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Barefoot In The Sand: Remembering the Waning Days of the Hopewell Community (1998) Bruce C. Gragg 34/123

BRUCE AND VERA GROWING UP

Vera and Bruce were born of Christine B. Gragg, oldest daughter of
James and Mabel Burnette. Papa's name was originally spelled without
the ending "E" however sometime early in his married life some legal
papers spelled it with the "E" and it was going to be a big problem
to correct it so they left it. This is one of many possible sources
of the name alteration, I've heard others over the years. Probably
each one contributed to the addition of the "E." Vera was born 1935,
Mom and Dad separated in 1937 and I was born Jan 38. Curtis (later
known as Jimmy) Edwin, and Carroll (later known as C.F.) and Juanita,
Christine's three brothers and sister, during the 1940's did what
they could to help us grow up and not miss having a dad around.

Sometime in the mid forties the circus (Ringling Bros/Barnum &
Bailey) came to Lake City. This was under the "Big Top" circus days.
They set it up near the tobacco warehouses in an open area. Our seats
were near the doorway all the acts and animals came in, so we had a
ring side seat for all the traffic going and coming from the rings.
In those days you could walk through the tents where the animals were
being kept. That was quite a sight for a 6 year old to see. Most of
the ring acts were very similar to today's circus performances. The
clowns were a fascinating group to watch, I had never seen clowns
before, and I thought they were so funny. That was such an exciting
and fun filled afternoon for us. Where we were sitting, even with the
sawdust and wood chips used to help keep the dust down, it was still
very dusty, especially during animal act changes. Before the show we
walked through the tents where the animals were housed. That was an
awesome sight to see the elephants, horses, ponies and other animals
up so close. I also had my first cotton candy. It was a fairly warm
day so it got somewhat sticky before it was finished. There is
something about the modern circus shows in arenas, that is missing
from the old tents shows. It is just not the same as in a tent. There
is something that adds to the whole atmosphere, the dust and sawdust,
and the musty smell of the tents. You get a circus feeling among all
this, that you can't get any other place.

Vera lived with Aunt Nita for three or four years to help her take
care of her family. She went to junior high and a couple years of
high school in Lake City. At that time the high school was where the
Columbia County Board of Education Offices are now on West Duval
Street. She would usually spend the summer at home and go back to
Lake City in the fall in time for school. Presently Mom's only
sibling Carroll, is still with us. Our life in the early years was
not unlike others in our neighborhood as we went to

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