HISTORIAN'S NOTE:

Mr. Paul Thompkins is also present.

SIGRIST:

Okay, testing, one, two, three. This is Paul Sigrist and Paul Thompkins and Ella Drew, and we're in Bath, England. Testing, one, two, three. Okay, this is Paul Sigrist for the National Park Service. Today is Saturday, October 18 th , 1997. I'm in Bath, England. I've come to England on vacation and I'm actually taking a little work detour to interview Mrs. Ella Drew. Correct? Mrs. Drew came from England to America in 1924. Correct? And you were twenty four years old at that time. And then what year did you come back to England, Mrs. Drew?

DREW:

When did I come back?

SIGRIST:

When did you come back —

DREW:

Come back?

SIGRIST:

— to England?

DREW:

Well, it would have been 1930, was it?

SIGRIST:

Was it 1930?

DREW:

Mmm.

SIGRIST:

About 1930, you think?

DREW:

19 – what?

SIGRIST:

1930, you think you came back to England?

DREW:

1930, yeah, I think it was.

SIGRIST:

Sometime around then?

DREW:

Sometime around there, 1930.

SIGRIST:

Okay, great.

DREW:

Yes.

SIGRIST:

I should also say for the sake of the tape that with us also is Mr. Paul Thompkins, who is a distant relative of Mrs. Drew and who has made this whole interview possible. And I appreciate him doing that very much. I should also say we are recording with his children's Fisher Price cassette tape recorder, which is very brightly colored and works, which is great. We're also — we're at St. Martin's Convalescent Hospital. Is that the name?

PAUL T:

Yes.

SIGRIST:

St. Martin's Convalescent Hospital.

PAUL T:

Yeah. It's not actually got it in the title but, yeah.

SIGRIST:

Okay. All right. And we're — as I said, we're in Bath, England. Anyway, Mrs. Drew, can we begin by you giving me your birth date?

DREW:

Birth what?

SIGRIST:

When were you born?

DREW:

1900. May the 5 th , 1900.

SIGRIST:

May 5, 1900. And what — where were you born in England?

DREW:

Hmm?

SIGRIST:

Where were you born in England? What was the town?

DREW:

[unclear] town?

SIGRIST:

Yes. (chuckles)

DREW:

The village, Stoney Littleton.

SIGRIST:

Stoney —

DREW:

Stoney Littleton.

SIGRIST:

Stoney Littleton.

DREW:

Yes, England.

SIGRIST:

Yes. Where is that in the country?

DREW:

Somerset.

SIGRIST:

It's in Somerset.

DREW:

Uh-hmm.

SIGRIST:

Uh-huh. And what do you remember about the town when you were a little girl? The village?

DREW:

No town. It was the country. It was the country, seven miles from Bath. [several words unclear] seven miles from Bath. It was a cottage — village [unclear]. Stoney Littleton. Single Hill , Stoney Littleton. 1900, I was born.

SIGRIST:

Yeah. Mrs. Drew, do you know anything about the day that you were born? Did —

DREW:

[unclear]

SIGRIST:

Did anyone tell you a story about the day that you were born?

DREW:

Well, the country that I would say I was born in [unclear], Stoney Littleton, little village, little village, working village, miner's — miner's — miner's area.

SIGRIST:

What kind of mining did they do?

DREW:

Coal mining.

SIGRIST:

Coal mining.

DREW:

Yes, coal mining in the — in the — in the area. Yes.

SIGRIST:

And what did the area look like? If you looked around, what would you see?

DREW:

All miners, miners. Miners' homes. Miners — miners' homes.

SIGRIST:

What did miners —

DREW:

[unclear] miners' homes [unclear]. It was just poor miners' homes. My father, a farmer, [unclear] one horse farmer.

SIGRIST:

Can you —

DREW:

Two horses.

SIGRIST:

Can you describe the house that you grew up in?

DREW:

That I grew up in — in my grandfather's house.

SIGRIST:

What did it look like?

DREW:

Village – village cottage. My grandfather was a — a [unclear] cow farmer.

SIGRIST:

[chuckles]

DREW:

We had a farm. We used to c — milk the cows and [unclear]. And then we [several words unclear] farmer. We — we used to put a refrigerator, milk the cows and come in and [unclear] the cream on the refrigerator. Yes, yes, [unclear] make the cream and then made the butter.

SIGRIST:

Can you —

DREW:

[unclear] the butter to sell. Then you sell — we used to [unclear] sell and sell the [unclear] butter [unclear]. [several words unclear] village [unclear], two miles and a half [unclear], two and a half miles from Stoney Littleton where I was born.

SIGRIST:

Can you describe for me what the house looked like? What did it look like?

DREW:

Oh, just a little village farm place.

SIGRIST:

But what — what is that? I don't know what that is.

DREW:

Cow — cow place. A little — we had a little dairy milk, a cow [unclear] in a village that — so many cows. Seven cows and Father used to — "Go out and milk the cows," and churn the milk in the separator, then into — into the cream or make butter, sell the butter. [unclear] —

SIGRIST:

Did you —

DREW:

— the village.

SIGRIST:

Did you have a specific job on the farm?

DREW:

Oh, on the farm, yes. We used — have to turn the churn to make the butter, used to have to make the butter. And then I used to have to carry that in a basket to Peastown to sell it.

SIGRIST:

And so Peastown was where you took the stuff to sell.

DREW:

To sell the butter.

SIGRIST:

Uh-huh. What else did your father do on the farm other than milk the cows?

DREW:

Mil — milk the cows.

SIGRIST:

Yes. What else?

DREW:

Sell it. Sell it to the market.

SIGRIST:

Uh-huh.

DREW:

Sell it to the market on Monday morning. [several words unclear] farmer — farm — the village, the village farm [unclear].

SIGRIST:

Did you ever slaughter any of the cows?

DREW:

Hmm?

SIGRIST:

Did you ever slaughter any of the cows for meat?

DREW:

Yes, yes. They used to go to the town to buy some meat.

SIGRIST:

Buy it, uh-huh.

DREW:

Yes, yes. But, yes, they [several words unclear] the farmer market and buy the milk — buy the — the [unclear] of meat, you know.

SIGRIST:

What else did you buy at the farmer's market?

DREW:

I didn't buy it. I didn't buy it. I didn't buy it. No. (chuckles)

SIGRIST:

Did you ever go to the farmer's market?

DREW:

Oh, yes. Father — oh, Father used to take me. Yes.

SIGRIST:

And what would —

DREW:

And the me — the men [unclear].

SIGRIST:

What would a little girl do at the farmer's market?

DREW:

Hmm, what would the —

SIGRIST:

What was there for a little girl to do? Why did you go?

DREW:

Well, I went with my father to watch the men hammering, you know, yammering. Yes, that was it [several words unclear].

SIGRIST:

Yammering, meaning talking?

DREW:

Yes.

SIGRIST:

Yes? Uh-huh.

DREW:

Yeah, that's right.

SIGRIST:

What was your father's name?

DREW:

Isaac.

SIGRIST:

Isaac.

DREW:

Isaac Hamilton.

SIGRIST:

And what do — and so Hamilton is your maiden name before you were married?

