Article IV, Vol 1
Reissued: January 3, 2013
South Suffolk/ Pleasant Hill (SSPH) is a community located in a 5.4 mile square area cradled in the southeastern part of Suffolk, Virginia.. It is surrounded by railroad tracks and farm land. The main streets into the neighborhood are County Street and Spruce Street. By automobile or walking, just keep going south until you cross the railroad tracks.
SSPH was a unique kind of community in the 40's, 50's, and 60's. Generally, family life was evident. When it was dinner time, the whole family would be present. If a family member did not like what was on the the table, he or she would have to wait until the next meal because there was no McDonald or Burger King in the vicinity. After dinner, family members would go their separate ways until bed time.
Christmas
Christmas time was special. Seemingly, every child got a toy or something for Christmas. The children who had asked Santa for a big toy was content to receive a small toy. At least Santa had not forgotten them. The poor children, such as myself, were not in the frame of mind to try and figure out why our friend, who was an only child, usually got a room full of top line toys. In fact, he received more toys than me and my six siblings combined. We didn't try to figure it out.
I remember Santa brought him two automatic six shooters and a complete cowboy outfit, plus an electric train. He couldn't figure out why Santa left so many toys at his house. Bulemus (assumed name) was always willing to share his gifts with my family and other children in the community. We thought Santa left more toys at his house because he had more space. He wanted us to understand that he was a regular guy like us. To us, he was a regular guy.
Me? I got a single shot cap pistol. Shoot and reload. Bulemus could get off six shots before four of us could reload. We didn't really care as long as we were having fun.
Business owners
There were a lot of individual skilled persons and self owned businesses in the community. Also there were independent owned stores such as Baker Street Grocery, Majett Grocery, Biggs Grocery, Mitchell Dry Cleaner, Griffin Shop; also painters, carpenters, and other skill persons. Drive through vendors selling fish, crabs, watermelons and fresh vegetables drove slowly through the neighborhood daily during the spring and summer. If I listen carefully, I can still hear Mr.Thompson yelling,"Fresh fish and crabs today,just caught" .
You could get a good water melon for .25 cents and a mess of collard greens for .30 cents.
Several families marketed Enhanced Water(EW). I can remember, in one block, 3 families marketed the product. There was no conflict - because the marketers had their own customers.
My father worked at the Navy Ship Yard. His pay was .75 cents an hour or $30 a week, before deductions. Seemingly, he was furloughed a lot. The small income made it hard for him to make a living with a wife and 7 children. So, he went into the Enhanced Water business. He was involved in the business as a manufacturer, wholesaler and retailer. This business enabled him to take better care of his family. Still, it was not easy - but the family's welfare was much better than before the EW days. The business helped my family stay intact.
The community did not have any county supported playgrounds. We made our own playgrounds.on vacant lots or fields. We would clean off a lot or field and put up a basketball goal or lay out a softball field. Then after a year or two the owner or somebody would build a house or put a garden on the lot. Then, we would go find another vacant lot. A lot of accomplished athletes came from the playgrounds of South Suffolk. Among them were: Alex Cobb, J. R. Beale, Eugene Scott, Wilbur Cherry, Pete Barnes, Joe Riddick and William Harrell-Porter,(five years varsity football & four baseball), George Lee, William Bailey, Douglas Boone, and in the 80's Lamont Strouters
Of course, the youths in Suffolk city had a nice playground. (we lived in Nansemond County which was a separate jurisdiction).
Hard times? If so, we didn't know
We ate well - Lots of fresh vegetables and fresh meat. - Lots of exercise. Generally, starting in the 6th grade we walked about 2 to 2 1/2 miles to advance elementary & high school - rain, snow, sleet or sunshine - there was no school bus for the community.
Poor? No, no, not us. There was very little sickness in the community. When somebody took sick there was a lot of home remedy medicine available. It worked. Poor? Um, not us.
The conditions that surrounded us in those years would be totally unacceptable today. For example, no running water, outdoor toilets, water pumps, unpaved streets, hog pens in back yards, lack of enough street lights, wood stoves and heaters, a tiny "colored only" hospital with limited services and only 3 doctors to serve the whole colored community in the county (we were colored then).They were Dr. Reid and his wife, Margaret and Dr. Diggs. If you went to the doctor, you had to be prepared to spend the whole day. Once the doctor determined a patient was not dying, he would slip out the back door and make his rounds and return 2 or 3 hours later.
Only about 5% of the homes had indoor plumbing. Everybody else had to take that walk to the out house. See, we did not have one or two baths inside - instead we had two paths to the out house.
