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4;250 Words
TRX STUMM FAMILY
January 30, 1939
The Blake Family(whits)
348 W. W. 35th Street
Florida
Oollester
Zlyira Z. 5urnell,
Wftter
The long, narrow frame house occupied by the Stembler family
is built on the rear of the lot and can scarcely be seen from the
street because of a row of tall Australian pine trees planted
closely together across the front of the lot. Just enough open-
ing is left to walk thru on a stone walk whioh leads straight to
the house. It has always been the desire of Minnie Stembler to
have the yard fenced, but at the present time, rooks and shrubbery
take the place of a fence along the'sides and back of the lot. To
the left is a large hibiscus bush; a stone bench placed close to
it makes a very inviting spot, and during warm weather the young
folks spend many pleasant hours there.
Minnie in a great lover of flowers; discarded washtubs and
tin cans are used as receptacles for ferns; cuttings; and young
plants. These are placed on either side of the three steps whioh
lead directly into the house. A large rose apple tree branches out
and reaches to the front door. The house has never been painted.
4The house is so old now, Tom won't paint it because the
paint would soak in too fast and cost too much** Minnie said.
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'When we bought the plies, 17 years ago, it was !uat Wtwo.room
cottage and Tom kept buildin en until now we've got SiX rOOMX.
The house ain't each, but at least it's all paid for. 10 always
hoped to build a real nice house on the front of the lot, but
we've had all weliould do so far to raise our four girls on the
salary Tom earned as oolleotor for the Mayer Furniture Co."
Elizabeth, the oldest daughter is married; Laura, age 22, is
engaged to be married; Martha, 20, married two years ago before
finishing High Sohool; Anna, 17, is a senior in -High School.
I have known the family for a number of years, and an they
have never been without at least one dog and oat, was not surprised,
when a young dog came rushing down the steps to greet me. There
is no screen door, and the wooden door was open, so I walked in.
Minnie was sitting in the front room, hand.sewing on a patch
work quilt. *Sit right down and join us," she said. "I know you
won't mind me sewingas we talk. Scat,' she said to a large cat,
that was curled up asleep in a chair, as she shoved him off to
make room for me to sit down. A young girl was rocking a baby in
the center of the room, and Minnie introduced her as a friend of
Martha, her daughter. This front room is seldom without visitors
as Minnie has many friends, and is always ready to sit down and
tal!,: with them, regardless of housework, which is supposed to be
done entirely tr the girls.
orho rest of the house ain't 'made up' so we'll just stay
here,' is the usual beginning; most of the company just remains
there, unless the room gets too crowded, then elle will tell the
girls to take their company to their own room.
'Martha and Gone are back home again,' began Minnie. %ono
is out of a job and they haven't got any money to pay rent, so we
let them stay here with us. We don't have too much rood, but we
are glad to share whatever we have with them, They have had mighty
hard luck ever since they got married, though Gene did have a Job
at first, runnin an elevator. Martha was very anxious to have a
baby, and got that way right away, but luck was against her, As
you know, I just love ohildren and was lookin forward to becomin
a grenimother, but the baby was born too soon and it died, Seems
.almost as tho it's the Lord's will, I am not to have a grandchild
for Martha had another misoarriage after the first baby. She
needs an operation now, but len' sakes, where the money would come
from is more than I know she'd have to go in on charity, I guess,
but she's just puttin it off, long as she don't feel too bad. She
ain't but 20 so she's got plenty of time.
"Lisbeth's baby, a little girl, died too you remember, sev-
eral 'leeks after birth. Dootor said there was something imperfect
about its digestive organs; they kept the baby in the hospital,
and did an they could, but couldn't save it. 'Llsbeth can't have
any more ohiliren, and Martha shouldn't, I guess, but sho says she'll
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keep right on trying as she's just crazy for bablep..takes after
me, I reckon. Remember, when my girls were small, I'd have all
the ohildren in the neighborhood here.people used to think I was
runnin a kindergarten. Laura ain't very strong, she had a serious
operation last year, so I figure it'll be up to Anna to give us
the grandchildren,
olLizbeth and Bob live in Atlanta now and seem to have better
luck than they did in Miami. At least Bob has got steady work,
and last time 'Lisbeth wrote she said she had a job in a candy
factory. She is in poor health too, and ought not to be workim•il
Liinnie, who doesn't weigh more than 100 pounds, looks like
she needs a doctor's care herself, Thin, sallow, and very wrinkled,
she looks more than her fifty years; her brownish hair is half gm',
She rears it in a motherly fashion pulled straight back and done
in a tight knot on the nape of her neck. Her large, expressive
blue eyes offset the otherwise drab pioture she presents in her
faded print dress.
