Saturday morning brought the first snow fall to my area of Appalachia. We only got a dusting-but me and the girls were wishing for a big snow. It seems like it snowed more when I was a kid-maybe it did-or maybe all the fun I had playing in it when it did snow-stands out in my memories. On a hot day this past summer-I interviewed a gentlemen who told me about one of the biggest snows he remembered from his childhood. He also detailed a few of the toys kids played with in those days.
Worth Smathers was born on March 16, 1934 in the Dutch Cove area of Haywood County NC. He had one brother-who was 16 mos older than him named Woody.
What was life like when you were a child Worth?
All the play pretties for children were made by hand. Sometimes we'd take a steel hook or ring-bend a wire and roll the ring down the road. Grandpa Smathers once cut down an apple tree. They took 4 blocks of the wood turned them into wheels added an axle and made a wagon. We'd go out into the woods and ride grapevines that were hanging high in the trees. If we found an old piece of metal we'd sled down the mountain on the pine needles.
What memories stand out to you from childhood?
On my 7th Birthday me and Woody, my brother, spent the night with Grandpa and Grandma Smathers. We always slept upstairs in a room where the chimney kept the room warm. When we woke up the next morning and looked out the window the snow was up to the fence posts. We all went out to look off the porch and Grandpa pushed me off the porch. The snow was so deep I had to tunnel back to the steps to get back on the porch. After that me and Woody tunneled to the woodpile to get wood for Grandma Smathers.
My other Grandpa, John Mease, lived in Henson Cove. Grandpa was about too stingy to eat. He'd go to the store and want to buy 10 cents of fatback at a time, he was that cheap. They made cornbread in the tiniest pan you ever seen. They'd cook only 2 taters at a time one for him one for Grandma. They'd only cook a 1/2 pint of beans at at time too. They wanted to make sure there wasn't any wasted nor enough to share with anyone else either.
Daddy bought me and Woody a 1936 wagon. We were playing with it and broke off one of the back wheels. Daddy thought we were being too rough with it and said "if your going to tear it up I'm going to put it up." Several years ago, about 10 years, I woke up with that wagon on my mind. After Daddy put it up we all forgot about it and he never did get it back down. After I woke up thinking about it, I went and found it. It took some time but I restored it to the way it was when we first had it.
I hope you enjoyed my interview with Worth. He has led an exciting life. In 1952 he accidentally shot himself-the bullet went through his thumb into his eyebrow and exited at the edge of his hair. Then in 1982 he was in a tractor trailer wreck that ruptured his gall bladder. Although he spent many years living in California, he now resides in Dutch Cove where he was born and raised.
Tipper
p.s. I keep hearing stories about the big snow Worth mentioned. Apparently it was a major snowstorm for western NC and beyond.
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Great interview, again.
Posted by: Marie | December 13, 2009 at 10:45 AM
So many of us shy away from much friendliness, maybe because the media, in all its forms, has slowly led us to be untrusting people. When I see and listen to Mr. Smathers I can tell he is a person no one would have any reservation about. He is honest, friendly and clearly a likeable man. You sure have some great buddies, Tipper. What a great job on that wagon restoration!
Posted by: David Templeton | December 09, 2009 at 10:44 PM
I like listening about the old days, too. We've had a few really big snows that I can remember. My aunt told me about how her dad (my grandpa) used to walk before her making a path through the snow when she walked to school in the winter. My brother in law was born during the big snowstorm that we had here on Thanksgiving in 1950.
Posted by: Janet | December 08, 2009 at 11:16 PM
Great post Tipper.
Posted by: Jan | December 08, 2009 at 06:50 PM
I remember that big snow when I was in the 6th grade too, Miss Cindy! It snowed every Sunday and every Thursday I think for a whole month. My Pappaw said that when a snow lingers on the ground like that for a while - it's means it's waiting on another one. We loved being out of school all that time. The snow was frozen over so that it was ice on top and we only had an old wooden sled that my Pappaw had made for us - but even it would fly on that icy stuff. Such great memories.
Posted by: PeggyP | December 08, 2009 at 06:19 PM
Such beautiful memories, Tipper!
Oh what a surprise! I'm listening to your girls singing to Paul's strumming! Wonderful! It just struck me, Tipper! That's what life's about! The little things! I think children know that better than adults most times!
