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The People Who Lived on the Land that is Now Redstone Arsenal, page 381
said anything, but on Fridays when I had to get home, he would look for me, and on Monday mornings, he'd blow his horn, and I'd get out on the road. In his adult life, Walter had a college degree and had worked in building construction for TVA, as well as taught shop. Hired to do a job for the then elderly Sam Harris Sr., Walter recalled being offered lunch. One of the women brought a plate of food outside to him. He said, “Old man Sam looked at the woman and ordered, ‘Let the man sit at the table. You only serve dogs outside.'” Walter Joiner, now past 80 years old himself, meant no disrespect in calling Sam Harris Sr. “old man Sam.” He was doing this to differentiate between Sam Harris Sr. and his son, who is about ten years younger than Walter himself. Walter's remembrances of Sam Harris Sr. create a glimpse in history. They show Sam Harris Sr. was a thinking man, a man who used ingenuity in crafting implements that would enable him to more efficiently perform farming tasks, a man who worked hard, and a man who was willing to help others who were striving. He allowed a Black youth to come to his shop regularly, and seeing the young man's interest and desire to learn, he shared information about what he was doing. White people did not socialize with Black people in those days. Sam Sr. did not discuss helping the young man to get home from school in Huntsville on the weekends to work his mother's farm and then get back to school on Monday mornings. He simply always appeared at the right time and place to offer a ride. When the researcher mentioned to the Harris family that Sam Harris had helped Walter Joiner get to school and back, they knew nothing about this, and Corrine appeared doubtful about the information. The researcher suggests that Sam Harris Sr. was not a deeply prejudiced man, but he conformed to the customs of the day, thus, his role as mentor to a Black youth was done quietly and with discretion, in order to facilitate life for both of them. Conclusions about the Harris Farmstead Parcel D-167 was a thriving farm. As J.B. Harris grew older in years, his son Sam Harris took over the responsibility of the farm. He was an honest man who helped his neighbors, ran a gristmill, had a blacksmith shop, made innovations and improvements in farming equipment, and cut logs. Others in the community came to the farm to, among other things, get their milling done and hire the Harris equipment and/or labor. The interviews also give insight to the households of the Harris house and the old Lee house, where J.B. and the extended Harris family resided with their hired help, and neighbors. 381 - (4414)