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CONTINUITY t-flft nr Faym Family of t�h8 Week Howard
BAT* Frl. AUCfO CAMERA ON LANGFITT I WANT TO SiiY I N THE VERY B&GIMING THAT I AH DEEPLY GRATEFUL TO MR. WALTER WHIT&, 00UHTY AGRICULTURAL AGE1JT OF �AZOO COUNTY, FOK H I S VER: WONDERFUL HELP I N SELECTING THE FAMILY M H C I H WE SALUTE TODAY AM) FOR GOING WITH ME TO T H I S FAME Y ' S FARM TO HELP ME OBTAIN THE STORY WHUGH I AM. HOW GOING TO T E L L . SLIDE PARM-1 MAILBOX THIS I S THE STORY OF A FATH3 Aug. 5.
p.m.
1960
AND A SON, . . I T I S THE STORY OF MR. ALLKti' BRIDGEFORTH AMD H I S SOW HBMRY WHO L I V ^ JUST OFF THE PICKlsNS TO BEOTGH ROAD I N YAZOO COUHTY. TH
FARM 1 8 LOCATED ABOUT EIGHT MILiiS HORTHWBaT OF VAUGHAN, M I S S I S S I P P I AND SKVEN MILES EAST,OF BKHTON. m THE HOME PLACE OOMSISTiJ OF 286Q ^ G R E S
HKMRY, WHO DOES THE FARMING, ALSO FARMS AMD H I 3 BROTHER WALfisR 0WH� "QUIET
ANOTHER 5 6 0 ACHES m SLIDE FABM-2
THK BRIDGEFORTH HOMK PLACE I S KNOWN AS
SIGH on POST
S H A D E S " AND I S SO PROCLAIMED OH T H I S DRIVEWAY ENTRANCE MARKER. MR. ALLBH BRIDGKF0fl2H�3 GRSAT
GRANDFATHER ACqUIRKD THIS LAUD FROM SOME COUSINS WHO HAD PATEHTiO) I T , THE BKIDGEFORTH FAMILY,
I AM TOLD, ORIGINALLY' CAME TO M I S S I S S I P P I FROM VIRGINIA. WAN I T SEEMS THEY HAD RAISED MORE SLAVES THKY HAD TO EITHER
THE LAND WOULD SUPPORT.
OBTAIN MORE LAHD OR SELL THE SLAVES AND SIHCK L A I � COCJLDM'T BE O B T A I I ^ D A X � U K RlsFUSHSD-TO
S E L L THEIR SLAVES, THEY CAME TO M I S S I S S I P P I .
CONTINUITY TIME. DATEAUDIO
TEE BRIDGEFORTH HOME PLACE WAS NAMED W��UIET SLIPS SHADES BY MR. ALLEN'S GRAHDMGTHER BECAUSE THAT WAS WHAT HER BEAUTIFUL YARD MEANT TO HER. THIS IS THAT YARD TODAY, WITH IT�S GNARLED, BUT STRIKING OLD CEDARS AND BEAUTIFUL HOLLY TREES. TO THIS DAY THAT YAHD STILL GIVES ONI THE U P R E S S I O N OP "QUIET SHADES.0 MR. ALLEN BRIDGIFQR SLID! MAN & WOMAN TELLS ME THE CEDARS AND HOLLIES WIRE PLANTED IH 1856 AND WERE FOR MANY YiSARS KEPT TRXJtffiD AS A PART OF T E LAWN CARE. M* ALLEN BRIDGEFORTH WAS BORN IN THE EASTERN TIP OP YAZOO COUNTY IN 1892. HE GRADUATED FROM OLE MISS AND THE UNIVERSITY OP VIRGINIA WITH A DEGRBK IN fcp. MRS. BRIDGBFORTH GREW UP IN GOODMAN. SHE AND M S . ALLEN HAD KNOWN EACH OTHER ALL THEIR LIVES. THSIR FAMILIES HAD BEEN VERY CLOSE FRIENDS. SHE AID ALLEN BRiSGEFORTH WERE MARRIED IN 191$ UPON HER GRADUATION FROM M.S.C.W. IN 1916 MR. &LLEH BRIDGEFORTH HAD MOVED TO YAZOO CITY WHIRS HE HAD OPENED HIS LAW OFFICE. HE STILL OPERATES THAT LAW OFFICE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH HIS SON WALTER, AND M. HUGH LOVE. MRS. BRIDGEFORTH SAY! m GOES TO THE OFFICE WITHOUT FAIL EVERY DAY, SLIDE FAMI THEIR SON, HENRY BRIDGEFORTH DOES ALL THE FAHMIM HENRY SAYS HE HAS A NICE ARRANGEMENT. HE MANAGE!
