2025.02.06 THROW BACK THURSDAY - DOROTHY AND DOMESTIC HOUSING IN HILLCREST PLUS CLASS NEWS
THROW BACK THURSDAY - DOROTHY AND DOMESTIC HOUSING IN HILLCREST PLUS CLASS NEWS
Thank you Jim Pfeifer for another fabulous article of our life growing up in Little Rock:
Dorothy is a beautiful person. In her 90's, her eyes sparkle and her lips turn up at their corners in what seems a perpetual smile. She loves to fish. Her story is one which is instructive and moving, particularly as I walk the alleyways of Hillcrest. Dorothy remembers those alleys from many decades ago, when she and her friends walked these narrow passageways from the "carline" (city streetcar and bus routes) to arrive at work, or in some cases, to reach their places of residence.
Dorothy's family had worked on the Alexander plantation in Scott, Arkansas until her mother brought her to Little Rock in the 1940s. For various reasons, including mechanization of the planting and harvesting of Arkansas crops, farm workers migrated to urban areas such as Little Rock and impacted the job market in the early to mid-20th century. Dorothy entered the new Dunbar High School, which offered a vocational program called "domestic science." The course included proficiency in laundry work, cooking, child care and other training which would meet the expectations of families hiring domestic workers in their household. The inclusion of such courses in the Dunbar curriculum was very controversial among local Black leaders of the time. They demanded that such courses be left out of the otherwise college-preparatory Dunbar curriculum but were not heeded.
A 1941 study by the Urban League reported that 74% of employed African American women in Little Rock and North Little Rock were employed principally in private homes. Dorothy, upon leaving Dunbar before graduation, and after a stint at the phone company, became employed in the private homes of Hillcrest and the Heights.
The 1940 census shows the names, ages, education, daily hours and yearly weeks worked, and yearly income of domestic workers in Hillcrest. The higher salaries were in the $300-400 per year range for up to 72 hours per week. (today's equivalent: $6,000-$8,000). Some were as low as $160.
While Dorothy was permitted by her employers to return to be with her children after each day's work, many domestic workers were expected to stay a minimum number of nights in on-site domestic housing in the rear of the property. These units generally had a single sleeping room with a tiny bathroom and no kitchen or living space, though a few had two rooms with a shared bath for multiple employees. The exteriors ranged from small wood-frame structures attached to garages, to large two-story buildings with garages on the lower level and elaborate architectural detail matching the home itself.
"Out-buildings" are considered by architectural historians to be important to the story of a historic residence. There are special tours of the restored out-buildings of such historic landmarks as Monticello, and Lakeport Plantation here in Arkansas. Many examples of early 20th century domestic housing remain in Hillcrest today. Several of these have been handsomely restored by homeowners and adapted to new uses. Some are deteriorating and hopefully await restoration by homeowners, rather than demolition.
Dorothy continues to work in this field by her choice, in the ninth decade of her life. She describes her work experiences as bittersweet. Particularly in the beginning, there were low wages, few benefits and some unpleasant employers; though at the same time, she developed lifelong friendships with many of the family members and has wonderful words to say about them. She raised nine children while working, including her eldest daughter who graduated from UAMS and is a practicing physician. She has caught and cooked more fish than she could possibly count.
One of the best preserved single-story former domestic units in Hillcrest… (Midland Avenue).
1956 CLASS NEWS
OBITUARY FOR WILLIAM E. PAULI
Midland, GA – William (Bill) Edward Pauli, (86), died (January 28, 2025). Mr. Pauli is survived by his wife, Sandra (Sandi), of Midland, a daughter, Jennifer, her
husband Brian Sillitto, and three granddaughters: Isabel, Sophia and Natalie of Cataula, GA and a sister, Marilyn Elliott of Searcy, AR. Born May 2, 1938 in San
Antonio, TX, Mr. Pauli grew up in Little Rock, AR and was a 1956 graduate of Little Rock Central High School and the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville. A veteran,
he served in the U. S. Navy. A public affairs professional for more than three and a half decades, Mr. Pauli retired from Toyota Motor Sales as National Manager
of Corporate Contributions and the Toyota USA Foundation in 2001. He and his wife had been residents of Hendersonville, NC since his retirement until moving
to Georgia in 2016. Mr. Pauli was a member of St. Thomas Episcopal Church of Columbus, GA at the time of his death. His wishes were to be remembered
without formal ceremony. Remembrance gifts may be sent to St. John in the Wilderness, Flat Rock, NC, earmarked for the Back Pack Program, or St. Thomas
Episcopal Church of Columbus, GA earmarked for the Food Pantry.
Notes from his wife:
Marylou,
I just wanted to let you know my husband, Bill Pauli, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, January 28th, after a long battle with Parkinson’s and its side effects. Per Bill’s wishes, no memorial service will be held. At a future date, our daughter Jennifer and I will drive Bill's ashes to Flat Rock, NC to be scattered in a community gravesight located within our former church's cemetery. A brass plate will be installed on the wall indicating Bill's name and birth and passing dates. When he left that church, Bill was involved in about eight ministries and we volunteered for the backpack program, providing food for the weekend for five entities, including a day care center.
I have attached a picture of him.
Both of us enjoyed reading your newsletter.
Sandi Pauli
828-808-1081
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Last Friday night Swing Band Reunions gig at the Ron Robinson Theatre was a BIG success. We filled that
315 seat theatre. Many thanks to the many Classmates who came out!
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HAPPY BIRTHDAY to BILL HARMON and PAT HUDSON on the 3rd
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO JIMMY MARTIN FRIDAY!!!!
More next week!
1955 CLASS NEWS
You have several FEBRUARY Birthdays! A special one is coming up Friday!
BOB DeBIN - HOW OLD WILL YOU BE ON FEBRUARY 7????? NO! CAN'T BE!!! THANKS OK, YOU'VE STILL GOT WHAT IT TAKES!!
NIKKI POLYCHRON YOU ARE COMING UP ON THE 11TH! ANOTHER ONE THAT HAS NEVER CHANGED. AGELESS!!!
BOB SWINNEY - IS SO GOOD TO KEEP IN TOUCH!! HOPE TO SEE YOU IN 2026!
DANA LASKER - WE'D LIKE TO HEAR FROM YOU BEFORE THE 23RD, BUT IF WE DON'T, HAVE A GOOD ONE!
If we haven't acknowledged your birthday, it's just because you haven't forwarded it! Let us know the date so we can wish you a Happy Birthday!
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