Arlene Watson

Birth: She was born around 1921 in Burr Ferry, Louisiana.  

Family Information: Daughter of Richard Watson and Leo (Watson) Page.

Step-daughter of Chester Page.

Sister of Sylvester Watson.

Description:  

Pre-Colony History: In 1930 she was living with her mother and brother in Vernon Parish, Louisiana.

Home in Colony:  

Job in Colony: In November 1929 Comrade Atwood was head of the garden group and had Comrade Davis on the Hiatt team plowing; with Mardfin picking vegetables; Shutt, Hartman and Ruth hoeing; Miss Watson was picking green beans and Mrs. Garrett had a group of little folks picking beans out on the farm.

In 1934 she was preparing vegetables and serving food at the hotel dining room, along with her mother, Miss Linderman, Mrs. Murray, Arlene Watson, May Gossett, Mary Harlow-Fay, Doris Layer and Erma Hayes.

In June 1934 Elsie Ogden and Iris Busick were in charge of the dinner meal which was served by Iris, Mrs. Watson and Crystal Schutz with Arlene at the bread counter while Lafe Murray served the water.

At the laundry in 1934, Mrs. Hewitt was marking and sorting clothes to be washed while Tefteller was running the washing machine; Mrs. Ribbing and Mrs. Hullinger were ironing shirts and underwear and Arlenewas keeping the tub full of sprinkled clothes.

In September of that year Mrs. Ribbing and Vivian Crossland were doing the ironing while John Dougherty and Thelma Perkins hung clothing out to dry. Arlene was still sprinkling the clothes while Mrs. Hullinger and Mrs. Watson were busy helping all the others.

In November 1935 she was dispensing ice water in the hotel serving line. That same month she volunteered for extra evening work at the crate factory in order to fill an urgent order. Other volunteers included: Director Carl, Industrial Foreman Chet Page, editor and teacher Emery, Willie Brown, Mr. Jernberg and his son Elmer, Sylvester and Mrs. Watson.

In December 1936 both she and her mother were helping out in the kitchen once again.  

Other Info: She often took part in the productions at the theater. In December 1933 she recited the "Children's Hour" and did herself proud.

In March 1934 Mrs. Watson, Sylvester, Arlene and Hulda Mahler took a trip to Evans, Louisiana to visit relatives of Mrs. Watson. While there they went to a singing, a box supper and a pie supper and Arlene visited the school that she'd once attended, but Hulda couldn't go because she had a sore foot making her unable to wear her shoes and she didn't want to go barefoot.

In June 1934 she was hostess at a party for her and Sylvester's birthdays. Sylvester wasn't there because the night before his uncle came and took him for a week's visit at Evans, LA. Nevertheless, it was "a dandy party with plenty to eat and plenty of fun."

In September 1934 she recited a piece at the theater program.

In April 1935 she and her mother gave two pleasing numbers during a theater production. In November 1935 she volunteered to help with an urgent order at the crate shed where she helped nail up all the crate ends.

In August 1936 she and Opal Murray performed a duet "A Message from Home" at the theater.  

Post-Colony History: In 1940 she was living with her mother, step-father and brother in the unincorporated New Llano, Louisiana (site of the old colony) and working doing office routine for a NYA project.

Death: She died in 2009 in Washington Parish, Louisiana and was buried in Claiborne Parish, Louisiana.  

Sources: US Census: 1930, 1940; "Llano Colonist": November 16, 1929, December 23, 1933, March 3, 1934, April 7, 1934, April 14, 1934, April 21, 1934, June 30, 1934, July 14, 1934, August 4, 1934, September 1, 1934, September 15, 1934, April 13, 1935, November 2, 1935, November 23, 1935, August 22, 1936, December 5, 1936; FindAGrave.com