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The People Who Lived on the Land that is Now Redstone Arsenal, page 333

Social Interaction. Edith commented: People were different back then. People had an understanding. Blacks respected how to live. They were friendly, but didn't cross the line. They didn't want to. They had their own church. My brother and I went to a revival there. We were just kids. I don't know how mother let us. Maybe she didn't know. Duncan Woodward (Born in 1921) Interviewed Sept. 2005 As stated previously, Edith Woodward suggested the researcher call her brother Duncan, saying he would probably remember more about the land and farming than she did. When the researcher called Duncan Woodward, he mentioned during the conversation that he was over 80 years old, and he'd just returned from a trip to Tennessee, so he was tired. Therefore, the researcher asked specific questions and did not dwell on topics she had covered with Edith. Duncan Woodward Talks about Farming Duncan said Charles and Lee Woodward were brothers. He could remember that Charles lived “down there” (east of McAlpine Road) at one time. They bought the others out and then Lee bought him out. Lee bought the “upper land.” Lee Woodward Grew and Sold Produce. On the upper land, Duncan helped his father to raise cotton and corn and enough vegetables to take to Huntsville to sell. The Woodwards later had Woodward Produce, a store in Huntsville. Duncan said his father passed away before that. The Cotton. Duncan said, “We took the cotton to Triana. We'd take the road up to Sam Harris' place and then the road came back around to Triana Village, not as far up [north] as Merrimac was. The Sam Harris mentioned by Duncan would be Sam Harris Sr. His father, J.B. Harris (and later he), owned Parcels D-167 and D-191. His home was on Parcel D-167, on the north side of what is now Buxton Road (the old Farley-Triana Highway). The Barleys Had a Cane Crusher. Duncan said his father raised a small patch of cane: He raised just enough [cane] to have molasses for the family. Barley used to have a molasses crusher, and my father took it up there. Barley was on the main road, as you pass the grocery store, it was the next farm. 333 - (4366)