Church Hill - Morse
Virginia Black History Archives
Church Hill Oral History Project
Transcript of interview with Mrs. Naomi L. Morse, conducted July 21, 1982 by Akidah T. Mensah.
I = Interviewer
N = Narrator
I - Mrs. Morse is a long time resident of the greater Church Hill area. She is the historian of Mount Olivet Baptist Church, located at 25th and S Street. Mrs. Morse has agreed to share some of her remembrances of life in the Church Hill area with us. This interview is being conducted 2:00 p.m., July 21, 1982. Mrs. Morse it certaninly is a pleasure for you to allow me to come into your home today and have this interview, and I'd like to get started by asking some questions about your early life - where you grew up and some of the people who lived in the neighborhood and some of the things that occured, during that time. I also would like for you to spell your name so we will be sure to have it correctly, you can start by telling us who your parents were, and where you lived and then continue on.
N - My name is Noami L. Morse. I am a native Richmonder. I am the daughter of the late Alpheus Albert Morse and the late Sodie Baylor Morse Jones. I was fortunate enough to be born on Buchannon Street near the Buchannon Street School which no longer exist. I attended the Buchannon Street School, Armstrong High School, Armstrong Normal School, received B. S. Degree from Hampton Institute. I have done graduated studies at Virginia State College, New York University, and the University of Virginia.
I - And in doing this work I suppose your career was shaped but first let us talk about your neighbors, your family the kinds of things they did, where they lived and who they were.
N - Buchannon Street was a wonderful street. My uncle Dr. James Alexander Morse was a medical doctor and lived on the corner of Cedar Street and Buchannon Street, adjacent to Buchannon Street school. My grandfather lived in that block. He was the stock clerk at a drugstore located [at] 17 or 18 Street. It gives me great pleasure to tell you that our present chairman. We had wonderful neighbors. I can remember them so vividly, going up the steps to Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin Colemans' house. They had children whose names were Bowman, Olivia and Annie and next door to them lived the Jones' family, Mammie Jones, Ida Jones, Florene Jones, and so forth also in that very very fine neighborhood, was Mrs. Virgie Miles, her family, the Pattersons, Mr. Phil Patterson, family, next door to my uncle, was Mr. Benjamin Vandervall I think he was the clerk at the First African Baptist Church.
I - How did he spell his last name.
N - VANDERVALL. I hope I'm correct in saying Vandervall. My father was the building contractor. He helped to build the First Consolidated Bank located at First and Marshall Street which isn't there anymore. After injuring his spine on a scaffold he opened a store on Buchannon Street. We sold all kinds of goodies and household needs and it was a nice profitable store. Mind goes back to the Betheleham Baptist Church located then on the corner of Washington and Buchannon Street. The minister was Rev. Randolph. on Cedar Street going up the hill from Buchannon was another church. It was the Cedar Street Baptist Church the minister there was Rev. Roots I think, James Roots is named for his father, I think his fathers name was James, also. Moving down the street, we went down to the Dabneys', Allen Dabney and Mrs. and the Berkley Family it was indeed a very closely knitted neighborhood. Buchannon Street was the real street.
I - You mentioned Buchannon being the real street. I take it there was a lot of pride in that neighborhood.
N - Yes it was. it was a great deal of prilde in that neighborhood. and it's always a pleasure when we see and greet people who formally lived there.
I - Could you tell me something about your teaching experience. You described your neighborhood and some of the people there. and we earlier talked about your education, the schools you attended and so on, tell us something about your teaching experiences.
N - My class room was on the third floor of Carver of Elba School. we have lots of boys and girls who have succeeded professionally and in all walks of life, as far as their careers concerned. From Elba School, we went to Carver School. Mr. Oscar A. Morton was my principle. It was the dedicated, interest in, that progression principle, we moved from Carver School to Fairfield Court School. There I renewed my friendship with the principle Mrs. Freddie P. Cooper. Teaching school was indeed a rewarding experience. We grew to know members of the family, the parents, and the grandparents, school and home were closely related, boys and girls felt their duty to do the things that were necessary in the school for learning. Fairfield court school offered the boys and girls many opportunities to become the best person that they could be. I had the pleasure of working with student teachers from Norfolk State College, Virginia State University, Longwood, and Virginia Union University. It was indeed a pleasure to work with those students some of them have become great teachers, in 1973, I retired from Richmond Publis Schools, after 42 year career. In the fall of 1973, I went to Virginia Union as a part time instructor. I did team witha young lady who was then known as Miss Sally Gordon. She's now Dr. Gordon. The team teaching went well. Miss gordon did the theory and I did the experiences, teaching will always be my first love.
