American adventure; Hearthfire

The best understanding of America began or so it seems to us with the realisation that this nation is young but she still knew that even America is man's greatest minds. The University of North Carolina were granted aid from the National Association of educational broadcasters presenting American Adventure a study of the new were a series made possible by the fund for adult education an independent agency established by the Ford Foundation. Written by Johnny lead directed by John Clayton today's recorded program presents Josephine jocky n hearth fire.

I walk down the steep path toward a two story farm. As a representative of the TVA the Tennessee Valley Authority. I've seen hundreds like. It was my job to move the mountain people from their homes and old homes lay in the valleys that were to become TVA lakes. It was hard to explain to the mountain people about why they had to leave their own especially the old. And she was or the lady on the porch watching me approach. I knew it would be hard to talk to her. It's hard to talk business to mountain people at Tor. But in her case it was far harder than I thought. Morning ma'am. Fine thank you. Is your husband about. It. One of your sons then I got business about the lakes. No just me and my daughter used to live here alone. Yes we do

strange lonely out here isn't it. Come tell me the places that used to be men like you. Yes yes I would. I have important business ma'am to talk to the owner of this farm about never rush business young man. I understand how you feel about that up here but we do have to get the job done. How do you like my mountain young man. Yes. Hold it while dog mountain dogs run up bad. Have pups in the spring. Wild dogs. Kill em kill a cat do that. Stay close to the house. They might take a liking for me. There's up there do you. Well ma'am I have little time for bears right now. You see that long. Ma'am there was a bear come down that layer one night I heard it poked we got a great

weight out. My bed was by the window and watch my daughter's room now. So I looked out and saw the band stand on that shed roof. Yeah so do you commence still a good lead. Yes and he threw a stone at the bear in the bear got skeered and commenced to run down the ridge of the huge group of guys looking or to the high camber where protection was. But you won't come to the end of it. And these legs that race in the air well you hit the ground then you run off and I couldn't see the M.O.. Yes with jail that story to anybody who happened by. Get right there in that chair. And at that bear he went. Well that's quite a story alright. Now do you have any sons ma'am. Yes my oldest. Could I talk to him does he live near here.

No. Do you have any other sons. LLOYD Where is he now. Field you know that company there ability visit you every once in a while ambitious he was just see him and Jesse was like Jacob in the cell. Lloyd was like get the brand new this. He was yes ma'am. Do you expect Lloyd soon to bring to the grandchildren they love the file. They love me and you know that. Yes ma'am. That's wonderful. If anything with that happened to this place I don't know what. Lloyd's oldest boy would do. He loves it most as much as I do. Yes ma'am. Now. There are you. How do you do from that.

I was trying to know where would you go in life. Do you get that. YOU BETTER NOT BE THE ONE THAT. Right now I want to talk to her. After all we have to find new forms for the folks come in and talk to her then I reckon. Is that what you want me to do. I want I want you in the hole and never come to this. But if you're gonna flood mama you better come in and eat dinner with us. I suppose I might as well say what I have to say and get it over with.

The TVA is building some dams form and several lakes and the farm here lies in a valley that is Lloyd Young and yet you remind me of I beg your pardon the way you dress Jeffy. For the month and good go but you don't look like a man. I wish you would listen to me though for your own good. Mr Davis works for the government in Nashville Farrow for the United States government man. Maybe you come to me bad. No ma'am I don't believe I understand that he was in the infantry. Rick Decker a bad person with MS. And then I am sorry. No I don't know about destiny man. I'm sorry you want more cornbread mama. I told Mr. Davis about the bear on the ship there was a

fine story. There was a bed got me kicked in wants to get on the go down hollering Get an angrier every time I check the hot metal. Might have been there yet if you can get it to map a door that's right there are some wonderful stories don't. It's a big young man. There's hardly a place that doesn't have a story there. That while in the power after dinner it's cool in here. Couche room in the house outside the bedroom mama uses math. That's my grandfather's rifle up there and beautiful made himself that his picture in the big pregnant. That smaller picture on the

mantel is of my husband. Jeff what did Kerry and Robert who was probably been what Lloyd took that picture with a kodak low always was one for anything new and Pa like to have his picture made in the mama. Yes he thought he was so handsome he was cute. Don't you think so Mr. DAVIS. Yes I think he was on that big chair by the window. Who's that. You know who would be Sarah. It's me you if I was 17 years of age when that was candid. You are very beautiful work you would I strongly believe. There were several boys who told me I was pretty. Many came here to call. This house was my father's your seat was a grandfather carved the mantle than Mr David.

He dug this cellar with his own hand and laid the foundation reared the house polished the floors. His father gave him one in the family house which was on a no up a covert p. But grandfather built this his own house. Probably meant a great deal to him after all that work. Yes work and live and live and then work worth and die and young and grown old and old and grown very old. I remember so much. Sometimes my mind gets tired. Yes ma'am. Why it was right here that called Gen Than Me and one even and the third damn get a call on me and probably the lion on that cot. We were rolled looked up at dad and said Young man you want my daughter. Just like that. Yes them. Oh I remembered.

