November 2007 Interview with Madison McClung Sterrett, Jr. By Isabelle Chewning and Aggie Sterrett [Items enclosed in brackets [ ] are editorial notes inserted for clarification.] [Tape 2] November 2007 Interview with Madison McClung Sterrett, Jr. By Richard G. Anderson [Items enclosed in brackets [ ] are editorial notes inserted for clarification] Richard Anderson: Today’s date is November 21st, 2007 and the time is approximately 2.30pm. This interview is being conducted 2671 Brownsburg Turnpike in Brownsburg, Virginia and my name is Richard G. Anderson. The interviewee is M.M. Sterrett Jr. and we will begin the questions at this point. Mr. Sterrett do you want to state your full name? Mc Sterrett: Mc Sterrett, Madison McClung Sterrett, Jr. Richard Anderson: Where do you live? Mc Sterrett: We live 2244 Sterrett Road, about a mile out of Brownsburg. Richard Anderson: Is that east of Brownsburg? Mc Sterrett: Yes. Richard Anderson: Were you born in Brownsburg? Mc Sterrett: No, I was born in Stonewall Jackson Hospital in Lexington, in Rockbridge County. Richard Anderson: What was the date of your birth? Mc Sterrett: 11/10/25. Richard Anderson: 1925? Mc Sterrett: Yes. Richard Anderson: And your age now would be? Mc Sterrett: 82. Richard Anderson: 82, but you’ve lived all your life all 82 years in the Brownsburg area? Mc Sterrett: Most of it yes, all except about one year. Richard Anderson: One year? Mc Sterrett: That was a little bit north of Lexington on [Route] 39. Richard Anderson: When was that, approximately? Mc Sterrett: That was the first year of my life. Richard Anderson: What were your parents’ names? Mc Sterrett: Well his [my father’s] full name was Madison McClung Sterrett and my mother’s name was Edna Morton Sterrett. Richard Anderson: Are there other family members, were there other children? Mc Sterrett: Yes, I have one sister, Mary Thompson Sterrett [Lipscomb]. Richard Anderson: Is she younger than you or older? Mc Sterrett: Older. Richard Anderson: So how long have you lived, or did you live, in the house in which Isabelle Chewning and Barry Chewning now live [Mulberry Grove, 2249 Sterrett Road]? Mc Sterrett: I lived there until I was married, approximately 26 years. Richard Anderson: After you were married then you moved across the road [to 2244 Sterrett Road]? Mc Sterrett: Yes. Richard Anderson: When were you married? Mc Sterrett: The first time was the 28th of April, 1948; the second time was 26th June, 1995. Richard Anderson: What was the name of your first wife? Mc Sterrett: Anna [Annamarye] Lackey Sterrett. Richard Anderson: And where did she grow up? Mc Sterrett: She grew up in Timber Ridge. Richard Anderson: She passed away, correct? Mc Sterrett: Yes. Richard Anderson: Your children from that marriage are whom? Mc Sterrett: Isabelle Morton [Sterrett] Chewning and Agnes McClung Sterrett. Richard Anderson: What is your first memory of living in Brownsburg? Mc Sterrett: Well, I really don’t remember because I was just a year old, a little over a year old when we moved here. I can’t think of what my first memory was. Richard Anderson: Prior to moving here when you were one year old, you lived on Route 39? Mc Sterrett: Well not right on it but off it [Alms Croft Lane near Lazy Acres Lane]. Richard Anderson: Was that a farm also? Mc Sterrett: Yes. Richard Anderson: How long had your parents been living there? Mc Sterrett: I think since they had been married, which was in 1919, I guess. Richard Anderson: So they moved over here because it was a bigger farm or better farm? Mc Sterrett: Well, he bought the farm here and they moved here consequently. Richard Anderson: Who were some of your early neighbors? Mc Sterrett: Well, Mrs. Dice, who lived right above us [2081 Sterrett Road]. Richard Anderson: Spell that name. Mc Sterrett: D I C E. She was -- at the time that we moved here, I assume she was a widow at that time. Her husband had died several years before and she had one daughter. Mr. and Mrs. Dunaway lived right down below our house toward Brownsburg (2297 Sterrett Road), and their property had come off of the farm. Richard Anderson: Did you start attending school in Brownsburg when you went to school? Mc Sterrett: Yeah. Richard Anderson: And that’s the school right here in Brownsburg? Mc Sterrett: Yeah. Richard Anderson: So did you go all the way from-- was that still a high school at that time? Mc Sterrett: Yes. Richard Anderson: And so all 12 grades were there? Mc Sterrett: 11 grades; we didn’t have the 8th grade. Richard Anderson: Didn’t have an 8th grade? Mc Sterrett: No, I assume because of the Depression. Richard Anderson: So you attended all 11 grades at that school? Mc Sterrett: Yes. Richard Anderson: Do you recall the names of any of your teachers? Mc Sterrett: Well, Miss Isabel Leech was our first grade teacher. The first grade -- I’ve forgotten which way it was, but we went half a day either in the morning or afternoon, then the second grade the same way and she taught both grades. Richard Anderson: So you just went a half a day for the first grade? Mc Sterrett: Yes. Richard Anderson: How many students were in a class, typical? Mc Sterrett: I think it was something like 21 or 22, I expect. Richard Anderson: Were most of those students from the Brownsburg area or elsewhere? Mc Sterrett: Elsewhere. Richard Anderson: Came from all over. Mc Sterrett: Yes. And then in later years a whole lot of our class was one room schools that had closed, or they had finished all the grades that they had in those schools. Richard Anderson: And then transferred to -- Mc Sterrett: Transferred to Brownsburg. Richard Anderson: Any other teachers that you remember? Mc Sterrett: I don’t remember my 2nd grade teacher or 3rd grade teacher but the 4th grade teacher was a Miss Snider, 5th grade teacher was Miss Wade. Richard Anderson: Which Miss Wade would that have been? Mc Sterrett: Nobody from around here, she was from Staunton I think. The 6th grade teacher was Miss Amole, and 7th grade teacher was Miss Montgomery and by that time we had moved into the present, or to the new building. I started in the old academy building. Richard Anderson: And the new building was that built in your memory? Mc Sterrett: Yes. Richard Anderson: When was that built approximately? Mc Sterrett: 1938. Richard Anderson: And so the older students went into the newer building? Mc Sterrett: Yes, and the old academy building was taken down at that time. Richard Anderson: Did you attend the academy? Did you attend classes in the academy building? Mc Sterrett: Oh yes. Richard Anderson: What was that like, what’s your recollection of that building? Mc Sterrett: Well you went in the front door, and straight up a pair of steps into the auditorium which was upstairs. I went to the 4th grade in the room right to the right, in the first grade and second grade into the room that was sort of on the backside of the building, and I think some of the high school used the other. Richard Anderson: How did you get to school, did you walk, take a bus? Mc Sterrett: Well the first 2 years I would walk one way either in the morning or afternoon, either I’d walk home, and then after that I rode the bus. Richard Anderson: So there were buses? Mc Sterrett: Yes. Richard Anderson: By the time you got up into the later grades? Mc Sterrett: Yes. Richard Anderson: Did you walk by yourself or did you walk with others? Mc Sterrett: I think I walked by myself. Richard Anderson: Did your sister go? Mc Sterrett: Yeah, I think she went to the same teacher [who] was there at both grades. Richard Anderson: So how many years was she behind you? Mc Sterrett: She was in front of me about two years. Richard Anderson: So she was two years ahead of you? Mc Sterrett: Yes. Richard Anderson: Do you remember anything special, any special experiences that you had up there at school, anything that you remember? Mc Sterrett: Well I remember in the boys’ bathroom or toilet was up back of the building, you had to go up right much of a hill, and if it rained a little bit it was so slick you couldn’t hardly get up there. Richard Anderson: So it was tough