Document text
Life of
Mary Gilchrist Powell, WPA Sunervisor
(ax) lfare Worker Te-cher Writer
Musician.
Lowndesboro, Alabama.
MARY GILCIE--tIST ParELL
Marie Re -se
Lowndes County, A7a.
M,ry Gilchrist Powell WPA Supervisor, Welfare Worker, Teacher,
Writer, Musician, was born 27 years ago at Iowndesboro, Alabama, The home
in which she Passed the earliest years of her childhood was one of much
ed-cational interest ,,,nd importance in the small village and throughout the
county. The Douglas-, home w,s one of the foremost that was built when the
blue blooded settlers Pioneered from the Palmetto States.
They brought with them the cult red and educational influence and
when this home 14Pq built the traditonal one -room school house was built on the
1,wn nearby. Uw5er this shelter Civil war veterans were tau7ht on the knees
of these teachers who were among the first educators in the Black 3elt.
As time passed another generation and still anoth r generation were
taught their At B, under this "one -room school" roof on Col)ege Street.
.A little story has been npssed down the years as to the unioue punishment
the ante-bellum teacher who instructed the three generations gave her naughty
nuni7s. The story goes that when the rules were broken she,,nuld get the
small mischief maf.:ers in line and w-sh their mouths out with ouinine, and
when the offense reouired more nunihment they were tied with stY.ings to
certain benches pre -oared for that. nurnose.
The historic home with the little school house adjacent Pas -fad into
the hands of the Parents of the little golden haired girl Mary Gilchrist
and "h,story repeated itself" as it was destined to continue to be an educa-
tiorl center. It was here tie nresent WPA worker M-ry Gilchrist Powell
was taught her letters end begun her eduontion.
Mrs. Powell, her moth, -r, brushed cut the ante-bellum school room and.
Mary Gilchrist Powell 3
reconstruction neriod.
He served in that canacity till the county was overrun with Carpet-
baggers. The Woolf name was changed as to the snelling, as the original
family who immigrated here from the old world snelled it Wolfe Major
GenPral Wolfe, the Hero df Quebec, -as a close relative. History in the
family and out is a Hobby with Miss Powell and es a small girl instead of
wantin a bedtime story she scrambled up into her grandmother's lap and begged
for a historical story. The names of the family tree all their wwn held a
charm for her.
"Ohs tell me again Mammam about 17 uncle who won the battle of Quebec
long long time ago. And again the story was reneated, but never lost its
luster to the girl. She was told that Major General Wolfe was relnted, but
many generations removed, nearing PrIn years ago.
In that far away time (1759) Canada was the desired object of the
struggle and campaign. The great exnedistion under this worthy and histori-
cal young officer left Louisberg to canture @ebec which was considered -the
Gibrolter of America. He made attempts to storm the heights in front of the
City, but it was strongly defended by an army under the command of Montcalm,
end his efforts were futile. But from s noint farther un the river he em
bred his army by night and silently descending the stream, he nlnced his
troops at the rear of the City on the Pinins of Abrohnm.
During the terrific battle which took olnce the next morning both
gallant commrnders mortally wounded. Wolfe lived 6nly long enough to
hear of the victory he had won end upon the reassurance of the outcome, he
exclaimed "Thonk God:" I con die hanny Imowing I won the battle of Quebec,"
The French General Montcalm nassed the nart day and exnressed
hm-
self as referring death to seeing his side surren er the C'ty to the enemy.
Mary Gilchrist Powell.
As Wolfe floated silently down stream the night nrevious to the grPnt battle
he reneated to the officers about him Grays "Elegy In A Country Church Yard"
which WIZ written but a short time before, and when he repeated the words,
TH7 PATHS OF GLORY LEAD BliT TO THE GRAvE." Gentlemen: he said, "I would
rather have written those lines than centure Quebec." None were there to tell
him "The Hero is greater than the Poet." The city he captured surrendered
five days later.
The story of EVANG=77 which Longfellow celebrated in the
poem by that name was founded on the cruel incidents of that neriod.
The small girl begged for that story too as she scented the fragrance
of p love story, but "Mammam" her grandmother, refused on the plea that neither
of the lovers in the poem were on the fnmily tree, so she was contented till
next time.
