ENPages
Ga 8
A SELF-MADE MAN
Written By: Mrs. Leola Bradley Research Worker Georgia Writers' Project Athens -
Edited By: Rudene Hix Typist Georgia Writers' Project Athens -
WPA Area - 6 September 29, 1939
1660
September 13, 1939 L.L. Jordan (White) 15 1/2 West Trade Street Charlotte, North Carolina Painter Bradley
A SELF-MADE MAN
Walking through the campus of the Agricul tural College, which is a part of the University of Georgia system, I read this sign in large black letters -
P.W.A. Federal Emergency Administration of Public Works Dining Hall - Athens, Georgia
This was obviously going to be a building of gigantic proportions, modern in every way to fit the needs for which it is intended. As I looked beyond that structure I saw a group of houses, six in all, nearing completion. They looked to be modern beauti ful residences but I could not understand their being built in just that locality.
Being interested and seeing a workman near by I asked, "What are those buildings to be used for?"
"Why, Miss, deys de Home Management Buildings, to be used by the Home Ec Department. Ain't dey purty?"
"They certainly are," I said, "and I would like to see them,"
"Well, Miss, I ain't working ober dere but I speck
1661
Bradley -
Page - 2
dey would be proud ter let yer look em ober."
I walked down the road which had been beaten out by trucks, automobiles, and other vehicles. No permanent road as yet had been built. The grounds around these buildings had evidently never been in use. They were very rough and full of holes, but I noticed the grading machines were at work, going back and forth filling in here and dragging down there in order to level them up.
A man was standing on the outside of one of the structures with several men around him, I supposed he was the foreman and was giving instructions to the workers, who from their dress appeared to be painters. I paused until he finished, for I wished to get permission to see the interior of the buildings. Just then he turned and saw me.
"Goodevin, lady," he said. Returning his salutation, I introduced myself.
"Judson is my name," he said, "Luther Judson, and I'm pleased ter meet you."
"I have been admiring these buildings from a distance and I'm wondering if I would be allowed to go through them."
"Sure, sure! Just wait a minute and I'll show you around."
After a few minutes more of giving orders he joined me again. "Lots of people come out every day to look over
1662
Bradley -
Page - 3
the work and we are allus glad to have em if they don't get in the way or into wet paint." I promised him to be very careful so we began our inspection.
"I'm glad te came terday", he said, "for after today the sandin man is comin ter begin on the floors and nobody can't come in after that".
"I'm head er the paint job", he continued, "and I'm workin P.W.A. help, en, lady, I tell yer, it is a worrisome business, makin out all them Government papers and reports and things is sompin. I ain't never had ter do it before. It gits on my nerves. Then, too, they are fussy a lot. Not all of them, of course. I reely have some fine fellers workin under me. I'm with the Northeastern Construction Co. of Charlotte, North Calina, and my home is there too".
Mr. Judson was a man of fine physique, rather tall but well proportioned. Although he was only in his early fifties, his fast greying hair was getting very thin on the top of his head. His florid complexion was offset by deep blue eyes that bespoke a kind and genial disposition. He wore overalls and a cap much bespattered with paint. As he conversed with me he continuously wiped away the beaded perspiration from his face. While his manner was very obliging, he would impress one as being a hard worker, kind-hearted but exacting where his work is concerned.
"I ain't much to look at today," he said. "Ef I had
1663
Bradley -
Page - 4
knowed yer wuz comin I would er fixed up a little. I don't allers have to wear my painter's clothes, but today I got so aggervated with some of these workers I just offed my clothes, got inter my overalls, grabbed my brush, and went ter work. These P.W.A. workers are not any too much up on their jobs and I haf to watch em. We'er spected to git this job done in two more weeks and its sorter got on my nerves".
Going through the buildings room by room he explained as best he could the uses of each one. "I'm reel proud of this paint job, I recken ye ken tell I'm not much of an educated man but I do feel like I know my paint."
I commented on the beauty of one particular color. "Yes", he replied, "I spent a whole half'er day mixing paint to git that color". Stopping abruptly in his talk, he said, "Miss, whuts your work? is it with the University? I told him of my work and asked if he would let me write his life history. "Why, lady, I'll just be only too happy if it'll do ye any good. I've done everything from plowing and railroading to paintin. 'Course I been paintin a long time now and I guess I'll allus paint until my time comes,"
Fearing that he was too busy to continue the interview, I suggested another time. "No, I've got just as much time now as I'll ever have, if yer don't mind being
1664