getting to the bathroom? Mc Sterrett: Yes. Richard Anderson: Did you have meals up there? Mc Sterrett: No, I think along about the 5th or 6th grade they put in what they called a soup kitchen and a lady in Brownsburg ran the soup kitchen and you were charged five cents for a bowl of soup, I think. Richard Anderson: Did you take advantage of that? Mc Sterrett: I don’t remember taking advantage of it very often, but I do remember being in there. Richard Anderson: So otherwise you’d bring your own lunch? Mc Sterrett: Yes. Richard Anderson: Did they have athletic events up there? Mc Sterrett: They had athletic events up until the war started, until World War II. And at that time we had two, I think, men teachers and each of them left, went in the service probably, and after that we did not have athletic events. Richard Anderson: So you attended the school from let’s say what year did you start, would you have started? Mc Sterrett: Oh ’32 until ’43 I think, I know I finished in ’43. Richard Anderson: And this was in the years of the Depression, do you have any recollection of how that affected the area? Mc Sterrett: No, very little except that you paid five dollars for 5 gallons of gas – no, I mean one dollar for 5 gallons of gas and things of that nature. But the effects on the farmer’s children did not register too much. I’m sure the farmers had a very big problem in paying for anything, but it was -- that time of the Depression didn’t really register with the children, I don’t think. Richard Anderson: Was this the period of time or during that period of time that your dad worked for the Civilian Conservation Corps? Mc Sterrett: Yes. Richard Anderson: What years were those? Mc Sterrett: I think he started in ’32 or 3 [1932 or 1933] and ended up about the time of ’41 or something like that when the war started. Richard Anderson: Was he away a lot of that time? Mc Sterrett: Yes he was. Richard Anderson: So who did the farming, who took care of the farm? Mc Sterrett: We had a black man by the name of William Haliburton, and everybody called him Dude. There was another family of Stricklers who lived on the farm. Richard Anderson: Strickler? Mc Sterrett: Yes. Richard Anderson: Were these all black folks? Mc Sterrett: No, the Stricklers were white. Richard Anderson: Were there other people on the farm at that time? Mc Sterrett: No. Richard Anderson: What kind of farming was going on? Mc Sterrett: Well it was general farming. We had sheep, hogs, chickens, some cows and horses. We farmed with horses. Richard Anderson: Did you sell the milk from the cows at that point? Mc Sterrett: We had a separator and sold cream somewhere along there but I don’t think -- Richard Anderson: It wasn’t a full scale dairy? Mc Sterrett: No it wasn’t. Richard Anderson: Did you help out on the farm while you were going to school? Mc Sterrett: Oh yeah, I was in the way a lot, I’m sure! But I called myself helping. [laugh] Richard Anderson: When did mechanization first come to the farm? Mc Sterrett: Oh we had a tractor, we bought a tractor when I was probably around the time of the Second World War started, which was around 1941. Richard Anderson: So that was the first tractor? Mc Sterrett: Yes, and from then on we used the tractor more to plow, and things of that nature and I think we mowed with it too, I think. But it was quite a-- you know, there were some tractors in the area, but not too many. Richard Anderson: Did you all have automobiles at that time? Mc Sterrett: Yes, we had an automobile when we moved to Brownsburg. I think it was probably a Model T, and then we got a Model A after that. Richard Anderson: Were the roads, any of them paved at that time? Mc Sterrett: The road by our house was not paved, maybe. Richard Anderson: What is now Sterrett Road? Mc Sterrett: Yes. But maybe the road in Brownsburg was paved. Richard Anderson: What is now the Brownsburg Turnpike. Mc Sterrett: Brownsburg, just from one end of Brownsburg to the other. Richard Anderson: And then they became dirt roads? Mc Sterrett: Then it became yeah, became dirt roads. Richard Anderson: How did mechanization affect the farming operation? Mc Sterrett: Well I think we started dairying in ’47. Of course that was right much mechanized. But up until that time we had farmed with horses mostly Richard Anderson: How many horses would you have had? Mc Sterrett: I think we kept six horses, I’m not sure. We kept one riding horse and worked him some, and then we used horses to do most everything, you know. Richard Anderson: What kind of horses were they, do you know? Mc Sterrett: They were just a general mixture of draft horses, all except the riding horse who was a-- I don’t know exactly what breed he was, but he was quite a spirited horse. [Laugh] Richard Anderson: Who took care of the horses? Mc Sterrett: The horses were taken care of on the farm. More or less everybody took care of them. Richard Anderson: Did you help take care of them? Mc Sterrett: Oh yes. [Laugh] Richard Anderson: After it became a dairy farm, did you become more involved? Mc Sterrett: Yes, I think I gave my date of marriage right, it was in ’48. We started milking in the dairy barn in ’47, and then I was married pretty soon after that and took a very right responsible place in there [the dairy operation]. Before that we had milked several cows by hand in another barn that was made for milking. Richard Anderson: You said you helped with the milking operations themselves after about ‘47? Mc Sterrett: Yeah. Richard Anderson: So you graduated from high school when? Mc Sterrett: In ’43. Richard Anderson: Were you subject to military service, that type of thing? Mc Sterrett: No. Well, we were milking cows, and I continued to milk cows [laugh]. Richard Anderson: So you didn’t have to go into the military? Mc Sterrett: No, I was not in the service. Richard Anderson: Was your dad ever involved in the service? Mc Sterrett: No, except for the Civilian Conservation Corps; part of their responsibility was the military but he didn’t have anything to do with the military part. Richard Anderson: What are your recollections of World War II? Mc Sterrett: Oh, I remember I was going to school when the war first started. My recollections really -- I mean, here we did certain things like blackouts and things of that kind. But I guess my recollections are fairly scarce as far as -- Richard Anderson: Did y’all listen to the radio reports? Mc Sterrett: Oh yes. Richard Anderson: Were there any what I call “Minute Men Units” in this area? Mc Sterrett: Not that I know of. Richard Anderson: Or any civilian-type units? Mc Sterrett: I don’t know really. Richard Anderson: Did you all have the effects of rationing and? Mc Sterrett: Oh yes. We had -- I think gas was rationed, tires were rationed, everything, sugar was rationed. Richard Anderson: How did that kind of rationing, was it noticeable to you? Mc Sterrett: Oh yes. Richard Anderson: To the family? Mc Sterrett: It was very noticeable, particularly the sugar part! [laugh] Richard Anderson: Were there local stores, grocery stores? Mc Sterrett: Yes, there were five stores in Brownsburg I think. Richard Anderson: Did you all patronize those stores? Mc Sterrett: Yes. Richard Anderson: Did they have pretty much everything you needed in the way of food? Mc Sterrett: Yes, as I far as I know they had-- oh you’d go to Staunton or Lexington two or three times a year probably, but other than that, it’s not necessary. Richard Anderson: In that period of time, during World War II, were there any German prisoners of war anywhere in the area working on farms? Mc Sterrett: I don’t remember of any that worked on farms. Sometime during my life the convicts had worked on farms some, and I knew that Hot Springs [The Homestead] was a prisoner of war camp and maybe White Sulfur [The Greenbrier in White Sulfur Springs, WV], too. Richard Anderson: But not necessarily right in this area? Mc Sterrett: Not any, no. Now Washington and Lee had what they called a School of Special Services, and they had veterans up there that were going into the specialties; things like plays, and that