Living in the Black Community of Oxford
by Mildred Wright Joiner
Mrs. Joiner was employed at Oxford College from 1955 to 1985.
Oxford was a small quiet town, the home of Emory College. There were large beautiful homes for whites, some fairly large ones for blacks, others small but neat. We were two miles from Covington and had a streetcar pulled by two mules. You could ride to Covington and back for five cents. The town was in sections. Blacks lived in all sections joined by whites except, [for] the section called “Texas,” northwest Oxford, [which] was all black. Going South toward Covington was mostly white, though a few blacks lived at the end of town. East Oxford going toward Turkey Creek was called “Peasville” (it still is).
In the middle of Oxford blacks lived in the upper section called “Shakerag.” The settlement was named for its billowing clotheslines [as] taking in washing was the chief occupation of women in this settlement. To the west was a hilly section, called “The Hill” or “On the Hill.”
The community had two churches, Methodist and Baptist. There were two local ministers, Mr. Nick Graves and Mr. Tom Anderson. Rev. A.C. Wright, a resident of the “Texas” area, became an ordained minister of the Central Black Conference. He was also the first principal of Washington Street School in Covington. He was educated at Paine College [in] Augusta, Georgia. His daughter, Mrs. Mary Eva Wright taught school in Oxford and Covington. She graduated from Clark College, Atlanta.
Mrs. Amanda Hammond was also a teacher in Oxford. Her husband, Mr. Bob Hammond, became Emory College’s first janitor. Some men and women worked as cooks and yardmen and the Emory campus. Younger men walked to Covington and worked in the cotton mills. Others worked as butlers, yardmen, and in building houses. Women washed and ironed for students. Some were cooks in private homes. Some families had large farms for their family to work on. Some of the women stayed home canning fruits and vegetables.
In the fall, the making of syrup was a great event. At harvest time, the wheat and corn was carried to the mill to be made into flour and meal.
In Oxford the families worked hard so that the children could go to school. A music teacher came to the community once a week; some of the children were busy with music lessons. Mrs. Cary and Paul Belcher organized a band that was composed of several local men.
The community had two churches, Methodist and Baptist. There were two local ministers, Mr. Nick Graves and Mr. Tom Anderson. Rev. A.C. Wright, a resident of the “Texas” area, became an ordained minister of the Central Black Conference. He was also the first principal of Washington Street School in Covington. He was educated at Paine College [in] Augusta, Georgia. His daughter, Mrs. Mary Eva Wright taught school in Oxford and Covington. She graduated from Clark College, Atlanta.
Mrs. Amanda Hammond was also a teacher in Oxford. Her husband, Mr. Bob Hammond, became Emory College’s first janitor. Some men and women worked as cooks and yardmen and the Emory campus. Younger men walked to Covington and worked in the cotton mills. Others worked as butlers, yardmen, and in building houses. Women washed and ironed for students. Some were cooks in private homes. Some families had large farms for their family to work on. Some of the women stayed home canning fruits and vegetables.
In the fall, the making of syrup was a great event. At harvest time, the wheat and corn was carried to the mill to be made into flour and meal.
In Oxford the families worked hard so that the children could go to school. A music teacher came to the community once a week; some of the children were busy with music lessons. Mrs. Cary and Paul Belcher organized a band that was composed of several local men.
On Sunday afternoons, between church times, the young people would stroll to the woods, the waterfall, and “The Rock.” Once a year, we would have one big community picnic. It was usually at “The Rock.”
Will Anderson was the first black to open his own dry cleaning. He cleaned and pressed the students’ clothes at Emory College. At his café, you could play “pool” (checkers) and buy sandwiches. He had everything you needed – kerosene to tobacco. He also had barbershop adjoining his café.
John Kennon built the first two story house for himself, and after that he was the town carpenter. The home stood where the city barn is now. Henry (Billy) Mitchell was the first and only black electrician. He also became skilled in plumbing.
Will Anderson was the first black to open his own dry cleaning. He cleaned and pressed the students’ clothes at Emory College. At his café, you could play “pool” (checkers) and buy sandwiches. He had everything you needed – kerosene to tobacco. He also had barbershop adjoining his café.
John Kennon built the first two story house for himself, and after that he was the town carpenter. The home stood where the city barn is now. Henry (Billy) Mitchell was the first and only black electrician. He also became skilled in plumbing.