My little Red Hat

It was 1944, my dad had moved to California, my older brothers, Jim, Leon and CB were already here and thought the move would be good for the family.
I was only 6 years old, Times were hard in Arkansas, We never seemed to have enough food or enough warmth, and never enough clothing. Our jeans and shirts had patches on the patches. I of course do not remember most of these hard time, it was just a way of life.
Wynell was 13.
Dad finally sent for us, We boarded the train in Pine Bluff, to begin our journey across the country. So our first trip was not by Old car on Route 66 or by Wagon Train, I know that must dissapoint some of you, since you think I am ancient.
My Mom bought me a little red cap, like a baseball cap, I had never had a cap. While we were traveling, the windows were open, We had no air conditioning, and I am sure we did not even have a sleeper car. We probably slept in our seats. One day my little cap blew out the window, I remember crying for a long time about that cap, and having a feeling of loss and disappointment.
For food, I recall the bologna sandwiches. They were the best food I ever had. Mama bought them on the train. In 1944 bologna was so good. Unlike anything you buy today. No fillers just great meat.
When we arrived in Red Bluff, it was late. My Dad was asleep on one of the carts that sit at railroad stations. I believe we moved into a little shack on Oak street in Red Bluff.
My Aunt Esther gave me a photo of that little shack a few weeks ago, I will share it as soon as we get it scanned in and posted.
Being only 6 at the time, I began school at Lincoln Street school, I would remain in California until I began 7th grade then we moved back to Sheridan.
During my years in Red Bluff a lot of life happened to my siblings myself.
The next story will deal with the River, The Bridge, and our two homes on the river.



Stay tuned, (if I can dig it out of him).

First Memory

The first memory I had was of an old plow mare. Her name was "Ole Coalie" As you can see, by the name, the mare was black.
I was probably 4 yers old, so Coy would have been 2.

One day we decided to all ride her, Several of us got on her back, Coy, Myself, Virgil, and maybe one more. Not sure.
We were doing pretty good Coalie had back bones that could hurt if you hit them just right.
Suddenly Coalie ran under a clothesline, all of us got swept off by the clothesline. no one was hurt but I am sure Mama was upset that we had ridden the mare.

My next memory was of a move we made, We moved often, Dad used to joke that we had to move when the rent came due. Often he would see and emptry house and decide to move in. We only once in our life had running water, and an inside bathroom but the well was dry so we had to run to the well to get water, and the bathroom was of no use.

When we borrowed the truck for the move, It had (had being operative) big wooden sideboards on the back to support itme being moved. As Dad was pulling into a service station,( to get gas, at psosibly 10 cents a gallon, the truck would not fit under the station awning , which was probably homemade anyway, ) The sideboards came off and fell all around the kids in the back.
I was possibly 6 at this time.

I never lived in one house a year at a time, Sometime only a month. They walls were so thin the winter winds could blow through. My Dad took an old 55 gallon drum and put legs on it, cut out a door and made a heater out of it. That old drum was pretty thin material. It is amazing our house did not burn down, In fact one did, but that is another story, I know few details as I was only a baby at the time,.

Stay tuned