sort of thing. Richard Anderson: Did you all attend any area churches? Mc Sterrett: Yes, we went to New Providence [Presbyterian Church] all the time. Richard Anderson: The whole time? Mc Sterrett: The whole time. Richard Anderson: And you remember any of the ministers there while you were growing up? Mc Sterrett: Oh yes, I remember. Richard Anderson: Did you attend Sunday School? Mc Sterrett: Yes. Dr. [C. Morton] Hanna was there when I joined the church. Richard Anderson: Do you know how to spell that name? Mc Sterrett: H – A – N – N – A Richard Anderson: Hanna. He was the first one you remember well? Mc Sterrett: Well I did remember slightly the man that was before him. But mainly it was because he came when Dr. McLaughlin was here. Until, I don’t know, 1945 or 6 [1946], something like that, and then Dr. Walthall went into the service during the war. Richard Anderson: He was the minister? Mc Sterrett: He was the minister here. Richard Anderson: At that time and went into the service. Mc Sterrett: And he was the chaplain in the service. Then there was Dr. [Locke] White and I’d have to-- Dr. [Richard] Hutcheson came after him, maybe you remember him. Then there was Mr. [Donald] Campbell, Reverend Campbell, and Reverend [John] Boyd. I remember them all. [Laugh] Richard Anderson: A bunch of them! What type of activities were going on at the church that you participated in? Mc Sterrett: Well we had a youth group at that time. Richard Anderson: How many were in that? Mc Sterrett: I expect there were probably 25, but I don’t remember particulars. Richard Anderson: The church was a pretty good size at that time? Mc Sterrett: Yes, well before that, I think the church had been very much larger. And probably right after World War I was when television came along, and I think that -- Richard Anderson: You mean after World War II? Mc Sterrett: Yes. Richard Anderson: And that affected attendance? Mc Sterrett: That had very much of an effect on the church, and the size of the church. Everybody went to church. Maybe not for the right reasons; you went to visit as much as anything else. Richard Anderson: Were there any other special activities that you remember going on at the church while you were growing up? Mc Sterrett: Not that there weren’t, but I don’t remember right off hand, no. Richard Anderson: I believe you said your family owned an automobile at the time they moved to the house on Sterrett Road [2249 Sterrett Road]. What kind of trips -- did you make any kind of trips in the automobile on a regular basis? Mc Sterrett: Not really. Richard Anderson: Or how often did you use the car? Mc Sterrett: Oh we went to church on Sunday was the about main thing that I remember. And afterwards -- well, I mentioned Mrs. Dice, and she drove a buggy to church. Richard Anderson: Horse drawn buggy? Mc Sterrett: Yes, and we used to-- there was a road that turned off of our road and went right up over the hill, right by where I built the house [2244 Sterrett Road] and it came out on Goose Creek and that was the way we went to church. Richard Anderson: So there was another road from Sterrett Road over to Goose Creek Road? Mc Sterrett: Yes. I don’t remember the number of it, but it had a number. Richard Anderson: Did you all ever use the train that ran through Raphine and those places? Mc Sterrett: I don’t remember riding that train. I remember hearing it whistle. It used to be that fertilizer was unloaded at Mountain View [near Mountain View Farm on McClure Boulevard], which just had a side track. And the day that the car came in to be unloaded, you’d see lots of wagons going by. [Laugh] Richard Anderson: Is that where you all got your fertilizer? Mc Sterrett: Yes. Richard Anderson: You had to go over to Mountain View to load it up? Mc Sterrett: Yes, and it was in 200 pound sacks. Richard Anderson: Did you use a horse drawn vehicle to get there? Mc Sterrett: Yes. Richard Anderson: So going to either Lexington or Staunton was a pretty special occasion? Mc Sterrett: Yes, it was very much a special occasion. Richard Anderson: How often would you say you went to either of those places? Mc Sterrett: I would see two or three, maybe four times to Lexington and a couple of times to Staunton [a year]. Richard Anderson: And what would you go to Lexington or Staunton for, what would be the purpose of going? Mc Sterrett: I really don’t remember too much about the trips, the first trips to Staunton, to Lexington. But when I was real small, they [my parents] had moved from a whole lot closer to Lexington, and so I think my father was on the jury some, and things of that kind. I don’t remember too much about it, why we went, but we’d go every once in a while. I guess my mother bought material to make clothes out of, those sort of things. Richard Anderson: Would you go to the movies in Lexington or Staunton? Mc Sterrett: When I was a little older we would go to the movies but maybe not at that time. Richard Anderson: Do you remember going to the movies as a child? Mc Sterrett: Oh yes. One time we went to some movie that was advertised pretty much and it was an adult movie. Well, not as we think of as an adult movie now, but it was -- they understood what was going on and I didn’t. Richard Anderson: Did you go for shopping purposes? Mc Sterrett: Yes. Richard Anderson: Were there a lot of stores? Mc Sterrett: There were several stores in Lexington. Adair Hutton was the big department store to go to, I think, and there were lots of other stores. I think my father had lived around close to Lexington, and he knew some of the merchants that were there. Richard Anderson: Now did you ever consider going on to college? Mc Sterrett: I think it was considered, but when I got out of high school maybe the war was going on and Washington and Lee had more or less closed. They were taking in these special school students, and I really don’t remember too much about that, but I think we did-- it was thought of. My sister went on to college. Richard Anderson: I was going say your sister went to college didn’t she? Mc Sterrett: Yes. Richard Anderson: And where did she go, she went to? Mc Sterrett: Longwood. I think it was at that time it was Farmville – Richard Anderson: It was more of a teacher’s college. Mc Sterrett: Teacher’s College. She taught school. Richard Anderson: And was that her intention, pretty much? Mc Sterrett: Yes. Richard Anderson: Were you disappointed that you didn’t go to college? Mc Sterrett: No, not necessarily. I didn’t know the advantages of it. [Laugh] Richard Anderson: How did you and the family keep up with what was going on in the county, in the state, United States, or the world in general during that period of time? Mc Sterrett: With the radio. I think we took a paper, Richmond Times Dispatch. I don’t remember when we started, but I do remember it being there for several years. Richard Anderson: Was the local paper important, you had that I assume? Mc Sterrett: Yes, we got the [Rockbridge] County News and the [Lexington] Gazette. Richard Anderson: There were two newspapers at that time. Mc Sterrett: Yeah. Richard Anderson: What do you remember about listening to the radio? Mc Sterrett: Well, I remember “The Lone Ranger”. Richard Anderson: Westerns. Did you listen to those serial programs? Mc Sterrett: Oh yes, I had to be at the house at exactly 4.30 or something like that to hear the radio! Richard Anderson: What individuals, male or female, stand out in your memory from growing up or living in Brownsburg, and tell us why? Mc Sterrett: Well, Mr. Bob Supinger was the store keeper, and his wife worked in the telephone office. Richard Anderson: Where was their store? Mc Sterrett: Their store was where Dick Barnes’ is now. Richard Anderson: His antique shop? Mc Sterrett: His antique shop. Richard Anderson: And where was the telephone company? Mc Sterrett: And the telephone office was over the bank [2711 Brownsburg Turnpike]. Richard Anderson: Over the old bank building? Mc Sterrett: Yes, there was a bank downstairs, and telephone upstairs. Richard Anderson: I’ve heard that at one point that the telephone company was