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A shrimper's Family
28 Clark /Street
February 28,1930
St.augustine,Flcrida
Alberta 'Uhlman
THE BMW? FAMILY
In West Augustine, that part of the town lying west of the San Se-
bastian Rivers there is a all section ca1..441 *Wildweed Pare
composed mainly of small homes, e majority of the inhabitants axe
people connected with the fishing industry, and meet of them Pert-
ness or Italians who speak very little or no XagliSh.
The small shops and eating places alemg the nainhigtnnty,West Zing
street, attract many of the fishermen, and erten groups of men con-
gregate in front of these places of business, darkliswarthy leaking
men, jabbering away in their native tongue, probably discussing the
happenings of the day.
To reach West 'wigwams, ens crosses the sea Bsbastima Bridge, and
at this time the tide was high, the supreme of the water so blue and
smooth that the wart -colored advertising posters along the vest bank
of the river were clearly reflected on the still water.
On the south side of the bridge the banks of the river ore lined
with small docks, shabby imaging packing houses and the many Shrtll.
beats that have their headquarters her.; jlany tourists visit this
section. Sone of the boots may be painted in gay colors, Shile
others may be drab and shabby. Odd and fanciful names painted en
the sterns the hugh nets festooned out to dry against the background
of masts, marsh and blue *kiss, all a prosaic scene to these fisher-
men, but one of interest to the passer-by, and an enchanting one to
the many artists She frequent the Shim leeality and transfer these
colorful settings on canvas.
25993
I almost forget that ref objective was an interview, and not merely
a jaunt to enjoy scenery, so hurried mazy wat„,and a little further
an net a mutual aequalntanee Mho offered to introduce me to one or
her neighbors, Mrs .Bennett, the, upon reaching the house, we found
on her front porch sewing.
Mrs.Bennett cordially invited no to sit dome, while she continued
busily featherstitching the white cellar and cuffs en a tiny dress
of red and White Cheek dimity that she told no was for a little
girl living across the street, a birthday gift.
The Bennett family occupy this white, newly painted, cottage. A
moment walk leads from the paved street to the wide steps: the
grassed yard clean, and at one side near a dividing femme were
numerous painted boxes oontaining flowering plants.
The tame, consisting of five rooms and bath, ,441k well and comfort-
ably furnished* showing evidence of geed :adenoma in the aeleetion
and arrangement.
asked Mrs.Bennett if they owned their home, but the replied,
*MO, we have rented this house for seven years. We have just _
not roadbed the stage there we felt we could bay; Myths/band
worked for years with Its brother, but is now begring a beat of
his own and has it almost pale for. We have held offstee,
until something is done about the harbour and channel, you know
this is something that is badly neededifor at time* when the
weather is tough, the channel and sand bars shift kudzu***
crossing the bar very dangerous. Very strong Wefts are being
made by local officials and shrimp dealers to have a Channel cut
through the south point of North Beach, and if that gees through1
and the beat paid for, thy then I am snare we will buy a hone.
Mr.Bennett, now thirty.nine years of age, was born in Fernandina,
Florida, and spent his boyhood there. He enlisted in the
Man, and at the expiration of a three year enlistment, returned
to his home and entered the fishing industry, coning to St.Atg-
tine in 1927.
Mr.Bennett is new fishing out of Fernandina, supplying shrimp
to the Brod= Canning Ce.located there, and at hese with his
"family only every two weeks.
"You know my husband is sallied a lucky fisherman: Mrs.Bonnett
said, "but it is not so moth luck as it the understanding of
the fishing area, watching elosely the migration, and even the
speed of the shrimp, this generally resulting during the height
of the season in local waters, of an average catch of from two.
thousand to tirenty•five hundred pounds weekly. At this season
of the year around here the shrimp are getting scarce."
about this point in the conversation, the baby girl, just waking
from her midomernang nap, called to her mother, then Joined we
cut on the front perch. Matilda will be two years old in
July: grey eyed, very light brown curly hair, and dressed in
clean blue *hooked play dress, she made a very attractive
picture as the played in the sunshine.
