Mae Orr
section: Interviews
Mrs. Mae Orr was born and raised in the Greenville community. Her life has been spent almost continuously in some form of education from graduation at West Charlotte and Johnson C. Smith to teaching throughout the Charlotte-Mecklenburg School system. Her experiences both as a student at West Charlotte and a student teacher at Second Ward High allows her to have a unique perspective on the rivalry between the two schools. Her young life included growing up near the famous first African-American policeman Mr. James Ross. Mrs. Orr’s memories of him are a marvelous set of stories.
Part I
Part II
Tape Log
Tape Log: Oral History Interview with Mae Orr
Interviewed by Stephen Howerton
| Time | Description of Interview Contents |
|---|---|
| 1.0 | Introduction of interview |
| 2.0 | Introduction of family in Fairview neighborhood near Greenville, effect of urban.renewal on family |
| 4.0 | Foster care of children by her mother |
| 5.0 | Purchase replacement house “without any debt” |
| 6.0 | Education of her and her sisters and brothers, possible reference to Northwest.School as first campus of West Charlotte |
| 7.0 | Rivalry of West Charlotte and Second Ward, description of fight during football.game |
| 9.0 | Use of the Y in Brooklyn for typing classes and other classes given, discusses 2nd.Street businesses |
| 13.0 | Influence of father’s employer, Myers Park County Club, on father |
| 15.0 | Origin of rivalry between West Charlotte and Second Ward |
| 17.0 | Opinions on Brooklyn in comparison to Greenville |
| 20.0 | House of Prayer, mothers joining in, attendance of convocation parade, feelings of.House of Prayer by other churches |
| 24.0 | Thoughts on urban renewal, reveals her student teaching was done at Second.Ward, puts Brooklyn’s border to site of present day stadium of the Panthers |
| 30.0 | Thoughts on students of Second Ward and her stint as a student teacher in the 50’s |
| 32.0 | Police force and James Ross. “He was mean”. Stories about James Ross and his.family. Including the reasons for his dismissal from the PD and his ultimate death..Nearly 12 minutes of stories on James Ross. |
| 44.0 | Social life of Brooklyn. Brief discussion of drug use in Brooklyn at JC’s club. |
| 47.0 | Lincoln theater told as being told infested with small bugs |
| 49.0 | White ownership in black communities |
| 51.0 | Feelings in the community towards Urban Renewal |
| 53.0 | Remembers talks with former slave |
| 55.0 | Effects on African American community caused by urban renewal |
| 59.0 | Scolds interviewer for not eating delicious cake |
| 60.0 | Discusses Waddell helping find houses for population |
| 62.0 | Second street memories |
| 63.0 | Interview ends. |