in the building that is going be the Brownsburg Museum [2716 Brownsburg Turnpike]. Mc Sterrett: It may have started there, I don’t recall that. Richard Anderson: You don’t remember that? Mc Sterrett: No. But I think the bank even started there in that building, but later they built a new building and moved into it. Richard Anderson: Was the bank an important ingredient in the community? Mc Sterrett: I think so. It was there and if you had any money, you used it. [Laugh] But most farmers didn’t have a lot of money at that time. Richard Anderson: What other kind of businesses, if any, were in Brownsburg at that time or when you were growing up? Mc Sterrett: Well, there were blacksmith shops that you brought the horses to, to have shoes put on. Richard Anderson: Where were they located? Mc Sterrett: One was located in the southern end of Brownsburg, where the Beverage’s live [2610 Brownsburg Turnpike], and one was located around back of -- close to Carwell’s Garage [immediately behind Old South Antiques], that was the two that I remember. Now there may have been others before that, or even at that time. Richard Anderson: What else in the way of businesses were in town? Mc Sterrett: I think there were four stores. There was Mr. Bosworth’s store, which was where the-- it was right above the bank [2711 Brownsburg Turnpike]. Then there was Huffman’s Filling Station [2712 Brownsburg Turnpike] – I don’t remember when it was started – that was right across from the bank on the other side of the road. There was another store in the main part of Brownsburg at that time, which was where Dick Barnes’ house is, but I don’t remember who was running it at that time. Mr. Woody, I guess, of Woody Chevrolet, ran a store in Brownsburg. And then Whitesell’s store. Richard Anderson: When did Whitesell’s open? Mc Sterrett: Whitesells had had a store, I think for a while, and then they had an undertaker business and it was always been right across the street here [get address]. Then, I think when the other stores kind of either went out of business or nobody was running them -- the Farm Store had a store in Brownsburg for a while, the Rockbridge County Farm Store. Richard Anderson: Rockbridge County Co-op? Mc Sterrett: Yes. Richard Anderson: Was that were Dick Barnes’ house is? Mc Sterrett: Yes. And then there was a black man that had a little bit of a store [2613 Brownsburg Turnpike] up here across from Potter’s blacksmith shop. Will Gilmore was his name. Richard Anderson: Were there any other individuals that you’d like to mention that you recall? Mc Sterrett: Well, I remember most of the ladies that worked in the telephone office, because when Mother came to Brownsburg, that’s where she usually went, was up to the telephone office. [Laugh] Richard Anderson: Why did she go up there? Mc Sterrett: I guess to catch up on the news! And the two ladies that worked in there, [their] mother and father lived out our way. Miss Mattie Wade and Miss Mealie [Amelia] were two sisters, then Mrs. Osie [Supinger]was a sister, too, and they had one other sister. Those -- Miss Osie and Miss Mattie ran the telephone office, Miss Mealie live out here on the turn, right where you turn off to go to Goose Creek [1727 Sterrett Road]. Richard Anderson: When did you all first get telephone service? Mc Sterrett: Had telephone service ever since I can remember; I think maybe telephone was here before we moved here. Richard Anderson: So that goes back into the ‘30s then, there was telephone service. Mc Sterrett: Or to the ‘20s. Richard Anderson: Anybody else you want to mention that was in the neighborhood? Mc Sterrett: Oh yes, there were lots of folks in the neighborhood. A lot of the-- Mrs. Dunaway’s husband worked on the road, on the highway, worked for the Highway Department and she was the custodian of the school. She had to start all the fires and do all the maintenance work I guess. Richard Anderson: Did they use wood fires in the schools? Mc Sterrett: Yes, particularly until they built the new brick building that was down in front of the old building. The older building was up on the level with the existing building that’s there now, and it was just to the north of that building. Richard Anderson: Well, we’ve covered the Depression years, I think unless there’s something else you wish to mention, and we covered the World War II era pretty much unless there’s something else you wish to say. Were you living here when rural electrification got started? Mc Sterrett: Yes we got electricity in about somewhere around ’36 or 7. And I think Brownsburg had already had electricity from VEPCO or Virginia Power, I think that’s what the name of it was at that time. And then the rural electrification came about ’37 or something like that. Richard Anderson: How did that affect you all? Mc Sterrett: Oh, it affected us, particularly when we started the dairy business that used automatic milkers. Richard Anderson: So it was a big improvement? Mc Sterrett: Very much, yes. Richard Anderson: Prior to that time, what was it like to live without electricity? Mc Sterrett: Well we had to live with lamps, of course. Richard Anderson: Candles? Mc Sterrett: No, lamps. Richard Anderson: Gas lamps? Mc Sterrett: Well kerosene. Richard Anderson: Kerosene. Mc Sterrett: Right. And they were -- well they were being improved, I guess, but they still weren’t very good. I remember Daddy saying “Don’t stand in my light” a lot of time. Richard Anderson: Pretty dark a lot of the time wasn’t it? Mc Sterrett: Yes. Richard Anderson: I can’t imagine what it was like to have to read things. Mc Sterrett: Well, we did our homework by lamp light, what homework we had. Richard Anderson: How did the schools operate without electricity? Mc Sterrett: Well, I think the school had electricity at the time that I started, but I don’t know that for sure. But I do remember in ’36 or 7 or something like that we got electricity that turned all the lights on in the house. [Laugh] Richard Anderson: When was Sterrett Road paved? Mc Sterrett: I would guess along about ’40, 1940. Richard Anderson: So at the beginning of World War II. Mc Sterrett: I’m not sure of that, but the road was paved out to where you turn off to go down Goose Creek. And from there on to Fairfield it stayed a dirt road for another several years, 10 years or something to that effect. And I don’t remember when this road [Brownsburg Turnpike] was paved too much, from Brownsburg to the church. Well, I do remember there was some talk of cutting the maple trees down and putting in a paved road, and they finally decided they could put the road between the trees. Richard Anderson: Those trees have been there a long time. Mc Sterrett: Yes, they were there ever since I can remember, and I have heard other people talking about when they were planted. But I don’t remember that at all. I expect they were probably planted 120 years ago. Richard Anderson: Speaking of that road, did you all have any interchange with people in Rockbridge Baths and Goshen, that type? Mc Sterrett: Not too much. I remember – well, our [county] supervisor was from Goshen for a long time. That was Mr. Hull, who was Mr. Fred Whipple’s father-in-law, who was a supervisor. And before that I remember Mr. Slusser was. But I don’t believe we had any particular-- except that Rockbridge Baths had a school and that closed down. There was a time it was closed, I think, and I don’t know whether it reopened or what, but their children came here to school in about the 4th or 5th grade. Richard Anderson: How many children from the Brownsburg area were going to school up at Brownsburg when you were there? Mc Sterrett: I don’t know, it seemed like there were a lot of boys! [Laugh] The Woody’s had two boys, and the Wade’s had four boys – that’s the people that lived where Walter Lunsford lives [2651 Brownsburg Turnpike]. And there were several others, the Whipple boys that I remember slightly when they were going to school, and there were the Patterson boys. Richard Anderson: Did you have much exchange with other children growing up in the area? Mc Sterrett: Well, not too