I feel too weak and the blood just seemed to leave me to death and you said yes sir I want your daughter and then a lot of warm up fell like all the life in this world was right and every problem had its explain and if he wanted me to see yes my. Children said Where will you get married. Come back this place will be your own. The others were there for me. Yes me you wait outside the door there and a good one but didn't get was hardly old and young he was behind him and couldn't miss it. 3. Then he took my hand.

First time me and protect me. Oh never did. No man. Well Mr. Davis I like you very well. You have business with me. Yes I do. What. Well if you're interested in buying that fifty acres down by the road I'll tell you right now I'll not say I was thinking about that I agreed but. Mainly I want to buy the whole farm ma'am. The wrong I give you it's bad you and more. I'm anxious to have it frankly and I know why I'm imposing on you. But why I couldn't stay with this place is this how would you know me today this. I'm saving this from a grandson Lloyd golden boy. Tom may well want to come here he likes it. It's going to be. I

understand that but the whole goal was once in the family Mr. DAVIS. Even the best part of it is still current. Mr. Davis has something to say yes. Man I like you. I hate to hurt you but. You see it's very important that you sell this farm important to hundreds of thousands of people. We're building a dam you understand right across the Clinch River and it's going to back water up into the COBE square miles into this cove a lake will be here watered ponds of water. Thousands of tons of water ma'am for flood control. Why we haven't had a flood on this

yet but one piece of bottomland Creek Well here's what I. I see mama trying to understand I am driving there and what they say you have to sell man. What do you say. The government of the United States is going to build a dam down the river and that dam is going to form a lake and flood this valley flood this farm flooded this house to 20 feet above this house. There will be nothing but solid water. There I want you to come over here and next to me. Yeah not feel all alone all alone.

I realize that you just has to be good just Lloyd may be here soon Mama you can never tear Winnie up come try to understand love this room. Yes and your bedroom upstairs. You were born and I had a room the sailor. Yes ma'am ma'am. Look at me. Please down to Memphis down to Natchez down to New Orleans. The river floods and when it does it kills like an angry thing like a wild thing it carries off land and people and babies. And food farms and animals. It wrecks cities. It's a terrible thing when the river floods and we have to stop it. We will do anything we can ma'am. We will find you a better farm another house. We will pay you

anything within reason. I don't know anybody. Of course not. I don't know why single pushing you ever led here and went to a place called the Yes Men. I like you missed the date. I told you before I like you. Yes Men. But don't you see. When Jessie went away it with to the government they wanted him with. Oh I don't know where Jeremy mama. There are many. It's right there. Never look back. It was a low. Couldn't believe mama don't talk anymore and now way or somebody's me my mom but I can't let them have it. You see this is my house. And

Lord that boy the oldest I want him to have it and used to keep the fire go on. I'm sorry Mr. Davis I like your guest had to do business that way because I can't sell my farm. It was a car just drove up. Big car from Floyd he got here and he helped her Sara out on the ridge Jesse. Could she do whatever he wanted to do in the past. He got here quickly and this is not the baby from the government. How do you do. I suppose Sara told you why I'm here. Go make yourself at home such as it is. Where's mother. I'm not in your bed.

I don't know. I went up to look at her while ago. She wasn't in her room she was in. I know it used to be hers when we were children make when Dad was alive. Yes but why do you now. Because it was his because she needs him because her children were born in it. I think you maybe rights or when she went up stairs she was. Very much disturbed. Can the government take this from a lot of growth. They must go out and talk to us. We can't avoid it what good would that do. Don't make this sound so simple I think David has tried to explain and she won't listen to me. She won't listen to me either I'm annoyed remember I left her in dead alone in this cove. I'm never to be forgiven. Your only fan none the less. Death is gone for good. You know you are so damaged due to that very spot and cursed me and mother looked on silently since I left this course and so I left them I've been something other than a son I'm Loyd I'm EASTOE younger brother.

