Elena Wilson

Elena Wilson Interview Transcript
Interviewed by Dahlia Roney
Recorded by Arlie Sommer

**Miscellaneous conversation as the sound is checked and they get settled for the interview**

00:04:07

RONEY: What did you have for breakfast today?

Elena: I had oatmeal, a boiled egg, and a banana

00:04:15

RONEY: Was it a good breakfast?

WILSON: Yes, very good. It's good for my heart. Remember that, oatmeal's good for you

**Interview begins**

00:04:46

RONEY: My name is Dahlia Roney and I'm 12 and today is May 11, 2011 and for the record could you please state your name, birthdate and where you were born?

WILSON: My name is Elena Wilson, I was born in Portland, Oregon in 1946, I’m 64 years old

00:05:16.1

RONEY: When and why did your family come to Portland?

WILSON: My, my mother was a native of Oregon, her uh, her father worked for the railroad, she had uh four sisters and one brother and her mother died when she was 36 yrs old, So, my mom had to ah, take care of her sisters and brother because she was the oldest

00:05:54.5

RONEY: What was your dad like?

WILSON: My dad was born in Louisiana. And, uh, he was the biggest bootlegger here in Oregon. And I think that's how, that's uh, that's the only way black men could take care of their families in those days. was go out and sell liquor. He'd go to Vancouver, WA, and come back with money. But I think that was a bad way of making money, you know, to me it was. But I don't know about in those days, how it is, ya know. But that's what, uh, that's what my mother told me

00:06:39.4

RONEY: Can you describe your mother?

WILSON: Oooooh, she was an angel on earth. She loved everybody, she said every child was a gift from God, and you should treat them as such. She always had other kids in from the neighborhood, she didn't turn anybody away. She always helped the uh, the underdog, the people that couldn't survive too good. Even though she had a limited, limited thing, she always said have trust, it will, it will come to you, as long as you help somebody else, it uh, it will always come back. That's what she taught me. She was beauuuuutiful, she was. She was uh, I miss her. She was my heart. And I don't think anybody could ask for a better mother, than my mother. Cause she just loved everybody. She didn't care where you come from, the color of your skin, or anything else. She said you were, you were, we were all brothers and sisters, you know. That's how, that's how she looked at life, she was precious. And I was there when she took her last breath. She didn't, I didn't get her ready to go, she got me ready. She told me it was time, and I said "What do you mean?" And she said "It's time, because the Lord said my place is ready, and I'm tired." And uh, she did," I can't go until you tell me that you're going to be ok with it." And I uh, I says oh wow, I had to take a walk, and I came back, and I held her hand, and I told her it was ok, she could go. And she looked like, it seemed like she just kinda relaxed after that. Because I am the youngest, and I was taking care of her, and she was gone within 3 hours after that. And it looked like she just went to sleep. Very peaceful. And one of my sisters said "The angels are here" And I said "Ya, I can feel em, they came and got her". It was very, very nice, you know. And her funeral wasn't uh, wasn't really a funeral, it was like a going home service, you know. And uh, I just remember her-- I shoulda brought you guys her picture.

**Dahlia's response is hard to hear but along the lines of maybe being able to see the picture later**

WILSON: Ya, she's oh, I was a go getter, she always would calm me down. Because I had to protect her. She was so easy going, you know. Even people take advantage of her

00:10:06.4

RONEY: What did she do for work?

WILSON: Who, my mom?

RONEY: Yeah

WILSON: She was a waitress, in her time. And then, she had so many kids, ya know? She, she had 14, that, that survived, and uh, she uh, she just loved kids, and she loved people, period. I never heard her cuss. She told me she'd wash our mouth out with soap, if we cussed. We couldn't wear make up. She didn't believe in make up. I wore make up one time when I was 15, at Jefferson High School I went to, and I came home these girls had made me up, and I forgot to take it off, and she took me in the bathroom and scrubbed my face. And then she said "Come on, let's go take a walk" and I said, "Oh, ok" and so she took me on Union Ave., used to, it's MLK now, but it used to be Union, and she said she took me up to look at the prostitutes and she told me that's what I looked like. She did. And I thought oh, that's a hard lesson. But, I never wore make up since. Because it, it would just, I'd put it on my eyes, and it would just, and my eyes would get like infected from it, so I couldn't wear it. I'm glad I don't wear it

00:11:53.5

RONEY: So your dad was a bootlegger?

WILSON: Yes

00:11:56

RONEY: What did he make?

WILSON: He made, uh white lightning, corn liquor, he made beer. He made it all. He did

00:12:11.1

RONEY: How did he make it?

WILSON: He made it in uh, the still. And uh, I have the recipe, to his white lightning. But I, I don't show it because I don't think its, you know, I don't think anybody should do that

00:12:31.9

**RONEY's question is very faint and unintelligible**

WILSON: Yeah. It's uh, it's uh, he let it aged. And then uh, the pure alcohol would be at the bottom of the still. You know, and uh, he also believed in voo-doo, he had a crystal ball. And he would uh, he would try to move, when he moved in with me, when he was older when he was 74 he moved in with me. Just before he passed away I took care of him. And he wanted to tell me my future, by the crystal ball. And I told him no, I didn't believe in that. You know, I don't think nobody should know their future, you know, I just don't. I don't believe in that. And my mom lived around the corner, too, he would go over there every day

00:13:37

RONEY: Was he ever caught bootlegging?

WILSON: Yes

00:13:39.7

RONEY: Do you remember it?

