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

Oral History Register
for

Richard Parham, 1921-
and Anne Parham, 1916-

OH-VOA R37 Ri

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:
Parham, Anne, 1916-
Parham, Richard, 1921-
Asheville (N.C.) -- History
Weaving -- North Carolina -- Asheville
Depressions -- 1929 -- North Carolina -- Asheville

Subject

Keyword: Biltmore Industries ; Depression ; World War II ; Seely's Castle ; Red Egypt

Description

Abstract: Richard discusses his experience growing up in Asheville, describing several important places in the city such as Pack Square, the Paramount Theatre, and various shops that he remembers. He discusses his work experience, his service in the military during WWII in the South Pacific and Japan, and his career in the weaving industry.  He discusses changes that have occurred in Asheville over the years.  Anne describes her experience growing up in the Montford area, and discusses the horrible conditions of poverty and sickness during the Depression.  She discusses the Seely family, for whom she worked, and describes the Seely Castle.  She also discusses her experience working in the weaving industry, where she met Richard, and outlines her job experience working as an LPN in the health industry. 

Publisher

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

Contributor

Date

Electronic Record Issued: 2002-05-23

Type

Sound ; Text ; Image

Format

Physical Description: 9-page abstract ; 1 90-minute audiocassette ; 4 color photographs ; newspaper articles and brochures

Identifier

Source

OH-VOA R37 Ri

Language

English

Relation

References: Biltmore Industries Collection

Coverage

Acquisition

Donor number: 146 ;  Date of acquisition: 1998

Processed By

Dorothy Joynes, Ruth Beard and staff

Interview Date

Interview Location

Biography

Anne was born in Asheville, and grew up in the lower end of Montford.  Her family was very poor, and although her mother wanted to send Anne to college, her father wouldn't allow it.  Anne worked for Mrs. Baird, the daughter of Mrs. Seely during the summers.  She later became a guide for the Biltmore Homespun Shop - where she met Richard.  She was licensed as an LPN, and worked at St. Josephs, the Health Department, and later at the Beaverdam Nursing Home.

List of names

[1/213] [1/153] Arrowood, Fred
[1/213] Arrowood, Filete
[2/67] [2/311] Baird, Evelyn Seely
[2/311] Baird, Skipper
[1/511] Baker, Jimmy
[1/153] Ballard, Zeb F.
[1/213] [2/582] Blomberg , Harry
[1/213] Bowie, Dave
[1/153] [1/213] Creasman, Frank A.
[1/103] Finkelstein, Leo
[1/65] Grove, Edwin W.
[1/82] Highton, Mrs.
[1/511] Ingle, Mr.
[1/153] Jenkins, Mr.
[1/36] Lewis, Mr.
[1/398] Masters
[1/25] Richard, Henry
[1/146] Robertson, Mr.
[1/153] Rocker, Van
[2/67] [2/311] Seely, Evelyn Grove (Mrs. Fred)
[1/1] [1/103] [1/213] [1/240] [2/311] Seely, Fred Sr.
[1/258] [2/311] Seely, Fred Jr.
[2/311] Seely, Grove
[2/311] Seely, John
[2/311] Seely, Louise
[1/153] [2/67] Stevens, Robert
[1/511] Swaggart, Jimmy
[2/582] Wolfe, Thomas

Side 1:

Richard was born 1921 in Craggy and moved to house off Broadway. His father was working with Seely as a builder. (see enclosure) [Fred Seely]

[25] He started school in West Buncombe and then Claxton. His mother remarried and they moved to the Beaver Lake Area. [Henry Richard]

[36] His stepfather was a brick mason. He describes the Beaver Cemetery rockwork. A streetcar used to go to Weaverville. [Mr. Lewis]

[52] In 1936 the family moved to Sunset Mountain. There was a café at the toll gate where dances were held.

[65] Grove owned all the streets on Sunset Mountain. They were not paved. He went to town on a streetcar for 50 cents or round trip for 75 cents. [Edwin W. Grove]

[82] He lived 2 miles from the Seely's Castle - there were 4 houses near it. Mr. Highton was caretaker. He walked to town to go to the movies. (see enclosure). [Mrs. Highton]

[103] He describes Pack Square - Paramount Theatre, Greek Restaurant, Peterson's café, the army store and Finkelstein's (see tape). Kress, Imperial, Newberry, Montgomery Ward, Woolworth. Pollock's shoe store was close by. Mr. Seely gave shoes away every Christmas. He received some. [Leo Finkelstein, Fred Seely]

[146] He did rock work around the Beaver Dam area and also in Biltmore Forest. [Robertson]

[153] When he was 17 he worked in the weaving industry. He worked on the mixing machines with dye, washed the fabric and hung it on the fences outside to dry. He and other employees picked over the wool, washed it, and separated different colors. He found a copperhead in a wool bin. [Zeb Ballard, Fred Arrowood, Van Rocker, Frank Creasman, Jenkins, Robert Stevens]

[213] The present golf course and shops are as they were when he was a boy but the weaving buildings, which held 40 looms, are now the car museum. Bloomberg was not interested in the weaving (see Philip Merrill tape). [Frank Creasman, Davie Bowie, Filete Arrrowood, Fred Arrowood, Harry Blomberg, Fred Seely Sr.]