CONTINUITY
TtMEOATE-
THE LAI� FOR HIMSELF, HIS FAHPER AMD HIS BROTHS AND THEY, IN TURN TAKE CARE OF HIS LEGAL PROBLE IM SPEAKING OF HENRY'S FARMING OPERATIOHS MH. ALLBN SAYS OF HIS SON,*,"HE DOES WONDERFULLY WELL NOT TO HAVE BSKH RAISED OH A FARM." HEHRY
GREW UP IN YAZQO CITY AND ATTENDED MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY. HIS LOVELY WIFE WAS MISS SHU SHE IS A
BURKHALTiSR OF ENID, MISSISSIPPI.
GRADUATE OF MEMPHIS STATE. SHE AND HENRY MET WHEN SHE CAMS TO YASOO CITY TO TEACH. THEY WER]
M/lRRIKD IN 19S3. MR. ALLBN BRIDGJSFORTH, HENRY*! SLIBE gARM-6
HOUSE
FATHER HAD MOVED BACK ONTO THIS LAND IN 1950 APTSR HAVING LIVED IN YAZOO CITY SINCE i$L6, HI SAYS HIS FATHER HAD BEbN STOCiCHOLDiiR IN A LITTL1 EARLY . BANK WHICH FAILED IN THE BKftftlKKXffK YEARS AND HE HAD SOLD THb LAND fO MAKE GOOD THL BANK* S OBLIGATIONS. MR. ALLfciW SAYS HE SAVM) FOR THE DAY WHEN H s MIGHT W& AB LE TO BUY THE L A H B EACH. i OLD H& BID IT IN a 9 i - AT THAT TIME THE OSMISXX, .34 HOUSS STILL STOOD. RE-BUILT. IT HAD BEEN BLOWN AWAY AND
IN 1938 THE REPLACED HOUSE BURNED TO
THE GROUND AND IN X9SO MR. ALLEN BRIDGKFORTH
SIsIDE_PARM-7
BUILT THIS HOUSE WHICH THOUGH IT IS ON THE LINE! OF THE ORIGINAL HOUSE, HAS BEEN COMPLETELY MODERNIZED. ALL THE LUMBER EXCEPT THE GYRPUS SIDING, THE WINDOWS AND THE HARDWOOD FLOOR CAME
HOUSE
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CONTINUITY
TIME. DATEAUDIO PROM TIMBSR CUT OFF THEIR OWN LAHD. HENRY HAD
WANTSD TO FARM SO I N 1 9 ^ 9 HE MOVED OUT TO A L I T T L E HOUSE ON THE FARM AMD BACHED WHIL& HE BEGAH TO GMT AN IDEA ABOUT THE KIND OP FARMING OPERATION HE WAMTED TO TRY. HE PLANTED H I S P I R S f CROPS. I T WAS I N 1 9 5 0 SEAT HE MGSftsD INTO
B I O HOME WHERE HE AMD H I S FAMILY AND H I S L I V E TODAY I N 1 9 5 3 WHEN HE MARRIED, SLIDE FARH-6 LAND ONE-OF
H E N R Y f S BIGGEST JOBS WAS TO RK-GLAIM THE THB LAND HAD HiBN PATCH FARMED FROM THE TUffi J 2 J . ALLEN B R I D G E P O R T ' S PATHSR HAD SOLD THE LAND IN 1 9 1 2 . EVERY F I E L D HAD A CLUMP OF THuOWH AWAY
LAND GROWN UP fO THICKETS LIKE T H I S OR w Q R S l . LAM) THAT WAS CLBAR WHEM MR, ALLEN WAS A BOY HAD ftOWN UP TO SWSJS3? iMJH AMD WATER OAS. HENRY HA�
3 0 WUeiAHT FAMILIES OH THK PLAGE AND H I S F A R M I i e WAS MOSTLY A TEHNANT OPiiRATIOM WITH VERY LITTLE DAY CROP. USIMG A DOZER HE HAS CLEARED LAMD#
DUG MIME MILSS OF DRAG LIKE. DITCHING, MAMY MILE C F V DITCHES AMDTKB DIVERSIONS WOULD STRBTCE TOO FAR TO TELL ABOUT. ALL THB DITCHES WERE FILLED AS HE HAS RECLAIMED LAHD
UP WKHi HENRY STARTED.
HEHRY HAS GOTTBS OUT OF THB T1KMAST BUSINESS A S FAST AS' HE COULD. TODAY THERE ARE THREE
T 1 E A K T CROPS AND NIHE DAY F A M I L I E S . . . S I X OF ! TRAQTOii DRIVERS AMD *Fimm. mismzr
UAMHW
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CONTINUITY
TIME-
DATE.
