Transcribed pages from Dewey Fitzhugh Bratcher Sr.'s memoir (1898–1987):
Title Page
Dewey Fitzhugh Bratcher Sr.
1898 – 1987
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This is my life D. F. Bratcher: The son of J. C. Bratcher and Emma Jean Bratcher. J. C. Bratcher born October 21, 1870. Emma Jean born (Imogene) 1868. / 1868. Emma Jean passed away April 1904. J. C. Bratcher passed away June 8, 1944. To this union four children were born to them. Aden Lee Bratcher, October 2, 1896. Dewey Fitzhugh Bratcher, May 21, 1898. Yula May Bratcher, September 20, 1900. Henry Clinton (or Clay) Bratcher, September 25, 1902. A. L. Bratcher death date January 1919. Yula May death date 1911. Henry C. death date March 17, 1973.
My mother passed away and my dad kept us children together for awhile. Then we lived at Short Creek in a little three room house which my dad had bought [which] was a small farm. Then my dad married Cora Ellen Dennison in November 1905. In the fall of 1905 we moved to Davis County four miles out of Owensboro. Bought a small grocery at a place called Oak Ridge and we lived there one year. Moved back to Grayson County one mile from Short Creek. Dad bought a farm one mile from Short Creek. The farm was called the Old Shaw Farm. There was a well about six feet deep and the water run out of the well like a spring and place as the home of old Shaw Well which is still there as a land mark.
Well we lived at the Old Shaw from 1907–1909. Then dad sold the Old Shaw place to Uncle Jim Aust Dennison who was my step-mother’s brother. Then we moved to Bud Litsey farm one mile below Short Creek—lived there one year. Then dad bought the Dennison Carroll out there at Walnut Grove—123 akers. Bought August 1909, paid $1750. Borrowed the money from old Uncle Geary who was no kin at all. This was the year 1909. We moved there in 1910. We made first crop. I lived there at home untill 1922. I worked on farm, grew corn, wheat, and tobacco. Raised hogs and sold them for 5 cents per pound. Corn 500 per aker-raised sorgum molasses put them in gallon
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pails and sold for 90 cents per gallon. We kept three or four cows to milk. Don't hardly remember when I started to milk cows—guess I was about ten years of age. I know we had an old black cow—let no one milk but me and sure did give a lot of good milk.
I spent my teen age here on this farm. Did not get to school very much had to do a lot of farm work. In the late years of my teen years, I worked on the railroad [laying] cross ties and laying steel building railroad from Princeton to Eddyville. Sleeping in railroad cars for sleep. Boarded cars there was plenty of beans and Kayro Syrup to eat and no dessert at all. In the winter of 1917 and 1918 the winter snow got three feet deep. We had to get out and walk track looking for broken [joints] in the rails. We had our feet and legs wrapped with burlap bags to keep warm and dry. Temperature zero -10 degrees below. It was rough but did not make very much money—about $1.00 per day. And I would load cross ties all day for 75¢ per day.
So in the year 1921 I decided I would farm so I had a team of horses. I rented 12 akers from Mr. Quiggins in Caney Creek bottom one mile from home—one mile below Caneyville but had quit half Seems like did have very much I guess 250 bushels. I decided had better not try any more.
So in the spring of 1922 I had Bill Esridge out in the sink that was up North-West of Leitchfield to work on farm $20 a month—had about 200 akers farm lot of cattle to feed so I had to get up early and work late. Well it was from sun-up till sun-down. So I stayed all that summer then went back to railroad and it was hot weather July 1922.
Then I came to Louisville to go to work at the L & N shops. They were out on strike and I would go out there and SCAB as they called it. I was staying with Mr. French and he was out on strike. July 1922 I went out to 15th & Hill got a job in a feed mill; worked 2 weeks and did not want to work inside.