Just looking at the ceiling. She's your mother. Go talk to her. If you think I should. Why I didn't know you list them didn't they. Yes mother. I've been here for a minute or so. You've been quiet. Yes Mother I've been expecting you to come to see me all week. Well it's a hard drive mother it's 60 miles and the roads are terrible. I've been thanked and you tell me you know and I came directly from the plant. Tom was very much like his grandfather. Yes unlike Jesse. Yes he is like death. He liked very much. Mother do you mind if I pull up

here and sit down. Of course not. Luckily there was a man here that he didn't want to buy the foam so I had to say oh I don't know why wouldn't I understand mother. You got to fix it so we can't make me so. Lloyd Oh all right mother. Its name is Mr. Davis I remember. You look oh and I never saw you before Lloyd. I'm as old as dad was when I had the stroke mother. Yes you are. Let's see he died in 1920 January the Tuesday after oh Christmas. You remember it. That's strange. What I want to talk to you about mother is the love you have for this farm. It is that you

have to fix that. So I would have to say I know it's a deep love it's a love you have for the past which was good to you. Not always. No but you had security then in the future you could look forward couldn't you. Then Jesse died. Then I left you and went to Knoxville. Let's not talk about all that. Then you and Dad were left alone out here and there wasn't any future for you was there mother. Lloyd I don't want don't about oh you know when dad did what anybody would do when you begin to live in the past. Then he died and all you had then was the house the farm the past the places you remember Lloyd. Believe me I know I understand I'm not blaming you. I want you to know I understand. I know how hard it is now that the past is being threatened. We're not trying to take this house but I won't. I know because you transcend a mother because you're a part of this house now you are as much a part of it is the floors are part of it is that chimney there is this

role this role you in this role in Jessie and dad and Sarah and me before I want to weigh in the baby as your last and your father who live here and build this wall. You were part of them and they have you through this place. Yeah yeah that's true. And they're the best part of your life. I know mother remember that I know believe me because I have something else to say. Whether your father was a builder or as an A. Yes he was Lloyd when he was young he was given the family homestead as I remember and he left it didn't he came down here and built this house. As you know he left his father's homestead deserted it and built himself a new and better house didn't he. He was always looking forward wasn't it. Yes he was.

Always the next planting the next town the next addition to the prom. He wanted to buy that piece of land along the river. The Thompson place got a mother. Why haven't you told my son that. Why what do you mean. He comes back to Knoxville whenever Rhes been with you and he tells me about the old days and how wonderful they were. He tells me about the hearth and about the orchard granddad planted one tree for each child. But he never mentions that the hot downstairs is about to fall apart and that the orchard doesn't bear fruit anymore. He doesn't know you gather as a family around a hot fire for love and purpose but that you serve this love your drive for this purpose by going out and changing and improving and rearranging as your father did before you. Back in the CO's mother a people who have forgotten this meaning of the HOTH by their actual late in their last.

It's 1935 mother not a year. A cove people. And in 1950 the year of Tom's maturity that won't be a time for Ko people either not for the isolated mind not for the man who is always living in the past. I think you know I never heard you talk like never before. I want you to help my son to help prepare him for his life to give him roots deep in the soil of the past and his good father. But I want to be sure that he's ready to meet the challenges of his own day. That's what your father would say that's what Jesse would say tear it down and build it better I can hear Jesse say that can't you mama. I. I don't know I love him and buy a better one that's what your father would say is I don't want to talk anymore. You do know

how this part of me so long as you have no future it's all you have mother. But I'm trying to give you a future. I'm trying to give you a future in Tom. I want you to help me Riri. He needs all the knowledge in the old days all the depth of living and life that you and I can ever give him. But my son isn't to belong to this coma not of this house not of that old shed out there under that hot downstairs. But to the spirit that caused to be built and tended in this house and that spirit must be in you. It isn't in these roles my mother listened to the past. DAVE LAWSON twat. That house has to be left handed. But we have

to clear the lake bottom. I wouldn't doubt you don't even have stand much shade the bear ran down but it has to be that way. Well tell them a Knoxville man. And I want the government do more of what firemen in the heart. You mean move it to your new farm near Knoxville. Yeah well. I'll tell them at the TVA I want it written down. You see Mr Davis when my grandfather built the house he brought codes from the hearth at the homestead and put them in there they've never been allowed to go out. I see you didn't flood the farm and who's to know whether the house in sheds do stand and none but the fire. We want to be sure of that. Yes or you can be sure of it. And one more thing Mr. DAVIS. Yes ma'am. You are to come to Fee me in the new place.

Will ma'am it's a beautiful farm. When I get married I'll bring my wife to meet you. You better bring up before you get married so I can look Aruba for you I don't know you said that man. Come on mother. Sarah is anxious to get started by Mr. DAVIS. Good by I wish you luck with your project. The big thing you're doing something for the future hundreds of years into the future the TVA is here with its vision. And. Plans. Thanks good luck to. American Adventure is written by Johnny Lee directed by John Clayton produced by the communication center of the University of North Carolina. American adventurer is a study of mine in the New World. His values and his

characteristics who he is what he believes. The series is made possible by the National Association of educational broadcasters and the fun Fred don't education an independent agency established by the Ford Foundation and hearth fire the old lady was Josephine Sharkey a local housewife a TV agent was Charles Kuralt a student the daughter was Jean herring a clerk in central records. The sign was Johnny Lee member of the faculty Carl Kasell speaking American Inventor is produced and recorded by the University of North Carolina on the campus at Chapel Hill. This is the n AB network.