Commenting on the child's lovely soft hair and her healthy
appearanee, her nether said "Yes, she is a healthy baby, and
she has never been Ask eatoept ones, when she had a slight
temipature while cutting teeth: mat, she laughingly said, nee
ahould have somber hair when she was a little baby, it grew
every way except the right one, and ow* the small boy, mudh
distressed, asked in his prayers "Please„0.46 do something
about Matilda's hair." (Evidently his prayers had been ans-
wered satisfactorily) and the eonstant earl, given had resulted
in its present fine texture and condition.
Asking Mrs•Bennett about her early life, she said, "I an now
twenty-eight years old and I was born at Mayport and lived there
until iv marriage. My father was one of the Andrea family that
for several generations have made Mayport home. My
mother died 'While I was in school, you know they have only grade
school there, so I just completed the eighth grade. My father
wanted no to continue sehool, but the nearest high school was
in Jucknonville, so at sixteen I Married. I have two older
children, a girl of eleven, and a boy just seven, and this one,
the baby. The two older children attend the Catholic Parish
sehoolso'and as it is such a long walk from hams, they take
their lunch with thou. W e do want the children to luxe at
least, u high *Wheel education, it will mean so much to them
as they grow older, 8.nd we want to give thaw all the advantages
our income will permit, endive hope they will lie something'.
when they grow up."
MresBennett Os a member of the *Abell. Chureh, and her husband
church
is a baptist, but his work does not permit his attending very
regularly, and on the Sundays that he is home there are always
things to be done and he likes to spend all the time possible
with the family, he is devoted to the children, and they think
there is ao one like daddy.
In tozu of voice expressing pride and affect:Ions she discussed
the care of children. "Isn't it fascinatinallrelpliennett said,
,.atChing children's growth, their chancing moods and interests,
there is always something new and :Afferent. ,Their growing
needs are sometimes a problem, but I like to sew, and I do the
laundry '-self, so they are kept eleen and look nice when they
ce to Qchool t4nd ‘,:hurCh. An, too, I see that they have the
proper foc).J for growt-Ig children, plenty of veetables ro
incluJea in their neals."
"-bout politics. Ammocrutu, of courses bLt we don't take such
a ver-d active part. to are interested in the local government,
undo naturally, concerned in the national goveraLmntsspecially
as it relates -Go employment, i.:41d to harbor improvements or
anyt:ink that will affect the shrimping and fishing industry,
for this Leanz so ranch to the town, und also to other towns on
the coaJ,-. Where the boats dock an.1 have their headquarters
at certain scason4,0 shiftbng with the uigration of the fish
and nhrtmp.
as LP*
;iaving visited and spent several months at tie little seaport
ton of "ittyport about tArty-six years agog and having known
several Audrou's anu roomed at the home of one brand: of the
fuLiilty, I asked about nor omn iumily ana vihere they lived.
data renoMber the little Catholic Church" Mrs.Bennett asked,
veil, wo lived right near the church, and it was at my uncle's
that you roomed, on the river front, near the old East Coast
doold "Do tell me, please, asked, about Urs.McCormick,who
used to be poStmistress there so many years ago. e all liked
her so and the railroad crowd used to gather in the store
at id/2)A disoussing all sorts oI subjects, from the size of
fish cau0At that dayoup to important events of the times."
"t411r, do you know, at Urs.McCormoilok is still living at mars
port and still in charge of tne postoffice: she is getting old
now and nus same one to help her,but she will probably be right
there as long as aue lives, ana lust us well liked as whon you
kianfher, long before I was born" was Mrs.Bennett's reply.
Judging rram Mrs.bennettls conversation, one would readily
credit her with having more than u grade school education, nd
ap,arontly hor umLition„ i„.111 tloJ)t of her husband, is to provide
coufirtable home for the family, and a suitable education
for the Children.
Is
Ara.,;ennott„ .woman of amull statue, durk brown hair and ejes,
nice -eutures„ und a very cheerful manner, and although he is
a imall Joa,alne um she impresses ono as having strength ad
osopetence.
as I was lesving,nrs.Bennett said "You don't know how nice it is
to talk with someone who knew my people, do oome again."