[240] The state of Georgia used to rent prisoners to work. They put in the tunnel around Old Fort. Seely fought this practice. [Fred Seely]

[258] He quit school and stayed with a black man who took care of Fred Seely's horses. [Fred Seely Jr.] 

[271] Before World War II there was  a cavalry around Biltmore and horses were ridden around Biltmore area.

[285] During the war he was sent to the South Pacific and then Japan. After service he worked in a machinery shop west of Asheville by the river. It used to be a dump. When the highway was put through the foundry closed.

[328] Riverside Park is getting better now. There used to be a lake there. The river used to be good for fishing and is getting better now.

[351] Asheville is not as it used to be. Winks and Bucks were restaurants reached by tunnel. The radio station used to play records for kids. He knew some bootleggers but liquor made in Madison County.

[374] She worked for the Health Department. The police Department would confiscate liquor and bring it in to be tested. Every now and then a person would be caught and jailed.

[398] His brother-in-law was captain of the Police Department and his uncle a chief. The young used to respect the police, now they feel the police are just trying to catch them when they buy liquor so they can be fined for $300-$400. [Masters]

[431] He discusses discipline when he was a boy and the attitude today. Leaders don't set examples and character is not taught in school. He studied Bible for 7 years and doesn't feel the church teaches as they used to.

[511] Ingle killed his father and was called to preach (I did not ask for details). He doesn't believe in paying preachers and doesn't go to any one church. [Ingle, Jimmy Swaggart, Jimmy Baker] 

Side 2: 

He worked in a foundry and put ducts in the Northwest Bank. He worked with the Stencil Engineering Corporation for 20 years.

[2/45] In 1983 his house burnt down. He salvaged the bricks and, after purchasing a trailer, built around it. He built a brick house down the road following a book of instructions and, although he had only a 6^th grade education, it passed inspection codes.

[2/67] She was born in Asheville and worked for Mrs. Baird (Mrs. Seely's daughter) and became a guide for the Weaving Industry - the Homespun Shop (where she met her husband). People staying at Grove Park Inn came to see Weavers. She said she was treated like a "Hillbilly" - the tourists asked silly questions. [Evelyn Seely Baird, Robert Stevens, Mrs. Fred Seely]

[2/113] The Parhams had two children and 3 great grand-children. Thirty-eight years ago she was licensed as a LPN and worked at St. Joseph's and later for 8 years at the Beaverdam Nursing Home. She is now 77.

[2/133] She said her memories of poverty during childhood were distressing. The area where the family lived, the lower end of Montford, was called Red Egypt. There was no indoor plumbing and disease was rampant. Children feared being taken to the hospital by Health Department workers. She had 2 older sisters and 7 younger brothers (one was brilliant and worked through 2 colleges, one played with dolls). Her mother sewed and did what she could to keep the family alive. Rents constantly went up and the family would be evicted. She never had all she wanted to eat when growing up.

[2/248] Her family came to Shelton. The family stayed to self during the Civil War, which angered their neighbors who refused to sell them salt. Young soldiers came to the house and killed the men. She said there is a book about this.

[2/268] Her mother was a Presbyterian. She wanted to send her to school but her father wouldn't allow it. [Here she said every child went through high school and 2 sisters went to college]. Her mother sold crochet pocket books and in better times fixed up a little house on Hillside, then obtained more houses and collected rent.

[2/305] Her oldest sister found $10 and used this to enter Berea College. She was hit on the head by a golf ball, given $500 which she gave her mother.

[2/311] For three summers before marriage she took care of Skipper Seely (Mrs. Seely's grandson) in Winston-Salem. When Mr. Seely went to St. Louis, she would stay with Mrs. Seely in castle. She describes an unhappy, very religious woman but said Fred Sr. was likable (see enclosure). [Evelyn Seely Baird, Skipper Baird, Mrs. Fred Seely, Fred Seely Sr., Grove Seely, John Seely, Fred Seely, Louise Seely]

[2/438] She describes the castle which was built to look unfinished. There were swings and sliding board in back. The toll road went all around the front of the castle.

[2/560] A young couple live in the castle now, and are restoring it. They have a store in town. (see enclosure)

[2/582] He tells about the first Cadillac building and how Blomberg saved the Wolfe house from destruction. He was smart, knew how to make money, and bought the Sky Club. (enclosure). [Harry Blomberg, Thomas Wolfe]

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