(Excerpted from the original, which can be found at Buck’s Store Museum in Bena.)

Come walk with me down Memory Lane. The road is wide and well paved. We have walked this road many times before. Just over here to the left is the “Guinea Road.” Did you know or do you remember when…

The Guinea Road was blacktopped in the thirties.

The electric line came to Guinea in the thirties.

The Achilles High School and Grade School was dedicated on November 14, 1924.

Sterling Rowe, Jese Thomas, and William Shackelford, our grandparents, were all merchants.

Grandpa Sterling Rowe’s schooner, the “Seven Brothers,” was captured by the Yankees during the Civil War.

Elmer Robins and Mr. Bob Rowe were barbers at Achilles in the thirties, and haircuts were 25 cents.

Bena Post Office was named for a lady.

Mama used to buy kale from Mrs. Fanny Smith for fifteen cents a mess.

Preacher Andrew Williams used to run Bob King’s Store and deliver groceries all over Guinea.

Our third great-grandfather, Aaron Belvin, fought in the Battle of Brandywine during the Revolutionary War.

Tom Hogge was janitor of Achilles School and Union Baptist Church for many years.

Sis Hattie Hall sold her piano to Union Baptist Church.

The Severn Wharf Road was built in 1860.

The Achilles Friends Church was built in 1900. Mr. Wash Smith was one of the carpenters.

Route 1103 was widened and given to the state by my papa, Alton J. Brown Sr., July 22, 1936.

Aunt Bunchie Thomas would wear her shoes on the opposite foot every other day in order to keep them from wearing out too quickly.

James “Jim” Howard, Cousin Bertha’s uncle, had such small feet that he wore ladies’ shoes.

Elizabeth Earle Deal, Alice D. Brown’s stepmother, was a missionary to India. In 1941, she was returning to India after a furlough and was captured by the Japanese in the Philippines. She was repatriated in 1943 on the MS Gripsholm.

Estelle Ferrell Schwartz was born at Severn Wharf at Russell West’s place, and Mildred Ferrell Hastings was born at Gustavia King’s place.

All of Mama and Papa’s children were born at Grandma Thomas’s in the bedroom downstairs, except Ann and I, who were born at Perrin.
Cousin Jimmie Thomas, Uncle Bill Shackelford, and Morris Hogge were superintendents of Sunday School at Union Baptist Church.

Mr. Joseph “Josie” Robins and two of his sons were Deacons of Union Baptist Church.

Locate the following: The Joel Hayes—Andrew Rowe Store; The Honeypod Tree; The Beaverdam; Yonder; Bob King’s Store; Marchum’s Graveyard; Severn School; Henry King’s Camp; The Old Salem.

Mr. Bob Rowe sold homemade ice cream from door to door … you took your bowl to the gate and bought the amount you wanted.
There have been four schools at Achilles.

Uncle John F. Rowe, the son of Grandpa Sterling Rowe, died on a boat on his way home from Norfolk in December, 1913.

Uncle Howard Hall was a lieutenant commander on a submarine in World War I.

Percy Robins sold beef from door-to-door from his truck.

Aunt Mattie Brown, Uncle Carroll Brown’s wife, taught school at Severn and Marked Pine.

Blanch Shackelford, the daughter of George and Rachel Brown Shackelford, died in childbirth. Her request was, as death neared, “Bury my baby in my arms.” The baby had died the day before and was buried on the Charlie Clayton farm at Hayes. It was exhumed and placed in her arms, and they were buried at Union Baptist Cemetery. Blanch died on July 21, 1914. Her husband, John Jennings, had died in March of the same year.

Willie Brown, Papa’s brother, died of pneumonia in France during World War I. He is buried there.

Mr. Joe Wash Smith and Grandma Martha Ellen Brown are first cousins.

Uncle Bill Thomas, the grandfather of Hammond Robins Jr., had his large house built for $125 by Mr. George Raynor.

Two of the oldest houses in Guinea are Uncle Ralph Rowe’s house, known to us as the Ira Brown house, and Uncle Levi Thomas’s house, known to us as Little Eddie King’s place.

The mother of Captain Noah F. Deal and wife of Robert Lee Deal, Elizabeth Robins Deal, died in childbirth. Minutes before she died, she said, “Run get Bob Lee, everything is turning black.” By the time he reached her side, she was dead. Grandma Methisa Winder Brown, a midwife, was with her.