DREW:

My mother's married name?

SIGRIST:

No, your maiden name? Your maiden name is Hamilton?

DREW:

Hamilton, yes.

SIGRIST:

Hamilton, yes.

DREW:

Hamilton. That's right. Mary Hamilton. Mary Hamilton, her name was. Hamilton.

SIGRIST:

Yes.

DREW:

Yes, and [unclear] Mary.

SIGRIST:

First name was Ella?

DREW:

Hamilton.

SIGRIST:

Yeah, but your name is Ella.

DREW:

Ella, yes.

SIGRIST:

Ella Hamilton.

DREW:

Hamilton. That's right.

SIGRIST:

And your mother was Mary?

DREW:

Mary. Mary. Mother — Mother's name was [unclear].

SIGRIST:

Well, that's fine.

DREW:

No, no. My grandmother's name was Mary.

SIGRIST:

Well, t — I want to talk about your father for a minute.

DREW:

My father's name was Isaac.

SIGRIST:

Was Isaac. And tell me a little bit about your father's personality. What was he like as a person?

DREW:

A person, a father.

SIGRIST:

No, but what was his — what — what was he like, his — his personality? His —

DREW:

[several words unclear] person. Well, he used to go to Single Hills Chapel. Single Hills Chapel. [sentence unclear]. [unclear] a villager.

SIGRIST:

Yeah. Wh — what — how did your father get into farming?

DREW:

How did he get into farming?

SIGRIST:

It's a busy place here today.

DREW:

[unclear], yeah. The [several words unclear]. [unclear] bring the cows in to milk them.

SIGRIST:

Was his father a farmer?

DREW:

Yeah, his grandpa.

SIGRIST:

Yes?

DREW:

Grandpa Hamilton.

SIGRIST:

Do you remember him?

DREW:

Yes.

SIGRIST:

Yes?

DREW:

[unclear] a short man. Yes.

SIGRIST:

You're smiling when you say that.

DREW:

Yes.

SIGRIST:

What do you remember about your grandfather?

DREW:

Yes, yes. Joe Hamilton. Joe Hamilton. Yeah. Oh, yeah. They're [unclear] farmers. (laughter) And then the village farmers, you know. Yes.

SIGRIST:

What — what did you do with your grandfather when you were a little girl?

DREW:

Well, I'm not — they didn't [unclear]. They didn't have much to do with them.

SIGRIST:

Did you ever visit him?

DREW:

Oh, yeah. [sentence unclear].

SIGRIST:

Yes?

DREW:

[unclear]. My grandpa was a — a real — well, [unclear] for I don't know how many years [unclear]. He — he — [unclear] was a [unclear] man. He is a — he was working [unclear]. Yes. He used to get [several words unclear] one — one or two — one or two farmer — farmer [unclear] milk the cows.

SIGRIST:

What —

DREW:

[unclear] take it to the market.

SIGRIST:

Mrs. Drew, what sticks out in your mind about visiting your grandfather? When you went to visit —

DREW:

[sentence unclear]. [unclear] old man, [unclear] old man [unclear].

SIGRIST:

Yeah?

DREW:

Yes. Stuff like that. It was [unclear]. Grandpa Hamilton, or Grandpa Hamilton and Grandpa Rogers. Grandpa Hamilton was [several words unclear]. But Grandpa Rogers was a cripple.

SIGRIST:

Is that your mother's father?

DREW:

Yeah, my mother's father.

SIGRIST:

So your mother's —

DREW:

Father.

SIGRIST:

— maiden name was Rogers.

DREW:

Yeah — yeah, it was [unclear].

SIGRIST:

Rogers or Roberts?

DREW:

Mmm?

SIGRIST:

Rogers or Roberts?

DREW:

Rogers. Oh, Robert.

SIGRIST:

Roberts. Roberts.

DREW:

Yeah, Robert.

SIGRIST:

Rogers. Rogers.

DREW:

Rogers.

SIGRIST:

Yes, Rogers.

DREW:

(chuckles) Rogers. [unclear] Rogers.

SIGRIST:

Yeah. What do you remember about your mother's parents? Visiting them?

DREW:

My mother is — my — my mother's grandfather, you say?

SIGRIST:

No, your mother's father. Your grandfather. On your mother's side, your grandfather.

DREW:

My grandmother, she was a [unclear] woman. She [unclear] woman.

SIGRIST:

Yeah, yeah. We're just going to stop a minute so that we can take a picture. Okay? Okay. We're just going to pause for a moment because the — the newspaper man is here. [tape off/on]

DREW:

[unclear] woman. Granny Rogers used to earn a living. Grandpa was a cripple.

SIGRIST:

I see. So your — your grandmother — your Granny Rogers made dresses for people.

DREW:

Yes.

SIGRIST:

And your — your —

DREW:

Yeah.

SIGRIST:

— grandfather was a cripple.

DREW:

That's right.

SIGRIST:

What — what part of him was crippled?

DREW:

From rheumatism.

SIGRIST:

He had — he had rheumatism? Yeah.

DREW:

Grandpa Rogers has rheumatism.

SIGRIST:

Yeah. Could he w — could he move around? No?

DREW:

No, not very much.

SIGRIST:

Did you ever go visit them?

DREW:

To go where?

SIGRIST:

Did you ever visit your — your grandpa —

DREW:

Oh, [unclear]. They lived next door.

SIGRIST:

Oh, they lived next door.

DREW:

[unclear] next door.

SIGRIST:

Uh-huh.

DREW:

They lived next door.

SIGRIST:

I see.

DREW:

Yeah. [several words unclear] next door.

SIGRIST:

What — what did — what did — before he was crippled —

DREW:

[several words unclear] Grandpa Rogers. [sentence unclear]. He was a worker on the railway. Yeah, on the railway. Th — that's how [several words unclear] making on the railway [several words unclear] railway line. That's when the workers came around there.

SIGRIST:

Uh-huh.

DREW:

Yes.

SIGRIST:

Did you have any — you mentioned that the area had a lot of mining.

DREW:

Yes.

SIGRIST:

Did anyone in your family do any mining?

DREW:

He worked in the min — in the mining, yes. They all did the mining.

SIGRIST:

Yeah.

DREW:

Yes.

SIGRIST:

That was an important —

DREW:

Well, [several words unclear] in the mining — in the miners' area. Yes.

SIGRIST:

Yeah. Tell me some more about growing —

DREW:

[sentence unclear]. Cecil came back from the army, you see. He was wounded in the war.

SIGRIST:

Who was?

DREW:

Cecil, the boy I married.

SIGRIST:

Oh, uh-huh.

DREW:

Yes. And we went — that's how we immigrated to England — to California.

SIGRIST:

Yes? That's a little bit later.

DREW:

Uh-hmm.

SIGRIST:

You're a little bit older at that point.

DREW:

Yeah. (chuckles)

SIGRIST:

L — let's talk a little bit more about growing up on the farm.

DREW:

[unclear].

SIGRIST:

What kind of food did you eat on the farm?

DREW:

Oh, cheese.

SIGRIST:

Yeah?

