L. M (Babe) Patterson
Position Held:
Dining Car Waiter
Railroad Line:
Illinois Central Trains City of Miami, City of New Orleans Panama Limited
Routes: Fulton to Chicago, Chicago to Miami, New Orleans
Years Worked: 1940s-1971
Lived in : So Fulton TN
Home Town: Fulton KY
DOB: EARLY 1900s 1912 or so
My mind is flooded with memories of Fulton, Kentucky as I turn back the hands of time...
During the late 40”s and early 50’s I remember the creek that ran through the small community and the heavy rains that would cause what we called the “bottom” to flood. The bottom was an area of town where black families lived, a black school that educated black children and...
Scroll to below photos for full story.
Dining Car Waiter
Railroad Line:
Illinois Central Trains City of Miami, City of New Orleans Panama Limited
Routes: Fulton to Chicago, Chicago to Miami, New Orleans
Years Worked: 1940s-1971
Lived in : So Fulton TN
Home Town: Fulton KY
DOB: EARLY 1900s 1912 or so
My mind is flooded with memories of Fulton, Kentucky as I turn back the hands of time...
During the late 40”s and early 50’s I remember the creek that ran through the small community and the heavy rains that would cause what we called the “bottom” to flood. The bottom was an area of town where black families lived, a black school that educated black children and...
Scroll to below photos for full story.
L. M. (Babe) Patterson
submitted by
Janice Hall, daughter,
2011
My mind is flooded with memories of Fulton, Kentucky as I turn back the hands of time...
During the late 40”s and early 50’s I remember the creek that ran through the small community and the heavy rains that would cause what we called the “bottom” to flood. The bottom was an area of town where black families lived, a black school that educated black children and flourished and churches were filled each Sunday with many black families.
This may sound silly but the floods were fun times for the “bottom” children and my self as we paraded through the ditches filled with knee deep water. We loved playing in the water while our parents moved furniture to safety.
There were a number of black businesses located in the “bottom,” mostly owned by members of the Patton family. The Patton’s were entrepreneurs, a history all their own. They owned and operated the Topodoro, and The Playhouse, and at one time a small motel, to name a few. Most of their businesses were located in an area below the hill where the ICRR station sat. The station’s location often brought business to the small resturants located in that area.
The ICRR became a major employer and supplier of business to Fulton back in the day. Their trains ran through Fulton each day stoping to pick up or drop passengers,or to refuel. I recall the Panama Express and the City of New Orleans with their sleek lines and beautiful colors. running at full speed. These trains ran from Chicago, Illinois to New Orleans or to Miami, Florida with a stop in Memphis, Tennessee after leaving Fulton.
My stepfather L. M. (Babe) Patterson was a waiter with the ICRR for a number of years during the early fifties. His runs were mainly south to Memphis, TN or New Orleans, LA. . He would leave on his run at 4:30 a.m. and return at 4:30 p.m. if he was scheduled to Memphis, his run to New Orleans required an overnight stay. Babe’s employment with ICRR provided a travel perk for his family. We were able to travel free. We often took advantage of that perk .
My first train ride was to Pontiac, Michigan to visit my Aunt Mary for Christmas at the age of seven. I was tagged which meant the ICRR was responsible to ensure I got to my destination. Being tagged meant you sat on a front row seat in the :Colored” section so the train attendant could watch you. My mom sent me with a lunch bag filled with goodies. Mr. Hall Chambers a waiter from Fulton was working on the day I left so I never had to open my goodie bag because he kept me supplied with whatever was in the dining car. Other memories of riding the train included going to the dining room and having lunch. When this happened you felt you had finally arrived. The immaculate dining car included small tables with white table cloths and vases of flowers and real silverware. You were riding in style when you were able to go into the dining car. I loved sitting at a table next to a window. It seemed as if we were traveling at 150 miles per hour. Often you had to pass through other cars to get to the dining car and I did not like that because you had to cross over the car connectors to get there. Beyond that it was fun.
My grandfather Dick Jones worked in the railroad yards in Fulton cleaning or repairing the trains. So did my father-law Mr. James (Pack) Atkins work the midnight shift. There were many black men in Fulton who worked either as waiters o porters. The railroad waiter position was a prime positions in our community for those who were not working in the field of education or had their own businesses.
The ICRR provided a good income to many black men in Fulton and South Fulton. This meant many were able to build and own homes, furnish them, have new cars and send children to college, and retirement benefits.
My last train ride from Fulton to Chicago was in the 90's. I remember having to go to the end of the city and stand on a desolate platform to catch the train. I almost cried. It was not the same.
I am proud to be a product of Fulton. "Can anything good come out of Fulton". Yes, Fulton has birthed and produced many stars who rose to the top without the woes of segregation holding them back. We had many role models who did an awesome job as mentors. Hats off to Mrs. Vanderford, female mortician; Mrs. Vick, Mason, Hart, Dumas, Cassidy, Tucker and others. Then there were others such as Mrs. Ray Lee, Sally Chambers, Dorothy Churchwell, Louella Blythe, my mother Mildred Patterson. Dr.Tucker & Mrs. Tucker were my god parents.
I am the woman I am today because of my upbringing and the nurturing and love I received from these lovely ladies. They taught us how to be ladies and to at all times carry ourselves with dignity and grace.