WILSON: Oh yeah, there was this little boy that came out there, looking in the window of this old shack he was in, bootlegging, and he would uh, this little boy waited, the little boy looked in the window, and my dad seen him, and he cussed at the little boy. Until the little boy went and got his dad. And the dad came back and looked in the window. And that's when he called uh, I don't know what it was in those days, the sheriff or somebody, and they came and, they came and arrested him and he was at uh, McNeal Island in Washington, for 3 years. For bootlegging, it's a federal offense. And for bootlegging, we owned our own property, but we got it all taken away, on account he bootlegged on the property and got caught. And then we had to move out to a place called St John's, north Portland. And we stayed out there, I remember about 5 years out there. I was just a little kid then, but I remember all that. It was horrible, ya know, in those days, that's how you lived, though. And my mother would boil water on the stove, the wood stove in those days. And I remember the water fell on her and burned her, and uh, my sister knew what to do, take care of her and stuff. But she made it, and uh, she prayed a lot, yeah she believed in God, ya know, I do, too. I believe in God, ya know. And I learned it, learned it by watching her. If you watch old people you can learn a lot, especially old people. They already lived here, and they know, and they can tell you a lot. Because you might get there one day if you live long enough. They're very wise people

00:16:04.9

RONEY: What did your parents do for fun?

WILSON: My mother went to church. My dad was a gambler, played cards. He um, he fixed, he had 3 old cars and he made one good car out of it, he was a good mechanic. That's all I remember, but my mom she always had us kids in church. We always went to church. But my dad, he didn't like church, one time he came into church with a shotgun. And he told the minister that his kids didn't belong in a church and he had looked under this old lady's, underneath her chair, she was sittin’ near a church, and I hid underneath her legs and she squeezed her legs real tight so I wouldn't move, I guess she was tryin’ to let me know I was safe. And the minister told him, said "You don't wanna do this, you go home." You know, and so he put his, put the shotgun down and went on home, and the minister prayed for him. And that little old lady walked me home after church

00:17:20.3

RONEY: Do you have any characters or leaders that you remember from the community?

WILSON: Characters? What do you mean?

RONEY: Like, important people, people that helped you

WILSON: Everybody I've taken care of, honey. All the old people I've taken care of, I love, every one of them. I think the Lord put me there for a reason, to help them. And uh, everybody that asked me said "It doesn't bother you to see people go on?" And I said "No, because I know they're going to a better place." And they get, and they're very comfortable around me, you know. I don't believe in abuse, I believe in huggin em and letting them know that God loves them. And it's easier for them, that way. And everyone has uh, asked me to be there when they pass away, and I have been. I was holdin their hand, all of them. I can't count how many I've taken care of, there's been so many, a whole lot. Even my family, I've taken care of all my family, that have passed away. I just lost a niece, couple months ago, she was 40. And I was at Emanuel Hospital every day until she left. You know, because somebody should be there. Nobody should die there by theirself, without family being there holding their hand. And that just, it just makes it easier. I just got out of the hospital, too, from a heart attack. And the doctor said "Miss Wilson, what are you doin’?" I made my own bed, I did everything myself in the hospital. And uh, they said "You just had a heart attack" I said "So" and they said "Ok but we're giving you your last rites" and I said "That's fine. If it's ready- if I'm ready, if God's ready to take me, then so be it, I'm ready to go" Ya know, and they looked at me like I was nuts. I even helped a little man next room to me, I fed him. A lot of times they couldn't find me in the hospital, I'd be, I'd take a walk. Because I've always been real spunky, you know, moving around. Before I had my heart attack, I worked 60 hours a week, takin care of people. And now its, I guess it's time for me to take care of me. I just take care of Stanley right now, and that's enough for me. I think the Lord put me there for him, because uh, his wife said nobody else can take care of him like I can. And he's real nice, you met him. Isn't he a nice person? You just have to tell him everything, you know, lead him and stuff, sometimes he forgets, and sometimes he doesn't. And he has a great big dog, named, what's that dog's name, Toby! He's a black lab, 2 yrs old. He's huge. He's as big as that goat, in the room in there. But he, but he, I noticed he, if you're nice to the dog and everything, you know, Stanley smiles, and the dog, dog always wants me to take him for a walk, and I take him every day for a walk. You know, animals know, I like-- I love animals

00:21:18.7

RONEY: Did you have a garden when you were growing up?

WILSON: Oh yeah, we had chores. My mother would write on the board, uh, all of us had a chore every day, I-I had to feed the chickens before I went to school. We had chickens, you know, little chickens, and uh, and I had, I bought me a chicken one time it cost 10 cents, my own chicken. And I raised it and everything, but yeah, oh yeah, we had, we had to have a garden, my mom taught us how to have a garden. We, we had to do things before we went to school, and we had to do things when we came home from school. We didn't have a television, but we had a radio, and stories, my dad and mom used to uh, we'd just sit outside and look at the stars and they would tell stories, which was nice, real nice. But we really didn't need television in those days because we always had something to do, always. When-whenever there was a neighbor sick, my mom would take em food, soup, and she would take me with her, you know, it was nice, I had a wonderful mother.

00:22:42.2

RONEY: Did you have any pets?

WILSON: Oh yeah, goat, that's why I like the goat, in there, I used to ride a goat, when I was a little kid. We had goat, chickens, we had, we always had a dog. Dog, cats, they all got along. You know, oh yeah, I think that's what kept us happy and going when we were kids, was the animals and stuff. And we kept busy, you know, and then on Sundays we went to church. I went to church 3 times a week, though with my mom. She didn't believe in leaving a girl at home, she always had me with her

00:23:26.7

RONEY: What was your house like?