DREW:

[several words unclear] used to make — make cheese [unclear]. That was a one-horse farm.

SIGRIST:

What kind of milk did you use for the ch —

DREW:

Cow's milk.

SIGRIST:

And how did you make the cheese?

DREW:

Cow's milk and they ma — made milk [unclear]. made milk — made milk into cheese.

SIGRIST:

Who did the cooking in your house?

DREW:

Mother.

SIGRIST:

Yeah. What was your favorite thing that she cooked?

DREW:

Well, she cooks cheese, I thought. Cheese and butter.

SIGRIST:

But what else did she make?

DREW:

Butter.

SIGRIST:

But what would you eat for dinner?

DREW:

For dinner?

SIGRIST:

Yeah.

DREW:

Beef. Sunday, they had beef. Sunday dinner.

SIGRIST:

Uh-huh.

DREW:

Yes, always Sunday dinner, beef — Sunday dinner.

SIGRIST:

And was there something special that your mother made that was your favorite food?

DREW:

[unclear]. Oh, that was a Saturday night supper. Sunday night [several words unclear] soup. Always, Mother made soup for Friday night supper after our baths.

SIGRIST:

How did you take a bath back then?

DREW:

Oh, in the bathtub before the fire. That's right. We got a bath [unclear] in a bath — in a bath before the fire. And then — then we'd have a — then we had to have soup sitting around before the fire, around the fire and have our soup and then go to bed.

SIGRIST:

Was there — was there a — a prayer or a grace that you said before you ate?

DREW:

Yes —

SIGRIST:

Can you still say that?

DREW:

We had to, before we went to bed.

SIGRIST:

What — what was the prayer that you said?

DREW:

I can't remember [unclear] that one.

SIGRIST:

Okay. (laughs) I thought I'd ask.

DREW:

I know we used to have a prayer and on — and on up to bed.

SIGRIST:

Uh-huh.

DREW:

That was always [unclear].

SIGRIST:

How would a little girl have fun back then?

DREW:

Hmm?

SIGRIST:

How would a little girl enjoy herself? What did you do for fun on the farm?

DREW:

[unclear] — oh, oh, [several words unclear]. [several sentences unclear]. [unclear] for our supper and then go to bed. Yeah, we used to have a nice [unclear] Friday night — Saturday night supper.

SIGRIST:

What games did you play as a child?

DREW:

Oh, [unclear] — we used to play [unclear]. The boys [unclear] and then the — and the — the girls [unclear] play different. (chuckles)

SIGRIST:

Why — why was that?

DREW:

Why? Why? Because the men wouldn't play [unclear] and we used to have a different one than the men, the boys. I forget right now but it was always a boys' [several words unclear] and we had the girls. You didn't b — you didn't play with the boys. No.

SIGRIST:

What about, Mrs. Drew, in your own family, how many brothers and sisters did you have?

DREW:

Brothers, there were six. We were six altogether.

SIGRIST:

Uh-hmm.

DREW:

We were six.

SIGRIST:

And how do you fall into that six? Are you the oldest or the youngest or did you have [unclear]?

DREW:

We were there. We were there, the six of us [several words unclear].

SIGRIST:

Uh-huh.

DREW:

Yeah. [several words unclear] the boys. We never — I never milk — never milked a cow.

SIGRIST:

You never milked a cow?

DREW:

No. I didn't like milking the cows.

SIGRIST:

Why not?

DREW:

Father — well, I didn't like doing it and I just didn't do it. The boys did it.

SIGRIST:

You said —

DREW:

I nev — I never milked a cow.

SIGRIST:

You said —

DREW:

I was afraid — afraid — afraid of [unclear] milking cows.

SIGRIST:

Afraid of the cows?

DREW:

Yes.

SIGRIST:

Did something happen some —

DREW:

No, [unclear] afraid of 'em.

SIGRIST:

Yeah. But I mean, did something —

DREW:

[several words unclear] to the gates. I'd go — I'd go, walk out the — down the hill and along a long track. The cows lived in the [unclear] and there was a big gate [unclear] around the house, down the hill, and opened those gates at the far side. And I used to go down and open the gate, let the cows come on out. And I would come up to the gate [unclear]. We had four cows. And then Father or somebody would come and let the cows in and tie 'em up. And then I'd come. I finished the job.

SIGRIST:

Did you have any other jobs?

DREW:

No. Well, whatever there was to be done in the house. No. Oh, yes. [unclear] certain jobs to do. Yeah. [several words unclear] jobs.

SIGRIST:

Now — now, Paul Thompkins, who's with us, he says that you were the oldest child.

DREW:

The oldest.

SIGRIST:

The old — you were the firstborn.

DREW:

I was the first [unclear] but they had five.

SIGRIST:

Firstborn.

DREW:

Firstborn.

SIGRIST:

The firstborn. (laughs) Did you go to school when you were —

DREW:

Oh, yes.

SIGRIST:

What do you remember about going to school?

DREW:

Oh — oh, I had — had to [unclear]. [unclear] the class, [unclear] the class. [unclear] I went to school. Yeah.

SIGRIST:

What was your favorite subject in school?

DREW:

[unclear]. Oh, favorite — oh, [unclear]. Add it up. Add it up.

SIGRIST:

Arithmetic?

DREW:

Hmm?

SIGRIST:

Arithmetic.

DREW:

Arithmetic, arithmetic.

SIGRIST:

Uh-huh.

DREW:

That's right.

SIGRIST:

How did your mother and father feel about education?

DREW:

Father used to think it — the boys in them days [unclear] and he used to pay for the boys to go to the — education for — to the Bath High School for the boys. But the girls, well, had to quit [unclear]. And then — but then [unclear] the men used to [several words unclear] the best education imaginable.

SIGRIST:

How did that make you feel as a girl?

DREW:

Oh, it [unclear] about a girl. I [unclear] like it too in that I was a girl. [unclear] a girl in the family, you'd have to do it, see, and boy have to pay to go to school. And Father used to pay for him to go to school.

SIGRIST:

Right. But how did that make you feel about —

DREW:

Oh, [several words unclear]. Yeah, yeah. He used to go to [several words unclear]. Oh, yes. Why, I felt just — felt awful about it. Yeah.

SIGRIST:

Did — did you want to go to a better school?

DREW:

I — I did. But [unclear] I didn't mind going to —

SIGRIST:

Didn't.

DREW:

No. [several words unclear] local one.

SIGRIST:

Could your — could your father read and write?

DREW:

Oh, yes, yes.

SIGRIST:

Both? What about your mother?

DREW:

No, she didn't get it. She [unclear] inferior complex. No, but she — she was [unclear] person. My mother was.

SIGRIST:

What — why do you say she had an inferior complex?

DREW:

Because they couldn't do the [several words unclear].

SIGRIST:

Uh-huh.

DREW:

She couldn't go to school.

SIGRIST:

Yes.

DREW:

So [several words unclear] inferior complex, you know. They — they had that.

SIGRIST:

That's just the way it was.

DREW:

Yes, that's the way it was. Yes, yes. It was [several words unclear].

SIGRIST:

Did — did you have any music in the house when you were brought up?

