Archiving Form

LOG SHEET

Tape number: V24

Name: Lorena Dobyns Conner

Location: Monaskon, VA

Date of Birth: June 5, 1921

Date of Recording: 1/18/05

Recorded By: Grayson Mattingly

Log Sheet by: Grayson Mattingly

Item
In Point
Category
Description

01 00/25 F,SW born in Monaskon in old house next to current house she lives in. 1920 Father bought property and was called Monaskan Wharf property. She recalls steamers and oil tankers coming to the wharf. Exciting when steamers would come, a lot of company since everyone that would come to get on the steamer would stop by the house while waiting for steamer - a lot of brides and grooms. Boat when to Baltimore everyday and Norfolk on Sunday.

02 3/00 ST 1919 when Rappahannock froze over her mother had three sisters on the Potomac stuck in the ice. Her father who worked on the Potomac had a rope tied around him and he walked over to another steamer and brought back a side of beef.

03 4/26 SC Her father Raymond Edward Dobyns, was on the Potomac - working as second mate - captain was Archie Long. Father had many positions.

04 5/26 F Father built an oyster house and cannery on wharf. When father died in 1939 mother ran business up into the 40s

05 6/21 W,A Farmers raised tomatoes and brought them to the cannery, her family raised all of the string beans and peas that they canned. Only raised and canned spinach for a several years.

06 7/00 W Employed year round between 100 and 125 people. Had trucks going to NC two and three times a week carrying oysters. Most of the vegetables were sold to Taylor and Sled in Richmond or to local venders. A lot of tomatoes were loaded on the steamboats. She remembers watching deck hands load the cartons of tomatoes, most of the times the stevedores would chant has they loaded items. Had shed on wharf to hold calves, two stevedores would grab hold of calves to load them aboard the boat. Also shipped live chickens

07 10/00 ST The meals on the steamer (Potomac) were excellent. Would eat in the dining room when I rode with my father, when I rode with my mother she often packed a lunch for us. Breakfast would always have fried potatoes, hot cakes, biscuits,waiters in white coats - Time to eat the head waiter would walk through the boat with a bell announcing meals. Dining room was on the lower level in the back of the boat. Freight in front of boat. Bunk beds with a little wash stand- Had bridal suit up front with brass beds. Spring, summer fall sat in deck chairs on upper deck.

08 14/00 ST Had a lot of relatives in Baltimore, would visit relatives and father would go to Baltimore and then to NY on the train. Bought all the cans from National Can Company.

09 15/09 ST Most people went to Baltimore for medical care. Until she was grown she had went to Baltimore to have her eyes examined, had tonsils taken out - also would buy all clothing there. In Baltimore would get around in the street car. Always went to Lexington Market - remembers red plums.

10 17/00 H Jessie Ball DuPont boat docked at wharf. DuPont would visit cousins at Epping Forrest.

11 18/14 SW,H talks about history of the wharf - there for a long time - Landrof Seed Company built wharf

12 20/36 W Put cannery peelings overboard where devoured by ducks, seagulls. Same way with oyster house - all scraps would be dumped into water - lots of eels would come and eat up scraps.

13 23/24 SW Captain Cresham ran aground one time near by and Captain Long asked him what he was doing in his parking lot - Captains would raze each other

14 24/40 SW Story about how Potomac under Archie Long ran into the wharf

15 26/09 SC Officers aboard boat had outfits with hats and dark coats and white shirts - waiting staff had white coats and dark trousers. Passengers dressed "normally" in daytime cloths. Would not dress up to eat. A lot of people would not get state room - just sit up in chairs overnight.

16 28/30 ST When she rode on the Potomac Captain Long would let her come up to the Pilot House and pull the rope to blow the whistle

17 29/50 ST A lot of people out of Baltimore just took trips on steamers and wouldn't get off. One person she remembers saw a piece of property and bought it and lived there the rest of her life.

18 31/05 SW When boat would tie up a wharf her father would always go aboard and eat lunch.

19 32/18 SW Bill Clark would climb up tree in Lively and see boat coming into Monasken. Can remember merchants coming to wharf in house and wagon. Latter on her family had trucks that delivered goods to the stores.