WILSON: It was awful. In those days it was like a shack. There was uh, I remember, how many in the bed? Six of us in a bed, at one time, in one bed, cause there was so many of us. We had those cast iron beds. Have you ever seen a cast iron bed? I still have one. Do you like them?

RONEY: They're ok

WILSON: Oh honey, they're, they're antiques. You can't find anything better than a cast iron bed, just so you have a board, underneath, you know, so your back won't, so it's hard enough for you, oh yeah. And we had to uh, scrub the floor with a brush, cause it was all wood, and my, my mother made uh, what do you call that stuff? Lye soap! Have you ever heard of lye soap?

RONEY: I think so

WILSON: Yeah, in those days that's what people used. And she had a wringer washing machine. Have you ever seen one?

RONEY: I think so

WILSON: They, you know they sell em out in St John's still, those old wringers, yep. And then she used to, she used to go out by the lake and wash clothes, too, and hit it on the rock, I remember that. And we always went strawberry picking, blackberries, string beans, we always had a job,you know, we always did. Because we always had to put our money in, cause it was hard times. Those days, it was-you talk about hard times now! In those days it was real hard times. Now have you ever heard any stories like that, people having hard times?

RONEY: A little bit

WILSON: Have you? Yeah, oh yeah, probably older than me even, my sisters would have some stories that were pretty bad. But it, but it all came together, and we all sat down and ate though, we never ate apart. We'd always have, I don't know, my mom always cooked homemade rolls. She had the best food I have ever, I miss that food. Everything was homemade, nothing was bought in the store. Everything was fresh. And it's better for you-and we never did get sick, either. Yeah I think it's better for you know. We didn't have that salt or anything like that. And now I did- the doctor put me on a salt-free diet, and a sugar-free. I just look at him and shake my head. I say "God bless you, and help you too!". And he laugh-he laughs at me, think I'm funny. You know, I have a nice doctor, though. He's young, but, you know, he, he's ok

00:26:34.7

RONEY:How many siblings did you have?

WILSON: Oh girl. I think there's 8 of us left, there was 14, all together. There's uh, let's see, how many brothers left, 2 brothers left, and 6 sisters. And they're slowly-I had uh, a lot of young people are dying off in my family, with illnesses and stuff, and it's, and it's the way you live when you're younger and take care of yourself. You have to take care of yourself. Don't smoke. And don't drink. You know, not any of those, you can't do. You just have to take care of yourself.

**Next part unclear, something about a doctor talking about it being ok to drink some wine**

WILSON: I wouldn't dare drink wine. I don't, I don't believe in that stuff. Even when my dad used to kiss me, and he uh, be drinkin, I would throw up on him. It makes me, uh, you know, it makes me sick, I can't stand it

00:27:50.9

RONEY: What were your siblings like when you were young?

WILSON: What, what?

RONEY: What were your siblings like?

WILSON: They would pick on me all the time because I was a baby. And so my mother shipped me to California to stay with my aunt, for 5 years. And when I came back, I had all- I had 2 bicycles. I had a bunch of clothes. I had everything, and they didn't, and I looked and they didn't have anything. I had a big piggy bank with over $500 in it. And I gave my mother, I think it was 4 hundred and something I gave her. And then I took the change and I divided it with my sisters and brothers, and we went to the candy store. So, it was, it was ok with me, but I had a lot of clothes that I had to share, with my siblings, cause it's like, you know, that's the way you do when you have big families, you have to share each other's things. And my aunts sewed, they sewed a lot. And they would send my mother, my mother's sisters never had any children, my mother had all of them. And uh, my, my uncle in Seattle, him and his wife had 2. And my mom had 14 that lived, and none of her sisters had any kids. All 4 of them didn't have children. They didn't want em. They said because uh, well in those days it was very prejudice and stuff, and so they didn't want to bring a child into the world like that, that's what their excuse was. But my mom said "No, no, that's a poor excuse." You know, they just didn't want to be bothered, they didn't know how to take care of kids either. But my mom did. And I went to California and I met my great Aunt Annie, she was 102. That's my mother's mother's sister. She was so neat. You know she gave me this pillow and there were all these strings hangin out of it, and uh, my aunts would make, be making fun of her pillow and I said "You know, that's not nice. Don't be makin fun of her pillow." 102, can you imagine? I've taken care of people that were 101. Have lived-I've taken care of people 14 yrs, 25 yrs, straight. When I take care of somebody I just take care of them, you know, straight. And I went to visit her, and I was so amazed, she's 102 and she had a roommate, she was takin care of this lil old man in the bed, and she was 102 yrs old. And about 5 months after that she just, she went to sleep one night and she never woke up. She died in her sleep. There was nothing wrong with her, it was just her time 00:31:19.8

RONEY: When you were a kid, how did you get places?

WILSON: How did we get places?

