John Bradley interviewed by Dorothy Noble Smith, transcribed by D. P. Hammond, 1978

Creator:

Bradley, John Lester, Elder, 1907-1980, Bradley, Fern Edith Woods, 1912-2000, Smith, Dorothy Noble, 1915-1999, and Hammond, D. P.

Scope and content:

Records the reminiscences of John Bradley, who grew up near the Jewell Hollow area of what would become Shenandoah National Park. Describes home and family life, daily chores, schooling, holidays and community events. Among the topics discussed are the growing, harvesting and preserving of food, grist mills, traditional herbal medicines and fur trapping. Includes references to the weddings, wakes and funerals, moonshiners and licensed distillers, toll roads and Skyline Drive. Also refers briefly to local military skirmishes during the Civil War. Mr. Bradley describes communal activities such as apple butter boilings and occasions known locally as frolics where farm families would gather to help their neighbors plow fields or clear away stones. Discusses the impact of the forced eviction of local residents to make way for the national park. Also present for the interview was Mr. Bradley's wife, who is identified only as Mrs. Bradley in the transcript, but whose comments appear throughout.

Names:

Bradley, John Lester, Elder, 1907-1980
Bradley, Fern Edith Woods, 1912-2000
Smith, Dorothy Noble, 1915-1999
Hammond, D. P.

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