I - You really sound enthusiasitic about your teaching career, and it sounds as though you truly enjoy the being apart of the Richmond Public Schools system. I understand however that that's not all you participated in. I understand you had a pretty long and interesting church career, or church involvement, we would like to hear something about that and some of the people that you met while working in your church, and something about the neighborhood. Where your church is located?
N - I am a member of the Mount Oliver Baptist Church located at 25th and S Street. I also am the direct descendant of four of the founders of that church. The Mount Olivet Baptist Church was organized in 1889 in the residence of my great uncle, Deacon Jacob D. Davis, and his wife, deaconess, Fammie E. Davis. Their home was located on Pink Street. My mother, was a very ordent worker in the church. We have a ladies Auxillary Usher Board, that was named for my mother. While she was alive, the name of it is, the Sadie B. Jones Auxillary Usher Board. It was indeed a pleasure to be the directress of a Juvenille Choir of Mount Olivet Baptist Church, for 22 years, we worked with children 2 and a half years old through 12. The church is indeed a wonderful institution, fortunately I became the historian of Mount Olivet Baptist Church. I have labored hard have laboured long, but it had been, quite rewarding. In June, 1981, [I was] selected as the first woman deacon of Mount Olivet Baptist Church. In September another woman was selected, Mrs. G. Thomas. In October Mr. William G. Lomax was elected as a deacon. On May 16, the three of us were ordained as members of the deacon board of Mount Olivet Baptist Church. My love for the church will grow on, I will sadden at the reading of my pastors Dr. E. C. Kent, resignation letter, he will resign as of January 1, 1983. My saddness was short lived because the church elected a fine young man, Rev. Darryl Husband who is a student of theology and the seminary Virginia Union University. We are hoping, trusting and praying that Mount Olivet Church will continue to be a beacon light in this community. I would also like to say my husband, daughter, and I, are honorary members of the Sadie B. Jones Auxillary Usher Board. Mrs. Morse, who was the first pastor.
I - Mrs. Morse, we were attempting to talk some about the first pastor of Mount Olivet Baptist Church, who was the first pastor of Mount Olivet Church and could you tell us something about the kind of person he was or represented.
N - Reverend J. Andrew Bowler was the first pastor of Mount Olivet Baptist Church. When he was called to pastor our church he was the principal of a school in the thirteen hundred block on North 29th Street. Later he moved up to the George Mason Elementary School. Rev. Bowler was a wonderful mam and he had great faith. He would always come into the church singing the Lord Will Provide. He was [a] wonderful person and the community, he held great relationships with people all over the Church Hill commuminty. As he grew feeble, the church decided to select an assistant to him the Reverend Freeman R. Berlack who was then a student of theology at Virginia Union University. At the passing of Rev. J. Andrew Bowler, Rev. Freeman Berlack became the pastor of Mount Olivet Baptist Church. It gives me great pleasure to tell you that our present chairman of the deacon board, Deacon David L. Temple, had worked untiringly in Mount Olivet Baptist Church. Our church is involved in many community activities, and our pastor Dr. Kent is well known internationally.
I - You mentioned Rev. Bowler very fondly and his association with the school and of course, there was an elementary school, the old Springfield School on Twenty Six Street named in his honor. Could you tell us some more about life in Church Hill area, some of the things that you did and places that you went.
N - It was always great pleasure for the teenagers at that time to go to 29th and P Streets and get on a street car. It was called the Seven Pines Street car. The bond was located there at 29th and P Streets we would get on the car and ride all the way down to Seven Pines and come back. That was Sunday recreation treat. We also walked up to Armstrong High School over the Viaduct during the week, but on Sunday we found it necessary to go up town as we call it and would walk across the Viaduct again. I remember very well the Lilly Valley Hall, my mother would take me with her, sometimes and I would have to sit outside, the room out in the hall, while they had their oddfellow meeting. It was a place where so many of the fraternal organizations held their meeting. The Lilly Vally Hall was located on P Street, between 30th, and 31 Street, the building is there no longer.