RONEY: Yeah

WILSON: My dad had a car and we walked to school 2 miles, 2 miles there and 2 miles back. We didn't think nothing of it, uh uh. We always had a dog though, that met us at school, and he would bring us back home, too. We always had German shepherds, they're beautiful dogs. You know, we had like-I'd say in my lifetime we had maybe 25 dogs. My favorite was Susie, she was a collie and German shepherd. She was beautiful, you know. And she got ranned over, you know, by a car. And all us kids in the neighborhood had a funeral and everything for the dog. It was, it was neat though, it was nice. And sometimes I think back and I say "Oh, these kids nowadays don't know what it is to be a kid and enjoy yourself" we used to make mud pies, have you ever heard of mud pies? Have you? And we used to throw it at each other and play in the snow and out there in a place called uh where I was born in Russelville, people's houses were real far apart. Now, livin in the city, my mom never did want to live in the city, it's not a place to raise kids, she said. If she was alive now and would see it, she'd go "Oh, what is this world coming to?" She'd say "It's gettin full!" But she told me before she left, she said "I never thought I would see the beginning of the end." cause just look around you and people are so-- so terrible. She said when people are bad, say things nasty to you, say something good to them. You know, don't, don't do by-gones are by-gones. And that's the way she, that's what she taught us, you know. And I was always real feisty, you know. I was the most--but I had to be, cause I had to fight my brothers and sisters. They'd always pick on me, they thought I was spoiled. But I wasn't, I was born with a defect, a heart defect. And so my mother was kinda over protective, over protective of me. She would never let anybody touch me. And you know how other kids would think you were spoiled, right? That's how they thought. But I wasn't. And I had, I had to take care of my mom and dad but I don't, I don't regret one minute of it. Matter of fact, I'm glad I did, cause I don't, I used to work in nursin homes, I don't believe in em. I believe if you have a family you should take care of em at home, you know?

00:34:30.7

Dahlie: Was there an object you were attached to as a child?

WILSON: An object?

RONEY: Favorite doll, toy?

WILSON: Well I had a lot of dolls, honey. I collect those dolls, I have like 36 of em. You know I read uh, this lady I took care of in the Calaroga Terrace over there by Lloyd Center, she was 101, and she left me her uh doll, she was like 2 feet. It was her mother's doll, and she said "I want you to have this because I'm not gonna live too much longer and I wanna give it to somebody that's gonna take care of it." I still have her. She had to leave me a note, write me a note, cause you couldn't take anything out of the building. Well, you know without somebody leavin a note saying, saying that you could have it. But uh, I said "Oh wow!" I have my mother's doll, too. But it's nice to have something like that, you know? I don't know where I'm gonna put em all, though. I--uh on--on the back of each one I have a name, for in case something happens to me that it will go to my--some of my grandkids. I have five--five grandgirls and I have 2 grand--great-grand now. I don't feel like a grandma, though. What's a grandma, you know? It's a number of age, you know? I-- I don't know, I just don't feel like that. Cause I've always been real busy, always

00:36:12.4

RONEY: What shops did you visit in the neighborhood when you were a child?

WILSON: Eeeeew all of em! I love antiques! I went to, uh the one on here---I went to the one on Al--Albina, and uh, Williams Ave. Mrs. Strom's shop, she had a second hand store there, right by the cat---right by the welfare office, right across the street. And let's see, then uh, there were neighbors that did hair in their basements. I would go down visit them and see what they done you know, and different things and uh, I went to a lot of shops, lot of em. And then, I like uh, interior, decorating. You know, I like beauty. You can---you can---you can bring beauty out no matter where you live at, it can be beautiful. But I like old. I don't like the new stuff. I have an antique dealer I deal with, too, that I used to--his name is Wally. And he was--he is my favorite. Even when my mom was passin away I called him up for a rollaway bed and he came over said "Elena I brought you a rollaway." I said "oh, ok, good." and he says uh "Can I meet your mom?" I said "Yeah, she's right there in the bed, let me bring you over here." and he---she thanked him for being nice to me and she said "It's a grand privilege to know you." and she said "I want you to come to my funeral." And my eyes got real big, I couldn't believe she said that, you know? And--and he couldn't either, he looked at me and he started cryin. He said "Elena, I can't charge you for this bed, you can have it, after meeting your mom, what a beautiful lady. She's ready." I said "Yeah, she is." I said "Thank you, Wally." He was a nice guy, he was one of my favor---he was a friend. He buys estates, when people pass away, he buys everything, and the first one he calls is me. And tells me what he has, you know? And he doesn't charge me as much as other people do, cause me and him are real good friends. I knew his wife, his 1st wife, he's been married 3 times. I say "Wally, don't do it anymore.You don't need to get married anymore" "I'm not gonna do it anymore, Elena." I said "Ok." But he was---he was nice to my mom, you know. I like to go to the anti--antique shops mostly. I just went over there on Mississippi. I remember over there it used to be all houses. And now it's all stores they opened up. Have you been over there?

RONEY: Yeah.

WILSON: How do you like it?

RONEY: It's kinda overwhelming, cause there's so much stuff

WILSON: Really?

RONEY: Yeah

WILSON: There used to be a meat market there, I remember. There used to be uh--uh store right---well the store's still there, but somebody else owns it. And uh, there used to be a bowling alley there, on that street. There used to be a tavern, 2 taverns. There used to be houses on that street, and they just uh, turned it into shops now. Darn it, I think it's ok, and then there's condos, have you seen those condos?

RONEY: Yeah

WILSON: Now that's over doin it. But it's different, it's nice to go and visit those places, though. I been to the one on Alberta, too. Have you been there?

RONEY: Yeah

WILSON: How'd you like--that's a long ways to walk

RONEY: Yeah

WILSON: The Mississippi one isn't too bad

RONEY: Yeah

WILSON: I like the plant shop over there

RONEY: Yeah

WILSON: Have you been in there?

RONEY: Mmmhmm

WILSON: Oh yeah, it's nice, huh? Yeah, I used to live over there, right on that street. My 1st apartment was right on that street. A long time ago. I think I was--I was 15, when I had my 1st place. Yeah. But the house that I lived in is still there. But they're fixin to tear it down. I know, huh. You know, but uh, some of the landmarks are still there, and some of them aren't. You know, I don't know--I don't know about the Humboldt area. Yeah, they built those apartments over there and I lived over there in the Sumner Courts when I was---how old was I? Twenty-two. Right over there on Alberta, and uh, Vancouver Ave., you know where that is? Those were all Sumner Courts over there, that's where I had my kids and everything. It was low income housing is what it was, you know. But they tore em all down and they built brand new places over there. Have you seen---you been in those new places? You been over there, in that area?

