The Hale brothers in their family home
The two Hale brothers Olan age 88 and A.D., age 95 stand in the livingroom of the second Hale Family home located in the McCall community. The Hale brothers said they have named their community " Haleville" . This home, built in the mid 1950s is now uninhibited except for being used for Hale Family gatherings. Hanging on the wall behind the Hale brothers a painting can be seen of their original home. The original home built circa 1936 sat within a few feet of the house seen here where they stand. This home today sits on a forty acre parcel of fertile land that was sold to their father for $300. A. D. holds a land deed from former owners Wilshire and Stella Jernigan. Other Hale family members have built their own homes to fill the land around this former farm. A. D. And Olan have four siblings, all still living but one sister Mary Francis, aged 40 was killed in a car accident in November of 1967. Besides these brothers the remaining siblings are Hilton, age 89, Lillie Ruth Graves, and age 84, Betty Jo Pettis, age 81.
The three boys and three girls walked from this farm through the woods on a trail that led them to school at McCall. When the Escambia County Board of Education made the decision to designate McCall a Jr. High School in 1948 the Hale children were sent to finish their High School education at Flomaton.
A. D. and Olan remembers helping their father farm cotton, corn and peanuts. The Hales started farming with one mule and a Georgia Stock plow, gradually moving up to own a cultivator pulled by two mules. Eventually hard work and determination earned the Hale family a used two row Avery tractor. Determination and better times put icing on the cake with a brand new 1951 Minneapolis Moline tractor.
The Hale brothers shared their memories of having electric lights put into their home circa 1948. One drop cord with a light hung centered in the middle of each room. Their home was outfitted with a bathroom by walling off part of the back porch.
Life started to ease somewhat for the Hale family. A. D. graduated from Flomaton High School in 1944 and soon was called to fulfill his military duty by the US Navy where he spent his entire time at Treasure Island Naval Base in California. His time serving his country was short lived as he was called up and honorably discharged between Feb. 1945 and April 1946. WWII had ended and A. D. was sent home without seeing any combat action.
A local Flomaton High School graduate, Dinkey Odom, believes that A. D. may be the oldest living McCall Alumnus.
A.D. shares the history of his birth with telling about how cold it was in the house where he was born somewhere near Wolf Log Creek. He remembers being told that the house was probably log and planks with spaces for the cold air to creep in. Born on the 28th of December 1925, his mother was attended by relatives and Dr. Abernathy from Flomaton. A. D. said his aunt ( ? ) shared that the doctor was using a towel and washcloth for cleaning his hands during the birthing process, the doctor would wash his hands, dry them on the towel and hang both on the back of a chair facing the fireplace to find the water in the wash pan and the towel/bath cloth had frozen before he needed them again.
A. D.'s birth weight was said to have been 14 lbs. We all got a laugh at how that weight and the frozen birthing room made him a hearty little feller.
The brothers bantered back and forth about how things were back in the day when their floors had cracks that allowed them to drop cornbread and biscuit crumbs down to the free range chickens underneath the house.
Olan shared that his memory of the original house being built when he was about four years old. The opening in the wall for where the chimney was to be built was where he crawled in and out while the building was being done. He had his own personal doorway.
A.D. worked for Alabama Power for 28 years and seven months. Olan worked for Chemstrand/Monsanto for 30 years. Both brothers have a solid understanding of life and how they lived and how they care for each other and their family gives an understanding of how humble and gracious life was and still is lived by the Hale brothers.
A.D. lost his first wife and is now remarried to his second wife Marie. They live in a lovely home on Appleton Road fronted by a berm of beautiful amaryllis.
Olan lost his first wife, remarried after a few years and then his second wife died. Asked if he was open to another marriage, he answered, "No I think I'm done with marriage".
Olan lives on the farm in his own house but does caretaking for all the outbuildings and the Hale home. He said he eats well because his sister Ruth lives just a few yards away and cooks really good food for herself and him. Olan did let me know that he can cook because he had to learn when his wife became ill and he did the care taking for himself and her. He tells me, " My sister Ruth will have lunch done in about another 45 minutes and it will be really good. She makes her cornbread in a glass pan, but my way has always been to cook cornbread in a black iron skillet. Hers is good though".
By the twinkle in his eye I know what awaits him.
Olan shared that he has done very little traveling, but has been to see the Smoky Mountains. He said he has done lots of fishing and still loves that pastime. He points to a beautiful fishpond in the property that he says has some really good Bluegills. He measures with his hand to smile and tell me, "They make good eating". I believe him.
I follow the brothers as they amble along in that way old Southern gentleman do around the grounds to point out the barn built in circa 1930, a huge pecan tree that their Daddy planted in the early 1930's, then to a large pine tree that was one of three that Olan's son planted in mid/late 1950. A. D. smiles as he tells me they don't plant pine trees near the house anymore because of the danger of storms.
I am aware of the gentle way between the brothers of give and take in their sorting out details of things they share with me. The focus of listening to the other one, nodding in agreement or the soft exchange of a different detail of memory.
I see years of practiced diplomacy while staying true to their love and respect for each other.
The brothers stood in front of and beside things while allowing me to take pictures as they gave me this interview.
Olan said he had made a big garden for the family until a year or so ago when he made a decision to stop for the simple reason of just not being physically able to hold out to do all the hard work required for planting, tending, and gathering the vegetables. He said he had gathered a huge load of peas that the brothers and sisters and others were shelling when he suddenly announced that he was done with gardening. A sister ask why. Olan answered, " If Y'all want anymore vegetables planted you better save your money to get them planted because I'm just to worn down and it's too hot".
He shared, " That is something all elderly folks come to accept eventually. Time takes it toll on old backs and folks that have always worked the soil understand when it's time to call "TIMES".
The Hale brothers worked many different jobs in their public working years besides those they called a career, but listening to the brothers talk and share their memories let me know I was in the presence of some great and good men.
From family member Peggy Hale, I was told that A. D. is the Pastor for Friendship Holiness Church on Appleton Road and Olan attends Edendale Holiness Church on Thomas Road out near the Brewton Airport. He attends brother A.D.'s church on Tuesday night, then to his church, Edendale on Wednesday night, then to church in Bay Minette with his stepson on Thursday night and back to his home church of Edendale on Sunday.
I was privileged to see the influence of their faith in our conversation. Peggy shared with me that she loves this family that she has been part of for 47 years. When she had surgery last fall they all tried to take care of her.
The Hale parents surely set a high standard for the brothers and I'm sure the other siblings followed the same examples.
In ending this interview with my friends, I was moved to listen to the farewells between the brothers as they thanked each other for visiting and asking several times if the other needed anything done for them.
In the presence of good hearts, one just knows it.
Mr. A. D. has 35 years in Iridology as an Herbalist and in Kinesiology. He shared with me that after he retired from Alabama Power he studied and hired on with a company that sold Herbs and Minerals. He traveled all over the world to attend conventions and share his knowledge of the natural way to better health. He said, " I'm not trying to make a lot of money, I just want to help people live better through better health practices".
If you happen to be near Haleville, you will be blessed if you stop to visit with the Hales. You will be welcomed and instantly feel as if you have known them for a lifetime. That is a sure sign of having a Godly spirit. I have been blessed to spend time and interview these fine men, the kind I call Great Americans.