DREW:

Oh, [unclear].

SIGRIST:

Yes?

DREW:

Oh, yes. [unclear].

SIGRIST:

Who played the piano?

DREW:

My father. And then he taught me.

SIGRIST:

He taught you how to play the piano.

DREW:

Yeah. (chuckles)

SIGRIST:

Yes?

DREW:

Yes, he taught me to play the piano.

SIGRIST:

And wh — what did you enjoy playing on the piano?

DREW:

Play — [unclear] play — play [unclear]. We used to get — we used to get [unclear] (laughs) several important people, you know, [several words unclear] people and then go to [unclear] church [unclear] Single — a pretty little church, Single Hill Chapel. It was a chapel and Ruth and I [unclear] family and Ruth and I used to play on the piano. We'd get invited — invited to, you know, to council — councils [unclear] and we used to [several words unclear]. Oh, yeah. [sentence unclear]. [unclear] go out and — go out and play [unclear], you know, and play the — the piano before — before people in the chapel.

SIGRIST:

Do —

DREW:

[unclear] chapel.

SIGRIST:

Do you remember some of the music that you played?

DREW:

Yeah.

SIGRIST:

What did you play? What did you have to learn how to play?

DREW:

Well, you had to play — play on the piano.

SIGRIST:

But what? What was the music that you learned how to play?

DREW:

Oh, [unclear], you know, what kind of — [unclear]. He'd play the bass and I'd play the [unclear].

SIGRIST:

Uh-huh.

DREW:

Yes, [several words unclear]. And if I would make a mistake [several words unclear]. [sentence unclear].

SIGRIST:

(laughs) W — was anybody else in your family musical, other than you and your father?

DREW:

[unclear] anybody play?

SIGRIST:

Yeah. Who else? Did anyone else play any other instruments?

DREW:

No, Sonny — Sonny used to play the cornet. That was my brother. Let's see. But I used to play the piano.

SIGRIST:

Did — did you ever sing?

DREW:

No, not — no, we didn't sing.

SIGRIST:

No, no [unclear].

DREW:

[several words unclear] singing.

SIGRIST:

Then I won't ask you to sing.

DREW:

No.

SIGRIST:

(chuckles)

DREW:

Don't ask me to sing, whatever.

SIGRIST:

(laughs)

DREW:

No, [several words unclear]. No, we used to play — we used to play the piano, the two of us and we got — we got invitations everywhere. They knew our [unclear] on the piano. We [several words unclear] duet.

SIGRIST:

Hmm. Tell me — you — you mentioned that you played in the — in the chapel.

DREW:

Mmm.

SIGRIST:

You played the piano in the chapel?

DREW:

Yes.

SIGRIST:

Yes. What religion was it?

DREW:

Hmm?

SIGRIST:

What religion? What denomination?

DREW:

Well, [unclear] was [unclear]

SIGRIST:

[unclear] the chapel.

DREW:

[unclear] the chapel, you see.

SIGRIST:

Right.

DREW:

The — the chapel wasn't [unclear].

SIGRIST:

But do you remember what — what religion were you when you were growing up?

DREW:

[unclear]. No, we were [unclear]. Well, we were [unclear].

SIGRIST:

You were [unclear].

DREW:

[unclear] chapel.

SIGRIST:

[unclear] chapel.

DREW:

Chapel.

SIGRIST:

Right. Paul Thompkins wants me to ask you, were you a Methodist?

DREW:

N —

SIGRIST:

Were you Methodist?

DREW:

Methodist [unclear].

SIGRIST:

You think it was a Methodist?

DREW:

Yes, I think it was.

SIGRIST:

Church of England or —

DREW:

[unclear] Church of England [unclear] we were.

SIGRIST:

It didn't really matter. You — they were different.

DREW:

It didn't matter.

SIGRIST:

I see.

DREW:

My — my father — they were no different.

SIGRIST:

Who was the most religious in your family?

DREW:

Hmm?

SIGRIST:

Who was the most religious person in your family?

DREW:

My grandfather.

SIGRIST:

Your grandfather. Which grandfather?

DREW:

Mother's grandfather.

SIGRIST:

Grandfather Rogers.

DREW:

Roger.

SIGRIST:

Uh-huh.

DREW:

Yes.

SIGRIST:

You say that so seriously.

DREW:

Yes.

SIGRIST:

What do you remember about it?

DREW:

My — my — my mother's — my mother's grandfather.

SIGRIST:

Your mother's father or her grandfather?

DREW:

My mother's grandfather.

SIGRIST:

Because —

DREW:

No —

SIGRIST:

No, her —

DREW:

No. I [unclear], just [unclear] grandfather. Mother's grandfather.

SIGRIST:

Your mother's grandfather —

DREW:

Right.

SIGRIST:

— was living when you were alive?

DREW:

Yes.

SIGRIST:

Yes? This isn't the man that was crippled?

DREW:

No.

SIGRIST:

No.

DREW:

This [unclear] grandfather —

SIGRIST:

That's your grandfather.

DREW:

My grandfather [unclear] — my grandfather — Grandfather Rogers.

SIGRIST:

Was [unclear] —

DREW:

That was [unclear] Mary. Yes.

SIGRIST:

Okay. But he — this man that you're talking about was the most religious in the family, you think. Yeah.

DREW:

Mmm.

SIGRIST:

I wanted to ask you about — do you ever remember anyone getting ill in the family? Anyone being sick?

DREW:

Leonard, my brother.

SIGRIST:

What was his name?

DREW:

Leonard.

SIGRIST:

Leonard? What do you remember about Leonard being sick?

DREW:

Yeah, what I remember about Leonard being sick, going to school, that going to school, I used to have to walk with him to the top of the [unclear] hill every Wednesday so he'd go to the doctor. The — then Father got fined a half a crown for taking me away from school on a Wednesday. And he got charged a half a crown [unclear] because [unclear] a half a crown. They charged her a half a crown for taking me to school [unclear].

SIGRIST:

Who took care of Leonard —

DREW:

When —

SIGRIST:

— when he was sick?

DREW:

Oh, Mother was home [several words unclear] home.

SIGRIST:

And what was he s —

DREW:

I had to walk. We had to walk. He has TB.

SIGRIST:

Oh, he had TB.

DREW:

Yes. He —

SIGRIST:

Uh-huh.

DREW:

Yes. And he went — I used to have to walk up [several words unclear] every Wednesday when Leonard has — walking.

SIGRIST:

How did they —

DREW:

Walk. We had to walk.

SIGRIST:

How did they —

DREW:

[unclear].

SIGRIST:

Right. How did they treat his TB? How did they take care —

DREW:

[unclear]. They take care of Leonard.

SIGRIST:

Back then. How did they do it? What kind of medicine did they give him?

DREW:

They give him bottles of medicine [several words unclear]. Bottles of medicine and give to him [unclear]. And then Father used to get [unclear] for taking — keeping me home from school that day. And I used to have to walk with Leonard up that [unclear] hill. [unclear] —

SIGRIST:

Did you ever get sick when you were a child?

DREW:

No, hmm-uh.

SIGRIST:

Not that you remember.

