University of North Carolina at Asheville
D. Hiden Ramsey Library
Special Collections/University Archives

Oral History Register
for

Wade Huff

OH-VOA H841 Wa

Voices of Asheville Oral History Collection
D.H. Ramsey Library Special Collections, UNCA

Title

Creator

Dorothy Joynes for Voices of Asheville Oral History Collection

Subject

LCSH:
Huff, Wade
Veterans -- North Carolina
Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States -- North Carolina -- Asheville
World War, 1939-1945 -- Personal narratives
Asheville (N.C.) -- History

Subject

Keyword:
Burton Street Community Center ; Malvern Hills ; WWII ; Burton Street Community ; VFW

Description

Abstract:  In the Army Huff worked with high explosives and talks of his experiences overseas.   He heads a team "whites and colored together" that fires a salute over a veteran's grave at the family's request.  He is active in various other veteran's activities. He talks about how the Burton Street Community has changed over the years.

Publisher

D. H. Ramsey Library Special Collections, University of North Carolina at Asheville, NC, 28804

Contributor

Date

Electronic Record Issued: 2001-07-05

Type

Sound ; Text ; Image

Format

Physical Description: 1 90-minute audiocassette ; 7-page abstract ; 3  color photos ; several newspaper articles ; 3 bullet shells

Identifier

Source

OH-VOA H841 Wa

Language

English

Relation

References: VOA John Best Oral History

Coverage

Acquisition

Donor number: 146 ;  Date of acquisition: 1998

Processed By

Dorothy Joynes, Ruth Beard, Marilyn Ferikes and staff

Interview Date

Interview Location

Biography

List of names

Side 1:

He came to Asheville in 1939 to be with his brother and sister. He was told he couldn’t get a job but has never been out of work. He worked for Jackson’s tourist camp in Beverly Hills until he went in the service. In 1946-1950 he worked for the Stanton Co. until it went out of business and went to Artmore on 15 Broadway (see enclosed). [Lynwood Baldwin Jackson]

[20] Artmore, next to the Chinese Restaurant, was an old hotel. The walls were knocked out making large show rooms. They carried Simmons, Bassett, and Mahogany from Sanger.

[32] Customers came from all over - Hickory, Old Fort, Lonesome Valley, etc. Drivers had to know the country as some roads were not marked and some were old wagon trails. He always had a helper with him. Before he retired the store had two trucks.

[56] Space oil heaters were just beginning in Asheville. Coal became expensive and was awkward to handle and he became an expert in setting them up and extending storage capacity. He maintained heaters when customers had problems and gave directions over the phone when necessary. Sears and Roebucks sold heaters first (Stiglers, clean air, super flame, then Stanton, Galveston and Durithermon with automatic blower), but he sold more than any store in the city.

[161] He always worked with his hands and pumped the bellows for a blacksmith shop in GA in his youth.

[167] In the service he worked with high explosives and talks of his experiences overseas. His unit went ahead of the infantry to clear out a pass. They checked the land and buildings and there were no accidents. When the war was over, he had to stay behind to teach a new group how to continue the work. On his return to US the ship he was on hit a 4-day hurricane and he was so sea-sick that he, under doctors advice, must still stay away from water.

[384] In 1946, he joined the American Legion Post 44. He heads a team - "white and colored together" to fire a salute over a veteran’s grave at the family’s request. Three blanks are shot in unison - he collects the 30/30 blanks so they won’t interfere with grass cutting (see enclosed: the newspaper picture came out several days after our appointment date was set.) [Charlotte Derrough]

[487] He meets with the various veteran posts several times a week. He sees Captain Best (see interview) at VFW 891 yearly to go over his records. He was hospitalized at Oteen for pneumonia. [Captain John Best]

Side 2:

The sulfur springs Tourist Court was in Malvern Hills. Visitors came for a week or a month to one of the cottages. It was not like a motel. There were 7 houses (some duplex) with stoves, refrigerators, a club house, dining room with bell boys, a golf course and a total of 17 buildings.

He earned $15 a week but averaged $150 on tips. He supervised the maids in the daytime and with a white coat and cap showed the cottages at night and helped with the bags.

A bell system from the cottages to the office signaled service needed—1 for the bellboy, 2 rings meant ice, 3 a drink, and 4 a maid. Some wanted dinner brought from the dining room. There was a special honeymoon cottage.

[2/65] Sulfur water was drunk by natives as well as visitors and a Florida doctor took 6 gallons home with him. Wade received a $50 tip.

[2/107] Jackson owned the court - Braybo and Carpenter bought it and removed the bell system because of lack of help and fewer tourists. All the working men and women were doing war work or working on the railroad. [L.B Jackson]

[2/161] He has been living in his present house with his wife since 1946. At first he rented it and then bought it for $800. The man’s widow thought the house was still hers and wanted to move in - she got a lawyer but Wade had the papers of sale.

[2/205] There are many new houses on his road. The street was black-topped 25-30 years ago.

[2/217] The Burton Street Community Center down the street has improved now that police have driven the drug dealers away. There is a kitchen and recreation area where senior citizens can have a meal for 75-80 cents several days a week. There is play equipment for the children and a new director has just been hired.

[2/249] He lists the various cemeteries and procedures for funeral services. The veterans’ cemetery in Black Mountain is free for service men.

[2/300] He worked for Artmore until the partners had heart attacks and sold out. The new owner cut back on light and heat to save money. He set up oil stoves, which were inadequate, and Wade quit. [Sy Fligel, Harry Cooley, William Kimbrell]

[2/365] He knew Leo’s father (see tape) and his son-in-law who runs the Pawnshop now. He tried to pawn a razor but Leo said, "don’t start pawning" and gave him $5. Wade said he wanted to get rid of the razor. He helped put a swing-away bed together for him in his house. [Leo Finkelstein]

[2/397] Artmore had a big warehouse in Woodfin where Wade helped with upholstering. Four people from Charlotte got stuck in the Broadway store elevator and he came to town to get them out. [David Honeycutt]

[2/441] Furniture was bought by trainload and he worked with the headman repairing furniture. If he swallowed a "spit tack" he drank a coke which "ate it up."

[2/519] He had 7 sisters and 3 brothers and buried every one of them. Maggie asked him if he enjoyed his work with the graves. He said he doesn’t enjoy it, but he is proud of the work he is doing for the family. Only the undertaker gets paid. Some people donate but he does it for the love of his fellow man. [Maggie Lauterer]

Thanks.

[By phone: L.B. Jackson Jr, 105 Galloway Drive, left Asheville when he was 13 or 14 and lived in Florida until 1990. He has 2 sons here - one in Real Estate and one in building and 7 grandchildren living here. He remembers the tourist court, which was built of river rock and torn down several years ago. The golf course was sold to the Asheville School and lots were sold up to the early 50’s. His father developed a park with Green]

[From Library: Artmore, 15 Biltmore Ave. Also at that address: Smathers, J.L. and Son Furniture 1925, Susquehanna Salvage 1936, Susquehanna Antique 1940, Star Furniture 1980 and 1994.]

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