Archive Record
Metadata
Object ID number |
2015.14.02 |
Title |
Ruth Risley Oral History Interview #2 |
Date |
1994 Dec |
Scope & Content |
In this interview, Ruth Risley reminisces about her childhood growing up on Town Farm in South Windsor, where her father operated the Bissell Ferry across the Connecticut River and her mother provided food and housing for indigent residents of the town (paid for by the town). She discusses the Ferry operations, the tobacco farming done by her family and their boarders, and the logistics of housing and feeding people. She also talks about the "Tramp Hotel" on Town Farm and the briefly mentions the two jail cells that were located on the farm. |
Orgnaizational or Biographical History |
Ruth Baker Risley was born to William A. Baker and Katrina Thomas Baker on February 23, 1903 and was raised in South Windsor on the South Windsor Town Farm, where her parents operated the Bissell Ferry. She married Robert J. Risley, 27 years her elder, several days after graduating high school. Together they had two children, Edward B. Risley, and Elizabeth Risley Addington. She worked for Sage-Allen for 15 years and was an avid bird-watcher and horticulturist. Ruth Baker Risley died on August 15, 1998. |
Creator |
Risley, Ruth Baker |
Other Creators |
Cooke, June |
Collection |
Oral History Collection |
Interviewer |
Cooke, June |
People |
Baker, Katrina Thomas Baker, William A. Cooke, June Foley, Kate Grant, Mrs. Ralph Kelly, Billy Paine, Owen Raymond, Catherine Hildred (Sperry), 1907-1992 Risley, Ruth Thomas (Baker), 1903-1998 Steere, Miriam Baker |
Subjects |
Poor persons Tobacco farms -- Connecticut |
Search Terms |
1936 Flood 1938 Hurricane and Flood Apple orchard Bee keeping Bissell Ferry Canning food Chickens Connecticut River Dandelions (collecting and eating) East Windsor Hill Post Office Eels Ferry Lane, South Windsor, CT Fiddlehead ferns (collecting) Fish nets Fishing Flooding Food preservation extension course Glastonbury Rocky Hill Ferry Glastonbury, CT Guinea hens Hunting Italian Americans Merganser ducks Native American arrowheads and artifacts Pickerel Polish Americans Rye Street, South Windsor, CT Scantic River Shad South Windsor Meadows Sperry Farms Station 51 Strong Road, South Windsor, CT Succotash Tobacco Town Farm jail cells Town Farm, South Windsor Tramps Hotel, Town Farm, South Windsor, CT Trolley Underground railroad |