RONEY: No

WILSON: You haven't? Oh ok

00:41:51.6

RONEY: Did you have a favorite book as a child?

WILSON: I always---I like the bible stories. They would uh--my mom always bought me books from the church and stuff, church stories, and everything, you know? And she'd---I used to go to a lot of bible classes, young people bible classes, and it taught me a lot. It taught me how to treat people, too, you know, like the older generation and stuff, oh yeah. And we went to camp meetings, and we met with other churches and different things, it was nice

00:42:34.6

RONEY: What parks did you go to?

WILSON: Oh, let's see. Peninsula, Unthank Park, uh, the park over here on 7th and Freemont, that's Irvinton

RONEY: Irving

WILSON: Yeah, that's been there for years, whole lotta years. People used to have picnics and everything over there. The one year they had a riot, and some people came from Seattle, when I was younger. And there was all kind of police around and everything, it was pretty bad, you know. There was McDonald's too on the corner of MLK and Freemont. There were alot of things over there that are not there anymore. They used to sell Christmas trees just across the street over there, too, you know, where that lot is now. Every--everything is so--- is changed up, up there, oh wow, but there's more people, too. I'm not used to that. One lady from California said "How long you been here?" I said "All my life." and she says "Oh I like Oregon, I'm from California, uh what do you think---" uh I says "I think all you Californians need to go back. Then she said "What?" and I said "Yeah, cause it's harder for us to drive..." cause the prices went up when they start movin here, did you notice that? The housing prices and everything jumped sky high when people started moving to Oregon. Oregon used to be a nothin but a family town, and it's been very affordable for everybody. But now the prices have went up---but I guess that's everywhere, too. But I think it's higher, isn't it higher in California? I think so, and I heard a lady yesterday tell me, a Mexican lady said she moved from California here, her and her family because California has got so bad. You can't even go to the park anymore, in California. So---I haven't been there lately, though. Are you from here?

RONEY: No, I was born in San Francisco

WILSON: San Fra--reallllllly??? I never been there! I would like to ride on that trolley. Is that fun? Is it?

00:45:02.5

RONEY: Can you describe the high school that you went to?

WILSON: I went to Jeff, do you know where Jefferson is?

RONEY: Yeah

WILSON: Jefferson uh, it was a very nice----I--I worked in the cafeteria and I got uh, my credits there. And uh, but I was in special ed--- education. I worked uh, I worked in a program that I could get a job, af---after school. And I worked at the county hospital, takin care of babies, newborn babies. An--and I loved it, it was job training, that they---that they gave people in the schools and uh, I heard that they don't have that anymore. They don't give you training or anything, do they. It was nice, and I ran home from school every day. There was this boy chasin me, that had wanted to talk to me. And my dad said "You stay away from those boys!" He tellin me these stories, ya know, to keep me away from the boys. He said "If you kiss that boy, you'll wind up pregnant." that's what he told me. And so I would run home from school, everyday. I did. And uh---and I thought that was true, that story, ya know. But uh, but the kids were nice. The only thing I didn't like was gym, I didn't care too much for it. Do you---do you like gym?

RONEY: I play soccer

WILSON: Do you?

RONEY: Yeah

WILSON: Oh you're active! That's good! But I didn't---I didn't uh, well I had a heart condition, and they made me do a lot of things that I really couldn't do, like the other girls. And---and in that time you didn't---couldn't go to the doctor and get an excuse, you had to do it. It was--it was---you had to have a year, of gym. I don't know what the requirements are not for school. Do you have to have gym?

RONEY: I think so

WILSON: Really? Ok. But uh---but I liked it. I liked home economics, and I heard they don't have that anymore. Cause it learned you how to cook, it--it learned you a lot of things. How to sew. And that's really sad, ya know, cause a lot of kids don't how to do a lot of things. And there were some boys in my class, I couldn't believe it, ya know. But I---I enjoyed school

00:47:32.3

RONEY: Did you have a favorite teacher?

WILSON: Uh, yeah, Mr. Piazza, he was my music teacher. He just passed away last year, he was 92. He was my favorite---he wanted me to uh---I sang all---I sang all city choir, I was the lead singer, at the auditorium and uh he uh---he wanted me to go on road with his band, with his orchestra thing, but my mother wouldn't let me. And I---I was mad at her for a long time because she wouldn't let me go. And that's---that's what I miss is the singing, because---because I had a good voice and stuff and each day I could of been great---real---real good, with his uh---instructing and everything. He was Italian, man, very nice. Everybody knew Mr. Piazza. Here in Oregon at my age---at my age, he was nice. I couldn't talk in class, though. He made me write, I was a talker, and I would talk in class to the other kids. And he made me write "I won't talk in class", 500 times I had to write it on the board. But he was cool, real---real nice teacher. He was my favorite

00:49:07.1

RONEY: Do you remember a best friend?

WILSON: Oh yeah, yeah. I uh---I liked---I liked mostly older people. There was this uh---this lady she was a lot older than me and she, she passed away about 20 years ago. And my best friend--friend, Clara, I didn't know she was in a nursing home, her kids didn't tell me. They told me after she had passed away and I went to her funeral. I--I--I was very sad. Cause I told her daughter, I said "You shouldn't of did that, I would have brought her home with me." I would've, I would've kept her with me. Because I don't believe in puttin people away like that. She had what you call dropsy, her leg could get real big and stuff, you know. And she didn't deserve to be in a nursing home

00:50:05.6

RONEY: Do you know someone who went to war?

