Chesapeake Style Online

Spring 2013 9
The Hampton Institute Connection
My Father’s Story: Journey
To Hampton—Part One
By Elizabeth Allen Stokes
In the tiny hamlet of
Cynthiana, Kentucky,
some sixty miles south
of Cincinnati, Ohio, my
father, George Albert
Alexander, drew his rst breath in
the same bedroom as his mother
had been born, in a cramped,
rundown four room clapboard
house on April 4, 1903. He was to be
the only child for James and Mattie
Ann Hillard Alexander, who had
married late. Mattie was forty-one
and George was doted on by his
aunts and uncles. James worked as
a slaughterhouse laborer and Mattie
toiled as a domestic and seamstress
for wealthy Jews who owned a
fashionable tailoring business.
e marriage was doomed from
the beginning because Mattie’s sisters
felt she had married beneath her and
constantly criticized James, although
together they made a sucient living,
and soon had their own home across
the eld from Mattie’s parents, who
had been former slaves. My father’s
formative years were spent on the
farm helping to tend the family
gardens, tilling the soil, birthing foals.
He attended one room schoolhouses
where his mother’s sisters, JT and
Fannie came back from college to
teach, their pupils being their younger
brothers and their nephew, my father.
He and his uncle, John Dixie Hillard,
a year older became inseparable,
and often engaged in antics like
visiting the local hollows and helping
their buddies make corn whiskey.
My grandmother, Mattie Ann,
began taking George with her to
help in the tailoring shop where
he swept the oors and took out
the trash. At the same time Mattie
noticed that he had a special
anity for cutting out patterns
and designing children clothes.
In his spare time because he was
an avid reader he would pour over
the society newspapers and study
the clothes of Cincinnati society.
He told his mother at twelve that
A Time for New Beginnings
By Bill Graves
Springtime is coming and
oh how wonderful that
is! Spring is nature’s way
of saying, “Let’s Party”,
so says Robin Williams,
and I couldn’t agree more. We grow
weary of the winter, the short days
and cold nights. Even the warmth
and coziness of the evening re wans
after dragging four cords of wood
into the house. It’s time to welcome
the New Year with all its possibilities.
Resolutions have been on hold till
after the Super Bowl and Valentine’s
Day because trying to lose weight and
exercise when it’s freezing outside
just doesn’t work in my world.
It’s time to sow in order to reap
and that means getting your hands
in the soil. Whether it is a full blown
garden or just a couple pots with
some tomatoes plants, it’s a must
do. We are one with mother earth
and besides it is good for the soul.
Spring cleaning always comes
to mind. It is those unwelcome
chores of cleaning the gutters and
windows, maybe power washing the
siding and deck. Maybe it is time to
change out the curtains and move
the outdoor plants back outdoors.
It may be time to do some bush
hogging and ignite the burn pile.
A time for great expectations too!
Getting the tractor, boat, golf cart,
camping gear, RV, motorcycle and yes,
for many, even the riding mower…
ready to go…means adventure.
“e secret to a rich life is
to have more beginnings than
endings.” – Dave Weinbaum
With that thought maybe it’s
time for some new recipes, craft
he could design and make those
clothes he showed her in the paper.
He began drawing patterns as well
as operating the old Singer sewing
machines—at that time they used
foot pedals and were not electric.
On weekends back at home
George started to help his mother
make clothing for the family from
leftover bolts of cloth her employer
had given her. He became fascinated
with colors and textures and how to
properly t the material to the client.
Mattie’s employer even gave her an
old mannequin for him to practice.
He was operating the steam press by
twelve and Mattie’s employer allowed
him to do small jobs like changing
the bobbins, oiling the sewing
machines and keeping them clean.
For this he was given a small salary.
James, my grandfather, tired of the
bickering with in-laws over his menial
job, began to stay for longer periods
in Cincinnati and not accompanying
his wife home. George, never really
close to his father, became even
closer to his mother, and therefore
or hobby. I just got a record turntable
that will make all my music
digital and a device that will change
my old slides and negatives into
new and improved pictures. Now if
that isn’t something that will keep
me busy for the rest of my life.
It’s also tax season. at’s always
“a cause for pause” and reection.
How did things go last year? Did I
save enough? Did I get rid of some
pesky monthly bills or did I create
new ones? What am I going to do
dierently this year? Will I have to cut
back on some things or can I aord
to splurge on something special? All
these things run through our minds.
Often it leads to other important
items that revolve around nances.
Do I need to update my will or
trust? Do I need to re-evaluate my
insurances and secure my important
never really missed his father
when they nally separated.
Mattie had always hated the
stench left on the clothes her father
and his brothers always seemed to
carry on their clothes and the ever
present scent in their home and
equated it as a failure in her husband.
During this time James contracted
pneumonia in Cincinnati and died.
Mattie refused to bring the body
home. He was buried in a pauper’s
grave. Mattie and James had long
before talked about Hampton
Institute and, on his dying bed
Mattie, promised him she would see
that he furthered his education. She
secured a loan from her employer,
who readily gave her assistance.
George was excited. Mattie wrote
to the admissions oce. His uncle
John Dixie was to go also. ey both
were accepted and sponsors found.
Next month: Arriving at
Hampton: Part Two
documents? Do my spouse, family
and business associates know my
wishes and know where to nd
things? Please do yourself a favor
and make this the year you put
these issues behind you once and
for all. It will be a big weight o your
shoulders and that’s a good thing!
“Although no one can go back and
make a brand new start, anyone
can start from now and make a
brand new ending” – Carl Bard
For a Free Copy of the National
Council on Aging – Savvy Saving
Seniors or Using Your Home to Stay at
Home or to learn more about Reverse
Mortgages call Bill Graves 866-936-
4141, 453-4141, bgraves@nnwi.com