20 34/44 B b-roll explained, labels from cannery, picture of father in uniform,

21 37/18 B b-roll pic of the Middlesex taken at either Ottoman wharf or Merry Point Sept 1907, can labels, shipping notices, receipts, pay envelope

22 41/23 B b-roll dinner bell used on the Potomac, Dobyns oyster cans - folding chair from the Potomac - demonstrates how it folds up

23 43/40 B Lorena describes piece of wood that came from lumber yard in Baltimore. Photo of old store and wagon full of tomatoes in the 20s. Picture of Jenny May - Buy boat used to carry can goods and fertilizer, watermelons to Baltimore 1933

24 46/38 B picture of the deserted cannery

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Item	In Point	Category	Description
01	00/25	F,SW	born in Monaskon in old house next to current house she lives in. 1920 Father bought property and was called Monaskan Wharf property. She recalls steamers and oil tankers coming to the wharf. Exciting when steamers would come, a lot of company since everyone that would come to get on the steamer would stop by the house while waiting for steamer - a lot of brides and grooms. Boat when to Baltimore everyday and Norfolk on Sunday.
02	3/00	ST	1919 when Rappahannock froze over her mother had three sisters on the Potomac stuck in the ice. Her father who worked on the Potomac had a rope tied around him and he walked over to another steamer and brought back a side of beef.
03	4/26	SC	Her father Raymond Edward Dobyns, was on the Potomac - working as second mate - captain was Archie Long. Father had many positions.
04	5/26	F	Father built an oyster house and cannery on wharf. When father died in 1939 mother ran business up into the 40s
05	6/21	W,A	Farmers raised tomatoes and brought them to the cannery, her family raised all of the string beans and peas that they canned. Only raised and canned spinach for a several years.
06	7/00	W	Employed year round between 100 and 125 people. Had trucks going to NC two and three times a week carrying oysters. Most of the vegetables were sold to Taylor and Sled in Richmond or to local venders. A lot of tomatoes were loaded on the steamboats. She remembers watching deck hands load the cartons of tomatoes, most of the times the stevedores would chant has they loaded items. Had shed on wharf to hold calves, two stevedores would grab hold of calves to load them aboard the boat. Also shipped live chickens
07	10/00	ST	The meals on the steamer (Potomac) were excellent. Would eat in the dining room when I rode with my father, when I rode with my mother she often packed a lunch for us. Breakfast would always have fried potatoes, hot cakes, biscuits,waiters in white coats - Time to eat the head waiter would walk through the boat with a bell announcing meals. Dining room was on the lower level in the back of the boat. Freight in front of boat. Bunk beds with a little wash stand- Had bridal suit up front with brass beds. Spring, summer fall sat in deck chairs on upper deck.
08	14/00	ST	Had a lot of relatives in Baltimore, would visit relatives and father would go to Baltimore and then to NY on the train. Bought all the cans from National Can Company.
09	15/09	ST	Most people went to Baltimore for medical care. Until she was grown she had went to Baltimore to have her eyes examined, had tonsils taken out - also would buy all clothing there. In Baltimore would get around in the street car. Always went to Lexington Market - remembers red plums.
10	17/00	H	Jessie Ball DuPont boat docked at wharf. DuPont would visit cousins at Epping Forrest.
11	18/14	SW,H	talks about history of the wharf - there for a long time - Landrof Seed Company built wharf
12	20/36	W	Put cannery peelings overboard where devoured by ducks, seagulls. Same way with oyster house - all scraps would be dumped into water - lots of eels would come and eat up scraps.
13	23/24	SW	Captain Cresham ran aground one time near by and Captain Long asked him what he was doing in his parking lot - Captains would raze each other
14	24/40	SW	Story about how Potomac under Archie Long ran into the wharf
15	26/09	SC	Officers aboard boat had outfits with hats and dark coats and white shirts - waiting staff had white coats and dark trousers. Passengers dressed "normally" in daytime cloths. Would not dress up to eat. A lot of people would not get state room - just sit up in chairs overnight.
16	28/30	ST	When she rode on the Potomac Captain Long would let her come up to the Pilot House and pull the rope to blow the whistle
17	29/50	ST	A lot of people out of Baltimore just took trips on steamers and wouldn't get off. One person she remembers saw a piece of property and bought it and lived there the rest of her life.
18	31/05	SW	When boat would tie up a wharf her father would always go aboard and eat lunch.
19	32/18	SW	Bill Clark would climb up tree in Lively and see boat coming into Monasken. Can remember merchants coming to wharf in house and wagon. Latter on her family had trucks that delivered goods to the stores.
20	34/44	B	b-roll explained, labels from cannery, picture of father in uniform,
21	37/18	B	b-roll pic of the Middlesex taken at either Ottoman wharf or Merry Point Sept 1907, can labels, shipping notices, receipts, pay envelope
22	41/23	B	b-roll dinner bell used on the Potomac, Dobyns oyster cans - folding chair from the Potomac - demonstrates how it folds up
23	43/40	B	Lorena describes piece of wood that came from lumber yard in Baltimore. Photo of old store and wagon full of tomatoes in the 20s. Picture of Jenny May - Buy boat used to carry can goods and fertilizer, watermelons to Baltimore 1933
24	46/38	B	picture of the deserted cannery