UCAC ORAL HISTORIES: NORTH COUNTY
H-Z

Bushwood

Harry Linwood Reed
Interviewed on December 18, 2001, Harry Reed was born in 1907 in Zacata, Virginia located in the Montross District in WestMoreland County. He then talks about schooling and his first at the Waterman Park Hotel in 1928. He speaks at length about the Shoreham Hotel and serving overseas until 1945, he mentions the invasion and landing on Omaha Beach. Mr. Reed speaks at length about the water, traveling, and fighting, he came home in 1945. After he retired, he opened up a hotel on Long View Beach, he then continued talking about schooling, family, health, and the newspaper. Mr. Reed discusses transportation, church, and meeting his wife, especially after their honeymoon when he didn’t have a job and times were tough. He cooks as a hobby and the role of religion in his life such as participating in community activities, he answers questions about the county and family relations. Mr. Reed concludes the interview by talking about awards/certificates and the direction of the county.

Davis

Lewis Clifton Whalen

Interviewed on November 20, 1996, Lewis Whalen was born on Smoothe Farm located on Route 6 in Charlotte Hall, he then moved to Thaltis Farm and went to White Marsh School. His father was a tenant farmer, and he speaks at length about his childhood, early memories, siblings, and chores. His family received the news from used school books and the radio, he talked about his favorite teachers and subjects. Mr. Whalen attended White Marsh in New Market near Ebenezer Church and then attended Banneker. He worked in Washington for 32 years and got married, his wife is Baptist and Catholic thus they attended a Baptist Church. Mr. Whalen answers questions about life in St. Mary’s County, race relations, segregation, and local vs. outsiders. He discusses living in Washington DC and Baltimore, MD, Naval Base, and contributions to the county. Mr. Whalen concludes the interview by talking about the most valuable thing in life, education, and his parents.

Leonardtown

Mary Elizabeth Herbert

Interviewed on January 16, 2007, Mary Herbert was living on Morganza Turner Road at the time of the project. She was married and living with her in-laws, she moved to a tenant house on Harry Reeder’s Farm. Mrs. Herbert speaks at length about her family, specifically her father and each of her siblings, she and her husband moved to Chase's apartments which was originally part of St. Joseph’s School for the “colored” children. She talks about property, children, and Father Cavanaugh, she recalls staying with the Marshall when her father had to go to Washington, DC. She mentions the Chase and Holt families and the annual picnic at the beach. She speaks at length about her mother and father, specifically old traditions and stories. Mrs. Herbert concludes the interview by talking about The County Commissioners, building a new center, the current status of the community, and problems with leadership in the organization.

Loveville

Augustus Herbert

Augustus Herbert's interview took place on June 23, 2021. Herbert discusses growing up in Loveville. He also talks about his family, life on a farm, working, schooling, and childhood. He worked on the farm with his father and grandmother, and their business later expanded into digging wells. He recalls when he and his father drove to Baltimore in the back of a truck with his dad. At school, he played sports like baseball and volleyball. He later joined the Navy and was sent overseas. He met his wife, Mary Elizabeth while working on her farm. They later had eight children together.

Mary Agnes Young

Interviewed on May 1, 2007, Mary Young used to live in Loveville but they widened the road and took their home. She attended St. Joseph’s School, her father worked for State Highway, and in the evenings he helped out farming. They lived in Snack Berry’s home until their home was finished, The Project by Father Kavanaugh helped build their home. She speaks at length about St. Joseph’s and the projects they coordinated specifically homes built for Cullins Butler, Dickerson’s, and the Young’s. Mrs. Young talks about the community and activities they would participate in, she concludes the interview by talking about parties, picnics, and skating. 

Maddox

Ethel W. Johnson Reed

Interviewed on August 7, 1996, Ethel Reed begins the interview reflecting upon childhood experiences and memories, her foster parents, Robert and Easter Johnson were hard-working religious people. She talks about the food her family would eat and if times were worse or better in those days. She speaks at length about her childhood and formal schooling, especially her favorite teachers. She talks about living with her grandmother and cousins in Richmond, doing housework, and working in restaurants. She moved to New York, lived with her cousins, then moved to Washington D.C. and passed the exam for a government job. Mrs. Reed recalls her marriage, mentioning that they had no children, religion played a big part in her life. She’s asked about her feelings towards life today and described how she came to St. Mary’s County and why. She then answers questions about race relations, county people vs. outsiders, direction/changes in the county ,and her personal contributions to the community. Mrs. Reed concludes the interview by talking about valuable possessions, life plans/expectations, and county changes and she then provides closing comments about life and her marriage. 

Mechanicsville

Alice Carter Thomas

Interviewed on November 1, 2003, Alice Thomas begins the interview by talking about what times were like when she was growing up. She went to a two-room country school in Able and dreamed of becoming a nurse. Mrs. Thomas details life on her own and marriage, she got married on September 29, 1935, at Holy Angels Church. She had a good relationship with her children and grandchildren, religion played a big role in her life. Mrs. Thomas answers questions about the county, segregation, hate, and voting, she speaks at length about the county and her contributions to the community. She mentions the steamboats on Bushwood Wharf and Corpal Wharf, she then talks about her childhood, raising kids, and segregation/integration. Mrs. Thomas concludes the interview by talking about a priest at Holy Angels Church and the importance of college for black children.

Sarah A. White

Interviewed on February 13, 2006, Sarah White was raised on Somerset Farm, she got married and lived with her mother-in-law. She built her house through Father Cavanaugh, she lived in her house for 20-30 years. She found out about the project from Father Cavanaugh at St. Joseph’s Church, at the time of the building site she had five children. She speaks at length about Father Cavanaugh, building houses, and project details. Mrs. White concludes the interview by talking about how Father Cavanaugh married her and baptized her children, she went to St. Joseph School and learned a lot from her experience working with Father Cavanaugh.

Morganza

Mary E. Herbert 

Mary Elizabeth Forbes Herbert’s interview took place on June 23, 2021. Mrs. Herbert discusses growing up in Southern Maryland during the 1960s and 1950s. She grew up with her parents, Rose and William Forbes, in Morganza, MD. They were farmers and grew corn and tobacco. Her husband worked on the farm next to theirs. After they married, he got a job in St. Mary’s County. She remembers her family being very protective of her after the death of her sister. Growing up, she went to a segregated two-room Catholic school. After school, her family would congregate together. During this time, she remembers her parents telling her stories about their enslavement. In her adult life, she taught religion classes at the Tri-County Head Start program.