much until I was old enough to come to Brownsburg, riding my horse or riding my bicycle to Brownsburg or something.. Richard Anderson: Well, we just talked about the businesses. Where was the Brownsburg Post Office located when you were growing up? Mc Sterrett: Let’s see. I guess it was started in Mr. Jim Bosworth’s store, that was the store right above the bank [2707 Brownsburg Turnpike]. Then after he died, Mrs. Bosworth was the post mistress, and they put a partition in the store and had it in the front of the store. When I remember he being the post master, it was quite the thing to go to the post office, I think. He had an old dog that he called “Ring,” an old collie dog, and he didn’t – he’d get out the whip and do this, that, and the other, but Ring didn’t pay much attention to it. But anyway after the post office left, I believe Miss Mattie Wade was post mistress for several years, and stayed in that building and then it moved back to Whitesell’s Store. Richard Anderson: In your early days when you were growing up, did you have rural delivery of mail or did you have to come get your mail? Mc Sterrett: Yes. When I started school – well, before that, I think -- they had had a mail carrier. I think maybe our address was Fairfield, right to start with. That wasn’t very long after we moved here. It [our address] got to be Raphine because when I went in the first grade, I walked to school, I expect, at lunch time. And we had the first grade and the mail man would pick me up occasionally. [Laugh] Richard Anderson: That was nice. We talked about the telephone company and the grocery stores and the banks and other businesses. Did you ever work in any of those businesses? Mc Sterrett: The only thing I ever did in one of those was help take inventory a little bit when the Farm Store was in Brownsburg, and that was when I was 20 years old, probably. Richard Anderson: What changes good or bad have you seen take place in the Brownsburg area during the time you’ve lived here? Mc Sterrett: Well, I think one of the bad things is that the school moved away, and the bank moved away. But that’s sort of with the modern times, I guess. The good things would be that it’s more of a rural town now, more of a residence town. Richard Anderson: A lot of the buildings that were formerly businesses have been converted to residences, including the bank building. Mc Sterrett: And the service stations. Richard Anderson: The service stations, yeah. Mc Sterrett: I know the doctor’s house -- Richard Anderson: I was going ask you about medical care, that’s a good subject. Were there doctors living here? Mc Sterrett: Yes. The community built the doctor’s house, which is where Ag Patterson lives [2744 Brownsburg Turnpike]. Richard Anderson: When was that done? Mc Sterrett: I expect it was built along in the teens somewhere, but I don’t know that. Richard Anderson: So when you were growing up, there was a doctor living there? Mc Sterrett: Yes. I remember my sister [Mary Sterrett Lipscomb] being taken to the doctor. I don’t know where the office was, but she had gotten something in her throat and had emergency treatment, and that was done before I can really remember. The doctors that I remember were Dr. Bailey; he was the first doctor that I really remember. And then Dr. Williams, who maybe you’ve heard of, and Dr. Taylor. Richard Anderson: They all operated out of that same location? Mc Sterrett: Dr. Williams did but I think Dr. Taylor had his-- he lived out at the Wade’s -- Castle Carbury [34 Beard Lane] right across from the church. He had his office in the same building that Dick Barnes is in [8 Hays Creek Road]. He [Dick Barnes] tore down part of the store building and the part over top of it that was the doctor’s office. Richard Anderson: So was there more than one doctor here at one time? Mc Sterrett: I think maybe there were, but that was before I can remember. Richard Anderson: Did they see everybody pretty much? Mc Sterrett: I think so, yes. And a lot of people came from Walkers Creek or Middlebrook and that area, a lot of people came to the doctor. Richard Anderson: Did they make house visits? Mc Sterrett: Yes, they visited quite a bit, I think. How in the world the doctor ever kept up with all those people, I don’t know, but he seemed pretty busy. Richard Anderson: Did the school have any medical care? Mc Sterrett: No. Richard Anderson: They didn’t have nurses and things like that? Mc Sterrett: If you cut your finger at the school, you had to go down to the doctor. Richard Anderson: What stands out in your memory as the most significant or important event, or events, that occurred in Brownsburg during the time you have lived in the area? That’s a hard question. Mc Sterrett: Yes, it is, and that would take a lot of thought. Richard Anderson: But is there anything that you recall that you particularly remember that was a big event? Mc Sterrett: Well the Chrysanthemum Show at the church [New Providence] was a big event. Richard Anderson: Tell us about that. Mc Sterrett: I don’t know why – I guess I do, too. I know why it was called the Chrysanthemum Show, because the ladies grew flowers all year, and showed them at the Chrysanthemum show. That was most-- a lot of people that were out of the community came here. Richard Anderson: Participated in that. When was that usually held, in the spring? Mc Sterrett: No, it was held around November, I expect. Chrysanthemums are late flowers more, and so many ladies raised the flowers just for the Chrysanthemum Show, and they’d have them to bloom right at that time. Richard Anderson: Was that open to anybody, I mean anybody could participate in it? Mc Sterrett: Mostly the black people couldn’t, but most anybody else could. Richard Anderson: Did your mother participate? Mc Sterrett: Yes, and Daddy participated -- he had a job. I don’t know what his job was, but well, I think he was one of the ones who carved the ham or did something. Richard Anderson: So they served meals? Mc Sterrett: Yes, they served meals. Richard Anderson: When did that stop? Mc Sterrett: I don’t know, really. I expect in the ‘40s or ‘50s, but I don’t know for sure. Then there was an ice cream supper that sort of followed that. It was sort of a mini show, I guess. Richard Anderson: So those were big community events? Mc Sterrett: Yes, that was a very big community event. Richard Anderson: Am I correct in saying is more than just the church members who were involved? Mc Sterrett: Oh yes, a lot of people came from away from here to participate in the meal, and it was a money-making event. Richard Anderson: Who was it designed to make money for? Mc Sterrett: The church. Richard Anderson: Any other things that you remember being significant? Mc Sterrett: I don’t remember too much about significant things, but --. Richard Anderson: When did you get started with Ruritan Club? Mc Sterrett: When did the Ruritan Club itself start? It started, I remember Dr. Walthall was here, so it must have started in the ‘30s, and I joined, I expect, I must have joined right out of high school, I think. Richard Anderson: I think that the records show that you joined sometime in the early ‘40s. Mc Sterrett: ’43, I think. Richard Anderson: Was your dad in the Ruritan Club? Mc Sterrett: Yes. Richard Anderson: And so you’re one of the longest members of the club at this point. Was that a significant event? Mc Sterrett: Well it started out rather slowly. We did have Fred Whipple, and Dr. Williams and Graham McCray, and Dr. Walthall were the charter members that I remember. I think there’s a list of all the names of the people that are charter members. Richard Anderson: And is that when the Brownsburg Horse Show started? Mc Sterrett: I think it started in the ‘50s. Richard Anderson: So it came along later. Mc Sterrett: I think it did, but there was a time that I thought that we did not have the show. Now maybe some members would disagree with me on that. But it used to be held up here at Brownsburg at the school. Richard Anderson: At the school? Mc Sterrett: At the school and then -- Richard Anderson: Where did they hold it at