TX BIOS:  Mrs. Simon D. Hay
   Selected and converted.American Memory, Library of Congress.
   
   Washington, 1994.
   
   Preceding element provides place and date of transcription only.
   
   This transcription intended to be 99.95% accurate.
   
   For more information about this text and this American Memory
   collection, refer to accompanying matter.
   
   U.S. Work Projects Administration, Federal Writers' Project (Folklore
   Project, Life Histories, 1936-39); Manuscript Division, Library of
   Congress.Copyright status not determined.
   
   00011
   
   [?]
   
   Marjorie Key
   
   November 24, 1936 574 words
   
   Lamb County
   
   District 17
   
   Trades Day and Trades
   
   Trips. 240
   
   Page 1
   
   Bibliography
   
   Mrs. Simon D. Hay, Early Settler, Sudan, Texas
   
   Mrs. Arbie Joplin, Early Settler, Littlefield, Texas
   
   Early/settlers of Lamb County had the right idea for city growth and
   development. Trades day and trades trips played an important part in
   building of the towns of Sudan and Littlefield. The citizenship of
   these two towns has always been made up of wide-awake residents,
   putting forth every effort to better their home towns.
   
   The first trades day and trades trip took place in Sudan in 1925. The
   day before the big event, a caravan of [DEL: thirty :DEL] 30cars,
   supported by a band, left Sudan to tour the trade territory southwest
   of the town. They brought the good will of Sudan and an invitation to
   join in the celebration the following day. Mr. and Mrs. Simon Hay led
   the way because Mr. Hay was well acquainted in all the [DEL:
   meighboring :DEL] neighboringcommunities and "knew his way around."
   They visited Muleshoe, Baileyboro, Goodland, Enochs, Morton and
   others. Everyone had packed a lunch and when they arrived in Goodland,
   they spread their dinner of fried chicken and other good things to
   eat. The men called on the merchants in each town and while they were
   doing this, the Sudan women visited among themselves. Some of the
   boosters [DEL: hadnt :DEL] had notlived in [100?]Lamb County very long
   and it was a good chance for all of them to "get acquainted."
   
   A funny incident happened as they drove into [DEL: Mrton :DEL] Morton,
   county seat of Cochran county. As it turned out, it was something for
   all the Sudanites to remember and have a good laugh about later. As
   the cars approached the main street, the boosters noticed a man
   running out into the street with a gun in his hand, other men were
   seen with fire arms. Mr. Hay recognized the man as [DEL: [?] :DEL]
   JohnMiller, with whom he was acquainted. He asked what the trouble
   was. Mr. [100?]Miller explained that Lehman, a
   
     NOTE: C 12 - 2/11/41 Tex.
     
   00022neighboring town, and Morton had been [DEL: haing :DEL] havinga
   fight over which town should have the court [DEL: - :DEL] house. When
   the men at Morton saw the large number of cars approaching in the
   distance, they thought it was a [DEL: croud :DEL] crowdfrom Lehman
   coming to steal the county seat. The mistake [DEL: by :DEL] wasquickly
   settled by Mr. Hay who explained the situation.
   
   In remarking about the trip Mrs. Hay said, "We were all worn out when
   we retuned to Sudan but everyone had a good time. The town was over
   [DEL: - :DEL] [DEL: croud :DEL] crowdedwith people the next day and we
   100felt that our first trades day had been a success."
   
   Littlefield celebrated its first trades trip as far back as 1917.
   There were very few residents in the town at that time, and this
   seemed a big undertaking for them. A company of about [DEL: sixty
   :DEL] 60people and a band from Lubbock made their first stop in Olton,
   county seat of Lamb County. They spread their lunch under the trees
   near the old county court house that later was destroyed by fire. From
   Olton they went to Spring Lake where they were greeted by
   approximately six people.
   
   Mrs. ArbieJoplin said, "This 100was a great day for the ladies. Even
   though we were burdened with high topped shoes and travelling hats, we
   all had a grand time. I shall never forget those shoes."
   
   These towns still have trades days. The merchants usually make up a
   cash prize, tickets are given with purchases, and the lucky ticket
   wins the money on the appointed day. Large [DEL: crouds :DEL]
   crowdsgather [DEL: and in the early days :DEL] for this event[DEL:
   everyone enjoys the day. :DEL] 74

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