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so quit. I left my overalls out there and as far as I know they are still there. I went to LGE got a job digging ditches at 22 nd and Broadway, was making 35¢ per hour...worked 2 weeks at that—did not like that. So the street cars were passing there. I thought it would be a good job so I told M. M. Huff; he was a policeman. He told Powell who was a Superintendent for the RR Company so he told him to tell me to come in so I went the next day and gave me a card that read 7 days a week, 365 days a year, 33¢ per hour. Do you want to say yes. So he gave an order to have my picture made at the Brown Studio and took it over to him and gave me a job. This was July 14, 1922 so I had to start sub for 2 weeks without pay and that was the hard part. Assigned to 29th & Broadway, Oak St. and Walnut St. I got my subbing done on 31 August 1922. Got my badge #842 on September 1, 1922. Made my first trip on Walnut Street. Pulled a two car train out of 29th Broadway. Conductor on front car by the name Bailey Albratton and the trailer conductor name was Jack Browning. Went to Crescent Hill loop on Frankfort Ave. distance was 17 miles round trip.
I have worked Extra Board. Whatever I got I worked it. Report at the barn 4:40 AM and if did not get work report 2:00 PM. Then no work first thing next I would get it. Worked this untill first of the year 1923. Then one man car come on Oak Street and I caught run on Oak Street. Old dinke car with wheel brake that would wind up with the wheel by handle. Then little later 1923 Company bought 30 new cars with all air brakes then it was a lot easier.
Then in Dec 1923 just before Christmas I was held up and robbed of my money by one lone bandit at 11:30 PM. Bandit put gun on me and I took it away from him and he said hurt his hand when I jerked (the gun) out of his hand. I told him I ought to make him eat it. I turned over to police.
Then in the fall of 1923 bought me a 1923 Ford touring car for $300.00. Kept
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till 1924 was costing me too much to run. Gas was 11 cents a gallon. I sold it to Bill Martin an Interurban man who worked for the company. He gave me $250.00. I got 5 – 50 dollar bills cash. May 1, 1925 I bought me a Ford Coupe. Kept it for my transportation a long time.
Then long in the fall of 1925 I met Mother (Beulah) then we courted in the little old coupe. I was joking. Mother was living with Aunt Dot at the time at 841 So. 43rd St. So I went with Beulah untill August 19, 1926 and we were married at 8 PM in the preachers parlor by Bro. J. W. Cantrell. Our witness H. C. Bratcher and Crean Stovall. After the wedding we went to our apartment which was at 2435 W. Broadway. Lived in it two years, paid $35.00 per month. Mama got me started to work in office extra. I worked 10 years off and on or just when I was needed. At that time I was working a late run Oak St and a one man car from in afternoon untill 1:30 AM. Then later worked a fancy run.
It was not very fancy 5:30 AM untill 9:30 AM then go back to work 3 PM and work untill 9 PM.
Then July 1928 Mom and I bought us a home on Dumesnil 4140 – 5 room bungalow and garage – lot 40 x 140 feet. We paid $4250; paid $1200 down. Borrowed $2000 from KY Title. Paid $ 6.90 per week. (I Have left out something, Doris Jean, August 7, 1927).
So I was still working them ugly runs. Then on February 26, 1929 another little girl come along, Bless her, who we called Helen Bernice. Then I was getting along fine—had me a nice wife and two sweet little girls and a Ford coupe for transportation. Then in 1930 the Great Depression came along.
We did fare so good but got along. Bank closed—got what little money I had in it. So by little at time got most of it back – but slow. So Mom and I tried a little harder and we come through OK. You know Mom has been a great help to me. In all my trials and temptations God has blessed me with good help and health. So we worked together and saved. We lived close to
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Fairgrounds and we parked autos during Fair. Mom & I cleared a lot off that had grown in weeds which belonged to Henry Bicket but had his permission to use the lot. Parked cars 10¢ per car—can you imagine Mother parking for 10¢ per car.
Now here is the good news—Dewey Jr. was born June 18th, 1935. then that added one more to our list but we were proud of him and of course Mom was keeping boarders at the time (and I was working all the extra trips I could get). Some time in the early 30's I got a day run on Walnut Street – run #10. I worked it up untill the Trolley Coaches were bought then they were put on Walnut in December 1936. Of course I had to sub them without pay. I took the second trolley coach to Crescent Hill that hauled passengers coach #204.
