Preface

The following “treatise” is a collection of remembrances I have of four unique domestic “helpers” who arrived at our home in Clarkdale, Arizona about once a week.  My parents were Arthur and Elizabeth Greenwood and Dad was employed as the Chief Electrician at the smelter.  I, being about 4 years old at the time, was acquainted with each individual and eagerly anticipated every one’s arrival.  Over the years I have vividly and with pleasure, recalled the details of each visitor which I attempt to describe in the following paragraphs.

The Iceman Cometh

During the 1920s and 30s Mr. Son was the owner and operator of the Clarkdale ice house which was located in the Bitter Creek ravine next to the large warehouse building.  He also delivered ice to the homes in Upper Town where we lived.

As a young child in the early 1930s I always looked forward to the days when Mr. Son delivered the ice for our “ice box.”  He was a large, hefty, late middle-aged man with a jolly demeanor.  On such a day I would stand outside our back door in eager anticipation of his arrival.......

Rosie the Washer Woman

“Rosie” was an Indian lady who lived in the Yavapai/Apache village located immediately to the west of Clarkdale.  Most of the residents lived in small, poorly built homes which reflected the low-income levels of the majority of those people.

Bright and early every Monday morning Rosie would leave her home and walk down a dirt alley to a gate entrance to our backyard, where she would wash and hang the week’s laundry.  She, like others, apparently felt they were not “qualified” to travel on the parallel paved main street in town which led to the shopping area.......

Friendly Mrs. Harris Irons

 

Mrs. Harris was a lovely lady who resided in the Indian enclave to the west of Clarkdale.  She was “Americanized” to the extent that her speech was easily understood, and her clothing was in a style similar to that worn by the majority of Clarkdale women.  Her dresses fell just below the knee in length and were of a fitted style in nicely ironed fabric.

The ironing board, at which Mrs. Harris worked, was setup in an open space in the kitchen of our Clarkdale home.  There I, being an inquisitive four-year-old, would stand and intently watch her iron the week’s allotment of clothing for our family of five, all the while conversing by means of a “cacophony” of questions.  .......

The Hot Tamale Man

The Hot Tamale man was a person who, in his own way was very unique.  Each Friday afternoon I would eagerly watch for the “man in black” to walk along the unpaved road at the side of our Clarkdale home.  This middle-aged man most likely lived in an area of homes situated to the east of town along the nearby Verde River which was mainly inhabited by persons of Hispanic descent. 

The Tamale Man was always well dressed in a very neat, clean outfit of a bleached immaculate white dress shirt, pants and dress shoes topped off with a well-kept black “fedora” hat. Everything was in black (even his prominent moustache) excepting only the white shirt.....

Shared with permission from our collection.  Visit the Museum to request to read the complete manuscript and view the included photos. info@clardalemuseum.org