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Approxinately 2250 d rds.
SOUTH CAR,,LINA WRITERS' PROJECT
LIFE HISTORY
TITLE: THE HARDY F.AMILY.
Date of First Writinc March 7th, 1939
Name of Person Interviewed Mrs. Roo Remington (White)
Fictitious Name Mrs. Hardy
Street Address Windermere
Place Charleston, S. C.
Occupation Housewife
Name of Writer Muriel A. Mann
Name of Reviser State Office.
Project #-1655
Muriel A. Mann
Charleston, S. C.
March 21, 1939
THE HARDY FAMILY.
LIFE HISTORY.
Facing the highway, just outside an old southern city,
stands an attractive modern ivy -colored brick house of English
design, with an expanse of well oared for lawn in front and a
lily pond and flower garden in the rear. An electrically light-
ed sign which reads "The Winders...0s Guests", stands prominent-.
A
ly at the entrance to the driveway, advertising to passing motor-
ists that they may find accomodationa within. It is the home of
Dr. and Mrs. Hardy, who, more by chance than any other reason,
find themselves with a thriving tourist business.
Mrs. Hardy, a good-looking woman with a shook of dark bobbed
hair, shot with gray, and snapping brown eyes, was seated in the
comfortable living room telling how she happened to convert her
home into a tourist's inn.
"About two years ago," she said, "the house began to feel
lonely and altogether to large for two people. Our three boys,
Jack, Dick, and Paul were in the north seeking their own careers,
and Phyllis, our only daughter had just gotten married. We were
hard pressed financially, and for the first time in my life I
seemed to have time on my hands. I was seeking some new interest,
something which would pay.
One day, the thought occurred to me that a number of homes
alon. the highway were dislaying tourist signs, and perhaps I too,
Project /I-1656
Muriel A. Mann
Charleston, C.
March 70 1939
211.1 HARDY FAMILY.
PaLe 2
could rent my three bedrooms occasionally and pick up a few
extra dollars. So I talked it over with my husband, and as
the idea mot with his approval, I prepared to carry out the
plan.
"From the beginning the venture was a success, and scarce-
ly a night passed that the throe bedrooms were not occupied, and,
although my rates were reasonable, my bank account grew steadily,
and I was thoroughly enjoying my contacts with the traveling
public. It was a pleasant surprise to me.
"Only one unpleasant incident occurred. That was when one
of my neighbors resented the competition so much that she employ-
ed a little colored boy to stand out in front of our house and
direct all inquirers to her homes
But, when the matter was
brought to the attention of the oounty sheriff, the boy was order-
ed away and we were declared to be within our rights. We have
not been bothered with her since.
"It was about a year after I bean to rent my rooms that I
happened to hear that someone was thinking of buying the vacant
lot next door for the purpose of building a tourist camp. This
was not a particularly agreeable thought to us, so we decided to
buy it ourselves and build another house a house which could be
used to accomodate tourists now and later turned into a home ear
Project #-1665
Muriel A. Mann
Charleston, 3, C.
March 7, 1939
THE HARDY
Pa. e 3
one of the children should any of them want to return here to live.
Anyway it seemed like a good investment, and if I could keep three
bedrooms steadily occupied, why not morel
Mrs. Hardy got up and let in Trixy, the family pet, a little
brown terrier who had been standing patiently outside the screen
door for some time. +hen resuming her seat, went on with her story*
"We didn't lose any time in calling in an architect and before
long the plans were drawn up, the contract signed and the building
under way.
"It was completed a short time ago, givne; me seven more rooms
to rent. Last night every room wwi taken and there were twenty-two
people in the ten rooms. A*it that is almost a nightly occurance„
and I am makinL so much money that before long it will be possible
for my husband to ijve up his teaching and research work at the
Medical College and retire.
The new house, which stands to the side and slightly to the
rear of the brick house, is Colonial in style and painted grey with
deep blue shutters. The lawn has been extended across the front,
and at the foot of the iron -railed steps by which you enter, a
semi -circle of sprin_ flowers will soon be a riot of color in shades
of yellow and blue.
Mrs. fardy invited me to inspect the interior, and accompanied
Project #-1655
Muriel -A. Mann
Charleston, S. C.