The original wrought iron fence surrounding the graves of Sterling Rowe Sr. and his wife, Frances Belvin Rowe, is still standing. It was placed there in 1889. This is located at Union Baptist Cemetery.

The wrought iron fence surrounding the graves of William Shackelford, his two wives, and son, James Shackelford, are still standing. James died in 1879, and his last wife died in 1912. These graves are located at the Thomas Cemetery at Severn.

Joel “Tudor” Rowe and his wife, Ellen Freeman Rowe, gave the land for Union Baptist Cemetery in 1883. They are buried near the old church and near the road.

When the hearse bearing the body of Uncle Carey Bland passed the home of Mr. Sam Smith on its way to Union Baptist Cemetery, Mr. Smith made the remark, “I’ll be next.” He was. They died in 1891.

What is the capital of Guinea? Achilles! Maybe Perrin! Or Bena! Maryus! Severn! Or Jenkins Neck! Your guess is as good as mine.

Lydia Thomas, the first wife of Billy Thomas, and daughter of Jimmie and Nannie H. Thomas, and sister of Hallie T. Forrest, died in childbirth. She died at Gustavia King’s place.

The Hall Cemetery is located on the corner of Mrs. Leah Hogge, Mr. Peter West and Willie Shifflett land. There is nothing visible there now.

Mr. George Raynor moved the large house of Mr. Stonewall Rowe about ¼ of a mile down to the banks of the Severn River. He used oxen. It is told that the clock wasn’t moved from the mantle while the house was being moved.

The first person buried at Union Baptist Cemetery was Ralph Rowe, the child of Bannister Rowe and Missouri Rowe. He was buried near the old church not far from Mama and Papa’s grave but was later moved near the center of the cemetery where there was more room for the entire family.

In 1870, the family of John Thomas set aside the Thomas Cemetery of Severn as a burying ground. His children who gave the land are Robert, John Jr., James, and Elizabeth Thomas and Grandma Mary Ann Shackelford.

Uncle Edster Hall, his son Leamond Hall, Uncle Billy F. Thomas, and Uncle Ralph Rowe were each sheriff of Gloucester County.

The Chapel at Maryus was a branch of Union Baptist Church. It was founded in 1895. The land for the church was given by Mr. Thomas Hogge in 1894. Mr. Olsey Hall was Superintendent of Sunday School. Services were held Sunday afternoons, and it was a thriving church for a while. It closed about 1930 when transportation to Union became easier. The building later burned.

Miss Alice J. Thornton and her brother, Meaux Thornton, were the first teachers at Achilles School. Miss Alice died in 1930.

Harvey Phillips was janitor of Achilles School after Tom Hogge retired.

Wilbur Templeman opened his barber shop at Bena after graduating from Barber School in 1948.

Mr. Joseph H. Roberts and Captain Willie C. Brown were half-brothers.

In the Thirties, Grandma Thomas cooked hominy. It was my job to take Bubber Joe and Aunt Beulah, Mr. and Mrs. Walter King, and Cousin Walter Hogge a bowl each. She would save a bowl for Mama and Papa and still have plenty for herself. I didn’t care for hominy then, now I do.

I remember Mama bringing Grandma fish all cleaned. After Mama left, Grandma would say, “I wonder if Lela salted these fish.” She would put the tip of her tongue on the fish and say, “Yes, they are salted,” and properly put them away for breakfast.

Cleveland Smith was a carpenter. He built many homes in Guinea. He built the Henry Abernathy house, and he and Bubber Joe Thomas built Papa’s large porch. Paul Smith was a contractor. Teny worked for him.

Mr. Decatur Belvin was captain of a large ship in Baltimore, Maryland.

There have been eleven sets of twins in the Rowe family since 1800.

In 1909, Captain Willie Brown donated a piece of land to Union Baptist Church for a Baptizing House at Sedgy Creek.

Mr. Joseph Brown, Larry Brown’s grandfather, spent his last days at the Old Soldiers Home in Richmond, Virginia.

When Joel Thomas Sr. married his first wife, Indiana Rowe, on January 14, 1855, his second wife was two months old. Frances Ann Williams was born on November 17, 1854.

Grandpa Joel H. Thomas and Grandma Mildred Ann Shackelford Thomas were second cousins.

Uncle Willie and Aunt Olie Hogge moved back to Guinea from Newport News in 1920.