The next time she was told the story of Levicy Cook and Thomas Jefferson
Woolf who were her great great grandparents and who were the F.F.Vis (First
Families in Virginia) and were pioneers from Petersburg to this section and
made the journey to Jefferson County,
La. near the old aristocratic Natchez. It
w -s most interesting to hear the long perilous route mnde on horse back. The
couple making the trip on two horses. A most romantic part of the recital
was the attack on the beautif 1 young maiden Levicy and her sister by the
hostile Indians. Back at her home in the primitive days the two girls went
to the near by snring in the woodland adjoining their hut. They were attack-
ed by the Indians and in answer to their outcries the gallant young man came
to their assistance and rescued her from the Savages.
The two young people continued their me,tings from time to time at the
"Block H use" and he claimed her hand in marriage as a payment for saving her
life.
They were married and took their honeymoon on horse back to the fertile
lands of the Delta.
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"But Namman" what is a Block House? I went to know what kind of place
my great great "courted in. You eeid they met there in the sweetheart days
and got married. Some day I will grow up to be n big girls and may have a
sweetheart too." Well dear, relied the grandnarent, a Block House is made
for nrotection and not for social affairs, but they not there really for
safety, but she said love hannens when one least expects. Well, the county
was new and uncivilized. It was neonled by fierce Indians. There were also
white neonle coming in and both -anted to own the land. Fights occurred often
and the white men built large high houses and placed many holes around in it
to shoot out of. The house was surrounded by a strong high wall built etockade
fashion.
In times of danger the whites for miles around as,embled in these strong-
holds, and the men stationed themselves at the holes and. watched for the
apnrosching of the Indians. Tom Jefferson Woolf and the beautiful bride did
not tarry in the rich delta botfoms so long but made another pioneer trin each
on horse back but this time a baby boy was adOed to the rioneer travelers
which blessed the union of this young counle. Again the long journey through
the perilous country till they reached whet is now Dayton, Marengo County,
Alabama and decided to pitch their tent there. The wee son was carried there
ftpapoose fashion" and was transferred from the arms of one narent to another
in order to rest their tired arms.
The fether "blazed" (a term used then to exnress making a clearing'
way toward a location for bui7ding a home and cut suitable trees to be used
in its construction. A lone one -room hut was the result and while its prepa-
ration was going on the young couple camned out in the wilds.
Levicy was toagain contact the dangerous Red Skins because they were
as dangerous and antagonistic in her environments as they had been in her
former home. Her husband had to return to the home he had just left to bring
Mary Gilchrist Powell.
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possessions that he could not bring the first time, as it 1-7,,s an obvious
fact that very little could be conveyed on horse back. He could not carry
his wife and baby with him after the possessions for they were a "horse beck
full", so they were left in the lone log hut in the wildwood. The hardships
and terrors of the brave woman could not be described. Through the long cold
days and nights she could not have a fire and had to eat cold food because a
smoke from the chimney would attract the Indians.
The log cabin was the beginning of Dayton which is and has been through
the century, outstanding on account of wealth, culture and educational influ-
ence. The town today stands on the location that Thomas Jefferson Woolf blazed
through the wild forests back in that far and distant. day. A large handsome
home on the Vermont, New England type was an old landmark in that town which
took the plpce of the pioneer hut and was the home in later years of the man
who founded the town. The son, James B. Woolf, who was for many years Probate
Judge, and -rho helped to shape the destiny of the county his father had found-
ed, was the little baby boy the erents brought there on horse back." "Now
tell me what the lit'le Mary Gilchrist said about the kin on Daddy's side and
the big College:, Oh! yes, replied the mother, you want to hear about the
Devidsons.
That family is on the main limb of your tree but the one is six generations
older than you are, but the line is direct and has been carefully trpced.
William Lee Davidson is the one 7ou want to hear about. He pave the land on
which Davidson College, N.C. is built and in annreciation of it the College
when founded was named in his honor.
He was a member of one of the oldest and most exclusive organizations in
the U.S. "The Society of Cincinnati. To be eligible to its membership, one
had to be most distinguished in some way, that is to be so on account nersonal
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act or deed. Gen. Davidson distinguished himself for heroic service in
Rev.War during inthich he lost his life. His family down and through the
years were noted for their brilliant mental attainments, and many of them
became nrominent educators in different sections of the southern states.
In the flourishing years of the 1g5Ols his neice, Mrs. Mary Davidson, wps
among the brilliant array of teachers on the faculty of the Lowndesboro
Female Institute.
Her lovely character, gentle and cultured manner lives today in the
memories of some surviving puPils. In the passing years the little Mary
Gilchrist grew sway from the Kindergarted school and entered the village
school. She was so well nrenared that she entered a class ahead of her age
end in the years to come she was so studious, she remained ahead.