The room in which we were sitting serves as a living room.
There are no windows; good sized openings, screened, take the
place of windows. Uretonne curtains hang from these. The ceiling
is very low, and instead of plaster, the walls are covered with
boc.rds. The open ppaoe just to the right of the door has been
converted into a cage for two °smarts' by placing another piece of
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screening on the inside of the window's edge. A Ivry worn dirty
gray rug is en the floor, malted with eat hairs; several throw
rugs whioh Minnie made out of various pieces of colored material
are also on the floor, Neither dog nor oat are house.broken and
the odor is very apparent. An old fashioned piano almost covered
with photographs of family and friends, is that main piece of turn/a
ture of this room. When Anna is at home she is usually playing on
it; Ainnie also gets much pleasure out of it, particularly when
her church friends come to see her. They gather around and lustily
sing hymns to the accompaniment of the piano. On the same side of
the room, against the wall, are a settee and arm ohair to match.
These are upholstered in dark blue velvet and are usually covered
with oat and dog hairs,'
On the other side of the room is a flat topped desk, and a
covered typewriter stands on a small table. A radio is on the
desk. A rack contains several books, among which is Florida In
the ItAkilg, The We of ;4014p 0400, Oity Directory, Dictionary
.and a good stied Bible; also fashion magazines, movie magazines
and church pamphlets.
"I guess you knew Tom ain't with the furniture company any
more, After he had that last eye operation, they realised his
sight was awful poor, in spite of his tryin to keep 'em from know»
'in, and they put him on half time 4. guess they were afraid he'd
have an aooident or something then later they let him off alto-
wither. Timms have been pretty hard sinoe then, and we're glad
we have a roof over our heads and that the place is paid for, A
friend of Tom's in Jacksonville, has given him a start in buildm
ing up a business like he has in Jacksonville, that is, to locate
and repossess cars for out—of—town finance companies. I don't
know where Tom could get a job now, so he's mighty glad to try
this. I do so wish I could get aut and work myself,' continued
Linnie, wistfully. "but it my age, I don't know lobed have moo or
what I could doe only take care of somebody's children."
Martha entered the room in time to hear her mother's last
words'. "Some chance you'd stand to get a job, when I can't even
get one," said Martha, who was wearing a well fitted blaft dress,
and a new permanent in her hair. She is estremely thin, with
blue eyes and light brown hair, and is very pale when her face is
not rouged, "I'm goin over to Mary's house with her and if you
nged somethin from the store, I'll bring it back with me,'
'I need a great many things but have just a little change,'
replied Minnie. *Bring some beans and salt pork; I'll bake some
biscuits and that will have to do for supper, I never cook at
noon time; we just go in and take a bite of whatever we can find,
which ain't never very muoh, and drink some coffee."
'There's no soap in the house,' said Martha.
*well, bring a 5* bar then," answered her mother. Martha and
her girl friend then left.
111 declare, Martha gets thinner every day and the doctor said
she should have good nourishing food, but we lust can't get it
with no one werkin in the family, and even if we Gould she'd be
afraid of gettin fat. About all she studies is °loth'''. Laura
ought to have a different diet, too. She's forever havin boils
and carbuncles.
"Our main food is beans, grits, potatoes, s'abbage„ light
bread, very little meat, except once in a while, hamburger. But
it's the beat I can do with the little money I have to spend on
the table. When _Tom had a steady salary he give me $5.00 a weak
for groceries...then if I needed extra money, I'd have to ask his
for it. He doesn't much like to give money for the house. I
don't never buy milk, only canned, for the coffee, altho me all
need milk. Tom always bandies the money, says he saves what be
can after payin the bills. When Christmas comes or on my birth.
day, he gives me a few extra dollars to go buy a dress. 'Lisbeth„
too, sends me a few dollars at that time and tells me to spend it
on myself, but I kinder hate to do that, altho I do need some
clothes. But Anna has to look nice goin to High School so she
gets about all I can scrape together,
*As soon as Gene gets a job, he and Martha mill leave again'.
he don't like livin here much -.only when they haven't got any
money.