the school, where was it possible to hold it? Mc Sterrett: Well there was a playground in the back at the side there. Richard Anderson: And that was big enough to handle it? Mc Sterrett: Yeah. But I would think that it would have to be after they did quite a bit of work on the school grounds; I don’t know when that was done. Richard Anderson: Then later it was held over at [Camp] Maxwelton [1629 Walkers Creek Road]. Mc Sterrett: Over at Maxwelton. Richard Anderson: What’s your recollection of Camp Maxwelton and other camps that were in the area? Were there a lot of camps? Mc Sterrett: Well, Camp Briar Hills was out here between here [Brownsburg] and home [2244 Sterrett Road]. Richard Anderson: Off of Sterrett Road? Mc Sterrett: Yeah it was up, you went up a little lane [currently at 2508 Sterrett Road]. Richard Anderson: Did you have any involvement with it? Mc Sterrett: Oh yes, that was one of the things that Mary [Sterrett Lipscomb] and I did. We had a pony and we took the pony down there for the campers to ride, and we stayed, well, at least when I went, we stayed most of the morning and participated in anything that was going on. Richard Anderson: When was this? Mc Sterrett: This was probably in the ‘30s. It was quite a deal when they rode up by the house [2244 Sterrett Road]; it was a dirt road, and then up that back road that went over to the Goose Creek Road, around through the woods and came back out down at the camp somewhere. Richard Anderson: Were they local people who attended? Mc Sterrett: No, it was mostly boys from Richmond who attended the camp. And they all came to church every Sunday, and sat in the balcony. Richard Anderson: How big a group was it? Mc Sterrett: I expect there were 30, 35 of those, and then as the years went by, it grew. Richard Anderson: When did it cease to operate? Mc Sterrett: Well it moved out to Pisgah; from Briar Hills to Briarwood, and then Lee [McLaughlin Sr.] helped with it. Richard Anderson: Lee McLaughlin? Mc Sterrett: Lee McLaughlin. And then after Sam [McLaughlin] quit dealing with the camp, then he [Lee McLaughlin] started the one at Maxwelton. Richard Anderson: So it kind of took over, Maxwelton sort of took over -- Mc Sterrett: Sort of grew into it. Richard Anderson: Were there any other camps located in the area? Mc Sterrett: I remember the Camp Okihawa’s bringing children – girls, I think it was a girl’s camp, to the horse show out at Maxwelton. That would have probably been in the ‘60s. Richard Anderson: Going back, I’m sorry these questions are sort of out of order, but how did you meet Anna [Lackey Sterrett]? Mc Sterrett: We went to a church Halloween party, I believe, over at Timber Ridge. Richard Anderson: Is that where she went to church? Mc Sterrett: Yes. And we went over there to a Halloween party and that’s where we met. Richard Anderson: Were you married at New Providence, or at Timber Ridge [Presbyterian Church]? Mc Sterrett: Timber Ridge. My uncle was pastor in Buena Vista, Mother’s sister’s husband. Richard Anderson: What was his name? Mc Sterrett: His was Murray. His name was Murray. And he was a brother to the man that was in Lexington, Jim Murray [Dr. J. J. Murray], for a long time, and he helped with the ceremony. Richard Anderson: Did you go on an elaborate honeymoon? Mc Sterrett: No, we went to Niagara Falls, and we had to put oil in the car every time you’d put gas in. Richard Anderson: This was in ’48? Mc Sterrett: ’48 and we went in ’39 Chevrolet, or something like that. Richard Anderson: Was that your first car? Mc Sterrett: That was the first car that the family had -- well no, not the first car my family had had, but I think we had it all during the war, and then kept it for a long time afterwards. Richard Anderson: But it got you there and got back. Mc Sterrett: Oh yes. Richard Anderson: Are you aware of any humorous stories that you’d like to tell us about? Mc Sterrett: I can’t think of any of those. I’m sure I am, but maybe they wouldn’t bear repeating. Richard Anderson: If you wish, is there any family history or events that you’d like to share with us? Are you aware of any earlier family members? How long have the Sterretts lived in Rockbridge County? Mc Sterrett: I expect – well, we started over in the Goshen area, and we had a great, great grandfather [Robert Sterrett] who lived in Bells Valley. His father [John Douglas Sterrett, immigrant from Ireland] was buried at the Lebanon Presbyterian Church over there, which is right on the line just between Augusta and Rockbridge [counties]. But then our great grandfather, James Reid [Sterrett] married one of the ladies who lived in-- Willson, her name was [ Rebecca Alexander] Willson – who lived in the house where Isabelle and Barry [Chewning] live [Mulberry Grove, 2249 Sterrett Road], but it was out of the family for a long time. But up around Lexington particularly, they [the Sterrett family] had quite a large farm, Oakley was the name of it. It was where Meadowview is now; it’s very close to that farm. Richard Anderson: Are you aware of anybody in the family who either served in the Revolutionary War or the Civil War? Mc Sterrett: Well, I remember the one man that lived where the Willsons lived [Mulberry Grove, 2249 Sterrett Road], he was a [James A.] Willson, and supposedly he was the last man killed over at Appomattox in the Civil War. It was after -- I don’t know whether this is a true story or not, but he’s buried at New Providence Cemetery, and I understood that he was flag bearer and didn’t take the flag down in the time, and somebody shot him. Richard Anderson: Too bad. Are there any other subjects or topics that you think we need to, or would be good to include in this interview? Mc Sterrett: I don’t remember too much about the, you know-- the dealings that we had with the black community. Richard Anderson: Oh I was going to ask to that. What was the relationship with the black community? Mc Sterrett: Well when I grew up, we didn’t hardly know the difference, because I played with black children all the time. Richard Anderson: So there were a fair number of black families? Mc Sterrett: Oh, a lot of families around here have been-- during the Depression, I guess they, I don’t know whether they had moved away and moved back, or just had large families. But a lot of folks, I mean you didn’t realize how much better off we were than the black people. Richard Anderson: Was there a separate black school? Mc Sterrett: Yes. Richard Anderson: Where was that located? Mc Sterrett: That was right in Brownsburg down oh right across from Casey’s [Gwyn Campbell at 2766 Brownsburg Turnpike] house I guess. Richard Anderson: Across from Casey Campbell’s house where the log building is? Mc Sterrett: No it was -- Richard Anderson: Or was it a separate building? Mc Sterrett: Separate, it was a -- Richard Anderson: There’s a road – isn’t there a [Old] School Lane down there next to Janis Ayres?. Mc Sterrett: Well, maybe that was where it was. Richard Anderson: Is that possible, do you reckon? Mc Sterrett: Yeah, it was on that property, I think. I think it was in part of Janis’ yard I expect. Richard Anderson: Was it a big school? Were there a lot of children, a lot of black children going to school? Mc Sterrett: I would say there were 30 or 40 children there when I remember. And all in a one room school, and all had the same one teacher. Richard Anderson: Did it go onto high school level? Mc Sterrett: No, the children had to go away if they wanted to go to high school. I know the fellow that helped us, Dude Haliburton, they didn’t have any children of their own, but they raised some of her sister’s children, I guess they were. And I know that one boy finished school down here, and then he went to Roanoke and lived with his aunt. Richard Anderson: Was there a black church here at that time? Mc Sterrett: Yes. I assume that church [Asbury United Methodist Church] must have been started fairly soon after the Civil War, I don’t know that. Richard Anderson: I believe that’s correct. Were there any other relationships between the white community and the black community? Mc