Greener, Annie 1980-06-15
Annie Greener, longtime resident of the German community at Pep, Texas, discusses her recollections of life in the 1920s, Germans in Texas, and the treatment German-Americans received after World War I.
General Interview Information
Interviewee Name: Annie Greener
Additional Parties Recorded:
Date: June 15 and 21, 1980
Location: Levelland, Texas
Interviewer: Betty Cox
Length: 1 hour, 30 minutes
Abstract
Tape 1, Side 1: Annie Greener (or Gruner),
Mother’s immigration from Germany,
Move to Texas,
Fayetteville,
Weimar family,
Brothers,
Sisters,
Ordna family,
Westphalia Texas (1915),
Met husband,
Name change from Gruner to Greener,
World War I,
Westphalia Texas (again),
Ethnic composition of townsfolk,
Anti-German sentiments during World War I,
Ku Klux Klan,
Strong in cities,
Farming in Westphalia Texas,
Catholicism,
Pep Texas,
Alexander brothers,
Land costs,
Immigrants,
Catholicism (again),
Greener homestead,
Description of house,
Children,
Train trip to Pep,
Move to Pep (1923),
Fuel,
Wood,
Cow chips,
Protestant settlers,
Lutheran,
Meeting places for school and church,
Settlers,
Polish,
Turkish,
Land use of Pep,
Garreck family store,
Stores in Pep,
Settlers (again),
Number of
Doctors,
Littlefield Texas,
Settlement of
J. P. White,
Major George W. Littlefield,
Mennonites,
Pastor Schaffle,
World War II,
Problems with credit,
Hardships.
Tape 1, Side 2: Greener family,
Service in World War II,
Book burning in Westphalia Texas,
Ku Klux Klan (again),
World War II (again),
Anecdote, 1943: Jim Greener in Air Corps tipped hisB-1 Bomber wing
at mother and flew around Pep,
Depression of 1930s,
Mennonites (again),
Speaking German,
Marriage customs,
Rhineland Texas,
Intermarriage,
Farm inheritance tradition,
Decline of German traditions,
Decline of farming,
Lack of land,
Musical instruments,
Names,
Games,
Marbles,
Bottle horses,
Hide-n-seek,
Folk dances,
Pep Peppers (German Brass band),
Settlers (again),
Gehrigs,
Rhineland Texas,
Westphalia Texas,
German prayers.
Tape 2, Side 1: Blank
Tape 2, Side 2: Greener family (again),
Women’s role in Pep (1920s),
Hauling water,
Gathering and selling eggs,
Sewing,
Child care,
Hired to help pick cotton,
Bohemians,
Women’s involvement in politics
Mail,
Incident: Catholic priest tarred and feathered (1920s),
Fr. Keller,
Olton Texas,
Newspapers,
Move to Levelland Texas (1958),
Why Greeners left Pep,
Husband’s involvement in politics,
Social life in Levelland,
Delivering babies,
Home remedies,
Delivering babies (again).
Range Dates: 1915-1960
Bulk Dates: 1920-1940s
Access Information
Original Recording Format:
Recording Format Notes:
Transcript:
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