I attended Milton school for 1st grade as my step-father Babe ran the spot Cafe in the bottom. We later moved to South Fulton and I attended Rosenwald and later graduated from Miles High in Union City, TN as Valedictorian of my class. I attended Wilberforce University, Notre Dame Univ. and Graduated from Bethel College in South Bend, In. I was married to the late Bobby Patton and to our union three children were added. Michael, Michele, and Marq. Today, I am the grandmother of 14 and 3 great grand children. God has blessed me to over come cancer twice and all the glory belongs to him. My oldest son Michael is a local pastor and I am associate pastor at his church. I still hold a secular job of Human Resources Director of the City of South Bend. "I ain't no ways tired, got to keep moving on". I will celebrate 70 years if the Lord bless me to see August 18th. It will be party time for family and friends. God has allowed me to visit many countries outside the USA and for that I am also grateful. My life has been full. I am sure it could have been better, but to what do I compare it to? There is always better.
There is so much more that I could write about and will as this project continues. Thank you Dr. Bradford for your labor of Love. I will post pictures and other items as I find them as memories of Fulton, Kentucky during the time of the ICRR. it.
submitted by
Janice Hall, daughter,
2011
My mind is flooded with memories of Fulton, Kentucky as I turn back the hands of time...
During the late 40”s and early 50’s I remember the creek that ran through the small community and the heavy rains that would cause what we called the “bottom” to flood. The bottom was an area of town where black families lived, a black school that educated black children and flourished and churches were filled each Sunday with many black families.
This may sound silly but the floods were fun times for the “bottom” children and my self as we paraded through the ditches filled with knee deep water. We loved playing in the water while our parents moved furniture to safety.
There were a number of black businesses located in the “bottom,” mostly owned by members of the Patton family. The Patton’s were entrepreneurs, a history all their own. They owned and operated the Topodoro, and The Playhouse, and at one time a small motel, to name a few. Most of their businesses were located in an area below the hill where the ICRR station sat. The station’s location often brought business to the small resturants located in that area.
The ICRR became a major employer and supplier of business to Fulton back in the day. Their trains ran through Fulton each day stoping to pick up or drop passengers,or to refuel. I recall the Panama Express and the City of New Orleans with their sleek lines and beautiful colors. running at full speed. These trains ran from Chicago, Illinois to New Orleans or to Miami, Florida with a stop in Memphis, Tennessee after leaving Fulton.
My stepfather L. M. (Babe) Patterson was a waiter with the ICRR for a number of years during the early fifties. His runs were mainly south to Memphis, TN or New Orleans, LA. . He would leave on his run at 4:30 a.m. and return at 4:30 p.m. if he was scheduled to Memphis, his run to New Orleans required an overnight stay. Babe’s employment with ICRR provided a travel perk for his family. We were able to travel free. We often took advantage of that perk .
My first train ride was to Pontiac, Michigan to visit my Aunt Mary for Christmas at the age of seven. I was tagged which meant the ICRR was responsible to ensure I got to my destination. Being tagged meant you sat on a front row seat in the :Colored” section so the train attendant could watch you. My mom sent me with a lunch bag filled with goodies. Mr. Hall Chambers a waiter from Fulton was working on the day I left so I never had to open my goodie bag because he kept me supplied with whatever was in the dining car. Other memories of riding the train included going to the dining room and having lunch. When this happened you felt you had finally arrived. The immaculate dining car included small tables with white table cloths and vases of flowers and real silverware. You were riding in style when you were able to go into the dining car. I loved sitting at a table next to a window. It seemed as if we were traveling at 150 miles per hour. Often you had to pass through other cars to get to the dining car and I did not like that because you had to cross over the car connectors to get there. Beyond that it was fun.
My grandfather Dick Jones worked in the railroad yards in Fulton cleaning or repairing the trains. So did my father-law Mr. James (Pack) Atkins work the midnight shift. There were many black men in Fulton who worked either as waiters o porters. The railroad waiter position was a prime positions in our community for those who were not working in the field of education or had their own businesses.
The ICRR provided a good income to many black men in Fulton and South Fulton. This meant many were able to build and own homes, furnish them, have new cars and send children to college, and retirement benefits.
My last train ride from Fulton to Chicago was in the 90's. I remember having to go to the end of the city and stand on a desolate platform to catch the train. I almost cried. It was not the same.
I am proud to be a product of Fulton. "Can anything good come out of Fulton". Yes, Fulton has birthed and produced many stars who rose to the top without the woes of segregation holding them back. We had many role models who did an awesome job as mentors. Hats off to Mrs. Vanderford, female mortician; Mrs. Vick, Mason, Hart, Dumas, Cassidy, Tucker and others. Then there were others such as Mrs. Ray Lee, Sally Chambers, Dorothy Churchwell, Louella Blythe, my mother Mildred Patterson. Dr.Tucker & Mrs. Tucker were my god parents.
I am the woman I am today because of my upbringing and the nurturing and love I received from these lovely ladies. They taught us how to be ladies and to at all times carry ourselves with dignity and grace.
I attended Milton school for 1st grade as my step-father Babe ran the spot Cafe in the bottom. We later moved to South Fulton and I attended Rosenwald and later graduated from Miles High in Union City, TN as Valedictorian of my class. I attended Wilberforce University, Notre Dame Univ. and Graduated from Bethel College in South Bend, In. I was married to the late Bobby Patton and to our union three children were added. Michael, Michele, and Marq. Today, I am the grandmother of 14 and 3 great grand children. God has blessed me to over come cancer twice and all the glory belongs to him. My oldest son Michael is a local pastor and I am associate pastor at his church. I still hold a secular job of Human Resources Director of the City of South Bend. "I ain't no ways tired, got to keep moving on". I will celebrate 70 years if the Lord bless me to see August 18th. It will be party time for family and friends. God has allowed me to visit many countries outside the USA and for that I am also grateful. My life has been full. I am sure it could have been better, but to what do I compare it to? There is always better.
There is so much more that I could write about and will as this project continues. Thank you Dr. Bradford for your labor of Love. I will post pictures and other items as I find them as memories of Fulton, Kentucky during the time of the ICRR. it.