My name is Janie Henderson
Kraker. I was named after my maternal grandmother, Melissa
Jane Wheeler. My grandmother, Evie Wheeler Gates, was
married to Marvin "Pop" Gates
and they were members in the Porterdale Methodist Church across
from the old pool. They had six
children..."Junior" Gates, "Pearly" (James
Harold) Gates, Betty Jane Gates (my Mom, deceased in January
2005), Georgia Anne Gates, Emily L. Gates and Jack Lee Gates.
We visited them every other weekend and I LOVED it (at least until
I thought I was old enough to be left at home)!!!! Pop's
mailbox in the old Post Office was 151 (same as my Girl Scout
Troop).
I remember going to the
drugstore, buying penny candy, 10 cents cokes AND charging it to
"Pop" :D I remember that Granny Gates had
her groceries delivered a lot of times, although it was a short
walk. I remember the grocery store and a linen/clothes
store. I remember both elementary and high schools. I
remember playing in the "maze" that was more or less in
front of the Methodist Preacher's home.
So much fun. I remember catching lightning bugs!
My grandfather, father and
uncles (Pete Gunn -married to Emily; Bill Brooks - married to
Georgia) always caught and clean LOTS of BIG fish!!!!!
Granny Gates worked the night
shift at the plant behind their house on Cotton Ave. Pop
worked at the mill on the Yellow River!
I loved playing with all my
cousins and I was "mean" and used to put the shorter
ones in the "holes" that were around the windows on the
basement level of the Methodist church. The best climbing
tree was the dogwood tree in front of the church.
I rode Rosemary Few's bicycle
down the hill in back of Granny's house (and in back of the
church) not knowing how to brake. Mother saved me before I
went down the steps to the back way to the Post Office and the
gym.
I remember shelling peas and
beans and snapping beans on the front porch, listening to the
music from the pool and swimming in the pool.
My uncle, Jack Lee Gates,
bought the old hospital and I remember many scary nights in the
padded room, the operating room and playing on the inclined
floors.
Porterdale has really changed,
but my memories are the same.
I have my great uncle's Bibb
Badge (Uncle Lee) although it did not scan well, so I'm holding on
to it! If I can reproduce a better quality photo, I'll send
it your way.
Thanks for all the memories of
Porterdale. Oh, and I think I almost made my patient Aunt Emily
almost lose her cool when she tried to teach me to drive a clutch
in a Porterdale parking lot!
Also, I'd like to provide a
link for Betty Jane Gates Henderson's "guest book" for
y'all's memories. Anything at all will be very much
appreciated!!!!
Thank you all for all the
wonderful memories and for the terrific website!!!!!!!!
Janie Henderson Kraker
