, yes. Have you been affected any by the pandemic that we're going through? The COVID pandemic?

JH: Not really

GS: That's good, that's good. Did you get lonesome here when it was in lockdown?

JH: Oh yes, sure

GS: Is there anything I haven't thought to ask you J C that you would like to tell me?

JH: No, I can't think of anything, I just--I've had a [Indecipherable]. There is one thing back when I was a kid, we lived out in the country, we didn't have electricity, and it--my mother did have a washing machine, it was gasoline 00:37:00operated. And one--on wash day one day, she did the washer, and of course we didn't have a dryer, and we had everything on the clothes line.

GS: Uh-huh

JH: Usually all of our clothes had to be washed. But anyway we hung them all on the clothes line, and it came time to get them in, we thought we went out and checked them and my mother said that they're still a little damp, let's just leave them out tonight and we'll bring them in tomorrow. Well the next morning we woke up, we didn't have any clothes or clothes pin, we had nothing. Someone had stolen all of our clothes

GS: Oh my goodness, the [Indecipherable]

JH: And another time, just listen to this. Another time we went out and we always had a few chickens so we had eggs. And we'd went out to turn the chickens 00:38:00out the next morning, there wasn't any chickens [Indecipherable]

GS: Oh myJH: And I'm not through yet. We all--we had a garage, and the car was in it, and we always had a pretty nice car. But anyway, dad opened the garage door and the car was sitting on blocks. Somebody had stolen all the tires and wheels.

GS: Wow

JH: And we thought we were in a nice neighborhood

GS: Was that in the 30's?

JH: Yes

GS: Yeah, during the depression time

JJ: And we were sure disappointed, you know, when your--you say that you might be poor folks. My dad had a job but they didn't pay a lot back then. But anyway we lived through all of it.

GS: I think you were one of the fortunate ones, you didn't have to get up and move

JH: That's right

GS: You always had food on the table

JH: Right

GS: So I think your family was rich

JH: We surely were

GS: And you had each other

JH: Uh-huh

GS: And did all of your siblings grow into adulthood?

JH: Yes

GS: That's wonderful, it is wonderful

JH: They're all gone now, but they were adults.

GS: One thing I forgot to ask you, when you first took over Bristow tire, was it in the same location that it is now?

JH: Yes, right.

GS: Do you remember that address? It's on West 4th, I know.

JH: Yes

GS: Probably the 100 block of West 4th

JH: It's one something, I can't remember exactly

GS: Yeah, okay but it was in the same location?

JH: Yes, uh-huh

GS: Was it ever in a different location?

JH: Yes, my father-in-law had it--it was up on main at, let's see what's that on that corner? Where Bolin Ford is?

GS: Okay, so maybe 11th street?

JH: [Indecipherable], that's where he had his tire shop

GS: Okay

JH: It's a very small place

GS: Did he move it; I guess he moved it to 4th street before you took it over

JH: Yes, yeah.

GS: Okay, alright. J C, I just appreciate you so much for letting me interview you

JH: Thank you

GS: And next time you see Candy, tell her I said hi.

JH: Thank you for coming by

GS: I really, really appreciate it and we really appreciate it at the museum

JH: Yeah, I've had a long life, I've had a good life, and I praise God for it.

GS: Amen