G, Bobbie

[Music] 

Bobbie G: Hi, I'm Bobbie. I live here in Merrick-Moore Community. I've been here for over 30–about 32 years. I moved here with my first husband because he was the one that lived and he–he was born here on the street. And so we got married and everything and then our gorgeous neighbor–Miss Alice Keith–sold us this house and–Mike–and we had two kids and they was born and raised here. 

Bobbie G: This street is really lovely. Um, it's quiet–um– just like um home sweet home. And I enjoy living on this street, living in this house. My kids does the same, my husband does the same.

 [Music] 

Bobbie G: Back in the days, in the early 90s on up until the late, that um the community with the um elderly people respect them with grandmoms and granddads, they took care of my kids. My kids was the only–I have twins– and my kids was the only one on the street because um everybody else kids had been growed up and they took their children away, but they did come to visit and that they took care of my kids for me when I had to work. Basically, I really have nothing to worry about when I had to work because they was there for me. And when their grandkids comes to visit them they comes and get my kids and then it'd be one good street with kids running around with their bicycles, skateboards, stuff like that, and they will ride their bikes all up on Cheek road and in the back of Miller Terrace. They had a wonderful time.

Bobbie G:  And the other people had gardens–out–we had gardens out here. We had horses out here. I mean actually, really horses, and everything been, everything is was back in them days was really, really, really beautiful. It was something that we never, never had to worry about.

Bobbie G: But back in the day when um it was the elderly people that owned these houses, and their children always had parties, get togethers, reunions, and the main house that it used to be in would be to Joiners. And plus the mothers and fathers they would come there too, and we would just celebrate like Fourth of July for instance. We all goes down there and just enjoy ourselves, never have to worry about anything. And like I said again, my kids was the only one so they would be the only kids down there, and that they, we just come out we make food wise, we sit there and laugh and joke, I mean–yes–and music, and we do cards and the guys always did horseshoes. It's a back in the back of there, they made a trail, and–they always did–they would play horseshoes all day long, it'll be so much fun. And the others, we would just gather around and talk about anything and keep laughing and try to keep on going. And it just enjoy ourself from the wee day and to late at night. And I'm blessed, I am really blessed to be on this street because, this community–because–this is the first I have ever, ever owned a house. And I always had a dream to do this, but it came to me so natural and beautiful, I can't do nothing but take it, and take it in stride, and do what I should be doing to keep it up or whatever. Yeah, it has been a struggle but we're making it, we're making it. 

[Music] 

[A walk down Roane Street] 

Bonita Green: In the day everybody built their own house, there was no developer that went and built the houses out here.

Bobbie G: Right

Bonita Green: They built–and they helped each other.

Bobbie G: They sure did.

Bonita Green: the auto body shop down there–  let me see video 

Bobbie G: On Hill Cheek Road,

Bonita Green: [inaudible]

Bobbie G: Where the brown houses at now–

Bonita Green: Yes

Bobbie G: –they used to be all his too. And uh–

Bonita Green:  It was rental property down there too.

Bobbie G: Right.

[camera cuts to a different part of Roane St.]

Bonita Green: [motioning left]  Corn and wheat

Bobbie G: –All they did

Bonita Green: Yeah

Bobbie G: And, um, and they did have an area, huh–

Bonita Green: Wilkerson's owned that property.

Bobbie G: –and they used to um, have an open space, where the, like I said, my kids and the grandkids would go through there and ride their bikes and stuff like that. Yeah. And the people back in them days that lived over there when they–when they had built it, they didn't mind–

Bonita Green: No 

Bobbie G: –they didn't mind at all.

Bonita Green: the older section of the lot–

Bobbie G: Yeah!

Bonita Green: –versus a newer section, and so they would there were paths and the kids ride mini bikes–

Bobbie G: Oh, yeah! 

Bonita Green: and play–

Bobbie G: Yeah!

Bonita Green: –you know? We used to always–when I was a little, little girl–we used to play out.

Bobbie G: Because we didn't never want our kids to go out on Cheek Road–

Bonita Green: Right. So, we would play back–

Bobbie G: –kids in this area.

[Camera cuts]

Bobbie G: Well right here it used to be nothing but trees and woods until about 10 years ago. Of course what you see is, is this big trailer house here. And it's a nice place. And, we used to be--and they got that--pronounce that again? Oh the cul-de-fac

Bonita Green: The cul-de-sac. 

Bobbie G: The cul-de-sac. And we have a cul-de-sac here for the kids and for anyone else because it's a out--no outlet. And we used to didn't have one, but since um... we bought--

Bonita Green: Sold their streets 

Both: Yeah

Bonita Green: –back in the day, and the residents who lived out here–well the Merrick-Moore Community Club was the one– 

Bobbie G: That got bought. Yeah.

Bonita Green: We were city, and then we were County, and then we were City-out. And when we were City-out the Merrick-Moore Community Club lobbied to get the streets paved and get lights. But the people who lived along the street had to pay.

Bobbie G: Yes. 

Bonita Green: And to this day, the only street in the neighborhood that's not paved is Mayo Street.

Bobbie G: That's it.

Bonita Green:  Yep. That's the only one.

Bonita Green: But um, the people on the street--so, it wasn't like the City just did it--

Bobbie G: By theyself.

Bonita Green: --on their own; like "Hey we are just going to pave this for you." Um, the um, people who lived along the street had to pay into having the street paved. And then several years later, um, came the um, when the City fully annexed us in, it was sewer and water. And so everyone had to pay to bring that in, because the houses were here before all this other infrastructure came into play. And I even remember--we were talking about outhouses--

Bobbie G: Haha. Okay, yes. Haha.

Bonita Green: We had an outhouse. And my mom--Because my dad was a master carpenter, he worked on houses and everything--she was--He also did plumbing--and so, she was bugging him forever to put a bathroom in. And it wasn't until--I think my sister, my eldest sister may have been around sixteen, seventeen, eighteen, somewhere around in that area, that she went out one night to go to the bathroom. My brother was with her because it was dark, and there was a black snake in there. 

Bobbie G: Oh.

Bonita Green: And so, that's when my mom put her foot down, and was like "You gonna put a bathroom in this house so we're not having to go to the outhouse anymore.” But, yeah. I remember there were a lot of outhouses in this community. People used well-water, and they still do--

Bobbie G: Use, does use well water.

Bonita Green: Yeah, there's still a few people out who are still on well-water. Um, but most people have converted to [inaudible] water now.