AUDIO AND THREE MOSTLY WOMEN ABD CHILDREN THAT DO HOE GOTT0N
mm-to
AW
HELPING,
TODAY HENRY BRIDGEPORT!! HAS 2 8 1 A0B HE PRE-EMERGES ALL OP I T EXCEPT $J HE USED KARMEX THE FIRST
I N COTTON.
ACHES OP TENANT CROP.
YEAR I T CAME OUT AND HAS USED I T EVERY YEiAR SINCE. MB USED SOME LAY BY THIS YEAR AND WOULD
HAVE USED MORE I F I T HADN'T BEKN SUCH A DRIf YEAR. FOR F I V E YEARS HENRY HAS HAD A PRODUCTIOl HI
AVERAGE OP A BALE AHiJ A QUARTER TO THE ACRE* SLIDE FARM-U COTTW U S E S S K I ? ROW PLAHTIFG ON 12$ ACRES.
BEMHY SAI!
U3BD TO PLANT SOYBEANS BUT AS LONG AS HB CAN U 3 � S K I P ROW H E ' L L PUT THE LAND I N COTTON, HE FOLLOWS A COMPLETE POISONING PROGRAM FOR STARTING FBOM THt TIME THE GOTTON COMES OW OP TEE GROUND WITH POISONING AT L^AST ONOE A WEJ3C, HElffiY SAYS HS I S JUST STARTING AN
I N T E N S I V E S O I L TESTING PROGRAM AND THOUGH HE HA! A P P L I E D LIME I N SOME FIELDS AND DOES F E R T I L I Z E HEAVY H I S FUTURE FERTILIZATION WILL BE BASED OH ACTUAL SOIL MEEDS AS DETERMINED BY T E S T , HE HAS TWO MECHANICAL PICKERS AND PICKS THAT WAI EXCEPT THAT HE LETS THE LABOR PIGK ALL THEY CAN BY HA1ID. JOHN COUNTING THE TENANT OROf. HE PLANTS HYBRID SSEX AMD H I S AVERAGE I S ABOUT $Q TO 6 0 BUSHELS TO THE ACRE. HE PRE-EMKtGBD H I S CORN FOR THE HENRY ALSO HAS 1%$ ACRES I N CORN,
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CONTINUITY TIME.
DATE.
AUDIO T I M E T H I S YJ5AH AND LIKES I T . HBtfRY SAYS M USBI
ATRAZINE AND DGSSJPT THIHK HE WOULD PLANT WITH
SLIDE
f
GUT I T .
HUJBy.HAfl AHPL.L, OH FARM STORAGE FOR R A I S E . HE ALSO HAS
STORAGE BINS
MOST ANY GRAIN CROPS HE MY
SHELTER FOR HIS-COTTON PICKERS AND COMBINE. m I S HOW IN THE PROCESS OP BUILDING A FARM
WORK S H O P . . . T H A T I S , HE HAS THE MATERIAL 01? T E E mOW� READY TO GO TO WORK. HEHRY BRIDQEFGI
SLIDE
FARM-Ilt
COWS
TH HAS ABOUT XQ$ BROOD COWS AI� FOLLOWS A GOW'M^CIAL COW AMD CALF PROGRAM. FORMALLY HK
S l i L L S THE BULK OP TEB GALWS MILK PAT OFF THE COW. RIGHT M W HEiHRY I S HAVING SOME TROUBLE W O
WITH LEPTOSPROSIS WHICH HAS GUT H I S G A L F ^ R O P TO ABOUT $0% FH0M A N Q H M A L S Q ^ AND HAS PQEEM)
SLIDE
.... FARM-OS
3klM TO CARRY H I S CJ3TBS THROUOH THE' WIHTKR AHD SEi&-OFF HE H I E D S . OATS I N THE 3 P E I I S , TO G I T THE WEIGHT Hg HOPES TO fiVKNTUALLY'00 BACK TO HEDJRY Cm&� FUDS HIS
cows
A GOW AND CALF PROGRAM. CALVES WHEN HE HAS GRAIM.
