RAY W. BROWN REMEMBERS

Subject:  Brown and Metz Family History

Interviewed:  Ray W. Brown, Jr

By:  Dick Brown

Date: May 21, 2000

Transcribed 2/28/06

His mother (Edna Metz Brown) never spoke of friction between the first (Sam B. Metz) family and the second.

Ray remembers Sam B.--“Little, dried up old man who chewed tobacco”.  Mother (Edna) wanted to stop to see”Father”after church on Sunday.  "He (Sam B.) liked to talk---always had something to say.”  Ray was 7or 8 at the time.

Bistlines (Merel’s family) usually stayed with Edna and Ray Sr.  (Ray’s parents) ---a week or 10 days at a time.  “Mother and Merel were closer in age than to Sam B.’s other children."

“One time while they (Sam B. and Lula) still lived in the main house Lula came up the stairs from the basement and handed me a black cast iron toy car.  That was in 1927.  I sure was proud of that car.  I was really upset when the MacAlster boys banged the car against another metal toy.”

“Sam B. sat on an old Morris chair next to the stove, chewing tobacco.  He retired  at 45 years of age."

February 1932--- Ray and Edna took the whole family to Florida. Also included Nellie Metz and Anna Brown.  They stayed in St. Cloud, FL for about a month.  They received word of Sam B. Metz’s  death (February 2nd) and headed home (in 2 cars).  They had an accident with a gray hound bus in Virginia (Edna was driving.)  Also Elmer Hamilton was with them.  After the accident Ray, Edna, Nellie and Ray, Jr took the good car back to Pennsylvania.  They arrived at the  Allensville Lutheran Church after the service had begun.  The rest came home once the other car was repaired.

Conestoga Wagon---Left outside for about a year.  Andrews of Andrews Feed  Co. said it should be put inside. It was (put in the barn, where it still is located). This occurred when Sonny (Luther) was running the farm (the original Metz homestead).

The cast iron double-decker bus came from Uncle Charlie Brown.

Edna (Ray’s mother)----“Short, lots of pep. Helped people, took an interest in the farm, milked cows, made hay, worked in the fields, a good cook.  Very likeable ---everyone liked her. She and Daddy (Ray, Sr.) got along well.  She liked to spend money, He was more thrifty.  She had to go on a budget during the Depression---she did not like it at all.  Later she got money from Uncle Harry (Metz) which she used to buy things."

Ray , Sr.---medium sized, went to Juniata College, passed an exam to teach but did not get a certificate.  Later when he taught GI’s he had to get one.

“He was very precise---studied things out before he began something.” He  always tried new things, adapted to changing conditions.

Ray Jr’s  relationship with his Dad?  “Not always the best” There was friction between them when he was younger. He got over it later.  They did not always agree how to do something.