This photo is dated 1929. It reminded me of a story my mother told me many years about being with my great-grandmother Sadie Alexander when they lived down in South Texas. My great-grandfather, Curtis Alexander, was a blacksmith and ironworker down in Robstown, outside of Corpus Christi. On Wednesdays around 1930, my great-grandmother, all 4’11” of her, would load up small parts, my five year old mother and her 45 revolver into their big, old car ( a Buick, I believe). They would leave at dawn and drive all over the region going to places like the King Ranch, O’Connor Ranches, East Family Ranches delivering parts and collecting payments in cash. Larger equipment and repairs would have been delivered by truck earlier. My mother said they always scheduled to arrive at the famed Chapman ranch for lunch where the ladies would have a big spread for them and special treats and gifts for my mother.
Once, they were traveling on a Wednesday and a tropical storm or hurricane hit. These were the days of no warning or weather reports. The only bridge they could take over a river to get back home was washed out as were the low water crossings. My great-grandmother decided to take the railroad bridge over the river straddling the rails, with my terrified mother on the front seat, bumping over every set of railroad ties. My mother said the bridge was swaying back and forth and she thought they were going to die. They were praying a train wouldn’t come roaring down the track.
This took place about 90 years ago and the world is a different place, America is a different place and America’s children have no idea the courage of folks from not so long ago.