DREW:

No, no, nothing ever really happened to me.

SIGRIST:

Yeah.

DREW:

Leonard [several words unclear].

SIGRIST:

Uh-huh.

DREW:

Yeah.

SIGRIST:

I see. All right. Well, let's — let's go on. I want to ask you about World War I.

DREW:

Hmm?

SIGRIST:

What do you remember about World War I?

DREW:

World I?

SIGRIST:

The First World War. What do you remember about that?

DREW:

Mmm. World War I? [several words unclear] I know about that [unclear] World War I, you know. [several words unclear] except me walking that [unclear], staying home from school a day. So I think it was outstanding that Father kept me home from school that day to walk with Jim to the [several words unclear] hill so [several words unclear]. [sentence unclear].

SIGRIST:

1914, 1915, 1916, during the First World War —

DREW:

Yes.

SIGRIST:

— how was your life affected by the war?

DREW:

N — n — [several words unclear]. We were — we had probably — we had more food than lots of people.

SIGRIST:

Why was that?

DREW:

Well, [several words unclear]. We had a cow [unclear], cow and calves. It — meat, meat and fish to cook.

SIGRIST:

Fish?

DREW:

Fish. Yeah, fish. Meat to cook.

SIGRIST:

Meat?

DREW:

[unclear] farmer — farmers. (chuckles) [unclear] cook.

SIGRIST:

Did you know anybody who had to fight during —

DREW:

Who had to fight? Cecil.

SIGRIST:

Now, Cecil is your —

DREW:

Husband now.

SIGRIST:

Was he your hus —

DREW:

H — he was my husband. [sentence unclear]. His mother was [unclear] and his father was [several words unclear]. In other words, it's more or less — you know, it's — they say it was a [unclear]. It wasn't really a relative. It was — Cecil was — what I — we met at Peastown.

SIGRIST:

You met him at Peastown.

DREW:

Met him at Peastown walking. He was walking then to get to — to get to [several words unclear]. Hi — his mother was a relative of Grandfather. So we were distant relations but very distant. But anyhow, we married and got married.

SIGRIST:

What year did you get married?

DREW:

What year?

SIGRIST:

Do you remember?

DREW:

19 — 1914. He's get — he got married but he was born — he was seven years older than me. [unclear] we got married.

SIGRIST:

So in 19 — did you marry in 1914?

DREW:

1914, we got married and I think [unclear].

SIGRIST:

You — how old were you when you got married?

DREW:

Maybe about — about 21. Twenty-one.

SIGRIST:

Twenty-one. So you married in 1921.

DREW:

I married in '21, yeah.

SIGRIST:

Yes, right.

DREW:

I married in '21.

SIGRIST:

Because you would have only been 14 in 1914.

DREW:

[several words unclear] 14. No, I didn't get married in '14. No. No, no, I didn't get married at 14.

SIGRIST:

No.

DREW:

No. No, I didn't.

SIGRIST:

So about '21. What did — what do you know about Cecil's experiences during the war? What happened to him during the war?

DREW:

Well, I'll tell you this — [END OF SIDE A, TAPE 1] [BEGIN SIDE B, TAPE 1]

SIGRIST:

Okay. We're now starting side two. We were talking about Cecil's experiences during World War I. What do you know about what happened to him during the war?

DREW:

He got wounded.

SIGRIST:

How did he get wounded?

DREW:

[unclear] got wounded in the [unclear] war [unclear]. And I remember walking across the [unclear] and fell into him. [unclear] who is this? "Who are you?" "And who are you?" He was Cecil and his — his mother and father was — was a relative of my father [unclear].

SIGRIST:

What did you like about him?

DREW:

Cecil?

SIGRIST:

Yeah.

DREW:

Well, he come talking to me and he went down — down home [unclear] father and mother. You see? And — and th — and then at that time I was [unclear] with [unclear] chapel in the village. But I used to have to — we used to have to play the — the village church — chapel. It was a chapel then at that time. And we used to have to play the piano.

SIGRIST:

Yes, you told me about that.

DREW:

Yes, that's right.

SIGRIST:

Where — where did you — where did you marry Cecil? What —

DREW:

Where did I marry Cecil?

SIGRIST:

Yeah.

DREW:

In the Bath Registry Office.

SIGRIST:

Yeah.

DREW:

I got married in the Registry office [unclear] the Single Hill Chapel [several words unclear]. [unclear] he used to play the organ. [unclear] and then we — we used to get [unclear], take [unclear] to [unclear], then — then [unclear], you know. [several words unclear] for the piano and the [unclear]. Entertainment, Ruth — Ruth and I. You see? Well, then we met —

SIGRIST:

Well, tell — tell me more about Cecil.

DREW:

Cecil.

SIGRIST:

Tell — tell me —

DREW:

[sentence unclear].

SIGRIST:

What did he look like? Describe him —

DREW:

Tall. Tall, [unclear], wounded.

SIGRIST:

When you met him.

DREW:

Mmm.

SIGRIST:

Uh-huh. Do you know how he was wounded?

DREW:

In — in the — he told me [unclear]. He was wounded in his face.

SIGRIST:

Wounded in his face.

DREW:

[unclear], yes.

SIGRIST:

Did he have bandages on his face?

DREW:

Yes, yes. Yeah, always. [sentence unclear].

SIGRIST:

So — so you got married in 1921.

DREW:

Yes.

SIGRIST:

What did Cecil do for a living?

DREW:

He was [unclear] — he was a miner. He didn't do any mining then [several words unclear]. That's how it was, that he wasn't going to be another miner. He couldn't do it. So we had [unclear]. We went — we got married and we got married and voluntary went to the States [unclear].

SIGRIST:

Did you have a job before you came to America? Did you ever work?

DREW:

No.

SIGRIST:

No.

DREW:

I was at home, my father and mother. No. I didn't used to work.

SIGRIST:

I see. So — so whose idea was it to go to America?

DREW:

Oh, Cecil [unclear]. [unclear] the two of us that we should [several words unclear] go to work.

SIGRIST:

Did you want to leave England?

DREW:

Hmm? Hmm?

SIGRIST:

Did you want to leave England?

DREW:

Did I what?

SIGRIST:

Did you want to leave England?

DREW:

Well, I [unclear] went with it.

SIGRIST:

Uh-huh.

DREW:

[sentence unclear].

SIGRIST:

Did you have any children in England before you came to America?

DREW:

No. Jim was born in — I have to think now.

SIGRIST:

Take your time.

DREW:

Yeah. [sentence unclear]. [unclear] where Jim was born now. [unclear] Jim.

SIGRIST:

But Jim was born in England, I think, because you had him on the ship. Remember?

DREW:

Oh, yes.

SIGRIST:

I think that's it. Yes.

DREW:

We had him on the ship.

SIGRIST:

That's right.

DREW:

Yes.

SIGRIST:

Do you remember saying goodbye to your mother and father?

DREW:

Oh, yes, I do remember [several words unclear]. [sentence unclear] I think [unclear].

SIGRIST:

You can speak, Paul, if you want. Just speak loudly.

PAUL T:

(clears throat) Where I come in is I was researching the family history.

