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The People Who Lived on the Land that is Now Redstone Arsenal, page 388
Daddy's oldest sister lived in it for a while with her husband and three kids after the bus driver [moved out]. Her name was Minnie Lee Hargett.
Little John Wesley and his friend play in a wooden tub. Source: The Redstone Rocket, July 2, 1980.
Shreve farm. Balch did not live on the property. oversaw hired hands.
Wesley said there was an old rundown store building that a Black family lived in (Parcel B-630). He couldn't recall the woman's name. She had a house full of children. They were never charged any rent. Wesley's small son John had a children's book that contained a picture of a character called Black Sambo. He thought the little boy he played with looked like Sambo, so that is what he called his little friend.
Looking at the Army Real Estate Map, Wesley indicated that the house where the Black family lived was to the east of the one where the school bus driver had lived. It appeared to be on the north side of the cobbled road. He said, “This was where the headquarters for the Shreve farm was.” The main house of the Shreve farm had burned.
Wesley said the property owned by William Balch was once part of the Mr. Darnell lived on the property and
Daily Life
Things Wesley's Mother Made. Wesley said his mother made quilts. She had an ash hopper and saved the ashes to make lye soap.
The School. Wesley said his sister finished school at Madison. She walked about a mile to catch a bus.
The Church. Wesley said he couldn't remember a church “being around there.”
Store. The only store Wesley recalled was owned by Mr. Fanning and his wife (C-114).
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