Dinner at Mama Lowe's in Bowling Green

 J. Mark Lowe

Bell & Howell 8mm Film Camera, Case, & Bright Lights

I’ve been watching the movies my parents made with a Bell & Howell 8mm film movie camera.  The film had to be loaded in a dark or dim place, and when completed, it needed to be removed in the same type of dark place.  That’s why some sections of the film are very washed out or impossible to view.  Once there was film made, it had to be sent off for developing, which seemed to take about two weeks.  Once the film returned, we would gather in our living room at night. Dad would setup the screen, the projector, and load the film.  There would be a couple of seconds of clicking as the projector caught the film and loaded it into the lighted path for viewing.  Once it got started on the roll, Dad would click the sprocket will and the sound was smoother.  There was no sound, so we often made comments throughout the film.  We often begged Dad as the film was ending to let it run backward.  Many times he humored us, and would let the entire film run backwards.  We were seeing it again, but this time people walked backwards or the tractor rolled in reverse. This was an easy comical event for about 3-5 minutes of recorded motion. 

Watching these old Christmas film has provided much information to my old memory.  Since we were talking about Christmas Dinner, my Dad was not one to film the enormous tables at my Grandmother’s house when he first purchased the camera.  So I had to resort to an earlier still picture of one of her tables. It was not uncommon to have several generations of family at Mama Lowe’s house.  In this picture there are Aunts, Great Aunts, Cousins, and Mama Lowe in the center. She had enormous tables in her dining room, but a small kitchen.  She actually had a Nesco oven on her back porch where she could bake and roast, including her outstanding pecan pie. 

Brother Wayne, Aunt Martha, Cuz Don, Sister Beverly

The family always enjoyed sitting around the table and catching up on the best stories.  My Dad’s family was known for their great stories and unbelievable adventures. So, Christmas Dinner would include the latest escapades or supposed antics.  My Uncle Ralph was a wonderful storyteller, and would begin to tell some stories about my Dad.  He always referred to Cedar Hill, Tennessee as Dodge City (i.e.. Gunsmoke) and my Dad as Marshall Dillon. So, he would ask about the latest showdowns in the street or how Miss Kitty was doing.  Then my Uncle Junior ‘Ernie’ would add in, and we would all laugh at the crazy stories of these two.  My Dad would add a few comments from time-to-time, but he would save his best stories for the ride home, where he would be uninterrupted.

Remember that we often exchanged names  (or drew names) for presents.  In 2021, I just found two little pieces of folded paper in an old box of my Mom’s. They are the names they drew for Christmas in 1964. That was the first Christmas after our grandmother, Mama Lowe passed. We gathered at the home of Aunt Ione & Uncle Ralph in Bowling Green KY. Apparently Mom & Dad drew Ralph & Ione for gifts that Christmas. We gathered the next year (1965) at my parents’ house in Cedar Hill, TN. (that my Uncle Ralph referred to as Dodge City, i.e. Gunsmoke). Now, I must go find the 8mm home movie to see what my folks gave them.

Our family gatherings were always full of laughter and silliness. The smaller kids would gather in the floor of her living room to play some games, while the adults lingered over the great food and extreme stories.  Some years, we also celebrated the birthday of Uncle Junior ‘Ernie’, which was the 28th of December.  When we also celebrated the birthday separately, the honoree would open his birthday presents before the Christmas presents were distributed. 

Uncle Junior ‘Ernie’ was  known for hiding money (dollar bills or larger) inside our Christmas presents, so often he would get a gift that made no sense, but there would be a little green corner sticking out on the side – Aha!!  We would all laugh as he discovered the money and showed each gift with a thank you.   

My Dad, J.W. and Uncle Kenny (married to Martha)

My grandmother, Mama Lowe, was a central figure in my early Christmases.  She would often come down to visit us in Cedar Hill, usually riding the train from Bowling Green to Guthrie, KY, where we would pick her up at the Depot.  We, children, often visited her in the Summer, also riding the train from Guthrie to Bowling Green.  Those were amazing adventures that I will talk about in later editions..  I only knew Mama Lowe as a youngster knows his grandmother.  She passed away when I was seven years old, and although we had many experiences together, most of my knowledge comes from the stories and events remembered. 

She would purchase fun and unique toys for us every year. She made many garments for us over the years, because she was a Master Seamstress.  She worked at the National Stores – a department store in downtown Bowling Green.  We often visited the Store when we there in the Summer, or if we stopped by when the family had driven up for another reason. My grandfather had died in 1948, and she had worked hard throughout the War years, managing lunch counters at railroad depots in Corbin KY and Evansville IN, along with being at Bowling Green part of the time.  Papa Lowe worked for Union News which operated the Depots for the L&N railroad.  

My Mom, who was the daughter-in-law, told me so many stories about the family. She often described ME as being..just like Papa Lowe… I’m still not sure of exactly how I am like this man.  She told me about Dad’s brother, Austin, who died from a brain tumor. It was my Uncle Austin, who studied and talked with my Mom about becoming a Christian.  She said he constantly reassured her about J.W. (my Dad) being safe in the South Pacific and coming home.  Austin died on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, 1950.  Often the Christmas discussions over the years would include stories of Austin and Mary Ida.  Mary Ida was the youngest child who died as a 7-year-old with an undiagnosed ailment. 

Papa Lowe & Mama Lowe with brother, Joe and sister, Bev

My grandmother was a positive woman, who could appear stern when necessary.  Visiting in her house was always joyous.  She would talk with me about things she had collected or had been given that I noticed.  Every gift that she opened included a large laugh, a big smile, and a most gracious thank you.   At some point, the gifts took a back seat, and the fellowship and love of this large family was overwhelming and heart filling.

Mama Lowe and her sister, Aunt Esta Tabor - 
note the Lowe's Feed Mill almanac calendar
on the wall - Also a Cardui. 

There were lots of robes, dress shirts, ties, tie clips, hair bonnets, underwear, and other practical items gifted over the years.  

Bu the end of the afternoon, we were all exhausted, but if we had time, we would load up the car, and head over to our Granny Parker’s house.  We typically came up another day for a Parker Family Christmas, but we tried to make a quick visit when there was time.  Then, it was back to Tennessee.  I’m sure that I was conked out and provided only quiet moments for my parents – I was actually saving my energy to play with all my new presents when we got home. 

(Next Edition – Memories of Christmas Toys and More Fun)