DREW:

Yeah.

PAUL T:

And I found out that your, I think it's great grandmother is my great, great, great grandmother.

DREW:

Hmmm?

PAUL T:

Great, great [unclear].

DREW:

Hmm.

PAUL T:

Well, your great, great — no sorry-- your great grandmother but my great, great, great grandmother. (laughter)

SIGRIST:

Genealogy is very confusing. (laughs) Back to Cecil. So Cecil wanted to come to America.

DREW:

Yes.

SIGRIST:

Because he couldn't get work —

DREW:

No, no.

SIGRIST:

— as a miner.

DREW:

The only job there was was miners and he [several words unclear] he could not go into mining again.

SIGRIST:

Did Cecil have any relatives in America?

DREW:

No.

SIGRIST:

No.

DREW:

No. [several words unclear] we went to there and got a job out there.

SIGRIST:

In America?

DREW:

Yes, yes.

SIGRIST:

Before you went over?

DREW:

No, I went with him.

SIGRIST:

You went with him. Yes, right.

DREW:

Yes.

SIGRIST:

Why did he want to go to America, as opposed to Australia or South America or —

DREW:

That's right. That's right. That's it. That's it, yes. [unclear].

SIGRIST:

But why — why America? Why not some other country?

DREW:

Just happened.

SIGRIST:

Okay. (chuckles)

DREW:

Just happened. These things happen.

SIGRIST:

It just happened.

DREW:

These things hap —

SIGRIST:

What did you — what did you take with you when you left from your home in England? What did you take with you to bring to America? What did you pack in your suitcase?

DREW:

Hmm?

SIGRIST:

What did you pack in your suitcase?

DREW:

What did [unclear]?

SIGRIST:

What did you pack in your suitcase? Do you remember anything that you took with you from England?

DREW:

Oh, golly. I don't know. [unclear]. [unclear], you know, [unclear] you do when you're going to go.

SIGRIST:

Did anyone give you a gift before you left England?

DREW:

Oh, [unclear] about now. No, we did — we accepted life as it happens at the time. [unclear] other things that happen at the time.

SIGRIST:

Where did you go to get on the boat? Do you remember?

DREW:

No. I don't remember that now.

SIGRIST:

Okay. Do you remember being on the boat?

DREW:

Oh, yes.

SIGRIST:

Yes? Do you remember the name of the boat?

DREW:

No, no. [sentence unclear]. [several words unclear] those people. You know, you — you [unclear].

SIGRIST:

Well, I — I — I know because I have some information here. I know you came on the Aquitania, was the name of the ship.

DREW:

You did?

SIGRIST:

Yes. You came on the Aquitania.

DREW:

O — on the Aquitania.

SIGRIST:

Yes.

DREW:

Yeah.

SIGRIST:

And that it was in November of 1924.

DREW:

'24.

SIGRIST:

Yes.

DREW:

There you are, see.

SIGRIST:

(laughs) But you have to tell me what you remember about being on the ship.

DREW:

[unclear], see.

SIGRIST:

What do you remember about being on the boat?

DREW:

No.

SIGRIST:

No? Are you getting tired?

DREW:

No, no, no. [sentence unclear].

SIGRIST:

(laughs) No, I mean now, are you get — getting tired?

DREW:

Hmm.

SIGRIST:

Well, did anything — while you were on the big ship —

DREW:

Uh-hmm.

SIGRIST:

— did anything happen that sticks out in your mind? When you think about being on the Aquitania, what do you think about?

DREW:

Well, [several words unclear].

SIGRIST:

No?

DREW:

[sentence unclear].

SIGRIST:

Okay. What about your — what about your little son, Jim?

DREW:

Hmm?

SIGRIST:

What — what about your — your son?

DREW:

Jim?

SIGRIST:

Jim. What did he do on the ship?

DREW:

[several words unclear] all over the place. (chuckles)

SIGRIST:

Did anything happen to him while he was on the ship?

DREW:

No, it didn't. Nothing. [several words unclear] everywhere.

SIGRIST:

Yeah?

DREW:

Everywhere. Yes, nothing happened to him. He was a little jumper, jumping everywhere.

SIGRIST:

Did anyone get sick on the ship?

DREW:

No, no, they [unclear]. Well, the [unclear]. Some of the women got sick but I didn't. [several words unclear] everywhere on the ship, on the big ship.

SIGRIST:

Do you remember how long the ship took to get to America?

DREW:

No.

SIGRIST:

No?

DREW:

Well, but [several words unclear]. [sentence unclear].

SIGRIST:

I — I have in my notes about you that your son got sick on the ship.

DREW:

Yes.

SIGRIST:

He —

DREW:

Oh, he must have.

SIGRIST:

Not seasickness though.

DREW:

[unclear].

SIGRIST:

He had got — on — in my notes, I have he got chickenpox on —

DREW:

That's what — he got chickenpox.

SIGRIST:

Oh.

DREW:

He — [several words unclear] into the hospital.

SIGRIST:

Yes, at Ellis Island.

DREW:

At Ellis Island [several words unclear]. [several words unclear] island. And they had to go to [unclear] island.

SIGRIST:

Now, you had to go — the hospital was on the ship? The ship —

DREW:

Yeah.

SIGRIST:

The ship's hospital?

DREW:

Yes.

SIGRIST:

Do you remember how you felt when he got sick?

DREW:

Oh, oh! I felt very bad, felt very bad about where we had to go. [several words unclear] island. That killed us.

SIGRIST:

That they sent you to Ellis Island.

DREW:

Yes.

SIGRIST:

Yeah. Did you — did you know what Ellis Island was?

DREW:

No, not till I got there.

SIGRIST:

(chuckles) And you —

DREW:

I knew then. I knew then.

SIGRIST:

And you're smiling. What do you remember about when you got to Ellis Island?

DREW:

Put up with — put up with. That's what we had to do.

SIGRIST:

Put up with.

DREW:

Put up with.

SIGRIST:

Oh, oper — operated?

DREW:

No —

SIGRIST:

Put up with what was going on.

DREW:

Yeah.

SIGRIST:

What — what did it look like? Do you remember what it looked like?

DREW:

Well, I don't know. You just put up with — you just put up with the kind of thing it was until [several words unclear]. And you had to stand there until [several words unclear] like that, you know. [several words unclear] on us. That's what we had to [unclear]. [several words unclear] say, "Well, you stay here. Go there."

SIGRIST:

How did you feel —

DREW:

Well —

SIGRIST:

— when you were being treated like that?

DREW:

Well it felt hurtful after getting out there. You see, so (chuckles) [several words unclear] what with one damn thing and then it was another.

SIGRIST:

Where were you when they were examining your son?

DREW:

What?

SIGRIST:

Where were you —

DREW:

Yeah.

SIGRIST:

— at Ellis Island when they — when the doctors were looking at your son?

DREW:

There.

SIGRIST:

Were you a — were you in with him?

DREW:

[several words unclear] examining him. Yeah.

SIGRIST:

Did they examine you while you were there?

DREW:

Yeah, yeah. [unclear] what it was and [unclear].

SIGRIST:

How long were you there for?

