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Post by richard on Jul 19, 2006 8:45:06 GMT -5
Please post your memories of living in Columbus.
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Post by Ricky_Berkey on Aug 11, 2006 18:39:27 GMT -5
I'm very interested in the Tuskegee Airmen who were in Columbus for some period of time training at the Bakalar Air Base. Does anyone remember their presence and the community's attitude at the time? Any information you know or remember would be welcomed.
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Babs
HCI Forum Board Member
Posts: 589
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Post by Babs on Sept 5, 2006 14:13:43 GMT -5
Growing up in Columbus, I never thought about there being a difference in anyones skin color. We were taught to respect everyone and yes, I know the "N" word was used even around smaller children back in those days, but I just thought people were people.
I had a friend when I went to Garfield School, her name was Mary (as they say on some tv shows "to protect the innocent" I will not put her last name in though I remember it well), and Mary was Black. One day Mary's mom was sick or something and Mary came to school with no lunch and no lunch money. In those days, the early 40's, kids all went home for lunch and if for some reason you had to stay at school you had to have a note stating why you couldn't go home for lunch. Well here was little Mary (we were probably 8 years old at the time) and she was all upset because she couldn't go home and she had no money to run to one of the nearby grocery stores to buy a Twinkie or cupcake or anything. When she told me(I think it was while we were playing hopskotch at recess), I went up to the teacher and asked if I could be excused to go to Mr. Richard's office and call home. The teacher said yes and off I went to face the principal (scared cause I don't think I'd ever been to the office); I called home and asked my mother "if I could bring a friend home for lunch". She replied "yes,of course", so at lunch time off Mary and I went to our house on Pennsylvania Street. It happened to be a Monday and I don't know about your household but Monday was "wash day" at our house and on wash day my mother always made a big pot of Navy beans and corn bread. The beans could cook while she was in the basement with one of those old fashioned "wringer type" washing machines. In the door the two of us bound and my mother looked up and said "welcome" and not a word was ever said to me about the little girl I brought home. I don't think my mother gave the color of Mary's skin even a second thought. That was a very valuable lesson for a small child to learn.
I have thought many times about posting this and finally decided no one else seems to want to post anything here, so I will go for it.
I know there had to be really terrible treatment of Blacks all over during this time but I was never aware of it . I never felt they were any different than the rest of us. There were boys in high school and they played sports and were popular and the fact they were black never entered anyone's mind that I know of. Course maybe it did matter to some but I am very thankful that my brother and I were raised to be tolerant and to feel everyone of God's people was just as good as the next. Yet another reason to be thankful for being raised in a Christian home.
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havoline
HCI Forum Board Member
Posts: 6
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Post by havoline on Mar 19, 2007 14:28:51 GMT -5
I realize that this may be viewed by some as "politically incorrect" and I truly do not mean to offend, but does anyone know how the name "Nigger Hill Road" originated? For those of you who do not know, this was the name of what is now Base Road, running east from US31 and past Jewell Village, east of town. As a kid, I lived on the "Old Hartsville Pike" (now County Road 50 North) and can very well remember this being the old name for the road. (It was even spelled out as such on some of the older road signs.) I've often wondered just where the name came from.
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nancs
HCI Forum Board Member
Posts: 948
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Post by nancs on Mar 19, 2007 15:03:17 GMT -5
Hi Havoline, and yes, to 'Nigger Hill' and remembering that place. Go up through the topics on the message boards, and go to the 'Rivers and Fords' thread. There is quite a discussion about 'Nigger Hill' and Rocky Ford as well as others. Would love your input on it. Thanks. So happy to have you adding your two cents worth, that is what really makes these message boards so much fun. Nanc
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havoline
HCI Forum Board Member
Posts: 6
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Post by havoline on Mar 20, 2007 7:58:33 GMT -5
Nanc - I was aware that there was an old ford which once connected McKinley Street and Nigger Hill Road, but never made the connection with the road name. I'm wondering if there might have been a black family (or families) who lived on the "high ground" at the east side of Clifty Creek - thus the name.
