<Begin Segment 8>

RP: So the Methodist church was a large part of your growing up.

ST: Yeah, it really was.

RP: And tell us a little bit in a social way how important it was for you.

ST: They had a women's, like a King's Daughters Club at first. And then a men's club. And then finally they changed to women's organization, not KDC any more, King's Daughters Club. We were quite active all through our years.

RP: There was a group called the Epworth League, too?

ST: Epworth League is a combined. King's Daughters Club naturally would be women. But then they changed that and they allowed women to join the Epworth League, which was really originally men's club.

RP: And what are some of the activities of the Epworth?

FS: Huh?

RP: What were some of the activities of the Epworth League?

ST: Oh, the usual thing. We helped the church and like for holidays, we helped plan things. And we would have our own outings.

RP: Where did you go?

ST: American River for swimming, a lot. And we would have meetings with people, like Loomis and different other churches. It was a very active group.

RP: And did you ever take trips, family trips to the mountains or vacations?

ST: Oh, yes, usually we had one annual Florin picnic. We all made lunches and go. And that was fun. But we had our private picnics, too.

RP: Oh, just your family?

ST: Yeah. Go to the American River or to the mountains or wherever.

RP: Did your dad like to fish at all?

ST: Oh, gosh, just fishing and his face lights up and takes off. [Laughs] Oh, yeah. And so even when we'd go on picnics, he would be fishing. So...

RP: That's a man's first responsibility to his family, is to go fishing.

ST: Uh-huh. Oh, he was really strict. The only time he spanked me was my sister Eileen, he just got through telling me, "Watch her," because there was a ditch in front of our home. Before I knew it, she was in there and my father was standing there. And he swatted me once. That was the first and last time. And I could see that he was kinda hurt that he swatted me. And so... but it was kind of funny because she was so quick.

RP: In the water like that.

ST: Before I knew it, she was there and my father was just standing there.

RP: How did he get here so quick?

ST: But that was the first time and last time he ever swatted me. And I was only about, what, seven, eight years old.

RP: So you already had responsibilities for watching somebody younger.

ST: Uh-huh, yes. I had the responsibility of... you know how three and four year olds are. That is one thing that always sticks to me.

<End Segment 8> - Copyright © 2008 Manzanar National Historic Site and Densho. All Rights Reserved.