DREW:

I've forgot that now.

SIGRIST:

Yes? (chuckles) Well, where did you go? When they let you out of Ellis Island, where did you go?

DREW:

[unclear] Leonard [unclear].

SIGRIST:

You went to Leonard?

DREW:

N — no. I had a son in California. What happened then?

SIGRIST:

Um — oh, no. What city did you go to? When you first got to America, what city did you go to?

DREW:

I don't know what [unclear].

SIGRIST:

Well, Paul just sent me a note saying Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania?

DREW:

Pennsylvania.

SIGRIST:

No, over here.

DREW:

[unclear]?

SIGRIST:

Pittsburgh. Here. Here. (chuckles)

DREW:

Pittsburgh, yes.

SIGRIST:

Pittsburgh. Is — is that where you went?

DREW:

Yes.

SIGRIST:

Why did you go to Pitts —

DREW:

Connection — connections [unclear] —

SIGRIST:

No, these are just notes for other things here. (chuckles)

DREW:

[unclear].

SIGRIST:

Why did you go to Pittsburgh?

DREW:

Somebody must have been there [unclear]. That's Claire and Bob, I reckon [several words unclear].

SIGRIST:

No, that's — no, I — Claire and Bob?

DREW:

[unclear]

SIGRIST:

Were they relatives?

DREW:

Yeah, they were. They were [unclear]. Claire and Bob were [unclear]. Does it say there?

PAUL T:

Yeah, Bob and Claire Rimmer.

SIGRIST:

Rimmer. R-I-M-M-E-R?

DREW:

[sentence unclear]. Yeah, [several words unclear].

SIGRIST:

I should say for the sake of the tape that, as we're talking to Mrs. Drew, Paul Thompkins has a manuscript about her life and — and he's been helpful through the interview of — of telling —

DREW:

[sentence unclear]. [several words unclear] —

PAUL T:

Yeah, yeah.

DREW:

Have you — have you seen them?

PAUL T:

No, I haven't seen them, no —

DREW:

Will you be seeing [unclear]?

PAUL T:

[sentence unclear].

SIGRIST:

We'll be done soon. Tell me a little bit about life in Pittsburgh. What — what work did your husband get?

DREW:

[several words unclear] in a — in a [unclear] — in a — he was in — he was working — he was working in a — where the men — working in a — I know that's where he was working in [unclear].

SIGRIST:

Well, that's all right. Maybe it'll come to you as we're talking.

DREW:

Uh-hmm.

SIGRIST:

How long did you stay in Pittsburgh?

DREW:

Not too long. We went on to California —

SIGRIST:

Went on to California.

DREW:

[several words unclear] on Leonard's place, my brother.

SIGRIST:

Leonard was in California?

DREW:

Yes.

SIGRIST:

This is the — this is your brother who had TB?

DREW:

Yes.

SIGRIST:

Uh-huh. So he came to America before you did?

DREW:

Yes.

SIGRIST:

He was already there.

DREW:

Yes. L — Leonard was.

SIGRIST:

What — what do you remember about the train ride going across — I'm assuming it was a train — going across the United States to California?

DREW:

Oh, yes.

SIGRIST:

What —

DREW:

Well, when we went through to California, we went through the second — we went through with a car [unclear] car and went with [unclear] on a car. [several words unclear] on a car. Well, we went from Pittsburgh through to Pennsylvania, from Pennsylvania to California.

SIGRIST:

And do you remember things that you saw?

DREW:

Yes, [unclear].

SIGRIST:

What did you see that impressed you?

DREW:

Oh, just a [unclear] and with a car. But [several words unclear] with a car, so many miles a day to get [unclear] California.

SIGRIST:

And as you're driving in your car —

DREW:

Right.

SIGRIST:

— what could you see that you had never seen before?

DREW:

Oh, everything, everything, everything. [sentence unclear]. [several words unclear] miles a day.

SIGRIST:

Did you do — did you drive?

DREW:

No.

SIGRIST:

No?

DREW:

No.

SIGRIST:

Cecil did all the driving?

DREW:

That's right. He always done the driving.

SIGRIST:

Yeah, yeah.

DREW:

I don't drive a car.

SIGRIST:

Yeah.

DREW:

Don't drive the car today. No.

SIGRIST:

(chuckles and clears throat) Where in California did you go?

DREW:

Hmm?

SIGRIST:

What city in California did you —

DREW:

What [several words unclear].

SIGRIST:

Yeah, where in California was Leonard? What city?

DREW:

Los Angeles.

SIGRIST:

Los Angeles.

DREW:

Uh-hmm.

SIGRIST:

And what he doing for a living?

DREW:

Who?

SIGRIST:

Leonard.

DREW:

Leonard. I don't know.

SIGRIST:

No?

DREW:

No, no.

SIGRIST:

Well, what — what do you — because California is big — different than England.

DREW:

Very different.

SIGRIST:

Yes, what — what were some of the differences that you noticed?

DREW:

The weather. The weather. We were [several words unclear]. California is, yes.

SIGRIST:

In 1924, it must have taken a long time for a car to go across the United States.

DREW:

Yes, it did.

SIGRIST:

Well —

DREW:

[sentence unclear].

SIGRIST:

Yeah, you're okay. When you got to California, did you get a job?

DREW:

Yes, in a — a shop.

SIGRIST:

You got a job in a shop.

DREW:

Shop, yes. Oh, yes, I did. Yes, I got a job. Yes.

SIGRIST:

Do you remember what kind of a shop?

DREW:

Is it there? Is it there? Is there —

SIGRIST:

We're looking in the manuscript. (chuckles)

DREW:

[several words unclear] see. [unclear].

SIGRIST:

But do you remember what kind of shop it was? No?

DREW:

No.

SIGRIST:

Did you have any more children once you got to the United States?

DREW:

Richard.

SIGRIST:

Richard.

DREW:

What — when was Richard's born? Have I said [several words unclear] born?

PAUL T:

Probably, but I can't find it at the moment. (chuckles)

SIGRIST:

It's there somewhere.

DREW:

Richard.

PAUL T:

[sentence unclear].

SIGRIST:

Well —

PAUL T:

1929.

DREW:

Hmm?

PAUL T:

1929.

DREW:

1929?

PAUL T:

[unclear]

DREW:

[unclear]. Where?

PAUL T:

(chuckles) Los Angeles.

DREW:

In Los Angeles?

PAUL T:

Yes.

SIGRIST:

Do you remem — do you remember when he was born? Anything stick out?

DREW:

Yes! [sentence unclear]. [several words unclear] to the hospital [several words unclear]. [several words unclear] neighbor [several words unclear]. The neighbors were darn good there. They took Jim in, you see. [unclear].

SIGRIST:

What — was there anything about America that you didn't like?

DREW:

That I didn't like?

SIGRIST:

That you didn't like.

DREW:

No. [unclear] liked it. [sentence unclear]. Yeah.

SIGRIST:

Well, why did you come back to England eventually?

DREW:

Why did I come back to England? [unclear] I don't know. Well, I [unclear] the reason, I suppose.

SIGRIST:

Only if you want to tell me one.

DREW:

(laughter) [unclear].

