Skip to main content

Black Heritage in the Upper Piedmont of South Carolina

Thompson Cassette 2 Side 2

Media

Part of Interview: Thompson, Robert H.

Title

Thompson Cassette 2 Side 2

Source

Robert H. Thompson Interview

Date

1990-02-07, 1990-02-09

Description

Cassette 2

Side 2

00:00--Thompson continues discussing Oak Grove School. It was a one-room schoolhouse with two teachers. It provided grades 1-7. The school was later incorporated into Anderson School District 4.

3:27--Shopping was done at Hunter's Store locally using both cash and credit. The establishment closed in the 1950's. In 1990, the building was the site of the Pendleton Historical Association.

6:37--Clothing was both store-bought and handmade. Individuals usually had one set of dress clothes for church along with work clothes.

8:24---His family raised most of its own food utilizing a garden and livestock. Staples such as sugar, coffee, and rice were store-bought.

9:25--Thompson discusses furniture pieces in the home that are handmade, as well as blacksmith tools that have been passed down.

11:20--Family members who were particularly talented with music are the Winston's.

13:30--In 1935, the family home was destroyed by a tornado. The children hid under brass beds; the house was basically flattened all around them.

15:50--He remembers people talking about the flu epidemic that occurred around the time of World War I. There was much death and sickness in the community, though no one in his family died from it.

16:45--His father served in World War I. He was stationed in France and was injured during a gas attack, though he experienced no long-term effects from it.

17:35--Church--his family were members of Kings Chapel AME Church. The ministers he can remember include men named Jefferson, Chappelle, and Brown (who had the first heating system installed). A parsonage was provided for the minister. Camp meetings took place in October, usually starting on a Saturday and ending on Sunday. Favorite songs are recalled; the family has a recording of Henry Thompson [uncle of Robert] singing How Great Thou Art. Church sponsored groups included the Men's Club, Women's Missionary Society, and various youth groups.

29:33--Education--His father went Oak Grove School before attending South Carolina State. His fathers' college education was cut short on account of his being drafted into military service for World War I. Robert Thompson went to Anderson County Training School before also attending South Carolina State.

31:24--Audio ends.

Rights

Interviews may only be reproduced with permission from Clemson University Libraries Special Collections and Archives. All rights to the interviews, including but not restricted to legal title, copyrights and literary property rights, have been transferred to the Clemson University Libraries Special Collections and Archives.