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"Will, seen Laurell be married, and glad Pilly is elf.
feint from Gene. Billy told me that if he ever gets to where he
can't support Laura, he might let hr eons bore until he got an-
other job, but he'd never oommi in and live off of us. And too,
he said be wouldn't get married'until he had $200 saved up. Ho
is a radio operator on a boat. They are plannin to get married
in about six weeks. They will have a church weddin and I want
you to be sure and come. Mrs. Virginia Brandt Berg is goin to
perform the oeremony. Billy is goin to give Laura the money to
have her a lovely whit* satin wedding dress made. This quilt I'm
makin now is for their wedding present. Gome on in my room and
show you somethin Grandma Warner sent down from Georgia."
iollowing Minnie as she pushed aside the drapery which sops.
rates the rooms, we stepped into the next room which is almost
dark as there is a room on either side of it. A large dining
table and chairs of mahogany practically fill this room. The table
is piled up with bows, clothing, and other articles. To the right
is a small bed -room with one tiny window and a door.
give Martha and Gene this room as it's the only room in
the house with a door to it. Tom built this room for Misbeth
when she became sixteen. She was so dissatisfied with things, es-
pecially havin her younger sisters pile up junk on the beds, so
Tom put a door on the room so she could keep it looked. ILisbeth
worked in Grants then. She always was more 'high...minded' than
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the rest of us and seemed ashamed to bring her friends hone. Bhe
didn't even want me to go to her school entertainments because I
ain't pretty and got fine clothes. All ir girls sure 'are good
dressers, especially 'Lizbeth. It wasn't very long before she
took a room with a girl friend as she and her daddy couldret get
along, once she grew up. It worried me a lot at first, but I'd
go to see her, and she'd come here once in a great while, if her
daddy wasn't home.
A threesquarter bed and ivory painted dresser just about fill
up this room. Both are badly in need of scrubbing. Several bolas
and bags are piled up in the corner. The est was sound asleep on
the bed. Ragged muslin curtains hang in limp folds at the one
window which is not screened.
To the left of the dining room is the bed -room occupied by
Minnie and Tom, the husband. A cretonne curtain is hung across
the doorway. This room has• a large wooden double bed, dresser and
chiffonier painted ivory, also a chair to matoh, then new, this
furniture must have been an expensive set, Tom obtained most of
the furniture in the house very cheap, while working for the furni-
ture store; also some very pretty electric fixture, that look out
of place in this dreary, ill -kept house. A small table contains a
Bible and several large medical books.
"I bought these medical books several years ago, out of my
house money —they're all paid for now. Ton wouldn't never have
let as buy them, but they ooze in handy many a tifts--/ am grit
for home reMedies.
body gets sick."
Can't afford to call a doctor every time some
Minnie showed as the Catholic Able with great pride. "Now,
I'll tell you about how I Goose by this Bible," she said. "One
day a woman come around sellin them I never had a Catholic: Bible
in my hands before and course, I was reel interested. She said I
could buy it on very easy payments, so I took it and didn't let
Tom or the girls know nothin about it. Well, I.sade the payments
alright until Tom got out of work, then it was,impossible for me
to pay any more --I just couldn't do it. I hated to lose the three
dollars I'd already paid, but it couldn't be helped. There was
still 42.00 more to be paid. Well, I wrapped it up very careful—
ly, dressed and went down -.town to the store that's very near to
the Geau Church where they sell all sorts of Holy statues and
rosaries and books. I went in and laid the book up on the counter;
the sales lady there said, Well, what do you want?' I said, 'I'll
I'm sorry, but I'll have to turn this Bible back to you, Much as
I hate to give it up. I am *skin that if it is possible, please
let ,some person who wants one very much, have it for the balance
of what I owe; then I'll feel that my three dollars I've already
paid on it was spent for a good purpose.'
"The woman didn't even open the paekage, but pleked it up,
handed it back to no, and said, 'Mello that person has it right
now, and you needn't. pay another (sent.' Well, I 'VITO was happy
and thanked her for it, When I got home, I shoved the Bible to
Tom. Of course, he was not surprised at mes for I an always doin
things like that. Well, I sure think a heap of this Bible, 4hen
the girls have a lot of oompany chattering away in the front room,
can take my Bible into my room where its quiet and .enjoy myself,
.just sittin there readin it,"
A very small bath —room adjoins Minnisse bedroom. Until eels.
oral years ago, an outside toilet was used, and 'a hand water —pump..