Families working together & enjoying themselves
Families were generally willing to help each other perform major tasks - particular on hog killing days. Several women would gather and assist in making sausage, chittling, lard, soap and other products that are made from hog meat. Men would gather and help with killing & cleaning the hogs. They would rejoice in cooking and sharing the oyster part of the hogs. All participants appeared to be so happy as they sung beautiful spiritual and blues songs all day..
Children will be children
Generally, children did not separate themselves by class. We all played together.
To us, we were as rich as the rich, at least considering the joys and pleasures that we had. Children and families shared food and other items without giving it a thought. Also, there was a lot of bartering between individuals and families. For example: a cup of sugar for a cup of flour or a cup of meal for some butter.
Stalwart citizens from the community
From the background I described, emerged some of the nicest and well known citizens in Suffolk and around the country. Among the well known former South Suffolk residents are:
Amanda Riddick - Rogers (retired teacher and current ambassador for the needy in Suffolk); Susan Harrell - Bennett (ESH'52 - class Salutatorian retired teacher, community activist and spouse of a City Councilman; as a child and youth, seemingly, Susan always had a book in her hands everywhere she went); Ella Porter - Ward ( ESH '64- class Valedictorian, retired teacher, community activist and elected politician in Chesapeake,VA); Frank Kahan (president of the East Suffolk HS Alumni Assoc); Lamont Strouters (former NBA basketball player and he is still active in volunteering a lot of time with youths in and around Suffolk); Johnnie Barnes (former NFL player); Sandra Jean Deloatch (Norfolk State University official); Mary Sebron - Stevenson, Annie Felton, amd Marion Bemory Wright (retired teachers and community activists); Lelia Bell - Manley (retired govt worker, teacher & activist) and Evelyn Horton - Jackson (retired teacher and well known musician). There are many, many more.
Conclusion
In appearance, we may have looked poor, but inside we felt rich and had a good time. Yes, living in South Suffolk was a good experience.
Poor? Oh no, not us. We lived a rich life, even if it was only in our mind.
.
Copyright 2010 Grady E. Bryant, 2010
Reissued January 3, 2013
Copyright 2013 Grady E. Bryant, Sr.
Reissued: January 3, 2013
South Suffolk/Pleasant Hill: A Community to Behold in Suffolk, Virginia
South Suffolk/ Pleasant Hill (SSPH) is a community located in a 5.4 mile square area cradled in the southeastern part of Suffolk, Virginia.. It is surrounded by railroad tracks and farm land. The main streets into the neighborhood are County Street and Spruce Street. By automobile or walking, just keep going south until you cross the railroad tracks.
Family
SSPH was a unique kind of community in the 40's, 50's, and 60's. Generally, family life was evident. When it was dinner time, the whole family would be present. If a family member did not like what was on the the table, he or she would have to wait until the next meal because there was no McDonald or Burger King in the vicinity. After dinner, family members would go their separate ways until bed time.
Christmas
Christmas time was special. Seemingly, every child got a toy or something for Christmas. The children who had asked Santa for a big toy was content to receive a small toy. At least Santa had not forgotten them. The poor children, such as myself, were not in the frame of mind to try and figure out why our friend, who was an only child, usually got a room full of top line toys. In fact, he received more toys than me and my six siblings combined. We didn't try to figure it out.
I remember Santa brought him two automatic six shooters and a complete cowboy outfit, plus an electric train. He couldn't figure out why Santa left so many toys at his house. Bulemus (assumed name) was always willing to share his gifts with my family and other children in the community. We thought Santa left more toys at his house because he had more space. He wanted us to understand that he was a regular guy like us. To us, he was a regular guy.
Me? I got a single shot cap pistol. Shoot and reload. Bulemus could get off six shots before four of us could reload. We didn't really care as long as we were having fun.
Business owners
There were a lot of individual skilled persons and self owned businesses in the community. Also there were independent owned stores such as Baker Street Grocery, Majett Grocery, Biggs Grocery, Mitchell Dry Cleaner, Griffin Shop; also painters, carpenters, and other skill persons. Drive through vendors selling fish, crabs, watermelons and fresh vegetables drove slowly through the neighborhood daily during the spring and summer. If I listen carefully, I can still hear Mr.Thompson yelling,"Fresh fish and crabs today,just caught" .
You could get a good water melon for .25 cents and a mess of collard greens for .30 cents.
Several families marketed Enhanced Water(EW). I can remember, in one block, 3 families marketed the product. There was no conflict - because the marketers had their own customers.
