We visited Sue and Roy so much. It was there I met Joe. Roy and Sue lived in one side of Mrs. Binkley’s house. I was visiting there one time, and Mrs. Binkley had to go away; and she told me her son was coming from Chicago and would I be there so he could get in the house. I told him I was Louise Gentry and his mother had asked me to welcome him. His answer was different as always. He said, “I didn’t think you looked like my mother.” Joe came out with Roy and Sue to see us several times. After Joe went back to Chicago, he wrote me a few cards and called me, I think.

My parents in 1932, the year after they met.

Joe worked with the NorthWestern Railroad. He went from Chicago to Milwaukee, Madison, and Racine, Wisconsin, most of the time. Milwaukee was where he spent most of the layovers. During the Depression, Joe was laid off and lived with our family. His family in Nashville did not take him in; but Daddy did, of course, and Mama. I don’t remember how long he lived with us, but he lived with us when we were on Lewisburg Avenue and also at the Lupton place. He loved all our family, and we considered him family from the beginning. My brothers got a big kick out of him. William thought he was something special coming from the big city. He had a vest with his suits. William. thought that was something. I was so bashful in those days he called me Miss Frigidaire.

The Depression was something I shall never forget. People who haven’t lived through one really cannot imagine what goes on when all the people lose their work and homes and money in the bank and all the outcry. It was a horrible, horrible time.

The house on Lewisburg Pike today. Dorothy Gentry married Baxter Ewing there on April 28, 1934.

While we lived on Lewisburg Pike our grandmother Sim died. Her funeral was held there by Brother Phillips, a Church of Christ minister.

There was another family we were close to, the Johnsons in Columbia. Miss Etta, Sam Johnson, Carrie and Shadden. Mr. Johnson was a friend of Uncle Willie when they were young. We spent happy days and nights there. Mama spent a week one time with Jimmy, Bobby, and Frances. I know they remember those good people. Carrie and I had a good time together. There were too many funny situations; I can’t record all. One time Carrie introduced me to a good looking man that kept books for a place that was called O’Brien [illegible]. He came by where I worked several times, wrote cards, and sent me candy and flowers. It all stopped when I found out he was married.

Top to bottom: Louise Gentry, unknown, Carrie Johnson, Dorothy Gentry. Taken about 1930.

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