Then December 1936 it began to rain and that the start of the great flood of 1936-1937. Was working in office extra when the water began to come up. I told the boss I was going to go home while I could get home. The Company had begun to move buses, trolley coaches, and street cars to higher ground was out on Third Street park. This was 2nd January 1937 on Friday. I had everything fixed to stay at home. Mr. and Mrs. Merritt were going to stay with.
It began to rain and it rained all day Saturday and all night Saturday night and Sunday it was still raining. Mr. and Mrs. Merritt had done left our place. So Sunday morning I got up and got a boat and you all on Cecil Ave to Dr. Robarts and put you all upstairs. I mean Mom, Doris, Helen and Dewey and told you all to stay there while Mr. Fred Miller and brother went to 28th and Virginia and got a boat. We went up there in a boat that he had made and we got the Red Cross boat and a driver and come back and picked you all up and was it raining. It was just pour down—rained all day. Went to Uncle Henry's who lived at 2314 W. Hill. Then you girls went to Grandpa Crumes and stayed untill the water went down. That was about two weeks. So I did not get to come
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back home untill February 10, 1937. You know we left our little dog at home. When I came home little Frisky was the first to see me. The water had been up in the house about 18 inches. Frisky had stayed in the garage in the car—our old 32 Ford. I had about 20 chickens in the shed and they were all drowned 5 I had left. I got in the house—everything was a mess. So I went back to Uncle Henry C's and in a few days Mom and I come home and went to work and cleaned up the mess. Piled up , cleaned up – put things together and started all over again.
But I was still working the car Company everything I could get. Smitty was boarding with us. He was going home and got as far as New Albany, Ind. And his car got flooded out. It was under water about two weeks. Then he traded it off later and got the old 39 Ford that we finally wound up with. (The old river got to 52 feet over flood stage—this was in the year of 1937 in January).
My work was still going on with the car company or the Transit Company at that time. Then long about 1941 when little Dewey was playing in a lot where they were building these houses [when] he fell out a window and broke his arm. Police came..one police put him and Mom in police car and taken him to hospital. Turned the red light on police car and told me to follow them which I did—it was a fast ride. I was working Walnut Street at that time driving trolley coaches. Then shortly after the diesel buses came on Broadway and I was transferred to the diesels. Worked them for awhile. Then got a regular job in the office as a clerk—worked from 1 PM till 11 AM.
So that made it alright for me. I could get and get enough sleep. Then and extra work for people—lay concrete and paint houses and raised corn out on Mr. Weber's farm. I raised a field of corn out there in 1951 guess about $11.00 a bushel had to give half but he furnished every-thing – tractor, and fertilizer.
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Back in fall—back to parking autos for State Fair. I bought two lots on Cecil Ave for $1600. Bought them in 1948 kept them untill the old Fairgrounds was sold and new Fairgrounds was built and then I sold the lots at a very nice profit.
It was about 1950 when I was working a house on 43rd St. when I fell off of a ladder. I did fall, the ladder kicked through me and fell in a ditch—broke or sprained my ankle and I had to go to hospital to get a cast put on it and put on crutches for six weeks. Worked every day – had to go to work on crutches but had a good boss. He said come in and be there to tell what to do. You know then I was on the shift that had to take care of all accidents that happened on late shift and take care of radio. You know we had radio cars when calls would come in it was about accident. I would have to send radio car, our radio call was KIA 436. You know in 1951 in the spring the company moved all car barns to 29th Broadway with exception of 4th St and made a total of 251 runs every morning to put out and that included bus, street cars and trolley coaches that went along that way the rest of time I worked up till I retired.
Then in 1956 I began to look for a place in country. So Mom found this one real estate and we came out and looked at it and it was something like we wanted. We made the lady an offer and she did not want to let it go but signed contract and I had bought it for $15,000. Then I fixed up on Dumesnil Street and had to get ready to move. We moved November 13, 1956. I was still working for Street Car Company working from 11 PM to 7:00 AM. That made me get extra transportation. I bought my Ford truck new from Girdler on Bardstown Road—new for 1300.00. I thought it was high but I kept it until 1970.
