Tom’s first train ride
Nashville NC Train Statiom. circa 1880's.
Just a few months ago 13 year old Tom Wiggins was sitting in front of the Necessary Store at Pender’s Crossroads looking at what most called Pender’s Crossing. He was looking at the deep tracks in the mud made by wagons and buggies when Jack Pender approached him. Tom’s world changed that day. The Wiggins family and the Penders were neighbors and friends. Tom spent about as much time at the Pender home as he did at his own.
On this day he went home with Jack Pender and was offered a job on the farm. Young Tom took him up on the offer and he moved into the Dormitory at the Pender Plantation. Tom and twelve year old Bettie Pender had been playmates and childhood sweethearts since they were five and six years old. Jack and Keron treated Tom more like a son than an employee.
Tarboro was an annual destination of people of means to do their Christmas shopping. Jack and Keron Pender made the trip each year about two Saturdays before Christmas. The merchants in Tarboro welcomed the shoppers and opened up their stores with merchandise on display. The stores opened early and were kept open late in the evening. Plans were in place for the trip and Tom was included on the trip this Christmas.
Tom was excited and a little afraid of this upcoming train trip. He had seen a train sitting still on the tracks when he made a trip to Elm City with his father but he wasn’t sure exactly how that huge train traveled so far on the tracks. He was about to find out.
It was a crisp and cold day in December. Keron Pender helped Tom pack for the trip, as they would be staying for a few days in Tarboro. The buggy was loaded with their luggage for the trip to Elm City to board the train. The horses shook their heads and pawed the ground. Just as they were about to begin the buggy ride, a few snowflakes began falling, adding to the excitement. Keron had buggy blankets and placed one across her lap and Bettie snuggled into hers. Tom followed Jack’s lead and refused the offer of a blanket. He got the feeling that buggy blankets were for girls or sissies. In Elm City the porter loaded their luggage. The Penders and Tom boarded the train to Rocky Mount where they would change trains for the final destination of Tarboro. More passengers boarded the train in Rocky Mount. Although the train was faster than the buggy, the speed was only about 20 miles per hour or less. 12 year old Bettie had made the trip before and she was so relaxed that she became the center of attention on this trip. She sang and she danced and the passengers loved it. (Tom later said that by the time they reached Tarboro everybody on the train had seen Bettie’s bloomers as she danced and twirled).
The train carrying the Christmas shoppers was met by a small band. The musicians were dressed in red uniforms for the season. There were mostly drums and a horn or two in the small but lively band. It was a festive sight. Jack and Tom’s luggage was taken to a small hotel downtown and Keron and Bettie’s luggage was taken to a relative’s home for their lodging.
Tom had another surprise that Saturday in December. The first stop for Jack Pender and Tom was at a Social Club or Gentleman’s Club. Tom said there were several rooms at this Club. One of the rooms was for the gentlemen who smoked and drank liquor. There was another large room where those who neither drank liquor or smoked met and they were mostly clergy or businessmen. (According to Tom’s comments later in his life. Jack Pender did not drink, smoke or cuss). This was another learning experience for young Tom. He said that contrary to what is known as a Gentlemen’s Club today, there were no women present. There was a lot of conversation but no dancing girls. The men had a place to socialize while the wives shopped and spent their money at the many merchants in Tarboro. The men talked about their businesses and there were sales and deals made at this establishment.
Keron and Bettie did some window shopping and talked about the things they would be picking up tomorrow for the Christmas Holidays.
Jack, Keron, Bettie and Tom met downtown for dinner at the hotel dining room. The clientele in the dining room were obviously people of financial means. They were all dressed in fine clothing, having fun but exhibiting impeccable manners. He saw some of the same men in the dining room that were at the Gentlemen’s Club earlier. Tom was wearing a new white shirt and new suit for the occasion. He watched and tried to mimic the manners of the gentlemen. He liked the feeling of being an escort for Bettie and Keron.
After dinner they walked along the well lit and decorated streets of Tarboro and talked about the gifts they would take back to the Crossroads. Tom had never seen the lighted streets nor so many people gathered in one place. Tomorrow would be a day for shopping but it had been a long day and they were ready to turn in for a night of rest. Keron and Bettie went to Uncle Willie’s home for the night and Tom and Jack stayed at the hotel.
The next day Keron purchased gifts for the families of the workers on the farm. She selected blankets, socks, items of clothing, dolls, toys carved from wood, fruit, candy, children’s picture books and sweaters. She got heavy paper to wrap the gifts. She also purchased rolls of ribbon of different patterns and colors to tie up each gift. She knew the girls and ladies loved having hair ribbon and they would love the ribbons she chose to tie up the gifts.
Keron purchased about two dozen lampshades and some red and green paint. Tom spent some of the money he had earned on candy and wood toys to give to his co-workers for their children. It gave him a good feeling to do this. He selected lace handkerchiefs for his mother and sisters, pocket knives for his brothers and a black bow tie for his father. The hardest gift was for Bettie. After looking at so many different things he finally selected for her a hand painted fan and matching hair ribbon.
The second day Keron continued to shop while Bettie and Tom spent a good part of the day on the Town Commons listening to different church choirs singing Christmas carols or to someone telling Christmas stories. After dinner that evening they all attended a Christmas program at Calvary Episcopal Church. The costumes, belles, music and colorful decorations made the whole experience one that he would not forget. Tom learned on this Christmas trip that he could have fun and still be reverent.
On Monday morning the many packages were loaded on the train. They boarded the train for the return trip to Rocky Mount and then on to Elm City where they would be met with a buggy to take them and their purchases home to Pender’s Crossroads.
Back at home, Keron painted the lampshades. Some were red and some were green. She wrapped the gifts and helped Tom wrap the gifts he bought. There was a big extravaganza on Christmas Eve at the Pender House for their family, neighbors, friends and the families who worked on the farm. The lampshades were placed over lanterns and the lighted colors were beautiful and festive. A meal of turkey, ham, vegetables, breads, pies and cakes was served to all the friends and workers alike. The children were delighted with their gifts and the adults were enjoying the holiday. All this was new to Tom and he loved being a part of it. All this gift giving was exciting and he loved the feeling. For the rest of Tom Wiggins 91 years he loved Christmas and had gatherings, served food and gave gifts. His children and grandchildren have a special love for the Christmas season and I can’t help but think it all began with that train ride to Tarboro in 1881.
I don’t know if my great grandfather, Tom Wiggins, was a religious man but I believe he was a spiritual man. He was a good person and he loved his family. All though he respected Jack Pender for his moral values of not drinking, smoking or cussing, at some point in Tom Wiggins life he acquired a talent for story telling in some colorful or off-color language. He enjoyed a good cigar and frequently had a drink of spirits as he and his friends would sit on the porch or in his Office or in the yard under an oak tree and drift to the Old Barn for a “Full Blush of the Goblet of Nash County’s Best.”
Montress Greene
Email: montressg@gmail.com
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