Tom did most of the work himself, with the 5xception of the plumb..
ing,
*You must excuse the disorder of my roomy' said Minnie spas—.
getically. "I always tell the girls to leave my room as I like
to make it up myself, just whenever I feel like it. Some days I
don't get around to it on account of company oomin in." igvery..
thing was topsy.turvey„ the bed un—made, covers rolled up and
various pieces of clothing scattered about the bed and chair,
"I've got so few sheets, I let the young couple have mine and I
ain't got enough to go round." She smiled, Inms don't never want
to spend money on sheets and such. He don't mind planking down
$2 on a horse at a bookie joint but I guess that's a real pleasure
to him. House.keepin ain't newer bothered me much anyhow.
"ow here is what my dear old mother up in Georgia sent to
Laura," said Minnie as she proudly displayed a box containing flat
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silver, which she said was at least 150 years old, 'Mother Is
SO years old now and you'd be surprised at how she is still so
active. The first time she had to go to the hospital was when
she was 70 years old, she had to be operated on for appendicitis.
She come thru just fine --the doctors all .said it was just marve-
lous. Dad is aging fast tho„ and I believe they'll have to sell
the farm soon. They're there all alone, exoeptinl just one help-
er, a man. They just hate to give it up. I want them to sell
out and come down here to live with us. Mother ain't never reason
oiled herself to the fact that I didn't marry a rich man. I was
tlie only child. I was born in Syracuse, N. Y. but I can only re-
member Georgia as that's Where I was raised; 10 miles out of
Quitman, Ga. I finished the eighth grade in school. I wag very
anxious for my girls to finish High School but none of tem have
so fax; it's up to Ands, now to finish. She is takin typing and
we hope she'll get a job in an office when she finishes school, that
is, if she don't run off and get married before that time.
met Tom back home and after me got married we come to Miami
and have been here ever since. Two years ago, Tom let me make a
trip home and he took his vacation in auto.. He's got friends over
there who used to live in Miami--aubans. That's how come he went
to Ouba for his eye operation. An eye specialist there got inter.
fisted in his case, and gave his services very reasonable. Of course,
I'd a lot ratlier have had him here in Miami Where I could've takes
care of him, but these friends took good care of him, I reckon,
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anyway that's the way Pols wanted it and he was the me to dentde.
*I've always believed in a man bolus the boas especially.a.
bout his pleasures and his politics. Tom always votes the Dem.
°ratio ticket but I don't take .such stock in women we tin. Of
course, if it's anything very, important and Tom wants me to, I
vote like he tells se to but I ain't what you sight call a loves
of politics. I always skip that part of the newspaper. Who:alive
read the society news and the funnies, I read the church news then
quit.
"I've tried so hard to get Tom and the girls to my way of
thinkin about religion —I'd be so happy to have his come to °hurt&
with me. No, I don't go to any particular church or denomination*
I go to all the churches and study the different ways of worship.
ing Ood. But I do love to hear Mrs. Berg preach down at the Chun&
of the Open Door, -.-I reckon she is my favorite. She promised to
come here to the reception after she performs the ceremony for
Laura.“
As it was quiet in the house, we could hear the sound of rats
running across the ceiling.
"Do the rats come down in the rooms?* I asked.
oft, yea, they're not even afraid of the cat now. -if, we leave
any bread or food around, it is eat up by morning. We have to put
everything in the stove or icebox. We only take ice in the real
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hot weather, so we store things in the ids box,"
Toward the book of the homes, next to the lining room in an.
A other small roost with only a double bod and one ohair. This is
a cheap iron bed, originally painted white, but very little paint
left on it now. Dresses are hung up against the walls on wire
hangers, Clothes are strewn on the chair and bed, and the room
is a picture of cluttered disorder.
The sound of someone entering made us go back into the front
A
"Oh, it's Laura and daddy,* exclaimed Minnie. *Laura is a
big help to her daddy and drives around with him a great deal.
We don't keep a oar of our own, but Tom usually has one to use in
this repossession business,*
Laura is a rather attractive girl, in spite of her freckled
face. She is very small, has pretty blue eyes, brown hair which
is always fixed up.‘ -date in curls and swirls. *Laura started
to study to be a hairdresser, but sheiks not a girl who likes ti
go out and work; she'd rather stay at home and just now her daddy
needs %dr anyway.*
Tom is a man of medium height, well mannered, and wears very
thick, rimmed glasses. What stands out more than mmything else
is the soiled, perspired white shirt that looked as tho it had
been -7orn a week or more, and I wondered why, with four woman in
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the house, he should not have a fresh, clean shirt. Tem sat down
at his desk to do some writing and :ust at this time Martha re.
turned from the store.
