Wilson County – 1939
The woods near the tobacco barns had really tall trees and most of these trees had vines hanging from way up high just like the ones in the Tarzan movies. Some vines were from lower branches but the most fun was to climb up the trees as far as we could for the higher and longer vines, and someone below would pull a vine within our reach. We would grab it and push off and swing through the trees like Tarzan. Some parts of this woods had the long vines but the trees were so dense there was not enough open space for swinging. Other areas of the woods had open spaces that were perfect. It was like a Jungle Gym in the middle of the woods.
The picture below captures just one day in the summer of 1939 – taken at the Greene Farm near Rosebud. My great grandmother, Blessing Viverette Greene, had passed away and Uncle Marvin Greene was living on and farming the land at the time this picture was taken. It was obviously taken during tobacco harvesting season. It appears that the picture was a staged pose and none of us were happy about getting the picture taken. I would guess that we had been swinging on the vines and were called to stand for a picture and no one looked happy about the interruption.
About this time Uncle Marvin had bought a beautiful race horse. Her name was “Myrtle Flynn.” Uncle Marvin or my father would lift me onto Myrtle Flynn’s back and it felt like I was sitting on a tall building. She was a beauty. I can still picture her in her stable shaking her head and pawing the ground looking like she was ready to compete in the Kentucky Derby.
Despite the exotic and beautiful race horse, the main attraction at Uncle Marvin and Aunt Ruby’s was always those vines and the fun of swinging through the woods. We took a few falls and had some scratches from bumping into trees but nobody got seriously hurt.
Recently I drove past the place and all the woods with those amazing vines are gone and houses have been built. It is a shame that the children growing up on that property will not experience the fun of those vines. Most of them will likely have a gym set made of metal in their back yard and have a lot of fun but when I drive by I always think about the woods and those vines and wish the children growing up there now could experience the fun of them.
Montress Greene
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