My father worked at the Navy Ship Yard. His pay was .75 cents an hour or $30 a week, before deductions. Seemingly, he was furloughed a lot. The small income made it hard for him to make a living with a wife and 7 children. So, he went into the Enhanced Water business. He was involved in the business as a manufacturer, wholesaler and retailer. This business enabled him to take better care of his family. Still, it was not easy - but the family's welfare was much better than before the EW days. The business helped my family stay intact.
Playgrounds
The community did not have any county supported playgrounds. We made our own playgrounds.on vacant lots or fields. We would clean off a lot or field and put up a basketball goal or lay out a softball field. Then after a year or two the owner or somebody would build a house or put a garden on the lot. Then, we would go find another vacant lot. A lot of accomplished athletes came from the playgrounds of South Suffolk. Among them were: Alex Cobb, J. R. Beale, Eugene Scott, Wilbur Cherry, Pete Barnes, Joe Riddick and William Harrell-Porter,(five years varsity football & four baseball), George Lee, William Bailey, Douglas Boone, and in the 80's Lamont Strouters
Of course, the youths in Suffolk city had a nice playground. (we lived in Nansemond County which was a separate jurisdiction).
Hard times? If so, we didn't know
We ate well - Lots of fresh vegetables and fresh meat. - Lots of exercise. Generally, starting in the 6th grade we walked about 2 to 2 1/2 miles to advance elementary & high school - rain, snow, sleet or sunshine - there was no school bus for the community.
Poor? No, no, not us. There was very little sickness in the community. When somebody took sick there was a lot of home remedy medicine available. It worked. Poor? Um, not us.
The conditions that surrounded us in those years would be totally unacceptable today. For example, no running water, outdoor toilets, water pumps, unpaved streets, hog pens in back yards, lack of enough street lights, wood stoves and heaters, a tiny "colored only" hospital with limited services and only 3 doctors to serve the whole colored community in the county (we were colored then).They were Dr. Reid and his wife, Margaret and Dr. Diggs. If you went to the doctor, you had to be prepared to spend the whole day. Once the doctor determined a patient was not dying, he would slip out the back door and make his rounds and return 2 or 3 hours later.
Only about 5% of the homes had indoor plumbing. Everybody else had to take that walk to the out house. See, we did not have one or two baths inside - instead we had two paths to the out house.
Families working together & enjoying themselves
Families were generally willing to help each other perform major tasks - particular on hog killing days. Several women would gather and assist in making sausage, chittling, lard, soap and other products that are made from hog meat. Men would gather and help with killing & cleaning the hogs. They would rejoice in cooking and sharing the oyster part of the hogs. All participants appeared to be so happy as they sung beautiful spiritual and blues songs all day..
Children will be children
Generally, children did not separate themselves by class. We all played together.
To us, we were as rich as the rich, at least considering the joys and pleasures that we had. Children and families shared food and other items without giving it a thought. Also, there was a lot of bartering between individuals and families. For example: a cup of sugar for a cup of flour or a cup of meal for some butter.
Stalwart citizens from the community
From the background I described, emerged some of the nicest and well known citizens in Suffolk and around the country. Among the well known former South Suffolk residents are:
Amanda Riddick - Rogers (retired teacher and current ambassador for the needy in Suffolk); Susan Harrell - Bennett (ESH'52 - class Salutatorian retired teacher, community activist and spouse of a City Councilman; as a child and youth, seemingly, Susan always had a book in her hands everywhere she went); Ella Porter - Ward ( ESH '64- class Valedictorian, retired teacher, community activist and elected politician in Chesapeake,VA); Frank Kahan (president of the East Suffolk HS Alumni Assoc); Lamont Strouters (former NBA basketball player and he is still active in volunteering a lot of time with youths in and around Suffolk); Johnnie Barnes (former NFL player); Sandra Jean Deloatch (Norfolk State University official); Mary Sebron - Stevenson, Annie Felton, amd Marion Bemory Wright (retired teachers and community activists); Lelia Bell - Manley (retired govt worker, teacher & activist) and Evelyn Horton - Jackson (retired teacher and well known musician). There are many, many more.
Conclusion
In appearance, we may have looked poor, but inside we felt rich and had a good time. Yes, living in South Suffolk was a good experience.
Poor? Oh no, not us. We lived a rich life, even if it was only in our mind.
.
Copyright 2010 Grady E. Bryant, 2010
Reissued January 3, 2013
Copyright 2013 Grady E. Bryant, Sr.