'Gone not back yet?* she ezolaimed. *Maybe he landed that
job 10
*Well, I sure hope he did,* replied her mother. *Lord knows
some one will have to get a job around here soon or I don't know
what we'll all do.*
A
Voles hack in the kitchen with mar While I put on these beans!
said Minnie. I followed her thru the dining roan, bedroon and
into the kitchen. The furnishings of this room consist of an al-
most new three -burner kerosene stogie with side oven, &nice -box,
and cabinet, once painted white but now dirty with most of the
paint chipped off, a small white wooden table, several mismatched
chairs, and dingy linoleum on the floor.
Zvidently some one had been ironing as the board was stretch.
ed between the table and the oabinet with the iron still standing
on it. *I'll put this away first, *awe Tom gets so mad, with the
girls, forever preesin their dresses; it takes so snob electric
to heat the iron for just one or two things at a time the way
they do. Me threatened to have the electric out off.* Hastily
Minnie put the board into a owner and the iron on the kitchen
cabinet, turning it over to cool.
ie-
'WS eat right in here unless we've got company and that ain't
often. It's too such trouble to take all the things off the din.
ing table, besides we all hardly ever eat at one time. The girls
don't stay tone such and besides they ain't never very hungry.
?raid of gettin fat.'
A door on the right leads to a side.pordh upon which are a
Maytag Sleetrio Washing Machine and a large old fashioned rocker.
Over -filled garbage cans, papers, trash of all kinds litter up
the yard near this porch, giving the impression that things axe
just thrown out of the door.
'You know Tom stays home a lot more at night than he used too*
began Mindio as she washed the beans and salt pork. be
surprised to hear I've learned to play card!, nosh as I dislike
it, and now we play nearly every night. We played Bingo until
two o'clock this sprain; Laura, Dilly, Tom and I. It's really a.
gainst my religious prinolplts but I feel like the Lord will for.
give me when I play for the purpose of keeping my husband at hone..
You've got to 6, somethin to .hold 'en and I sure don't tenets in
divorce under any oirounstances. I can play 'runny' too, but not
so good. Tom loves to play eards and used to stay out all hours
of the night. Often hold drink too, and I'm so against liquor of
any kind. Sines this last eye operation, he don't drink at all;
the doctor told bin there ain't nothin wore* for him than liquor.
Only one time sine* last summer has he gone off on a drinkin spell.
Then some friend treated him to some beer, he said, and that got
him started. is came home about 3 a. mi. and started to rave and
carry on so I had to call Mr. Brown, next door, to come and help
me get his to bed. He wanted to get in the oar and go out again
but we managed to keep him in. Since then he's been fine and
pray the Lord it is the last time.*
*Daddy wants some coffee,* Galled Martha,.
*Therese some left in the percolator from breakfast, I'll
A
heat that in .a minute,* answered Minnie.
*Will you have a cup of coffee?* she asked me as she lifted
a smoked covered percolator and slunk it to estimate the amount of
coffee in it.
*No thank you, I donst beliive I oars for any,. I replied.
Pretty soon, Anna, the youngest, walked in. She is more ro..
bust and healthy looking than the rest of the family. the has
brown hair and eyes, turned up nose, rather a pretty face, and a
fine figure,
*Annals got a steady beau,* said Minnie proudly, as she eyed
her youngest, *but daddy doesn't approve. Ns said she most finish
school before she runs off and marries. 41ek is crazy about Anna
and bought her a watch, but daddy made her give it book to him.
He come* here in his cut —down FOrd roadster and they go to a movie
occasionallyioz sometimesoLthey sit on the bench by the hibiscus
bush and do6t. I don't care nut% for novice and her* elm gO.
Ton goes sometimes, and of °ours* the girl* go, but I'd rather do
ny going to church.'
At this point I told Minnie I'd have to be going.
'Now, be sure to the weAdiney she said as we walked
thru the house, *You'll get an announcement. We're sendin 'em to
everybody we know; we want the church to be filled. After the
oerenony, we're goin to have a reception at hone here and I want
you all to be sure to come.'
'Well, I'll certainly be there,* I assured her as she walked
down the steps with no.
Ilse this here large fern and those over thereto pointing to
several ferns planted in wash —tuts. mould like to sell these;
if you knew of anybody wantin some, please send then here, will
You?' said Minnie.
Assuring her that I would, I *outland along the stone walk
and passed thm the Australian pines to the sliest.