Interview Transcript
What was it like living in a company town?
Rent was cheap ... Well constructed, were still standing. I think this house here is
probably about 100 years old.
Can you tell me a little about the company and
what was involved in production?
Upper plant. Lower plant.
Every day did you go to a different plant?
Gotta what's called a bed job; load boxcars, Bed clay General labor,
wherever they
want to put me...
A typical day at work what was it like?
Some days it was easy and other days you earned every penny. It was heavy work.
Even though it was heavy work, did you enjoy it?
Yeah, I liked it.
What was the working atmosphere like?
It wasn't bad, I mean everybody got along good, the bosses didn't seem to, as long as you
done your work, you didn't have any trouble ... I liked working there. A lot of these old
guys there, they show you how to get along, what to do ... its pretty nice. I mean its
hard work, low pay. I suppose that was all it was, back then.
How was the relationship between the employees and
the supervisors?
They seemed to get along good. They'd work eight or ten hours and go out and have a beer
with each other. It must have been alright.
What were the benefits of working for the company?
Got your rent, got your home, you know cheap rent, something like $12 a month.
Company store here you didn't have to leave town, you had everything you wanted at the
company store food, clothes, washer, everything ...
What would you say was the best benefit working
for the company?
I don't know what to answer to that. Put food on the table I guess, I suppose.
What was everyday life like outside the workplace?
garden in the summertime go fishing, go swimming when kids raid peoples gardens like
watermelons. That was the good part about being a kid.
Were the friendships formed in the mine the same
as the friendships formed out here in the community?
Yeah everybody's friends never locked your door. People living next door neighbor
come over, walk on in anytime might catch an embarrassing moment sometime, but.
Everyday functioning of the town?
More or less it went back to the people who run the plant. You know ... General. Everyone
considered him you know and I think he did too (laugh).
Were there certain social activities?
Used to be a Community Hall. kid used to show movies there basketball,
meetings ...
What can you tell me about the school?
Grade school it went to eighth grade I went there. It was
a nice school. Played across the street there ... had a nice playground.
When did the school close and why?
I think it was just starting to deteriorate and fall apart. They built the new one on 595.
I guess nobody took care of it, place started to go in the shape it is now.
Was it difficult for the town to close?
Didn't have much impact on the town kids still went to school. We went to
school here the Greendale school shut down and they came over here too. My days ....
Next day I'd get a big whack on the fanny for not showing up for school. That what
made it fun I guess.
So how many years did you go to school?
To eighth grade.
Were the teachers employed by the company?
They didn't hesitate to crack you I mean I don't ... Second grade, two boards, she
had two board about that long, holes in them. Had two of them, together with a
rubber band.
The first one hit and the second one got you a double. They didn't get it unless you
deserved it so.....
Why did the plant close? Some said it was
the clay back in the clay mines was going bad. Now I don't know whether it was or not but
I know they did a lot of clay and dirt, it wasn't pure clay. ... When run wet clay into
and make the conduits, when they dried, they would crack open.
Were there attempts to keep it from closing?
Yeah, they tried to shut down first and they tried keeping it going till it got started
back up and I don't know what happened then. I think probably 60 or 61 they tried.
How did the closing affect you, family, friends?
Put you on the spot for your house, and with no company rent, you had to try to buy it,
but you don't have a job. I was out of a job for probably a year or over a
year before I got a job. A lot of people were out of a job. A lot of people had to
move out . They sold the houses cheap enough, cheap is nothing though if you don't have
the money, just like when I bought this house it was $3200 dollars...
How did Haydenville change?
It took a while to change For a while people stayed the same. People just started
letting go. When the company had these houses, they automatically took care of it. You
need a window, they'd come put a window, need paint, they'd paint it, need roof When they
sold to people, a lot of them couldn't afford to they pretty much run down.
Where do you think the town is going today?
Everybody's working its getting a little bit better. People are starting to pull
together a little bit more.
Would you ever leave Haydenville?
No.
Why?
Walk out and see the hills and stuff, the river never want to leave,
What kind of future do you see for Haydenville?
Well there's a lot of industry coming here now, and you can see that. People take a
little more pride in their property I think, clean it up, keep the clay I think its going
to get better.
Sense of community?
(no answer)
What would you like to see restored?
Company store ...
Generation Gap?
Everything's changed from where it was. Some of the older people live here, some of.
Younger people appreciate ... don't know to answer.
Do you think the history of Haydenville is
important to Ohio?
When I read any stories, I read every word of it ... and history about the town I'll read
it - I like it.
Special Stories?
Cant think of any ... Heard old people talk about the Ku Klux Klan hear them marching,
burn a few crosses on top of the big hill. Just different things.
One word about Haydenville, what would it be?
Great, I suppose.
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