IN Tllh HZHIBft- TIME
U S PSEDS ORAIH # HAY AMD MEAL M D SALT TO H I S CATTLS. FORTY OF THE BEOOD COM3 ARE REGlSTSaED
H E 8 U F 0 R D 3 AND HEMRY I S SWITCHING PROM POLLED TO HORNED HEREFORD BULLS. H I S RKASOM I S THAT
HE BELIEVES HE GETS A LITTLE BETTER CALF AHD BE C A 1 PIHD A GOOD BULL WITH GOOD MlttCIMO qUALI B S H I U D HIM FOB A I*If TLS. LESS MOM^T. . SMMX HAS
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CONTINUITY TIMfDATE. AUOfO SLIDE MEN I N GRASS P R I M R I L Y OP DALLIS AM) BERJ4UBA GRASS, WHITE DUTCH OLOVER AND LESPKDE2A, PERMANENT PASTURE. THIS I S NOT H I S 6 5 0 ACRIiS IH PERMANENT PASTURE CONSISTING
THIS I S SOIL BANK LAND THAT HOWEVlli#
H S HAS I N THE CONSERVATION R�,SERVii;. ffi
XS WORKING TOWARD GW2TXMQ ALL H I S PASTURB HK C L I P S H I S PASTURES FOR WEED
I N T H I S SHAPE. GOIffiROL aim
WILL GO TO CHKMIGALS I F HK CAN
OOMVICHE HIMSBLF Bh CAN DO F� WITHOUT IMJURIHt
SLIPS
FARM-3
GOTTOlf.
ALL VEL PASTURES ARK OH THB HILLS
KAGH
SURROUNDING OOraoiT LAMD. TO ^ , 0 0 0
r
XEAR HKMHY POTS 1
i'O 5 t O 0 0 BALKS OF QASPS A HD X'HIS I S ONE OF Kfifi
H1W 0RAS3 HAY,
D I T C H E S THAT HBSKX HAS STRAIdH'l'ENKD WITH A DRAG ItZNS. WHERE H I S B0airf0M LAND OMCK OVERFLOWED RAIN OF AHY AMOUNT AMD WHfciiE TBfc
W I 2 H EVMil
jmn-xB
SSRBAM WOUND BACK AMD POffiPH AGiiOSS THE BOCTOH, H i OAN NOW USE I f FOR ROW OROPS WITHOUT WORRY IH .
OP F L 0 0 D I W . . ONE MILK OF H I S DITCH BAtiK I S SO CONTROL m O S I O H . HESRY HAS ALSO
PUT I H OVERFALLS LZK& THIS 0H& TO STOP TH8 IOMSTANT EATIHa AWAY OF THELAND WHMiK WAS1R INTO GHANffliL* ABOUf
SLIDE
FARM*-!* TREE FA
BBYONB IT EMPTIES INTO THK DITCH. MR. HENRY MM) BROTHER WALTER ABE ALSO
TREE THEY HAVE - TIMBERIN
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CONTINUITY
TtMEOATfAUWO
HOST KVSRY STAGE OF PRODUCTION.
THEIR HARBWQOU
ARK MOSTLY SORfBS SXGEPT IH THE BOTTOMS AMD T H E ! ARE CLEARING I f OUT FOB CULTIVATION, ON TH& PLACE THS
TIMBER I S ?K�2DOMIHAT�LY P I N E . TRESS
OWNS!) B� HEHRX A2O) HIS BROTHER THKt HAV1S 260 OUT 300 ACRES OF PIHE SEEDLI2&S. � � JSBMK OF I T IM THE SOIL BAHK. ON HOl^tti PLACE TBh,! HiiVE POT 9RKHI FKACTIGK
OUT 60 ACR&S OP SEKDLINaS.
3TA1� ZMPROVKWBHT AND HAVE THEIR TIMBiifi m B3f PROFESSIuNAL POHLSTMS SsiFOHl!; THIltorIfi!&, SLIDE TIMBER THE MISSISSIPPI FORESTRY C0W4ISSI0N. TO CLEAR THE TIMBER OUT OP i m ThBY HOPS PASTURES K�GKVff TO DO THSK
sQim mam
WORK
m
COOPSHATION WKH
FOR GOOD Timm
Lkm
AND MAYBK PLANS WT
Wm�
I N THE PASi'UilKS FOR SHADK AMD FOR Ji MOHKY CHOP, I GOULD TELL MUCH MORfc OP THIS YOUSU PARMMIt*S iCGOMPLISHMKHL'S BUT LiiT US IN THK TIME THAT SLIPS* gARM-22 CAHHKB POOD THE H0I&MAKI1I& STOR�. BEILGi-FOHTH AND DAUafiTBR-IN-LAW, iffiS. HiIIXJfc.PGRTH, DO MOST OP THBIR FOOD I'OGETHER AiJD THEY HME TWO FRKfa&KRS IN T'HEIH SOME. ALTOGETHER Tffl& FREEZE ABOUT 2 t O 0 0 P0UHD3 THEY ALSO PUT UP qUITfi A BIT ;,
POOD EACH YEAR.
