July 28, 2004 from Emmett Roan

Such a good idea, Martha. We will look forward to the history comments. My old home was located between Port Gibson and Pattison, and our electricity was turned on in April, 1941. My sister had given me a table model Philco radio for Christmas, which I still have, so I was ready for non-stop listening. Battery powered radios were turned on only in the evenings after supper and the night work completed so that everyone could listen together.

The Roan family's electricity was turned on Sunday, December 7, 1941. David Cleveland had wired the house, and like everyone else, they could hardly wait for this wonderful convenience. It changed our lives.

We had spent Sunday, December 7, 1941, in Jackson so did not hear about Pearl Harbor until we stopped at Watson's Drug Store in Port Gibson on our way home. The Roan family heard the terrible news on their Atwater Kent radio at home. So many of us had no idea where Pearl Harbor was located and had to look it up on the map. We all knew about Hawaii, but did not connect the two at first. Gasoline and sugar were the first things rationed, and the rationing cards were distributed at the old Pattison School. I don't remember how much sugar we were allowed, but my family was issued 4 gallons of gasoline per week.

The first air conditioned store I remember was Liggette's Drug Store on Canal Street in New Orleans on July 4, 1939. I thought I had died and gone to heaven. Such a shock to walk back out on the street. Happy memories.

Emmett