Interview with Horace Thomas Beavers, October 20, 1988

Partial Transcript: This is an interview with Horace Beavers on October the 20th, 1988 by Sandra Brewer.

Segment Synopsis: Beavers discusses what Etowah was like before the L&N Railroad came. He says that most people were farmers and that everyone was poor. He recalls some of the families that lived in Etowah when he was a child.

Keywords: Farms; L&N Railroad; Louisville and Nashville Railroad (L&N); Railroads; Trains

Subjects: Agriculture; Childhood; Etowah (Tenn.); Families.; Farms; Railroads

Partial Transcript: Well, were there any churches?

Segment Synopsis: Beavers discusses the churches and schools in Etowah during his youth. He says that he attended school in Williamsburg, Tennessee. He also describes the farms in Etowah and how people made a living.

Keywords: Agriculture; Churches; Farms; Schools; Williamsburg (Tenn.)

Subjects: Agriculture; Education; Etowah (Tenn.); Farms; Religion

Partial Transcript: Well, I understand your daddy helped build the depot.

Segment Synopsis: Beavers describes how his father started working for the L&N Railroad. He says that his family moved to Etowah so his father could work for the railroad. He discusses going to school and how he was treated differently because he was a farmer.

Keywords: Careers; Employment; Family; Jobs; L&N Railroad; Louisville and Nashville Railroad (L&N); Railroads; Schools; Trains; Work

Subjects: Childhood; Education; Etowah (Tenn.); Families.; Louisville and Nashville Railroad Company.; Railroads

Partial Transcript: When you worked on the railroad, when, when it first started, did you work for the L&N or was it just your dad?

Segment Synopsis: Beavers discusses his time working for the L&N Railroad Company at age 18. He says that he was a general laborer and did many odd jobs for the company. He also discusses the various goods that the trains carried and transported. He tells stories about some of his work experience, including working with the mail crane. He also describes the other various jobs he did on the railroad, including digging ditches and pouring concrete.

Keywords: Careers; Employment; Family; Jobs; L&N Railroad; Louisville and Nashville Railroad (L&N); Railroads; Trains; Work

Subjects: Etowah (Tenn.); Families.; Louisville and Nashville Railroad Company; Railroads

Partial Transcript: Now you were talking about the--in the town, people made a difference--class distinction, you know, you were a laborer, but on the railroad was there a difference between management?

Segment Synopsis: Beavers talks about how certain railroad workers were treated differently. He says that he was treated differently because he was a general laborer. He also talks about how people in Etowah felt when the railroad came and how they felt about its workers.

Keywords: L&N Railroad; Louisville and Nashville Railroad (L&N); Railroads; Social classes; Trains; Treatment

Subjects: Etowah (Tenn.); Louisville and Nashville Railroad Company; Railroads

Partial Transcript: Uh, did the railroad try to control local politics?

Segment Synopsis: Beavers discusses how the L&N Railroad was involved in politics. He also talks about the railroad unions and how they got started. He describes the relationship between the unions and the railroad.

Keywords: Careers; Employment; Jobs; L&N Railroad; Louisville and Nashville Railroad (L&N); Organized labor; Railroads; Trains; Work

Subjects: Etowah (Tenn.); Labor unions; Louisville and Nashville Railroad Company.; Organized labor; Politics; Railroads

Partial Transcript: Were you, uh, working for the railroad when the strike--during the strike?

Segment Synopsis: Beavers discusses the railroad strike in Etowah. He also talks about how he traveled out west in 1919 and stayed for thirteen years. He describes how he became involved in Christianity after attending a church service in California. He discusses his religious beliefs and the various churches he attended.

Keywords: L&N Railroad; Louisville and Nashville Railroad (L&N); Organized labor; Railroads; Trains

Subjects: Christianity; Churches; Labor unions; Louisville and Nashville Railroad Company.; Organized labor; Politics; Railroads; Religion; Strikes and lockouts

Partial Transcript: Well Mr. Beavers, getting back to when the L&N came to Etowah. Do you know who owned--

Segment Synopsis: Beavers discusses when the L&N built the railroad depot. He discusses how the railroad provided for the many workers that came to Etowah to work on the railroad. He discusses housing and food. He also describes the various buildings and resources that the railroad had.

Keywords: Careers; Employees; Employment; Housing; Jobs; L&N Railroad; Louisville and Nashville Railroad (L&N); Railroad depots; Railroad workers; Railroads; Trains; Work

Subjects: Etowah (Tenn.); Louisville and Nashville Railroad Company.; Railroads

Partial Transcript: What are--you were saying that "rail birding" was a term that came from the men sitting on the, uh, the fence.

Segment Synopsis: Beavers discusses various terms used by workers on the L&N Railroad. He discusses the term "hot box" and what it meant. He also talks about the circus coming through town, as well as the Chautauqua. He discusses the Chautauqua in detail and the various lectures and performances they had.

Keywords: Chautauqua; Circuses; L&N Railroad; Louisville and Nashville Railroad (L&N); Railroads; Trains

Subjects: Etowah (Tenn.); Louisville and Nashville Railroad Company.; Railroads