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In his second interview conducted on July 25, 1980, Hendrix discusses many of the same topics as the first interview—the people who worked and lived at Reynolda, his family, the care of the cows at the dairy farm, living at the house with the Babcocks, and working at Reynolda. He makes brief mention of some of the other employees, including Blanche Gunn, housekeeper; Miss Nelson, the stenographer; Mattie Fry, the postmistress; and Sam Whitty, a farm hand. He also recalls that some of the women who lived at Five Row, including Mamie Sue Miller, the mother of Harvey Miller who was the Babcock’s majordomo, and Sis Bailey. Both of these women worked for Hendrix as maids during the years that his wife was ill.
New topics of discussion in the second interview include the artesian well and the three water systems on the property; the electrical and telephone lines, when moved above ground, were no longer his responsibility; and that he was included in Mary and Charlie Babcock’s wills. Hendrix recollects that the Babcock children were friendly to everyone and that sometimes Mary Babcock would call for his daughters to come play with her daughters as they were similar ages. He also briefly describes his role working at the house during big parties and at the weddings of Mary Katharine Babcock and Betsy Babcock, daughters of Mary and Charlie Babcock. The interview ends with Hendrix sharing that he continues to keep in touch with some of the Babcocks.
ProvenanceThe Reynolda House Museum of American Art Oral History Project, established in 1980, gathered recollections from Reynolds family members and former employees, residents, and guests of the Reynolda estate. The interviews explore life at Reynolda and in Winston-Salem, N.C., during the early and mid-twentieth century, touching on the area’s socioeconomic, political, business, and cultural history. Early interviews conducted in 1980 were done by Lu Ann Jones; later interviews were conducted by museum staff.
DepartmentEstate Archives
Shober Ray "Pops" Hendrix Interview 2
DateJuly 25, 1980
MediumDocument
Credit LineReynolda House Museum of American Art Archives
CopyrightPublic Domain
Object numberOH.02.019.2
DescriptionShober Ray “Pops” Hendrix, an electrician who worked at Reynolda from 1927 until his retirement in 1965, was interviewed by Patty Dilly as part of the Reynolda Oral History Project. Hendrix remained on the Reynolda payroll after his official retirement and resided at Reynolda Village until he passed away in 1991. The main topics of discussion in the interview sessions were Hendrix’s first jobs as an electrician, working for Reynolda, Inc., on the estate and then for the Babcock family at the house, as well as what it was like for him to live in Reynolda Village.In his second interview conducted on July 25, 1980, Hendrix discusses many of the same topics as the first interview—the people who worked and lived at Reynolda, his family, the care of the cows at the dairy farm, living at the house with the Babcocks, and working at Reynolda. He makes brief mention of some of the other employees, including Blanche Gunn, housekeeper; Miss Nelson, the stenographer; Mattie Fry, the postmistress; and Sam Whitty, a farm hand. He also recalls that some of the women who lived at Five Row, including Mamie Sue Miller, the mother of Harvey Miller who was the Babcock’s majordomo, and Sis Bailey. Both of these women worked for Hendrix as maids during the years that his wife was ill.
New topics of discussion in the second interview include the artesian well and the three water systems on the property; the electrical and telephone lines, when moved above ground, were no longer his responsibility; and that he was included in Mary and Charlie Babcock’s wills. Hendrix recollects that the Babcock children were friendly to everyone and that sometimes Mary Babcock would call for his daughters to come play with her daughters as they were similar ages. He also briefly describes his role working at the house during big parties and at the weddings of Mary Katharine Babcock and Betsy Babcock, daughters of Mary and Charlie Babcock. The interview ends with Hendrix sharing that he continues to keep in touch with some of the Babcocks.
ProvenanceThe Reynolda House Museum of American Art Oral History Project, established in 1980, gathered recollections from Reynolds family members and former employees, residents, and guests of the Reynolda estate. The interviews explore life at Reynolda and in Winston-Salem, N.C., during the early and mid-twentieth century, touching on the area’s socioeconomic, political, business, and cultural history. Early interviews conducted in 1980 were done by Lu Ann Jones; later interviews were conducted by museum staff.
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