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nancs
HCI Forum Board Member
Posts: 948
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Post by nancs on Mar 20, 2007 9:15:38 GMT -5
Hi, Havoline, and everybody else, too, Food for thought on 'the name/Nigger Hill,' and I guess that is another thing to add to my 'research list.' Can hardly wait til I get back to Columbus for the historical event on April 14th. Hope everyone has that date on their calendar, it promises to be a great affair at the Commons. Hope to see everyone there. Well, Richard, are we 'game' to try and put another puzzle piece into place? With my daughter traveling with me this time, hopefully she can do some 'searching' through the archives with us. See ya'll soon. Nanc
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nancs
HCI Forum Board Member
Posts: 948
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Post by nancs on Mar 22, 2007 8:28:59 GMT -5
(Sorry for the dual posting, but the only way that I can figure out to keep some continuity---also an example of why sometimes information 'can get buried within the boards,' when it has a dual value.) Havoline, et al, I did a bit of questioning of one of my 'Columbus detectives' via email, thanks, Charlie, and received an answer about Nigger Hill----the road and the ford...................Havoline, indeed, your 'thinking was correct,' and a black family did live up at the top of the hill on the east side of Clifty, therefore the origin of the name. My source did verify this with yet another person in town, so feel that we now have the answer. Since the 'name' is so very politically incorrect now, would be most interesting to discover 'when' this name was actually 'first attached' to this area. I know that was the 'name' in the 40s and you know, into the 60s. Will check some of the older cross directories in the Columbus library, and see how much farther back we can 'date' the name. 'Stay tuned,' and see what more we can add to this 'puzzle.' I am posting this info in the 'Fords and Rivers' thread, just to keep the 'factual info' in the right place, as well as in 'the Black History' section, as it does have a dual value. Nanc
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Post by lt on Dec 31, 2007 23:36:44 GMT -5
I grew up on Base Road 1972 and still today my family lives there. I NEVER heard this name. However I do know while researching African Americans in Columbus, looking at old census records and such... this was the area of town African Americans mostly lived in early "Columbus" along the river, Otter Creek area had settlements... along the same areas as Native Americans. There were layers on layers of different settlements in this area. To some degree Columbus was an out after 6 town, unless you lived as a servant for a white family.
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Post by David Sechrest on Jan 27, 2008 18:05:17 GMT -5
From the Illustrated Historical Atlas of Bartholomew County, Indiana, 1879:
"The old persons of Bartholomew County, now residents: William Sisk (colored) is supposed to be the oldest, and was awarded a gold-headed cane at a meeting of the Pioneers Of Sand Creek Township, as the oldest person in the county, being one hundred and two years of age."
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Post by richard on Mar 2, 2008 15:10:20 GMT -5
Long know as the oldest member of the OLDEST AFRICAN-AMERICAN in Columbus Prentess Oren King Smith died Sunday, October 9, 2005. Prentess graduated from Columbus High School in 1925. Photo Courtesy of Joe Downing & Charles Snyder
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Post by richard on Mar 2, 2008 19:38:54 GMT -5
Top picture is Wesley Gooden. The next picture is Florence Rilett Gooden. They were the grandparents of Bennie Milton Gooden and Sharon Gooden Jones. Photo Courtesy of Joe Downing & Charles Snyder
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Post by richard on Mar 4, 2008 13:36:20 GMT -5
This is a picture of Bennie and Frances “Peaches” Ferrell Gooden. Bennie worked for many years at Fred Sutter Dodge which was located where the office’s of The Republic today. Peaches worked for the Miller family. Photo Courtesy of Joe Downing & Charles Snyder
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Post by richard on Mar 5, 2008 11:42:03 GMT -5
Sharon Gooden Jones. Sharon is the daughter of Bennie and Frances “Peaches” Gooden. The date of this picture is unknown. Photo Courtesy of Joe Downing & Charles Snyder
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Post by richard on Mar 5, 2008 11:43:24 GMT -5
Bennie Milton Gooden. He is the son of Bennie and Frances “Peaches” Gooden. The date of this picture is unknown. Photo Courtesy of Joe Downing & Charles Snyder
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RER
HCI Forum Board Member
"Democracy & Freedom"
Posts: 2,462
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Post by RER on Mar 7, 2008 16:14:29 GMT -5
African American School Curriculum Bartholomew County IndianaHistorical review of African American culture, struggles, accomplishments, movements, underground railroad, church, school, jobs, businesses, and some family perspectives.Published By: Historic Landmarks Foundation of IndianaAuthor: Audrey JeffersonFinancial Support: The Cummins Engine Foundation and The Irwin Financial FoundationsRead The Full Content of 28 Pages (go here): sp.bitwisesolutions.com/sites/HLFI/SiteCollectionDocuments/Publication%20PDFs/barth.pdfSource: The quoted web site above
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Post by richard on Mar 8, 2008 22:31:43 GMT -5
Sharon and Bennie Milton Gooden. Photo Courtesy of Joe Downing & Charles Snyder
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Post by richard on Mar 12, 2008 10:18:00 GMT -5
The following was written as an Opinion column in the local paper, The Republic. The date of publication is unknown. Scan Courtesy of Mrs. Clarence “Buddy’ King & Charles Snyder
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Post by richard on Mar 12, 2008 10:19:39 GMT -5
Another article that appeared in The Republic. The date is noted on the scan. Scan Courtesy of Mrs. Clarence “Buddy’ King & Charles Snyder
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Post by richard on Mar 12, 2008 10:20:56 GMT -5
Sheriff Jim McKinney and the Special Deputies. The date of this picture is unknown. Photo Courtesy of Mrs. Clarence “Buddy’ King & Charles Snyder
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