SIGRIST:

You — you said, well, before that you thought you came back to England in —

DREW:

Yeah.

SIGRIST:

— 1930.

DREW:

So 1930, was it?

SIGRIST:

Is that true, Paul? Is that — Is — in 1930.

PAUL T:

Yes.

SIGRIST:

And I'm just wondering. Did — I asked you why you came back —

DREW:

Uh-hmm.

SIGRIST:

— to England.

DREW:

Uh-hmm.

SIGRIST:

Was there a specific reason that —

DREW:

And what did I say? What — what did I say?

SIGRIST:

You — you said you didn't know.

DREW:

Didn't know.

SIGRIST:

Didn't know. (chuckles)

DREW:

Oh, [unclear].

SIGRIST:

Well, who wanted to go back to England? You or your husband or who?

DREW:

[sentence unclear].

SIGRIST:

No, but whose decision was it? Whose decision was it to go back to England?

DREW:

[unclear]. [sentence unclear]. I guess that's what it was.

PAUL T:

What about your pub?

DREW:

Pub? [unclear] —

PAUL T:

[unclear].

DREW:

[unclear] the Apple Tree Inn. That was right. That was right. And we did and we saved it.

SIGRIST:

Is that in England?

PAUL T:

Yeah.

SIGRIST:

The Apple Tree Inn?

PAUL T:

Same village.

SIGRIST:

Uh-huh. So when you came back to England, you went back to the same village?

DREW:

Uh-hmm.

SIGRIST:

Yes? Do you remember anything about the trip back to England? Does anything stick out in your mind? No?

DREW:

No, no. Oh, well, there's one thing [unclear]. [sentence unclear].

SIGRIST:

Okay. (chuckles)

DREW:

No.

SIGRIST:

Did you ever go back to America for a visit after you returned to England?

DREW:

Oh, yes. Several. Oh, yes. Yeah, we went back [unclear].

SIGRIST:

Did Leonard stay in America?

DREW:

No. [sentence unclear].

SIGRIST:

Yeah?

DREW:

[sentence unclear]. No, [several words unclear]. I don't know. [sentence unclear].

SIGRIST:

Yeah. All right. Well, I just have a couple more questions that I'm going to ask and then we'll be done.

DREW:

Then you'll be gone.

SIGRIST:

Then I'll be gone and you will never see me again. (laughs)

DREW:

[unclear]. Until then —

SIGRIST:

Until then —

DREW:

Yeah.

SIGRIST:

How do you — what — how do you feel about England? How do you feel about your native —

DREW:

Oh.

SIGRIST:

— country?

DREW:

It's home. Yeah. Where do you live now?

SIGRIST:

I live in New York City.

DREW:

New York.

SIGRIST:

Yes.

DREW:

So it's New York City to you.

SIGRIST:

Okay. And —

DREW:

[unclear]?

PAUL T:

Keynsham.

DREW:

Keynsham.

PAUL T:

Yeah.

DREW:

Keynsham, he is.

SIGRIST:

Which is near Bristol, I guess.

DREW:

Hmm?

SIGRIST:

Bristol? That's near Bristol?

DREW:

Bristol.

PAUL T:

Near Bristol.

DREW:

Near Bristol.

SIGRIST:

How do you feel about America?

DREW:

[sentence unclear].

SIGRIST:

It's all right. You can be honest. (chuckles)

DREW:

[unclear]. A good place for women and dogs but a bugger on men and horses that's what my [unclear] used to say.

SIGRIST:

So he didn't like America very much, I take it.

DREW:

No, [unclear]. [sentence unclear]. [several words unclear] was a bugger with men and horses [unclear]. Men and horses and [several words unclear]. [sentence unclear].

SIGRIST:

What — what work did Cecil get when he came back to England?

DREW:

Didn't come back to England until the pub.

SIGRIST:

Oh, you bought — you —

DREW:

[unclear] the pub.

SIGRIST:

Oh. I — that's what you were talking about a minute —

PAUL T:

Yes.

SIGRIST:

Can you tell me a little bit about opening up the pub?

DREW:

[unclear] the pub. Yeah.

SIGRIST:

Yes, tell me about that.

DREW:

Oh, the pub. Well, it was open. Yeah, [several words unclear] about ten million people [unclear] pub, [unclear] pub. [sentence unclear]. He had — he had good intention [several words unclear]. My father [several words unclear]. He had — he had [several words unclear]. He was responsible for getting past the [several words unclear] and the pub.

PAUL T:

He pulled a few strings, did he?

DREW:

My father [unclear] pub. Yes.

SIGRIST:

What was the name of the pub?

DREW:

Apple Tree Inn.

SIGRIST:

The Apple Tree Inn.

DREW:

Yes, yes.

SIGRIST:

And did people actually stay overnight there?

DREW:

Hmm?

SIGRIST:

Did people stay overnight?

DREW:

Stay overnight at the pub? Why, yes, [unclear]. Yes. Oh, yes.

SIGRIST:

Did you enjoy doing that?

DREW:

Yes.

SIGRIST:

Uh-huh.

DREW:

[sentence unclear]. [unclear] he bought that [unclear]. He says to me that it is going to be [several words unclear], you know. [unclear] it happened. [sentence unclear].

SIGRIST:

How long did you run the pub?

DREW:

[unclear]. I don't know but long enough.

SIGRIST:

Long enough.

DREW:

Way long — long enough, yeah.

PAUL T:

Yeah.

DREW:

Yes. And you got that. [sentence unclear].

SIGRIST:

Back to the manuscript. See why it's important to have [unclear]? (laughs) Well, Mrs. Drew, I think I've asked you all the questions.

DREW:

You have?

SIGRIST:

I think I have.

DREW:

You think you have. Okay. [several words unclear] for getting what you wanted.

SIGRIST:

I did. This has been —

DREW:

Yeah.

SIGRIST:

— a real pleasure to — to actually get to meet you and — and to come a long way. (chuckles)

DREW:

[sentence unclear].

SIGRIST:

That's right. After we tracked you down here —

DREW:

Yeah.

PAUL T:

You almost went back to America, didn't you?

DREW:

Yes, yes. We did. Yeah. We almost did.

SIGRIST:

Why? Why did you almost go back?

DREW:

[sentence unclear]. And Jim [several words unclear].

PAUL T:

Cecil got ill, didn't he?

DREW:

[unclear].

PAUL T:

Cecil was ill so you —

DREW:

Yeah.

PAUL T:

— couldn't go. Was that right?

DREW:

No. [unclear]. [unclear]. Things turned out — didn't turn out what we thought it [unclear]. Turned out like that [several words unclear].

PAUL T:

The life and times of Ella Drew. (laughter)

SIGRIST:

All right. Well, this is Paul Sigrist signing off with Ella Drew —

DREW:

Hmm.

SIGRIST:

— and with Paul Thompkins in attendance here at the convalescent — St. Martin's Convalescent Hospital —

DREW:

[sentence unclear].

SIGRIST:

— in — in Bath, England. Thank you very much, Mrs. Drew.

DREW:

Yeah. [several words unclear] now. END OF INTERVIEW