WILSON: To war? Yeah. I took care of a lady, and uh, you know where 22nd and Freemont is? I worked for this agency and this guy, he just---I went over there--they called me up, emergency care and I went over there to take care of his wife, and he come to the door with all these medals on. And I thought oh my goodness, do I have this--right address and he said "Yeah, you Elena?" I said "Yeah" I said "You were in the war?" and he said "Oh yeah, I was in the war" and uh, he took me in there to meet his wife and oh she was--oh beautiful lady, long hair, long blonde hair and I said "What's the matter with her?" he said "We both had pneumonia, but she's not pulling out of her's, Elena. She just needs to be cleaned, and washed". They had--and I looked over and I say "Oh, a player piano". They had one of these player pianos, you know, and they had--she had 8 Tiffany lamps in the corner. She gave me one, Tiffany lamp. Everybody I've taken care of have given me something, wanted me to take something, you know. I guess they---they were showin their appreciating for me being there. But she uh--the paramedics came and uh, the uh--they couldn't believe how I had her, all with pillows and everything, cause she was so little, you know, she wasn't doin good at all, and she passed away when I was there, which was good. And I had to call paramedics and stuff. And then, her daughter came in, and her daughter said "I know you!" I said "I know you, too". She said "She has a shop, on Freemont" and I, I didn't know that was her parents. Small world, isn't it? Very small.

00:52:12.1

RONEY: What was your 1st job?

WILSON: My 1st job was in a nursin home, when I was 12, your age. I went after school, and I had to feed old people that couldn't feed themself in the nursin home. And I loved it. I loved it all. You know, and my sister got me the job, she was the head cook there. Love's Convalescent Home, it's on NW 23rd and Flanders, you know that area? Yeah, it was just up--up the hill in the middle of the hill. And I--and I took care of 2 polio patients, they were only 19. And Jack, he was paralyzed from the waist down and he was 21. And I used to feed him, every day, I went there to feed him. I made $50 a week, that was a lot of money in those days. And I gave my mother 35 of it, and I kept 15

00:53:28.1

RONEY: Where would you hang out with some friends?

WILSON: I was a loner. I--I mostly hung out with my mother, and my sisters. I had so many sisters and relatives and there was this girl named Barbara, up the street, we would hang out together or go to a show. Egyptian Theater, have you ever heard of that? You know where that is? Used to be? On MLK? Yeah, I went there all the time until--and then I went on a Sunday and my---here come my mom with the minister, right? And we were supposed to be at church and so he---and I ducked down in the seat cause I didn't want them to see me, I was supposed to be at church. But I was watchin the show over again, and all my friends---you know, I didn't want those kids to make fun of me. You know how kids make fun of you, and stuff. But---he invited all of them to come to church. That was cool---and I think back, I said "Now why was I so stupid at that age?" I should have---you know I'm glad--I'm glad I did go to church, you know? Cause--cause it helps, it helps a lot, you know? And I didn't have any problem with it, though. But the Egyptian Theater is a---I heard that's a church over there now, is it?

RONEY: I think so

WILSON: It's on uh, uh Russell and MLK, right there on the corner. And Mrs. Collin's nursery was on that street, too. You know where the nursery is? Mrs. Collin's nursery? It's not too far from here, it's just around the corner on Russell. Yeah, I used to work there, takin care of babies. Mrs. Collins was the neighborhood lady that took care of all people's kids. And people used to bring their kids to her, and she took good care of them. Have you ever heard of her? Really? Oh ok. And Mrs. Collins' mother is the one that started it, though. She even put the roof on herself. That lil old lady climbed up on that roof and put it on herself, yeah, it's amazing what some---what people do in those days

00:56:04.8

RONEY: When you were a kid what was your favorite thing to do?

WILSON: My favorite thing to do? I--I had my pets, like my chicken. And I got disappointed though, because it was at the table one night. When I was little, really. I paid a dime for that chicken and I ran away from home, to the neighbor's, to Mrs. Viola. And my mom come over there and went knockin on the door and Mrs. Viola said "Oh, she can stay. It's ok, she can stay. She can stay a couple days, the weekend with us" cause she never had any kids. So I'd be layin on the floor, and I'd have a whole thing of cookies. A whole plate of cookies she had made me---it was a lot of fun. It--it---it's better living when you live in the country, you know. People---those old people are nice to you. But they never could have any children. I knew---I knew who to go to, run over her house where there's no kids

00:57:18.9

RONEY: Did you ever go out dancing?

WILSON: Oh yeah. You know the Elk's Club? You know where the Elk's Club is?

RONEY: I think so

WILSON: Right there on the corner of uh---it's across the street, one block up, right there on the corner, I used to go there. They used to have dances there, live music, everything, band. James Brown was there one time. And I went to see James Brown, and Aretha Franklin. I---I seen em all, honey. In those days, oh yeah. And I had a favorite friend, his name was Vernon Brazzle, they call him the singing mailman, and uh, and uh, he could dance. All the girls wanted to dance with him. I--I'd dance with nobody but him, you know. But everything changed now, they do a different kind of dance and different music. I still go to Music Millenium, too, and get my music. Everyone say "You're almost 65, you still like?" I say "I love music" I like all kinds, it makes you feel good. Do--do you like music? Do you? Good

00:58:37.3

RONEY: What did you wear when you went out dancing?

