Interview: Ramsey, Jane Vandiver
Item
Identifier
Mss-0279, Cassette 20-21
Title
Interview: Ramsey, Jane Vandiver
Type
Sound
Format
.mp3
Language
English
Source
Town of Calhoun, South Carolina Oral History Collection
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.
Date
1988-08-21
Description
Cassette 1
Side 1
00:23: Jane Vandiver Ramsey is aged 82 in 1988. The Vandiver family came to Calhoun in April of 1919. They were originally from near Toccoa, Georgia. Her father had worked on the construction of the double-track that ran near Calhoun. Her brother Hubert was attending Clemson as a cadet, so the family decided to move to the area.
2:08: The Vandiver house on the corner of Calhoun Street and Concord Road had, according to family research, been originally constructed as early as the 1850's. Mrs. Vandiver Ramsey states that Megginson's own relatives the Carey's (John Carey and family) lived in the house before the Vandiver's. John Boggs lived there for a time; it was during this period that the house was expanded in size.
3:19: Mrs. Vandiver Ramsey describes the architectural aspects and general dimensions of the house. It had an L-shaped porch with a swing and two chimneys. The house had been painted when they first bought it, but the house in general needed refurbishment.
7:17: The original builders of the house are not known. Nevertheless, it is believed to be one of the oldest homes in Calhoun.
9:27: Her father was named Johnson Jeremiah Vandiver. He was a railroad man. The family utilized the train during their move to Calhoun by shipping furniture from one place to another. The location of the overpass has always been in its present location according to her recollection. She can remember station agent Tom White who worked at the depot. As a child she did not go near the railroad.
23:14: Her impressions of Calhoun upon first glance were that it was a typical small southern town. She can remember the Boggs and Smith stores, and gives brief recollections regarding both.
24:18: Mrs. Vandiver Ramsey recalls the utilities that were available to her home in those early years. The family installed Delco lights in 1922. She explains what she knows about this particular lighting system. Stoves were usually either wood or coal burning. There was no indoor plumbing until around 1940, though the Smith boarding house had indoor plumbing as early as 1933. Telephone service was available, but the exact year cannot be recalled. Clemson seemed to get utility services before Calhoun. The family kept an indoor icebox.
31:48 --- Audio ends.
Side 2
00:07: Mrs. Vandiver Ramsey is discussing a local grocery store mid sentence. The store carried can goods, flour, etc. She describes the general layout of the establishment. Her family never charged for purchases, they always paid cash.
5:15: The location of the post office is discussed. She states that it was situated near the Carey house. It was a simple, one room building. Bessie Chapman was a postmistress of the operation for a time.
9:10: Mrs. Vandiver Ramsey did a lot of shopping in Anderson and Seneca, as well as Greenville. The two discuss shopping opportunities in and around Calhoun.
11:40: She can remember going to the YMCA to see movies. She can remember seeing Birth of a Nation. There were many church parties and sponsored events. The Epworth League (Methodist), BYPU (Baptist), and Christian Endeavour (Presbyterian) were all local church groups. The 1922 Junior/Senior party was held at the Vandiver house. Young people also took piano lessons and occasionally played cards.
22:55: Family life was strict; she got no relief from college in that Winthrop also led a much regimented lifestyle.
24:14: Megginson is interested in what stores and establishments were in Clemson in the old days. She can recall Captain Clinkscales, Sloan's Store, and Taylor's Shoe Shop.
26:22: The two briefly discuss local church life. The Wesleyan Methodists were quite emotional, as opposed to the Episcopal Methodists, who were much more reserved.
31:44: Audio ends.
Cassette 2
Side 1
00:12: The two are discussing the Hendricks house. She states that one of the Hendricks was a policeman, and his wife was a nurse.
1:12: Cochran Road did not exist as a street name when she was a youth. There weren't many houses in the area when the Vandiver's first arrived. She can remember that Clint Taylor's daughter had a house built close, as did Shorty and Elma Hendricks after the Vandiver's arrived.