Have a wonderful day! :))
Posted by: petra michelle | December 08, 2009 at 10:31 AM
Great interview, Tipper. Mr Smathers sounds like an interesting fellow. I suppose the Deer Hunter could be relater to him, his Pop was a Mease from Henson Cove.
There is a lot to be learned from the old folks. After my grandmother died I became friends with one of her childhood friends, Sallie. I loved to sit and talk to her. Her husband was Cherokee and a bear hunting guide. She made bear grease biscuits one day. That was quite a treat!
I'm a little younger than Worth but I remember a big snow when I was in 6th grade. We were out of school for 5 or six weeks....and we had to go to school on Saturdays and half the summer to make up the time!
Posted by: Miss Cindy | December 08, 2009 at 10:29 AM
Like you, Tipper, I love talking to people about their lives and what it was like where they grew up. I'm fascinated by learning those things. I loved our snow on Saturday and wish we would have more just like it.
Thanks for this story about Worth.
Posted by: Glenda Beall | December 07, 2009 at 11:43 PM
Tipper: The snows of the past will cycle through again. Nature has a way of giving us different conditions. In the 40 years we have lived in Ohio we have seen a lot of different Winter conditions.
Posted by: Fishing Guy | December 07, 2009 at 07:42 PM
Wonderful stories! I could read/listen to stories like this all day. Isn't it funny how some of our favorite toys were simple ones, even homemade ones? Growing up in California and Texas, I almost never saw snow, except when we went to the mountains. So I mostly enjoy it here in Virginia. We had a snow last Saturday, and our daughter even called us from Philadelphia to tell us it was snowing. That's another thing you can enjoy for free!
Posted by: Greta Koehl | December 07, 2009 at 07:12 PM
I really enjoyed this interview, Tipper! What fun Worth and his brother must have had growing up. I wish I'd thought of sliding down hill on pine needles when I was a kid! That little wagon is really something, too.
You're lucky to have had a little snow! We haven't had any snow yet. We did have some slushy rain last week and a little more last night. I'd love a white Christmas~but it rarely happens for us.
Posted by: Mary | December 07, 2009 at 02:45 PM
Hey Tipper, I find people like worth fascinating to listen to. They always have the most wonderful stories.
Posted by: susie | December 07, 2009 at 02:00 PM
Just loved this interview. The only "big snow" that I can talk about in Texas, was a few years back on Good Friday. It was about 9 inches and was all melted before night. I don't think that counts as a big snow.....unless your from Texas!{: blessings,Kathleen
Posted by: Kathleen | December 07, 2009 at 01:49 PM
Very cool!
Posted by: Nancy M. | December 07, 2009 at 12:17 PM
Tipper, I enjoyed this story about Worth Smathers, especially the 1936 wagon. I think of that wagon now and how handy it would be to use in a garden.
Most of all I think of the lesson learned. One time my sons were quarreling over a new Christmas truck. I took it and put it in the closet, saying, you all just have too much to play with. One day months maybe even years later, I pulled the truck out and gave it to them. It became their most prized toy and they voluntarily took turns.
Posted by: Nancy Simpson | December 07, 2009 at 11:55 AM
Nice interview! The story of sliding down hill reminded me of my childhood in hill-less Florida. We would go to a nearby golf course where there were man-made little hills and slide down them on heavy paper fertilizer bags.
Posted by: Vicki Lane | December 07, 2009 at 09:49 AM
Very nice story. Snow is such a childhood wonder that is for sure!
Posted by: olecrowsnestnan | December 07, 2009 at 09:00 AM
Very nice interview Tipper. I am real happy to hear he found that wagon and restore it. I bet that was a treat for him to work on.
Posted by: Rick | December 07, 2009 at 08:34 AM
Intersting fella! I love to listen to old timers talk about their life.
He said the snow came on his 7th birthday. Maybe you could find something somewhere that talks about that "big snow".
Posted by: Becky | December 07, 2009 at 07:52 AM
since I grew up in saudia arabia I cant really talk about snow memmories.....but my boys sure will have some!
Posted by: christina | December 07, 2009 at 07:39 AM
Ahhh, I miss sitting around at my mamaw's and grand-dad's house hearing stories of long ago...I am happy to come here, and thank Sam for passing your site to me...I like that 'play pretties' for children...
Posted by: CheE | December 07, 2009 at 06:53 AM