March 7, 1939
THE EARY PALELY.
Page 4
by Trix„ we strolled across the lawn.
"I paid cash for every piece of furniture here, and expect
to have the house paid for within three years at the rate I am
Loing," she infommed me. "I have tried to think always of the
comfort of my guests and have boucht the best springs and mat-
tresses obtainable because I know from experience how much a cor-
fortable night means after a day on the road."
A servant was polishinc the oak floors and putting everything
in order. The rooms are attractively furnished, and well designed
to please the comfort lovi guest.
There is a roomy two -car garage provided for each house and
ample parkin, spaces nicely graveled, which wil. accomodate a
number of extra oars.
Strains of a Bach i'relude were coming from the little apart-
ment over the brick house gara e which is now occupied by PhAllis
and her husband, who have recently returned home to live, Phalle
is an aoco'iplished musician.
No detail seems; to have been overlooked. There is even a
laundry rom where all the linens are washed and ironed, and there
is enough work to kee a laundress employed constantly as well as a
man and two maids.
Seated ak-ftin in the living room, Mrs. Hardy resumed her story,
short time ago a woman died here. She was on her way to
Project #-1655
Murial A. Yann
Charleston, C.
March 7, 1V39
THE HARDY I,AMILY
Pa e 5
Florida accompanied by a companion, and had just stopped for the
night. I chatted with her for a few minutes before she retired,
and she se-med to be in good ,ealth and the very best of spirits.
Larly in t e morninE I hoard a commotion downstairs, but thought
nothinE of it until sk, husband came in and told me that she had
died in her sleep,
"HappeninE in our home, there was no undue excitement, as
the doctor is naturally familiar with the procedure in such matters.
The coroner was called and the body removed early. There was nothing
more that anyone could do. But you have to be prepared for anythin,„
which occurs in this business.
"Occasionally an old college classmate of our stops by, giving
us an opportunity to renew old friendships and memories, and we both
like the tourist business so much that it looks now like a permanent
thing,
"But times have not wlways been so easy or so prosperous for
us," Mrs.Hardy went on. "Indeed there have been periods when the
struLLle for existance was far from an easy one.
"The doc*or and not when we were attending the University of
Iowa from which we graduated, he in Chemistry and I in the arts'
course. He obtained a position teaching chemistry at the University
of North Dakota and I went to :oston to study at the Curry School of
Expression. The course took three years, and after graduatinE
Project Y -l655
Muriel A. Mann
Charleston, 6, C.
March 7, 19;59
THE HARDY FAMILY.
Page 6
taught for three years at Smith College before we got married.
"We were married at my home in Minneapolis and moved to
Fargo to live, and for twenty years it was a struggle to raise
four children an a teacher's salary, even though I kept up my
teaching and was a pioneer in the school of expression in that
state.
"Our children were fairly well grown when ay husband de-
cided to go after his Ph.D. degree. He began by studying dur-
ing the summer holidays towards that end. But it was very hard
on him and the progress was slow in comparison, so I insisted
that he resign his teaching )osition and devote an entire year
to the work demanded for his degree, which he did, and during
that time I supported the entire family with my teaching.
"It was a difficult year for the Hardy family, and it
meant making many sacrifices, but we persevered, and in the end
the reward was well worth the work andtLme it had taken, for
my husband was offered a position here at the Medical College
as head f the Department of Food hesearch, the field in which
he had s ecialized, which ucant making a new start in a new
field. Not long ago he was awarded an honorary degree by one
of the ibmportant colleges of the south for his discoveries in
the field of research, and I feel justly proud of him.
Project #-1685
Murial A. Mann
Ghaleston,
March 7, 1M9
THE *I.ARDY
Pa, e 7
"Ten years have passed since cominc south, ten years of ups and
downs, of toil and heartaches as well as success, for it was shortly
after we moved here and had bought this home, that the great depression
hit the country, and for eight months not a professor at the college
received a cent of pay.
"So once again I took up teachinc, and was able to make enough to
help us over this had time. We Joined the Rotary Club and other groups
and made contacts in thls way. It was very discouraging at times, but
we kept riht on, and everything had gradually worked out as it usually
does.