2:00: Preacher Henry was another close neighbor who moved in a year after the Vandiver's. He and his family were originally from Jefferson, Georgia. He was a Methodist minister, although he didn't preach in Calhoun (retired?). The family had around eleven children: Garrett and Francis were two that Mrs. Vandiver Ramsey knew.
5:30: She cannot recall the Doyle's ever having children. Teachers from the Calhoun/Clemson school boarded with the Doyle's. "Colonel" Doyle's title was believed to be honorary. He was a station agent at the depot just prior to Tom White.
8:00: The Dillard family was another local Calhoun family. Frank lived with wife and family. He was in charge of the college laundry. She can also remember the Crawford's, Fendley's, Chapman's, Sheriffs, and Perry's. She briefly touches on aspects of the Carey house.
11:09: Her mother's name was Nina Dominic. She was from Newberry and attended college at Leesville. She taught school briefly before marrying. She was quite an artist.
11:55: The two briefly discuss a painting her mother did of her home in Newberry.
15:10: Megginson is interested in what medical and dental services were available to the community. She states that Dr. Watkins was their family doctor. Dr. Milford was the college doctor. There was a dentist in Seneca.
15:53: Megginson asks Mrs. Vandiver Ramsey what reading materials were available to Calhoun locals. The Greenville News was popular. There was a national publication known as The Grit. The family received a monthly publication known as the Liberty Magazine. As a child she read Anne of Green Gables, and in later years Ben Robertson's Red Hills and Cotton, and enjoyed them both.
18:37: Megginson is interested to know if Mrs. Vandiver Ramsey was familiar with the King family. The family apparently moved to the Calhoun area while she was in college. Mr. King may have been involved with the local post office, though she didn't really know the family well.
20:37: The two discuss the Smith boarding house. She can recall that many Federal Board Men stayed there in the years after World War I.
22:14: She can remember the Clemson cadet walkout of 1920. She can recall cadets strolling about town, and catching rides on the train. As a girl she would sweep the porch to the cadence of the marching band as they practiced.
23:48: Megginson thanks Mrs. Vandiver Ramsey for the interview.
24:05: Audio ends.
Side 2
Blank
Side 1
00:23: Jane Vandiver Ramsey is aged 82 in 1988. The Vandiver family came to Calhoun in April of 1919. They were originally from near Toccoa, Georgia. Her father had worked on the construction of the double-track that ran near Calhoun. Her brother Hubert was attending Clemson as a cadet, so the family decided to move to the area.
2:08: The Vandiver house on the corner of Calhoun Street and Concord Road had, according to family research, been originally constructed as early as the 1850's. Mrs. Vandiver Ramsey states that Megginson's own relatives the Carey's (John Carey and family) lived in the house before the Vandiver's. John Boggs lived there for a time; it was during this period that the house was expanded in size.
3:19: Mrs. Vandiver Ramsey describes the architectural aspects and general dimensions of the house. It had an L-shaped porch with a swing and two chimneys. The house had been painted when they first bought it, but the house in general needed refurbishment.
7:17: The original builders of the house are not known. Nevertheless, it is believed to be one of the oldest homes in Calhoun.
9:27: Her father was named Johnson Jeremiah Vandiver. He was a railroad man. The family utilized the train during their move to Calhoun by shipping furniture from one place to another. The location of the overpass has always been in its present location according to her recollection. She can remember station agent Tom White who worked at the depot. As a child she did not go near the railroad.
23:14: Her impressions of Calhoun upon first glance were that it was a typical small southern town. She can remember the Boggs and Smith stores, and gives brief recollections regarding both.
24:18: Mrs. Vandiver Ramsey recalls the utilities that were available to her home in those early years. The family installed Delco lights in 1922. She explains what she knows about this particular lighting system. Stoves were usually either wood or coal burning. There was no indoor plumbing until around 1940, though the Smith boarding house had indoor plumbing as early as 1933. Telephone service was available, but the exact year cannot be recalled. Clemson seemed to get utility services before Calhoun. The family kept an indoor icebox.
31:48 --- Audio ends.