WILSON: What did I wear? What did I wear? Long skirts, they come below the knee. You know, we had to wear those because in our days you didn't--you didn't wear pants. My mother didn't allow us to wear pants, cause she was church goin and stuff. We always had to wear pant--I had to wear--like even at school. And in--and at school finally we got to wear shorts. You know, in the hallways, after gym. You know how you dress down, you put on shorts, what do you guys wear now in gym?

RONEY: We just wear whatever we were wearing

WILSON: Really?

RONEY: Yeah

WILSON: Oh, you got it good. We had to wear a certain thing, it had to be below the knee. Yeah, we couldn't show anything like that. Uh uh, we'd--we'd get suspended out of school, for 2 weeks. Really. So they're not so hard on you now, huh. Oh, maybe that's what's wrong with the kids. Really? What school do you go to?

RONEY: Ivy school

WILSON: Where's that at?

RONEY: it's on 42nd and Prescott

WILSON: Really? That's a school?

RONEY: It's a montessori

WILSON: Oh, I used to take care of a lady over in there, in that area, her name was Loretta, she lived to be 95, she was so sweet. oh I miss her, she was so sweet. When I got to the hospital I went to see her and she said "I've been worried about you" I said "I'm worried about you" she said "Well Elena, my heart rate is down to 25" I said "Oooh" she said "Don't worry, I'm going to a good place" I said "Ok" I said "Well I'll be back to check on you, ok?" she said "You do tha" so I went back and the house was--was not--I didn't see anybody or anything there. I left word for her daughter and she had passed away right after I left. Isn't that sad? She's uh---she---she---she flew war planes, this lady. I met a little bit of everybody, taking care of people, and uh--that's how I learn, that's how you learn. I wish more young people like you would uh--volunteer, like in a nursing homes and go over and visit old peopl, it would make their day. They love to see young people. I--I don't know, it just makes em--their--their youth come alive, you know? Have you ever went uh---I would uh, when I was going to church as a young girl, we went from the church to nursin homes, we went to jailhouses, that was uh--I didn't like that part, because I was scared, you know as a kid I was scared. But---but uh--but I wish young people would do that. Do they still do that or--

RONEY: Sometimes

WILSON: Do they? Oh, yeah, they need to do it. I think that once---once I stop takin care of Stanley, that's what I'm gonna do. Is go to the nursin homes, and see what I can do, for the people and stuff like that and kinda---kinda make their day, you know? And at Christmas time you can always---you know put these little candy things together for em, or something together, with---with the older generation. Because a lot of times their people don't come around, they don't. And they love to see young people. That's a good idea, huh

01:02:49

RONEY: What was the night life like in Boise Elliott?

WILSON: The what?

RONEY: What was the night life like in---

WILSON: Night?

RONEY: Night life

WILSON: Night life?

RONEY: The--

RONEY's mom: When you went out dancing

WILSON: At Boise?

RONEY's mom: When--like at the Elk's Club or the Cotton Club

WILSON: Oh it was uh---it was---oh, the Cotton Club was another thing. They had female impersonators there, in those days. And I had false I.D., cause I wasn't old enough, when I went. Isn't that terrible? But yeah--and then I started--and I said "Oh I'm not gonna go again" I told my sister "I don't wanna go again, I don't like this crowd". You know, I don't like--I mostly sat at a table, and to myself and stuff. Cause I didn't like---cause people are---you know people start---when you go to a place where people are drinkin you---you just don't know how they're gonna react. You just don't know. I didn't--I didn't stay that long. I didn't uh--I didn't go that much either. They almost had to--my niece would come by and get me and try to drag me to the place. You know, cause I didn't wanna go. I went to one---we mostly went out ladie's night, Wednesday night, and they would give you a silver dollar. If you go into the club, you get the silver dollar, ladie's night. That--I think that just bring more women into the club, yeah. It was ok, though.

01:04:32.6

RONEY: What was your favorite club?

WILSON: I like uh--I liked the Elk's Club because it was uh, you--you had to be a member, to join. And it--it wasn't that many there, at one time. Yeah, it--it was very mellow.And it wasn't uh--I don't know what the clubs are like now, you know. They say--they say they have uh, clubs for young people that don't serve alcohol, I don't know. Have you--have you heard of that? I heard of it, you know. I don't know, you know

01:05:20

RONEY: How would you get to the clubs?

WILSON: My sister, mostly. Or walk. Cause it was right in the neighborhood, it didn't take that long to walk. Or I'd ride with my friend, or something like that. I never drove myse--I never drove in those days uh, when I was younger, you know. And I've always--I always went with somebody, I never went alone. I would never go alone, there's no way.

01:05:51.6

RONEY: Did you make new friends at the dance clubs?

WILSON: I liked the female impersonators and talked to them, I thought they were neat. Cause I worked at the Hilton, and I was supervisor at the Hilton and there was nothin but gays there all the time in the rooms. And I got along fine with em. I don't believe in---I don't believe in judgin people, and they were very nice to me. Alot of people don't like gays, but I do, you know. They're God's kids---they're God's children, too, we all are. And they have no right to judge, you know. And there were a lot of people in the clubs that were gay. And I had--I had gay friends. I had uh, girl that worked with me, I was a cook at a retirement home, and uh, and she told me, she said "Elena, you know I'm gay" I said "I know that, so. What that got to do with me? That ain't nothin to do with me, you're my friend. Don't worry about it, it's ok. You know? You know I'm not" you know, and I--and then one night I saved her life. Cause she was going through a lot of drama, and stuff. You know--you just don't--my mother told me don't walk away, when somebody needs help, you don't walk away. You just don't. Get em help, that's the best thing you can do. So it--I didn't have any problem, with it at all.

01:07:24.3

RONEY: Can you describe a scene at one of the dance clubs?