As a child she was a splendid student and applied herself to her school
work and the study of music (piano). In and out of the home she WPS sweet,
pleasant and affable, fond of her school duties, her Sundat School work
end her pets. One of her characteristics was her consideration end kindness tb
older peonle and the "under -dog". As a small girl she visited the sick and
when the other children of the village were indulging in games and gaities,
she and her young brother could be seen carrying some dainty bite to a "shut-
in" or going to scatter some of the charm of their younger lives where was
gray and drab.
In the school room she wps always reedy to work n hard "sum" for the
little mate that wotld play instead, of "getting" her lessons. The -e wps
always around some where p small girl or boy who were not able to have the
nice clothes and good things of life and were nicked unon and "Kicked about"
by the for'mnates. These were always befriended by her and her small brother.
There lunches were shared with those who could not bring any and often the
tif-Ty Gilchrist Powell
thy after the imposition, Mary Gilchrist would bring P bundle to the little
shabby child who wanted to learn in snite of the shabbiness and taunts and in
it would be a worn coat, a neat little dress or some things she wos willing
to divide. At an early age she was quarantined at home with diphtheria and
her entertainment was the care of a small kitten which the almost kitten like
mother refused to accept responsibility and deserted.
She nursed and cherished the little pet and named her Weet." She was
so small and soft that the little girl would slip her in the bed and conceal
her between the bedding.
"Weet" was so pleased with her home and netting and
received such good attention that she lived to arrive at the age of 16.
"Pudding", was the name given to Mary Gilchrist by the house hold due to
the fact of her sweet, kind and affectionate dianosition. "It never sounded
sweeter to me than it did the day my father called me and told me I had m -de
the highest mark of any one in my class when we stood the test for the Senior
High School entrance." Having completed the reouired gra'es at Junior H4.gh
every student in every school in the county were compelled to stand and pass
an examination in order to enter Senior High at Haynesville. Papers were mace
out at state educational office and were corrected at Superintendentle office.
M ry Gilchrist made highest mark. When her father received the message, he
approached the house "spying Pudding Powell, you come out ahead." From the
home town schools and Haynesville High she continued her eeucption at the Agnes
Scott, Decatur, Ga. She was an outstanding nunil there in her colleriete
course, as well as in music and was graduated from thereNlith honors.
Her ambition was to teach and soon afte- graduation she ac-ented a
nosition as teacher in a large school in the county where she taught three years.
However, the confinement of the school room did ntst agree with her, and she was
urged to enter the welfare work. For this she attended the University of Alabama
also University of Mississippi, taking course in welfare work at each place. She
Lary Gilchrist Powell 9
did welfare work at Birminrham, Alabama also in the Mill Virage Dist-ict at
Lanette, Georris,
In May, 193g, Miss Powell was arnointed case reader and incesti-
rator on the WPA at llontgomery, Alabama with offices at 200 Commerce Strt
Mary Gilchrist Powell is a young woman of unusual pbility. At an ePrly
are she disnlayed a talent for writing and has written several short staries
and -oems which have been nublished in some of the nonular maga7ines. She is
a amber of the ,rasbyterian Church and in her school days was or,Tan'st for
the Sunday School.
She does not IIgo in" for yeung neonlps frivolities but enjoys P00,1 whole-
some snorts. She is a rood horse woman enjoys ton,,is and cronuet. She is
a 'lendsome blonde with fair hair and comrlexion and has brirht and beautiful blue
eyes. She is tall and stately and in eveninr attire she makes a magnificent
anner-rnnce. Recently Mis- owell has been nromoted to sunerrisor in one of
the larger counties of Alabama with 15nn to look after. In her dist-ict the
extermin--ion of the Pink Iorm (a cron destroyer worse than the boll weevil)
is MP of the large nrojents.
Hpr home environments at L,wndesboro :1"P most attractive. l!arenro, the
home on Main Street is an rnte-bel'um st-ucture. Its se,;ting is charming
with lovely shrubs and flowers and the interior ts more ch-rming *ith its hand-
some and rntieue -rmrnlshinrs. She says this hone is the "core of my herrt"
no matter where 'Tr business lends me. The nprents and one brother, Lindsay
James Plwall, Jr. constitutes the family. He is a student at Vanderbilt and is
the renresnetative tha+ that Un'versity has selected to comne'e for the scholar-
ship to be awarded for Euronean training at en early date.
3/20/39
MS