Sterrett: Well, we knew all the black people. Richard Anderson: Did they mostly work in the area, the black folks? Mc Sterrett: Yeah you could come to Brownsburg and pick up enough men to thresh or do whatever you were doing that particular day. You didn’t have to make arrangements a long time [in advance] because they-- didn’t very many of them have permanent jobs. Richard Anderson: And there were black people living right here on Brownsburg Turnpike, right? Mc Sterrett: Yes, as they are now. This fellow [Glasgow] Craney that lived up here [2650 Brownsburg Turnpike] dated back to 1880 or something like that, and his daughter [Frances Craney Porterfield] lived in the house until she died; now one of her children [Charles Porterfield] lives in the house. Richard Anderson: Did they come buy their groceries at the stores, local stores and things like that? Mc Sterrett: What they bought. Richard Anderson: They didn’t really have farms as such. Mc Sterrett: No, most of them rented the farms. Now Pitt Pleasants, who lived in a -- or his father lived in a house right here where John Whitesell’s store is [2664 Brownsburg Turnpike], or where the parking lot is. Letcher Pleasants. Richard Anderson: There was a house there? Mc Sterrett: Yeah. And anyway they rented the farm out here that we call the Strain place; it’s where Billy McClung lives now [3191 Brownsburg Turnpike]. And they drove cows in here, I assume to milk, every day, while the children drove the cows in here to milk. Richard Anderson: They drove them into Brownsburg? Mc Sterrett: Yeah. And then I don’t know whether they kept them here all night, or whether they took them back, but that was in the days’ work. Richard Anderson: Pretty amazing. Did you get to know any of them closely? Mc Sterrett: Well, I knew the Haliburton family closely, and we played with the – well in Dude’s family, there were several children, and all of them had children when I was growing up. One of the sister’s husband had died, he lived up on the hill above – well, right across where I live now [1913 Sterrett Road]. Richard Anderson: There was Haliburton property right in there. Mc Sterrett: Yeah. And then there was the Pleasants -- these people were named Pleasants. And I think Pitt Pleasants’ wife was one of the Haliburtons, and Dude married one of the Pleasants and it was sort of a family affair. Richard Anderson: Then on the hill that’s beyond Eva McManama’s [2580 Sterrett Road], were there black families in there all the time pretty much? Mc Sterrett: Yeah. Richard Anderson: Carters? Mc Sterrett: Carters and Browns and -- Richard Anderson: Was the relationship fairly normal? I mean, was it hostile? Mc Sterrett: No, it was a very good relationship, I thought. Of course we didn’t see all of it, and they went to church at New Providence up until – well, this man that worked for us [William Haliburton] or helped us grew up on the farm right there at Castle Carbury [34 Beard Lane], and they went to Sunday School over at New Providence and sat in the balcony. Richard Anderson: Were there others that were like that that went to New Providence? Mc Sterrett: Oh yes, I’m sure there were, but I can’t name them. Richard Anderson: I don’t mean to name them, but I mean there were others, and how long did that last? Mc Sterrett: I would say it had started whenever the church was started and lasted until after the Civil War for a few years. Richard Anderson: But there were still people going there when you were going? Mc Sterrett: Black people? Richard Anderson: Yeah, is that correct or not? Mc Sterrett: No. Richard Anderson: Well these folks that lived at Castle Carbury, they didn’t go to New Providence? Mc Sterrett: Yeah, they went to New Providence but he went there when he was boy and he was -- Richard Anderson: So by the time you were growing up, they were no longer there. Mc Sterrett: No. Richard Anderson: Any other subjects that you can think of? Mc Sterrett: I don’t know of any. Richard Anderson: I’m sure we have not covered everything, but we’ll try to cover as much as we can. Are there other people that you think we should interview that you’re aware of? Mc Sterrett: I don’t know who all has been interviewed, that’s the problem. There are a lot of people. Richard Anderson: Well, ask Isabelle to give you a list. She has a list of names that we have on the list. Mc Sterrett: Did you all interview any of the Whitesells? Richard Anderson: Not so far, I don’t believe. They’re on our list. Mc Sterrett: They’ve lived here longer than me, and he’s a little older than I am. Richard Anderson: John Whitesell’s older? Mc Sterrett: Yes, he’s two years older, I think he is. Richard Anderson: Well we definitely have him on our list, as well as Virginia. Mc Sterrett: Well Virginia [Wade Whitesell], of course, was raised in Rockbridge Baths, but she’s lived in Brownsburg for a long long time. Louise Wiseman [Stuart] who lived where the Lunsfords live [2651 Brownsburg Turnpike], and Marjorie Ann Whitesell [Chittum] who is John Layton’s [Whitesell] sister is the one that should be. Richard Anderson: Marjorie? Mc Sterrett: Marjorie Ann. Richard Anderson: Marjorie Ann. Mc Sterrett: You might like to interview that lady that was here at the-- she was one of the Wades who lived in that house, too. [2651 Brownsburg Turnpike] She’s a Harris now. Richard Anderson: Margaret Harris? Mc Sterrett: Margaret Harris. Richard Anderson: Yes I believe we have her name on the list, yeah. Mc Sterrett: She was one of the Wades and she was Claudia Runkle’s sister. She had about four brothers, and they were a large family. Richard Anderson: Have most of the families that were living here, or in the Brownsburg area, when you were growing up -- have most of them gone elsewhere? Mc Sterrett: I expect they have, yes. Most of them have just sort of -- I guess a lot of them have died off. But a lot of the black families moved to Lexington and found work at VMI and things of that nature. And some of them drove up there. Well, Louis Carter, I think is one of the ones. Richard Anderson: I was trying to think of names of families that have been here a long time who are still here. I guess the Pattersons. Mc Sterrett: I don’t think there are any of the Pattersons left that grew up down here. I know all of Ed’s family is gone, and probably all of Mr. Fin [Finley] Patterson’s family has gone, unless that one lady lives at -- Caroline, but I think she’s gone too. Richard Anderson: And the Wades are pretty well gone. Mc Sterrett: There’s been three families of Wade, three different families. The Wades that lived in Bustleburg was one family and they were a big family. The Wades that lived at the mill were one family. And then Miss Jen Wade and her parents were another family. And then this Mr. Wade that lived right up here where Walter Lunsford lives was, I don’t know. I think they were some relation to Randall [Wade], but I’m not sure what they were. Richard Anderson: And McManamas? Mc Sterrett: McManamas have been around here for a long time, but most all of those, you know, are gone. Eva [McManama] was a Fitzgerald to start with, I think. Richard Anderson: How long were the [Ralph] Armentrouts here? Mc Sterrett: They weren’t here too long. I have heard that that house [2597 Sterrett Road] was built when a Dr. Campbell was here. Now that was before my time. Then Mr. Charlie Dice lived there for years, and he moved here about the same time we did. He and Mr. Walter Dice were brothers, and Mr. Walter bought the house that Edna Driver lives in [22 Hays Creek Road]. Richard Anderson: Who lived in that house early on, do you know? Mc Sterrett: Well I don’t remember anyone but Mr. Dice. But some governor built it, and lived in that house I think. I’ve forgotten what his name was. Richard Anderson: There haven’t been a whole lot of new houses built in the area. Mc Sterrett: No. I think Sam Patterson built that house out there on the Patterson place [the house later burned, but was located at 2963 Brownsburg Turnpike]. And Boyd Stuart built the house that Dick Cash lived in, and those two houses were about the only two