You know I bought the old Baline tractor from the lady I bought the place from — got tractor, plow, cultivator and disk all $275.00—then I was ready to start farming again and raising chickens and garden.—Strawberries, raspberries
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blackberries, gooseberries, bossenberries, you name it and I had it. Then in 1961 we built our family room out of the garage and I built the chicken house. When I to raising chickens and I have kept something like 200 every year since we have been out here but still working for Car company—worked up untill June 30, 1963. That was the day I retired from the car company. I was on the payroll from September 1, 1922 untill June 30, 1963...a total of about 41 years. So when I retired Boys from car barn gave me a nice watch, pair of overalls, and a hoe and rake; said I could raise gardens—that was all for the car company. I am just an old retired street car man now.
I will have to bring Mom into it again. She raises roses that is her hobby.
So when I sold the old truck I bought this 1969 that my family truck paid $1800. for it ... not too bad now.
I bought my new garden tractor in 1969. That is lawn mower 12 HP I have used it for everything by the help of Uncle Rudy. It was his help that I could get it.
It was in the spring of 1973 when I had an old lawn mower that did not want to start. So Stevie was helping to get it and he had to quit and go back to school at Western and I kept on untill I got it started and thought I would go out and cut Mom's rosebed. So I made a cut or two and stumbled and fell backwards and pulled the lawnmower up on my foot and cut my big toe off and had to go to the hospital and stay 5 days but I got well in a hurry. But I am still going strong but have slowed down a little. Had had an operation am in fairly good shape now after my stay in hospital 4 weeks. I am feeling fine now.
I guess I had better bring this mess to a close as I have been retired 13 years and I guess it is time now to rest and live on my pension, Social Security which I think I can do very well and my old hens help a lot (ha ha).
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Still I can keep busy doing nothing.
I thought you kids would like a of this is just a part of my Street car life.
This is my family record:
Doris Jean born August 7, 1927
Helen Bernice born Feb 26, 1929
Dewey F Jr. born June 18, 1935.
Doris Jean married to C. J. Gognat in March 22, 1947; two children were born to this union: C. J. Jr. born Feb 25, 1948 and Jean Anne born Oct 5, 1949.
Dewey F. Jr. married to Wanda Pack to that union 3 children
Dewan born
Chappel born
Dewey III born.
Helen Bernice married to Fred W. Crawford in the year Oct 2, 195
To that union 5 boys
Freddy born April 3, 1953
Steven Douglas born June 21, 1954
Kevin Lyn born Feb 15, 1957
Mark Lee born Oct 26, 1961
Todd Allen born May 25, 1970
Now my grandchildren:
Jody married to Pam Helton and that one daughter Catherine Jo born Oct 28, 1975. (Mom's B-day)
Jean Ann married Ray Finnegan to that union one son Raymond Fitzhugh born February 25, 1975. (Born on Doris Bratcher Gognats son B-day—Charles Joe. Gognat B. Feb. 25, 1948)
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Now as I am winding down on writing my wife and I just celebrated our 50th anniversary which all of my family were here and all grand children and my two great grandchildren all together—were 18 in all. We all attended church at Highview when Mama and I belong and Brother Bill Hancock was the preacher.
Our two daughters this which was well planned and they planned a dinner at Bolands for all of us after which was very nice. And that is about all for an old St. car man or I will say 78 of it. So may the Good Lord take care of us all and keep us under His care.
signed
Dad
15 #2
In the spring of 1954 we went to California. Mr. and Mrs. Maddox went with us. You know mother was going by herself. So I had to get busy and get a car so I bought a 1951 Ford 4 door. Paid 1600 dollars for it just to make the trip in.
And what a trip it was. No trouble just a long trip but a good one...about three days one way. Went the Southern route left here on Sunday got there on Wednesday. Mr. and Mrs. Maddox went their way and we went our way and of course I had to see the cable cars in San Francisco and eat at the Fis herman's Wharf—had a great time and grandson born while there; only got to see him, Freddy, through glass but a wonderful trip—can't tell all, but will never forget it ha ha.
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