WILSON: Uuuh, let's see, what do you mean--people be---it's loud. People--I went to the Crystal Ball Room, I liked that. You know what the Crystal Ball Room is? It's--it vibrates, the floor goes like--yeah! It goes like--that's why they call it the Crystal Ball Room, the floor floats, like this. You never been there? No, you're too young I'm thinkin, it's on Burnside. It's like--13th I think? And Burnside. And it's uh--where they used to have all the dances and stuff, like the big dances like James Brown, Aretha Franklin, uh--BB King, all the big stars came there, you know. And people--it used to be they uh--the music is very loud, you can't--you have to scream at people when you're talkin. That's at the concerts, too, now, I heard. Cause my granddaughter said she's gonna see Britney Spears, I can't believe it. I said "How much money?" she said "$80" I said "Whoa!" Now you guys have to pay a lot more than what we paid, right? We only paid $10. And how long is yours? How long does it last?

RONEY: 1/2 and hr to an hr probably

WILSON: Oh well that's terrible. When I went to the dances and stuff, it lasted at least 4 or 5 hrs, yeah. And it was live music. It was nice, but it was kind of loud and I didn't--I didn't--it--it was kind of too rowdy for me, you know? I didn't care--it's not my thing. I don't--I don't like stuff like that. I'd rather go--I went to Los Angeles one time and I liked to--and I liked the comedies, on the stage. Where they perform as comedies, you know, and stuff like that. But I don't--I don't too much like to dance, it's no--gets too wild for me

01:09:56.5

RONEY: How has the neighborhood changed?

WILSON: Oh, more houses. Been shoved in, in the middle. Portland has always been where, where we had great big back yards. And you could uh--I don't know--and it was space, a lot of space in between the house, and the yard was big in the back. Mostly 100x100 lots. That's--that's the 1st house I bought was on Haight, you know where Unthink Park is? I lived--that was my 1st house. And I bought it for $14,000, cash. And it was 100x100 lot. And now you can't--what can you buy for $14,000? And I was 19 when I bought my 1st house. And I worked at the Hilton. And I worked at--what was this--Burger King, too. So I did 2 jobs, and I paid for it. I paid cash for it. But uh, it was weird, I was rentin it, from this uh, this couple and then uh, somebody knocked at the door, and there was this guy I went to school with at Jefferson High School, right? And he told me that he owned the house. I said "What?" I said "What happended to--" he said "Oh my dad and mom passed away in a car accident" I said "You're kidding!" and he says "Elena--" now I paid $250 a month in rent, that's how much I paid, when I was 19. And uh--he--he uh--set me up to buy the house. And he had 4 more other houses I could of bought, I wish I had that much sense then and went ahead and got em, when I was younger, but I didn't, you know. But every house he was selling was 14,000. Yeah you can't--you can't buy that now, can you? And it was in like the same block. So they owned--he--that guy owned all--mostly all that block, yeah.

RONEY: We have time for 1 more question

WILSON: I like gardening, too. I--I--last year, before I had my heart attack, I had a garden. I grew everything. I loved gardening because I was raised with gardening. And the food tastes better, when you have your own garden, you know. So what else you wanted me?

01:12:50.3

RONEY: What advice would you give to someone my age?

WILSON: About what?

RONEY: Anything

WILSON: Stay in school, get your education 1st. Ignore the boys that try to tempt you. I wish I knew that when I was your age, but I was never told that. But I--I see young--young girls that have followed after boys and don't even go to school, and that's not good, that's not good. You need to get your education, that's one thing you need to do. Do you agree? Yeah, and don't drop out. When you're in high school, or even if you're in college, don't take a year out. Because, the younger your brain is, you're gonna learn more. And you're gonna put it all in there--and memorize it better, you know. Just go ahead and finish it. Those---those years go by so fast and you can't get it back. You cannot get it back. I had to do this because I had to take care of my mother, and I lost out on a lot. Because I had to do this, but--but it's ok. But I had to do it, you know. I had--I had a good reason, I didn't want nobody else takin care of my mother. Or harmin her. But get your education. And don't chase after boys, let them chase you, not you chase after them. I've always been like that. And--I've never been married. I don't plan on ever bein married. Cause I seen too--I seen other things that I just--it's not for me. But you know, because I had to take--I had to put my life on hold to take care of all my family and my mother and stuff, but it's fine. That's--that's been God's plan, that's what it is. But stay in school and get your education, don 't you agree? Yeah, yeah. And keep--and eat healthy. Don't eat like I did. And now--now I'm learnin to eat healthy since I had my heart attack. I eat greens, I don't eat salt, I don't eat sugar, I lost 85 lbs, and so--and I'm takin care of me now, you know, which is good. Except the doctor says I'm real bossy. That's the only thing. I say well---he's young, he's real young. I said "Are you sure you're a heart specialist?" "Ms. Wilson you wanna see my license?" I said "Yes, please". He starts laughin. The nurses started laughin, I was makin him laugh, that's all. I get--I just do that. You know, but stay in school. So what grade are you in?

RONEY: 6th

WILSON: Oh, you're just starting. Well you'll make it. Keep on, keep on helpin people, too, you know, that's a good thing. My niece uh---in fact some of my family members are--my niece was the 2nd in command of the police department, here in Portland. And my nephew played pro basketball. They would be good to interview, too, because they uh--my niece knows the whole area, she was a cop here for 35 yrs, before she became a captain. Would you like for me to give you her number?

RONEY's mom: Yeah, I can get her information, but why don't we wrap up this interview and just go ahead and say thank you

RONEY: Thank you for letting us interview you

WILSON: Well you're welcome honey