houses that were built before ours was. I think when Boyd Stuart built this house that he lived in, they said that was the first house that had been built around Brownsburg since the doctor’s house was built. Richard Anderson: Did you know much of Rufus Patterson? Mc Sterrett: I remember him slightly; he lived down there in the stone house where you all used to live [Sleepy Hollow, 2645 Sterrett Road]. They had a son who was-- well they had John Patterson -- they had two sons -- and Stuart Patterson and Stuart was the one that had-- was paralyzed. They evidently -- oh I don’t know too much about it -- but I remember they had to build on bathrooms and things of that sort that he could use. His wife, Mr. Rufus Patterson’s wife, and Mr. Tom Sterrett (who was my great uncle) were [brother and] sister. Now that’s been a long, long time, that’s going way back before the Civil War even, I expect. Richard Anderson: Well if there’s anything else you’d like to say? Mc Sterrett: I don’t believe so. Madison McClung Sterrett, Jr. Index A Alcohol · 15 Amole, Miss Teacher · 66 Anderson, Alden · 13 Anderson, Isabel Sterrett · 13 Arehart, Bessie · 30 Armentrout, Ralph · 101 Asbury United Methodist Church · 25, 96 Automobile · 71, 76 Isenglass Curtains · 3 Model T · 3 B Bailey, Dr. Brownsburg Doctor · 16, 87 Barns Leach Barn · 12 McCormick Barn · 12 Patterson Barn · 12 Sterrett's Dairy · 11 Baseball · 34 Basketball · 40 Beckner, Wallace · 17 Berry, Charlie · 28 Berry, Hattie · 27, 32 Berry, John · 27, 32 Berry, Pet · 28 Blacksmith shops · 81 Bosserman, Frances · See Lackey, Frances "Funny" Bosserman Bosworth’s Store · 81, 86 Boyd, John New Providence Minister · 75 Brown, Carl · 31 Brown, Hicks · 31 Brown, Jim · 30, 31 Brown, Lum · 28, 30, 31 Brownsburg Avenue of Trees · 85 Black School · 95 Blacksmith Shop · 45, 81 Doctors · 87 Dogs · 47, 86 Horse Show · 90 Integration · 94 Post Office · 85 Stores · 74, 81 Undertaker · 82 Brownsburg School 8th Grade · 65 Academy Building · 67 Bus · 67 First Grade · 43 New Building in 1938 · 66 Second Grade · 43 Soup Kitchen · 27, 68 Toilets · 42, 68 C Camp Briar Hills · 27, 47, 91 Camp Maxwelton · 26, 91 Camp Okihawa · 92 Campbell, Donald New Providence Minister · 75 Campbell, Dr. · 101 Carter, Louis · 100 Cash, Dick · 101 Chewning, Isabelle Morton Sterrett Daughter · 63 Chittum, Marjorie Ann Whitesell · 99 Civilian Conservation Corps · 8, 69 Craney, Glasgow · 96 D Davidson, Alice Sterrett · 8, 13, 29 Davidson, John · 13 Mail Carrier · 14 Depression Era · 8, 58, 69 Dice, Charlie · 32, 101 Dice, Margaret · See Updike, Margaret Dice Dice, Mrs. · 6, 8, 44, 64, 76 Dice, Walter · 101 Doctor’s House · 87 Dunaway Family · 6, 7 Dunaway, Bill · 44 Dunaway, Carl · 6 Dunaway, Erskine · 6 Dunaway, Mr. and Mrs. · 64 Dunaway, Mrs. School Custodian · 83 Dunaway, Ollie Blacksmith · 45 Dunaway, Rudolph · 6 E Electricity · 83 F Farm Store · 82, 86 Farming Binder · 23 Buggy Rake · 53 Cattle Driving · 19 Chores · 49 Cream Separator · 49 Dairy · 11 Dairy Operation began in 1947 · 71 Day Labor · 58, 96 Fertilizer · 77 General · 70 Grain · 21 Hay · 52 Horses · 3, 18, 20, 24, 46, 52, 55, 71 Potato Patch · 13 Shorthorn Bull · 50 Tractors · 4, 70 Veal Calves · 50 Fassifern Bath County Farm · 50 Fauber, Bennie · 17 Federal Land Bank · 8 Fisher, Mariah · 30 Midwife · 31 Fisher, Tom · 31 Fix, Pete · 45 Football · 39 Franklin, Dora Stevenson · 32 G Gilmore, Will · 82 H Haliburton, Maggie Pleasants · 9, 25 Haliburton, William "Dude" · 1, 2, 9, 14, 24, 31, 51, 58, 69, 96, 97, 98 Asbury Treasurer · 25 Death · 10 Hanna, C. Morton New Providence Minister · 75 Harris, Margaret Wade · 100 Heffelfinger, Jen Wade · 33 Bank · 34 Hogshead, Margaret McLaughlin · 34 Hogshead, Piggy · 34 Home Remedies Freckles · 7 Horses Charlie · 16 Jack · 3, 57 Trixie · 1, 47 Houston, Francis · 45 Howison, Nannie · See Stephens, Nannie Howison Huffman’s Filling Station · 81 Hull, Mr. County Supervisor · 85 Hutcheson, Richard New Providence Minister · 75 K Kennan, Dr. Raphine Doctor · 16 L Lackey, Frances "Funny" Bosserman · 6 Leech, Isabel First Grade Teacher · 65 Lexington · 77 Lexington Gazette · 79 Lipscomb, Mary Thompson Sterrett · 87, 91 Farmville Teacher's College · 79 Sister · 62 M Mail Delivery · 86 Manly Boys · 36 Marchant, Eleanor Wade · 33 McClung, Andrew · 49 McCray, Graham · 90 McLaughlin, Henry · 34 McLaughlin, Lee · 27, 34, 92 McLaughlin, Sam · 27, 34, 92 McManama, Eva Fitzgerald · 101 McManama, Homer · 32 Montgomery, Miss Teacher · 66 Moore, Carl · 16 Moore, Ellabell Gibbs · 12, 13 Moore, Frank · 14, 15 Movies · 78 Mulberry Grove Farm · 8 Barns · 10, 51 Distillery · 15 Orchard · 15 Murray, Dr. J. J. · 93 N New Providence Presbyterian Church · 74 Black Members · 98 Chrysanthemum Show · 88 Ministers · 75 Youth Group · 75 Newspapers · 79 O Oliver, Oscar · 30 P Patterson Family · 85 Patterson, Ed · 8, 22, 36 Patterson, Finley · 100 Patterson, John · 32, 101 Patterson, R. L. · 32 Patterson, Rosenell · 32 Patterson, Rufus · 101 Patterson, Sam · 36, 101 Patterson, Stuart · 101 Invalid · 32 Pleasants, Dick · 26 Pleasants, Hodge · 26 Pleasants, Letcher · 25, 97 Pleasants, Maggie · See Haliburton, Maggie Pleasants Pleasants, Pitt · 8, 25, 97 VMI · 27 Porterfield, Charles · 96 Porterfield, Frances Craney · 96 Potter, Walter Blacksmith · 46 R Radio · 79 "The Lone Ranger" · 80 Randolph, Dorothy Bell Shoultz · 28, 29 Rees, Walter · 7 Reese, Carl "Big Eye" · 35, 43 Richmond Times Dispatch · 79 Roads, Paved · 71, 84 Rockbridge Baths School · 85 Rockbridge County News · 79 Runkle, Claudia Wade · 100 Runkle, Harold · 36 Rural Electrification · 83 Ruritan Club · 90 S Schools One Room · 66 Shoultz, Bob · 28, 29, 57 Shoultz, Dorothy Bell · See Randolph, Dorothy Bell Shoultz Shoultz, Frank · 29 Shoultz, Jimmy · 28 Shoultz, Patience · 31 Sites, Isabel Stevenson · 32 Slusser, Mr. County Supervisor · 85 Smiley, Tuck · 7 Snider, Miss Teacher · 66 Staunton · 77 Stephens, Graham · 4, 5 Stephens, Nannie Howison · 5 Stephens, Wallace · 4 Marine Corps · 5 Sterrett, Agnes McClung Daughter · 63 Sterrett, Alice · See Davidson, Alice Sterrett Sterrett, Annamarye Lackey · 92 First Wife · 63 Sterrett, Edna Watkins Morton Mother · 62 Sterrett, James Reid · 94 Sterrett, John Douglas · 94 Sterrett, Madison McClung Jr. Birth · 61 Brownsburg School · 64 College · 78 Deferment · 41 Graduation in 1943 · 69 Honeymoon · 93 Loss of Front Teeth · 16 Marriage · 72 Marriage at Timber Ridge · 93 Marriages · 63 Mulberry Grove · 62 Sterrett, Madison McClung Sr. Birth in 1900 · 31 Civilian Conservation Corps · 8, 58, 69, 73 Father · 62 Grade Foreman in Norfolk · 59 Jury duty · 78 Marriage in 1919 · 64 Purchase of Farm · 8 Sterrett, Rebecca Alexander Willson · 94 Sterrett, Robert · 94 Sterrett, Tate · 50 Sterrett, Tom · 101 Stevenson, Dora · See Franklin, Dora Stevenson Stevenson, Eddie · 32 Stevenson, Isabel · See Sites, Isabel Stevenson Straub, Dolly · 59 Straub, Herman · 59 Strickler Family · 7, 69 Strickler, Johnnie · 9 Strickler, Ollie · 9 Stuart, Boyd · 28, 101 Stuart, Louise Wiseman · 99 Supinger, Bob · 80 Supinger, Osie · 82 Swisher, Buford · 31 Swope, Carl · 36 T Taylor, Dr. Brownsburg Doctor · 16, 87 Telephone · 82 Telephone Office · 80 Train · 77 Trimmer, Ocie · 41 U Updike, Margaret Dice · 6, 44 Nursing School · 44 W Wade Family · 85 Wade, Amelia · 82 Wade, Hamilton · 33 Wade, Hugh · 32 Banker · 32 Wade, Jim · 39 Wade, John · 50 Pneumonia Death · 33 Wade, Mary · 31 Wade, Mattie · 82 Post Mistress · 86 Wade, Miss Teacher · 66 Wade, Randall · 100 Walthall, Dr. · 90 New Providence Minister · 75 Waybright Boys · 36 Whipple Family · 85 Whipple, David · 34 Whipple, Fred · 90 White, Locke New Providence Minister · 75 Whitesell, John · 99 Whitesell, Virginia Wade · 99 Whitesell’s Store · 81, 86 Williams, Dr. · 90 Brownsburg Doctor · 87 Willson, James A. Killed at Appomattox · 94 Willson, Rebecca Alexander · See Sterrett, Rebecca Alexander Willson Wilson, Dr. Dentist · 16 Wiseman, Tolerace J. · 43 Withrow, Earl · 11 Woody Family · 85 Woody's Store · 81 World War II · 41, 59, 68, 73 Prisoner of War Camps · 74 Rationing · 73 W&L School of Special Services · 74