"Jack attended the local collee the first two years we lived here
and then he decided that he wanted to study chemistry in the north and
graduate from a northern university. But the outlook was not very
briLht for we were unable to help him.
"He was ndaunted„ however, and packed his things, Including his
drums, and hitcha.hiked to Ohio. hen he was unable to get a job in an
orchestra he washed dishes in a restaurant or waited on tableil. The
only troulle about hein a waiter was that he had so much difficulty in
remembering the orders, that sometimes the results were disastrous.
There was a gleam of pride in Mrs. Hardy's eyes as she told of her
son's achievement.
"When jack graduated he was offered an assistantship which he ac-
cepted, and after four years of teaching he won the 3aker Fellowehip
Project #.4.885
Muria' A. :Ann
Charleston,
arch -0 nA
TILE 11.AlaY
6
Award of $1000.00 over competitor* from evlwy university in the
country which enabled him to Ome up teaChir and devote his
time entirely to research. Now he is earninc a fine salary work*
ing for the Mellon Institutem'has married the girl of his choice,
and is livinL; in Dayton, Ohio.
"About five summer* ago we decided that we all needed a rest,
and a summer in the mountains away from the heat, would be ';.)enefi.
0.0., especially for my husband. 8* we rented a cottage in the
mountains for the summer. Dick was in college now and ?hints was
preparinL to o, too.
"it was really a rest and complete change, even thouji it took
an awful lot of cookinj, to keep up with the appetites. but it paid
in the end, I'm sure. Anyway, when Jack joined us, hitehi.hikinc
down from Ohio, he brouLht with him a classmate and chum, Jim Rossi
a Lraduate of the Massachusetts ,r-Istitute of Technolocy. Due to the
depression and ApirL unable to find work in his field, he had decided
to return to the universit:i to .et a teacher's diploma, rather than
wait for somethinL to turn up. ,.ore of boys had any money to
spare, but in spite of this we had a golly time fishiiv, swimminL; in
the mountain streams, hinn6 and loaf in., and it was soon apparent
to everybody that Jim and 2Wilis were very much in love.
"When our vacation was over :/hyllis went off to Oollece for
Project #16f#5
Muriel A. Mann
Charleston, S. C.
March 1939
THE HARDY
Pace 9
three years, and Jim found a position teaching architecture in
Ohio. After Phyllis Graduated she and Jim married and went to
live in Ohio. Phyllis kept up her music and taught, and at the
end of the first year they had saved enough to take a two month
trip to Europe. They had a glorious time, returning happy but
broke, of course, and went to live in Alabama, Jim havinL accepted
a position teadhing there to :It away from the cold northern
winters. They were living there when my husband happened to hear
that there was a vacancy in a local firm of architects, so he
sent for Jim, and that is why they are living here now. It looks
like it will be permanent, too, and Jim is happy to be working in
his own field instead of teadhing. They are Loing to have a baby
next sumer and are so happy about it.
"Our other boys, Dick and Paul have done well too.
Pick
graduated with honors from the college here, and won a scholar*.
ship to the University of New York. He is a biolozist and has a
good position in New York. Last summer he married. Phyllis! college
roommate, who is also a very fine musician, and she is continuing
her studies
"Paul,
Providence,
in his awn
at the Juilliard School of Music,
our youngest, is at the 13ryant College of Business in
'Rhode Island, and will fink& in August. He is earn.
tuition by helping in the office and correctim- English
Project #-1655'
Muriel A. Mann
Charleston, S. C.
March -0 1939
THE HARDY FAMILY.
Page 10 0.
papers. For a time it was difficult for Paul to find himself.
He was not happy at the college hors, and after two years he
decided to get a job. For eight months he worked at a wood
preserving plant, and they liked him so well that he can have
his job back any time he wants it. But a relative expects to
find a place for him in New York whom he graduates, so he will
probnbly remain rcere.
Mrs. Hardy paused reflectively, and after a moment added,
'Looking back over the busy years behind us, it is easy to un,0
derstand why the house seemed lonely and why the demands upon
our pocketbook have been so heavy, but little did we believe
that we would end up in the tourist business and like it.'