The House on the Hill

The Family moved into the house on the hill in early March of 1941. There were four large rooms each joining the next with big hinged doors. Little identified the rooms for any special use. There was no sink, no running water, no cabinets or cupboards. Just four large empty rooms. Perfect for two little girls to run in wild circles screaming and yelling and slamming doors. Stairs climbed the wall in the "back" room to a long spacious room upstairs.



A chimney stood in the wall separating the two rooms on the east end of the house. This alone defined the rooms. One would be the "front room"where the family received guests, gathered in the evenings and carried out various household tasks. The other room would be the kitchen.



Mama supervised the unloading of the truck. The beds were set up. Two double beds went in the "front" room, one for Mama and Daddy, the other for the little girls. A large double bed was set up in the adjoining room for the big girls. The boys would sleep upstairs.



A large wood-burning cook stove was set up in the perceived kitchen. A large home-made cook table was brought in along with a long bench and four cane-bottom chairs. The beds were made and buckets of water were brought in from a pump out by the barn lot. A fire was kindled in the old cook stove and Mama started supper.



The smell of bacon, fried potatoes, hot bisquits and gravy filled the kitchen. The children warmed themselves behind the big cook stove before sliding on to the bench behind the table. Daddy picked up the baby and sat her on his knee. This is where Babe ate every meal until she became too heavy for this very special place.



The pot bellied stove used to heat the "front" room was stored for the summer. We had used the last of the coal before leaving Arkansas. Spring was coming. It would be warm soon. There was no need to buy more coal until next fall.

Bobbie and I spent the cool spring days in the warmth of Mama's kitchen rocking and soothing our hand made babies and playing with thread spools saved from Mama's sewing.