When the Electric Line came to Guinea in the Thirties, Grandma Thoams had her grandson, Buster Thomas, wire her house. Each room and porch had a pull chain in the center. The day the electricity was connected, I went to the store and didn’t get home until almost dark. Grandma had the lamp lit in the kitchen. I asked her why she didn’t pull the chain and turn the lights on. Her comment to me was, “I wanted you to be the first to turn it on.” When I did, the whole kitchen lit up. We were proud to have electricity. Grandma called it “Lectic.”

The oldest ones present at our family reunions were Aunt Olie and Aunt Nett, Papa’s sisters.

Mr. George D. Ash, who founded the G. D. Ash and Son that later became Perrin Post Office, had a brother in business with him by the name of John B. Ash. He went to Baltimore on a buying trip for the store. He stayed in a hotel that night. He went to bed and blew out the gas light instead of turning it off. He was asphyxiated. He died on July 19, 1885.

The Court Records of 1824 ordered the Sheriff to take possession of the Estate of Elizabeth Thomas, deceased, as no one had applied as administrator. This is the widow of James Thomas and mother of Jese, Washington and John Thomas.

Most houses years ago had lightning rods on them to keep from being struck by lightning.

In 1784, my fourth great-grandfather, Bannister Rowe, had a family of ten in his home.

In the thirties, Aunt Beulah Thomas had a large carbuncle on her face on the right cheek. It was the size of a biscuit. I remember seeing Bubber Joe dress it. She was scratched by a cat.

Thomas Jefferson was President of the United States when Union Baptist Church was formed.

Uncle Peter Smith, brother of Grandma Martha Jane Smith Thomas, blew up a Yankee gunboat during the Civil War.

Perrin Post Office was founded in 1911 at Sedgy Creek. It was moved from Sedgy Creek to the G. D. Ash and Son Store in 1934 and closed in 1955.
Severn Post Office used to be at Hammond Robins’ corner.

Alton Paul and Alicia Brown are related to Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Buddy Smith, my next-door neighbor, was killed in action in World War II.

May 29, 1929, Uncle John F. Rowe gave a piece of land to the Union Baptist Church. It was located to the west of the old church.

September 1913, Aunt Missouri Rowe gave one acre of land to Union Baptist Church. It is located on the east side of the present church. Today a beautiful parsonage sits on this land.

When Grandma Thomas died, I was in school in Kentucky. I took the train to Norfolk, where I was met by Uncle Val Hallet and his mother. When we reached Grandma’s home my brother Lawrence was the first to greet me, his arm was in a sling. He had just had surgery for a bone felon on his finger. Lois went with me to the casket in the living room. At the funeral, Aunt Addie Ferrell and I walked together and led the procession in the church. Edward was stationed in Fort McPherson, Georgia. He received a furlough, but could not borrow from the Red Cross, so his buddies in his barracks took up a collection for him to get home. He left immediately, but did not get home in time for the funeral.

Joel Thomas Sr. was oyster inspector of Gloucester County in 1893.

Aunt Annie Shackelford, the oldest daughter of Joel Thomas Sr. and Indiana Rowe Thomas, lived to be 100 years old, 1860-1960.

Rebecca Shackelford Rowe has just celebrated her 100th birthday this August 23, 1992. Happy Birthday, Beck.

In the Gloucester Court records of May, 1860, the following stores in Guinea were given licenses to sell ardent spirits: Warner Hogg, Edward H. Rowe, Grandpa Sterling Rowe, John F. Rowe, Grandpa Jese Thomas.

Sometime later, Grandpa William Shackelford sold whiskey at Severn.

Part of the land of the old Achilles High School was given in part by the heirs of Joel “Tudor” Rowe.

I find in the Gloucester Court records of 1835, the mention of Guinea as the location of the store of Joel Hayes who was given license to sell ardent spirits.

Aunt Nett Robins sang at Grandma Thomas’s funeral.

In 1868, Union Baptist Church granted letters of dismissal for its colored members to form a church of their own. They formed the Morning Star Baptist Church located about a mile from Union. It is a beautiful and thriving church today.

The year the Bethlehem United Methodist Church of Bena was formed, George Washington was President of the United States.

Bubber Joe Thomas’s house burned in 1954.

My what memories we have today, some pleasant, some sad, but most of all, good memories.

Union Baptist Church at Achilles, left, dismissed members in good standing to form First Morning Star Baptist Church, right. Both are shown in 1938, long before their present houses of worship were constructed.