Arthur Wallace, Sr.

September 28, 2016 by Alex Chapin
section: Interviews

Mr. Arthur Wallace, Sr. is both the oldest parishioner and the parishioner who has been attending Friendship Baptist Missionary Church the longest. Mr. Wallace is 87 years old. His association with the church dates back to 1933 when he became a member of the church, joined the choir and acted as the church custodian for the first 11 years of his association with Friendship Baptist Missionary Church. Arthur Wallace was born in the Brooklyn neighborhood as were his 6 children. Mr. Wallace provided insight into the divisions within the community and how the churches attempted to be inclusive, encouraging community. One division covered was the “haves” and “have nots” of the neighborhood. The interview was arranged by Friendship Baptist Church and the primary focus of the questions asked was on the church, the role of the church and the transition of the church from Brooklyn.

Part I

 

Part II

Tape Log

Tape Log: Oral History Interview with Arthur Wallace, Sr.

Interviewed by Leo Yakutis

Time Description of Interview Contents
Track 1
0.0 Auto Tape Start at 10 am. Mr. Ed Holland is conversing with Arthur Wallace and Yakutis. AW has brought two scrap books that we are reviewing and Mr. Holland shares Mr.Wallace’s WWII history.
6:14 Introduction and instructions provided.
6:52 AW introduces himself and that he has been a member of Friendship Baptist Missionary Church since 1933.
7:40 AW provides his earliest memories regarding Friendship Baptist Missionary Church. Mr.Wallace recounts meeting Reverend Powell.
8:55 AW describes the three different choirs at FBC.
10:32 Reverend Powell is described as a humble man who went to the community to help with the sick.
15:32 The story about Reverend Cary riding his bicycle to the poorer sections of the community is shared. Reverend Cary would send the young girls to the beauty parlor to have their hair done so they would want to come to church.
17:14 Story about Reverend Cary brining is a man from outside the church who was listening from the window.
17:52 Mr.Wallace recalls the “have” and “have not” in the community.
19:42 Reverend Cary was the first Afro-American on the Charlotte school board.
20:04 AW lived three blocks from Friendship Baptist Missionary Church when he lived in Brooklyn.
21:25 Drinks and snacks would come from a filling station owned by Bishop Dell for the children attending Sunday School at Friendship.
26:37 The Brotherhood was described as a men’s service organization. Mr.Wallace recounts the annual meetings they had with Brotherhoods from other area churches.
32:50 Recounts the church and his family moving from Brooklyn.
37:36 Mr.Wallace would feed coal to the furnace in winter before church. In the summers they opened the windows and tried to keep each other cool with fans.
39:28 Tape change Time Count in Minutes Description of Interview Content Track 2
0.0 Mr.Wallace sings for Kathy Wells who is assisting with the interview.
5:29 AW recounts business, theaters and the grocery in his part of the Brooklyn neighborhood.
7:12 Parades put on by the House of Prayer are described.
11:18 Mr.Wallace provides advice on how to speak slowly and search yourself.
15:53 Mr.Wallace recounts his first marriage and his current marriage of 33 years.
19:38 Another take on funny stories told at the March 11th, 2004 for Friendship Baptist Missionary Church..
22:34 Wrap-up and thank you provided.

Transcript

Arthur Wallace, Sr.