Miller, John Jr.

 

The complete Interview of Mr. Miller can be listened to in its entirety in the Carolina Room at Charlotte Mecklenburg Library's Main Library location.

Click here to listen to a playlist of exerpts from the interview or listen to them individually by following the links below.

 

 Introduction (1:14)

a)       John Miller’s father was hired to manage the farm operations of the County Home in 1932.

b)      He became superintendent of the entire facility and served until his death in 1960.

c)       His widow, Lillian C. Miller, took his place for a few years before Mr. Miller, Jr., took over.

2)      Operation of  the Farm (3:20)

a)       Farm and dairy farm

b)      Provided milk for the Home, the Tuberculosis Sanatorium, and a women’s reformatory across Tryon St.

c)       Incarcerated women did laundry service for the county

3)      Inadequate Care of the Mentally Ill (3:28)

a)       Families not usually part of the patient mix in the 1930’s

b)      Jail cells used to isolate mentally ill – no other treatment

c)       Under Mr. Miller, Sr., the incarcerated residents were sent to Broughton or Goldsboro.

4)      Physicians (1:54)

a)       Dr. McLaughlin put in the most years of service

b)      He served all the County institutions and maintained a private practice

5)      Reports + Fire Prevention (1:34)

a)       Grand Jury conducted yearly inspections.

b)      New building with improved fire prevention measures installed during father’s administration.

6)      Crops Raised (1:35)

a)       25-40 acres of garden: beans, squash, tomatoes, okra

b)      Hands made $0.75/day during the Depression

c)       Corn, grain, hay grown

d)       “10-mule farm” – based on calculation that one hand with one mule could plow 15 acres.

7)      Inmates’ Work (2:52)

a)       One could paint, one was a blacksmith, another did repairs

b)      After 1950, “inmates” became “patients”

c)       1960, “County Home” became “Greenacres Rest Home”

d)      Cemetery on the grounds

8)      Inmates’ Quality of Life (3:28)

a)       Ratio of men to women

b)      Durations of stays in County Home

c)       Care of the sick and terminally ill

d)      Notable residents

9)      Farm Work, Diet (2:38)

a)       Snapping peas, peeling peaches

b)      Cannery operation at the Home

10)   Worship Services + Movies (1:16)

a)       Local churches supplied pastors on a rotating basis

b)      Theater-operators would show movies once a month

11)   Changing Conditions (3:04)

a)       Physical condition of residents changed over the years

b)      Social Security, public housing reduced number of residents there out of economic need

12)   Social Security (2:21)

a)       Listening to the elderly

b)      The effect of Social Security

c)       White liquor, playing cards

13)   Stories (4:09)

a)       Attended elementary through high school at Newell.

b)      Stories of residents walking off, or of assuming responsibilities in the Home

14)   Closing of the County Home (4:17)

a)       Dismissal of Superintendent in 1932

b)      State and Federal cost-sharing

c)       Rising cost of care at Green Acres

15)   Growth in University Area (3:26)

a)       Increase in land values in area.

b)      “People of vision” in Charlotte

c)       Water and sewerage key to development

16)   Suppliers to the County Home (1:10)

a)       Bid Process for wholesale goods

b)      Purchase and dispensing of drugs

17)   Integration to the County Home (3:04)

a)       1961 - New addition to existing building for black patients

b)      Late 1960s, gradual desegregation under pressure from federal government

c)       “We made it work”

18)   Lakes at the County Home (2:05)

a)       Two lakes at two different times:

b)      One was a WPA project, which was later filled in

c)       A second was built by Blythe Construction

19)   End of Green Acres (4:20)

a)       Became Private Facility in 1962

b)      Mecklenburg County reassumed responsibility [1972]

c)       Hospital built on site, patients relocated