I Remember

Memories and photos from our readers

Farm Life

My grandfather, Jodie Mann, was a Haywood County landowner and farmer in the early 1900s. He owned land on Highway 110 as well as large tracks of land in the Willis Cove/Hominy area and Worley Cove.

This photo from Spring 1925 was taken on the Highway 110/Center Pigeon property in Canton. Jodie stands far left and his son, Fred (age 10), sits in the tractor seat. Not pictured is his son Thomas Mann (age 14 at the time), my father. The two Ford dealer representatives and the driver are unidentified. The Fordson kerosine-powered tractor pictured was one of the first used in this part of the county. Note the hand crank starter mechanism at the front of the tractor.

Six of Jodie’s seven children would build homes, raise families and farm on property from Jodie’s estate. Thomas and Edith Mann would raise three sons, Troy, Robert (me) and Gary, on this inherited property.

Robert Mann, Cruso, a member of Haywood EMC

Precious Memories

This is the short story of my great grandmother Lola Sawyer Greer. She just passed away at the young age of 100. What I remember most about her is that she never acted her age in the whole 37 years I was blessed to have her in my life. I remember flat footing with her in the living room, playing Rook, her making my pageant clothes for the Little Miss Ashe County Pageant, altering my wedding dress for my wedding and so many more wonderful memories.

Her favorite story that she liked to tell of me from when I was a little girl was how when I would get off the school bus in the afternoons at her house, and if it had rained, I had to jump through every puddle (not missing one) on the way to her house, and how she loved to watch me through the window.

But my favorite story that she ever told me was of my mother when she was a little girl. My mom loved kittens, and my grandmother had some at her house at the time, but my mom was not supposed to mess with them. So when my grandmother came into the kitchen, she saw my mom standing in front of the refrigerator with her arms across it, saying “there are no kittens here.” When she opened it, my mom had hid them inside. Thankfully, they had not been in there but a few minutes and were not harmed.

My grandmother was the definition of love. She loved her family and her family loved her. I miss her dearly, but what helps are all of the precious memories.

Erica Roten, Lansing, a member of Blue Ridge Energy