FOOD XN"JARS.,,*SUCH THIMS AS gfiLLIisiS AND PRESERVES A I� SNAP BEiANS SGML YEARS. SLIDE ,?ARM-23 LADIES LIME TO COOK BUI' BOTH OF
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CONTINUITY
TIME.
DATE.
AUDIO
ERIDGEFOKTH is THE COOK in m
FAMILY.
I KNOW SHE ENJOYS COOKIES IN HER LOVfcLY WISH THE MANY MODERN LABOR-SAVING SLIDE FARM*2*t
smzm
S I S AL30 LIKES TO SEW AMD DOES MUCH OF HER OWN SEWING AND MOST OF THE SEWING FOR HER GHUDRESj S I X YMB OIi3 MISS 1HID IK5UISE AND THREE YEAH OLD BILL. Siffi ALSO MAKES MAUI OF HKH DRAP1RIE! IK IWii SPARK TIME 3ffi ALSO L I J ^ THIS BEAUTIFUL IRON I WISH I
AMD CURTAIN3.
SLIDE
mmom
T 0 R E r a i S H P0BHITBRB.
HSDSTEAD I S All iiSCAMFLB OF HER WORK.
HAD GOLOR TO SHOW YOU THE BEAUTY OP THIS ROOM. OKE HAS TO VISIT IN THE BRIDOEFORTH Mm TO
HKALLY AFPBECIAT& THE BKAUTY OF Tffi. HOME ^UD THE LIVES SHAT ARK miMQ LIV�D THSiB. SLIDE FARM-26 BOOKKEEPING HESRY
ALSO DEFENDS ON HIS LOVELY WIFE TO SEKP THE FA8M RECORDS. BM HAS BSfiH IXJIMG IT EVER SINCB
THSY WERE MARRIED IN 1 9 5 3 . . . .AMD DOIHG A GOODJ O B TOO HEHRY SAYS. IT I S THSBB HOPE TO KSBP
RIGHT ON IMPROVING EVERY PHASE OF THSIH F&KMIiKJ PROGRAM. HSHBY BBIDG&FOETiJ EHOWS HE HAS HUGH BIGHT
YET TO DO BUT HK I S DETERMINED TO L&ARK DO HIGHT AS HE GOSTIWUES TO BUILD AMD TRIES TO FOLLOW THE ADVIG& OF GAMSBA ON FAMILY LEADERS -IN' HIS AREA,
HE
BOTH OF THESE PINE FAMILIE
BULONQ TO THE YA 00 CITY PHESBYTSBIAM CEURGH
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CONTINUITY
OATE.
AUDIO
WHERE HEHRX 13 A DEACON AND EM� MOTHER ARK BOTH CIRCLE CHAIRMEN,
AMD HENRY'S xiNII) AMD EEMC BOTH LADIES
BOTH TEACH A SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS.
OP THE BRIDGEFORTH HOME BELONG TO THE OREiSN LEAVES GARDEIT CLUB IN YAZOG CITY AND BOTH BELGHC TO KINGS DAUGHTERS. HENRY IS A FARM BUREAU
MEMBER, MiMBKR OP THE BE1TTON FARMERS CLUB, SOU, COMSEm'ATION DISTRICT 0QMHISSIOHER AND VXOB FRiSIDEWS OP THE MISSISSIPPI ASSOCIATION OP SOU CONSERVATION DISTRICT GO�IISSIOKlffiS. AS I SAID HEIRY'S PATHEH, MR. ALLBU BRIDGEPORTH STILL IS ACTIVELY ENaAGED IH SEE PRACTICE 01' LAW AND IS A MEMBER OF THE MISSISSIPPI M R . THIS IS
a WOMDERFUL STORY OF A PIIlE FAMILY, NOW, "iN THE TIME THAT REMAINS I WAMT YOU TO MEET THEK* , HENRY, IS M Y OP YOUR LAUD IN THE HLLISGN WHAT IS THE STATUS 0? THAT
CREEK WATERSHED?
PROGRAM P.IGHT NOW? 2, WITH SO LITTLE LABOR NOW, HOW DO YOU HANDLE YOUR COTTON? 3. WHAT ADVANTAGES DO YOU FIND IN SKIP ROW? m EWID, WHAT IS YOUR OPINION OF TV/0 FAMILIES LIVING TOGETHER IN THE SAME HOUSE? . 6. WHAT DO YOU LUCE MOST ABOUT YOUR HOME? DESCRIBE THE HOUSE- FOR US.
CHARM Digital Collection
