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Interviewee
Breeden, Everett Lee
Identifier
SNP016
Format
1 audio file (running time: 1:10:11)
Interview Number
SNP-16
Location of Interview
Near Tanners Ridge, Virginia
Date of Interview
11-14-1978
Description
Records the reminiscences of Everett Breeden, who grew up on Tanners Ridge, in Page County, Virginia prior to the establishment of Shenandoah National Park in 1934. Also contributing to the interview is Mr. Breeden's wife, whose first name is not mentioned. Mrs. Breeden gives her maiden name as Thomas, and identifies her father as William Henry Thomas, also of Page County. Based on this information, she is believed to be Junie Catherine Breeden. Together, they describe their early home and family lives, schooling, holidays and community events. Among the topics discussed are the growing, harvesting and preserving of food, soap making, folk medicine and wild game hunting. Includes references to the local Civilian Conservation Corps camp, burial rites, and midwives. Mr. Breeden worked on the construction of Camp Hoover, also known as Rapidan Camp, which was the first presidential retreat. President Herbert Hoover commissioned the construction of the facility in 1929, which he later donated to Shenandoah National Park. Mr. Breeden recounts meeting and speaking with the president on several occasions at the retreat, which Mr. Hoover referred to as his Summer White House.
Rights
The copyright interests in this collection have been transferred to the James Madison University Special Collections Library. For more information, contact the Special Collections Library Reference Desk (library-special@jmu.edu).
Personal Names
Breeden, Everett Lee, 1904-1989, Interviews; Breeden, Junie Catherine, 1907-1988, Interviews; Hoover, Herbert, 1874-1964 -- Homes and haunts -- Virginia -- Madison County; Thomas, William Henry.
Family Names
Breeden family; Thomas family
Subjects
Civilian Conservation Corps (U.S.) -- Virginia -- Shenandoah National Park – History; Civilian Conservation Corps (U.S.). Camp NP-2 -- Shenandoah National Park (Va.) -- History; Civilian Conservation Corps (U.S.). Company 350 (Va.) – History; Mountain people -- Blue Ridge Mountains -- Social life and customs; Mountain life -- Shenandoah River Valley (Va. and W. Va.) -- History; Mountain people -- Virginia -- Shenandoah National Park -- Social life and customs; Rural poor -- Virginia; Farm life -- Appalachian Region, Southern; Country life -- Appalachian Region, Southern; Agriculture -- Appalachian Region, Southern; Food habits -- Appalachian Region, Southern; Canning and preserving -- History; Cookery -- Virginia; Folklore -- Shenandoah River Valley (Va. and W. Va.) -- History; Holidays -- Shenandoah River Valley (Va. and W. Va.) -- History; Traditional medicine -- Shenandoah River Valley (Va. and W. Va.); Funeral rites and ceremonies -- Appalachian Region, Southern; Historic buildings -- Virginia -- Shenandoah National Park; Camp sites, facilities, etc. -- Virginia -- Shenandoah National Park.
Place Names
Tanners Ridge (Va.) – History; Camp Hoover (Va.) – History; Page County (Va.) – History; Shenandoah River Valley (Va. and W. Va.) -- Manners and customs; Shenandoah National Park (Va.) -- History, Local
Interviewer
Smith, Dorothy Noble, 1915-1999
Transcriber
Marston, Sharon G.
Collection Title
Shenandoah National Park oral history collection
Collection Number
SdArch SNP
Recommended Citation
Everett Lee Breeden interviewed by Dorothy Noble Smith, November 14 1978, SdArch SNP-16, Shenandoah National Park Oral History Collection, 1964-1999, Special Collections, Carrier Library, James Madison University
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