McConnell, George 1982-04-09
George McConnell discusses cotton farming, rural electrification, irrigation, aviation and the history of Dell City, Texas.
General Interview Information
Interviewee Name: George McConnell
Additional Parties Recorded: None
Date: April 09, 1982
Location: Dell City, Texas
Interviewer: Richard Mason
Length: 1 hour 45 minutes
Abstract
Tape 1, Side 1: Camel buckets,
Artesian well drilled (1910),
To Dell City area (1947),
Water supply,
Underground system,
Airplanes,
National Flying Farmers Association,
Flying experience,
Necessity of planes,
Lives saved,
Dell City area, 1947 (again),
Local families,
Ed Hammock,
Ed Brownfield,
Jim Williams,
Johnny Gentry,
Ranch land,
Drought, 1900-1910,
Flora,
Cotton crop, 1948,
Hereford, Texas citizens,
Delco light plants, electrical generation (1930s),
Cost,
Uses,
Rural Electrification Administration,
To Dell City area, 1947 (again),
Mechanized farming,
Jackrabbits,
Cotton prices.
Tape 1, Side 2: Rio Grande Electric Co-op, Inc.,
Dell City area (again),
Town settlement,
Cotton ginning,
El Paso, Texas,
Westin Cotton Oil gin (1949),
Farm financing,
School district organized,
Attracting teachers,
School tax,
Conflict with Sierra Blanca, Texas,
Electricity controversy,
Rancher/farmer conflict,
Deputy sheriff (1951),
Dell City bars,
Farm laborers,
Blacks,
Braceros,
Crime (1950s),
Water supply,
Crops,
Alfalfa,
Cotton,
Westin Cotton Oil Company removal, c. 1975,
Truck vegetables,
Tomatoes,
Lynch family,
Theater constructed.
Tape 2, Side 1: Dell City area (again),
Bracero labor (again),
Theaters,
Newspaper,
History,
Dick Way, FBI Agent,
Braceros (again),
Roads paved (1950),
Lynch family (again),
California,
Land purchased by dairies (1980s),
Crops (again),
Cotton (again),
Truck vegetables (again),
Soils,
Hailstorms,
Land purchases,
Water options,
Flying anecdotes,
Guadalupe Mountains,
Civil Air Patrol,
Tornadoes,
Rainfall,
Documents.
Tape 2, Side 2: Hereford, Texas citizens (again),
Rural Electrification Administration (again),
Airplane accident,
Flying,
Landings,
Safety,
Self-taught pilot (1930s),
Birth date.
Range Dates: 1900-1982
Bulk Dates: 1947-1960
Access Information
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Transcript:
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