Oral history interview with Betty BJ Caldwell, conducted by Jan Blodgett on Thursday September 8, 2016 at the Torrence-Lytle Community Center in Huntersville, NC.
In this interview, Susie Lowery provides insights into the experience of a Black woman growing up and working several jobs in and around Huntersville, Davidson, and Mooresville. Born in Huntersville, Ms. Lowery’s family moved several times in the area to farm for different landowners, mentioning for instance, the farms of Dr. McConnell and Mr. Caldwell. After her marriage in 1931, Ms. Lowery moved to Davidson and worked for several White faculty families, such as the Cummings or the Wilsons. She also mentions cooking at a Davidson College fraternity house until her retirement.
Ms. Lowery talks about raising her own children, grandchildren and even greatgrandchildren, as well as many of the children from the families she worked for. After raising many children and see them leave, as well as dealing with her husband’s passing, she explains she had to move out from Griffith Street at a difficult time. Nonetheless, she discusses the Reeve’s Temple AME Zion and Gethsemane Baptist churches, and recalls fried fish picnics, baseball games, and other events that the church community would organize. Ms. Lowery expresses herself positively about Davidson and its people, characterizing it as quiet and kind place. She talks about businesses and entertainment in and around Davidson, and observes that at the time of the interview, many young people were leaving Davidson for a lack of jobs. Finally, she goes over some of her neighbors over time, mentioning Davidson residents such as Nancy Fairley, Brenda Tapia, Evelyn Carr, Hattie Thompson, Rosie Patterson, Dan Brown, and Mr. Graham.