Side 2
00:07: Mrs. Vandiver Ramsey is discussing a local grocery store mid sentence. The store carried can goods, flour, etc. She describes the general layout of the establishment. Her family never charged for purchases, they always paid cash.
5:15: The location of the post office is discussed. She states that it was situated near the Carey house. It was a simple, one room building. Bessie Chapman was a postmistress of the operation for a time.
9:10: Mrs. Vandiver Ramsey did a lot of shopping in Anderson and Seneca, as well as Greenville. The two discuss shopping opportunities in and around Calhoun.
11:40: She can remember going to the YMCA to see movies. She can remember seeing Birth of a Nation. There were many church parties and sponsored events. The Epworth League (Methodist), BYPU (Baptist), and Christian Endeavour (Presbyterian) were all local church groups. The 1922 Junior/Senior party was held at the Vandiver house. Young people also took piano lessons and occasionally played cards.
22:55: Family life was strict; she got no relief from college in that Winthrop also led a much regimented lifestyle.
24:14: Megginson is interested in what stores and establishments were in Clemson in the old days. She can recall Captain Clinkscales, Sloan's Store, and Taylor's Shoe Shop.
26:22: The two briefly discuss local church life. The Wesleyan Methodists were quite emotional, as opposed to the Episcopal Methodists, who were much more reserved.
31:44: Audio ends.
Cassette 2
Side 1
00:12: The two are discussing the Hendricks house. She states that one of the Hendricks was a policeman, and his wife was a nurse.
1:12: Cochran Road did not exist as a street name when she was a youth. There weren't many houses in the area when the Vandiver's first arrived. She can remember that Clint Taylor's daughter had a house built close, as did Shorty and Elma Hendricks after the Vandiver's arrived.
2:00: Preacher Henry was another close neighbor who moved in a year after the Vandiver's. He and his family were originally from Jefferson, Georgia. He was a Methodist minister, although he didn't preach in Calhoun (retired?). The family had around eleven children: Garrett and Francis were two that Mrs. Vandiver Ramsey knew.
5:30: She cannot recall the Doyle's ever having children. Teachers from the Calhoun/Clemson school boarded with the Doyle's. "Colonel" Doyle's title was believed to be honorary. He was a station agent at the depot just prior to Tom White.
8:00: The Dillard family was another local Calhoun family. Frank lived with wife and family. He was in charge of the college laundry. She can also remember the Crawford's, Fendley's, Chapman's, Sheriffs, and Perry's. She briefly touches on aspects of the Carey house.
11:09: Her mother's name was Nina Dominic. She was from Newberry and attended college at Leesville. She taught school briefly before marrying. She was quite an artist.
11:55: The two briefly discuss a painting her mother did of her home in Newberry.
15:10: Megginson is interested in what medical and dental services were available to the community. She states that Dr. Watkins was their family doctor. Dr. Milford was the college doctor. There was a dentist in Seneca.
15:53: Megginson asks Mrs. Vandiver Ramsey what reading materials were available to Calhoun locals. The Greenville News was popular. There was a national publication known as The Grit. The family received a monthly publication known as the Liberty Magazine. As a child she read Anne of Green Gables, and in later years Ben Robertson's Red Hills and Cotton, and enjoyed them both.
18:37: Megginson is interested to know if Mrs. Vandiver Ramsey was familiar with the King family. The family apparently moved to the Calhoun area while she was in college. Mr. King may have been involved with the local post office, though she didn't really know the family well.
20:37: The two discuss the Smith boarding house. She can recall that many Federal Board Men stayed there in the years after World War I.
22:14: She can remember the Clemson cadet walkout of 1920. She can recall cadets strolling about town, and catching rides on the train. As a girl she would sweep the porch to the cadence of the marching band as they practiced.
23:48: Megginson thanks Mrs. Vandiver Ramsey for the interview.
24:05: Audio ends.
Side 2
Blank
Subject
South Carolina -- Pickens County
Interviewer
Megginson, W. J.
Interviewee
Ramsey, Jane Vandiver
Publisher
Clemson University Libraries Special Collections and Archives Repository