I - You have mentioned two locations in the P Street area that apparently were gathering places. One, the street car bond, at 29th and P, and the Lilly Valley Hall on P street. Was P street, pretty much a social center or shopping center or could you describe more in detail what P street was like .
N - At that time, seemingly was the hub of activities, the trolley cars that carried us uptown they terminated at 29th and P Street. That was the end of the line, and also located on P street, if I can remember correctly, was the funeral home of the Scotts, in fact it was Scotts Funeral Home it was there for a period of time, before it relocated, on Main Street C. Scott-Funeral Home Fourth Baptist Church was also located on P Street, at 28th and P, and oh a lot of activities went on in the church. There were laundry at the corner of 26th, and P Street, and that offered employment to a lot of the people who lived in the Church Hill area. The name of the laundry was Simmons Laundry and at that time you had a laundry man, and he would come in his truck to you every Monday you were to have your clothing ready and he would pick it up and deliver it to you on Friday. That was a pretty active place. 26th and P Streets.
I - I, OK, you mentioned the laundry the Simmons Laundry, Fourth Baptist Church, the street car bond and the Scotts Funeral Home, I believe Alpheus Scott was the father of Robert C. And that funeral home, Located on P Street. Do you remember Burkes Black Smith Shop, just off P Street in the alley behind 27th street.
N - I recall them vaguely, the Burkes, blacksmiths shop, and you bring back to my mind, that Mr. Burke, was the best man in my mothers, and father's wedding. Their children, Lillian and other members of her family, have been my friends throughout the years. And yes I do recall that black smith shop.
I - Now that you've mentioned it it comes to mind, that yes, Mr. Burke is from the Buchannnon area, origianlly, We have spent some time talking about various things related to your growing up, your teaching, your church activity, etc. Are there special events, dear to you or historical facts, that you feel may be little known that should be bought out at this particular point.
N - Thank you for given me this opportunity to mention two other doctors who were among the very first in Church Hill. I remember Dr. Tancil. He lived, I think now, on 30th street, his office, was on 30th street. Then there was doctor Griffhn a medical doctor, these people pioneered for the health of the people on Church Hill.
I - Mrs. Morse, I understand you are affiliated with several civic groups, would you care to share some of the information about those groups.
N - Eastend Community Society Incorporated. The Founder Mrs. Maggie L. Jones who resides at 617 North 31st Street is a great orgainzation. My mother, Mrs. Sadie B. Jones, was one of the founders of the society, and the first secretary of the society. We are indeed grateful to Mrs. Maggie L. Jones for the work that she has done in this society. It had provided food, clothing, shelter for people throughout the city. The Crusade for Voters have been very active in our Church Hill area, also the NAACP, and the Richmond Urban League. We are grateful for all of these organizations who have helped to better conditions in the Church Hill area.
I - Well we certainly appreciate those comments related to an organization that has as it's goal to improve conditions and the Church Hill area. Are there other things that you feel are important to mention here.
N - It's wonderful to have a good husband. My husband Robert H. Morse is a Dental Technician. On June 20, 1982 we were married 40 years. We are happy to be the parents of Dr. Roberta Naomi Morse. She is Phi Delta Kappa International Honor Professional Student in Educational Research Service and Leadership. Roberta our daughter was awarded a minority group scholars research post doctoral fellowship from the Rockfeller Foundation. She conducted the research on test anxiety, and mental Health at the research and development center at Howard University in Washington, D.C. In closing I would like to play tribute to. My mother Sddie B. Jones, who is now sleeping peacefully in Oakwood Cementary, she taught me to do all the good you can to all the people you can and in all the ways that you can so long as you can. My greatest philosophy and committment is to greet fellow travelors along the way of life, with this expression "I love you, I love you, I love you."
I - Well we certainly would like to thank you Mrs. Morse, and that philosphy is a very interesting one. I'm sure that your mother's influence has not been wasted based on the things that you have done, in the community and are still doing. Again we'd like to thank you for this interview.
Questionsor Comments
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