Louis Lemon, loyal cook, resided in the carriage house until his death in 1952. Although not original items belonging to Louis, the living room looks as if it might have when he lived here in the early 1930s: simple, hand-me-down furnishings, a bare light bulb hanging down.
Grounds
Louis Lemon's Living RoomLouis Lemon, loyal cook, resided in the carriage house until his death in 1952. Although not original items belonging to Louis, the living room looks as if it might have when he lived here in the early 1930s: simple, hand-me-down furnishings, a bare light bulb hanging down.
In 1915, Louis began cooking at the McFaddins' ranch in south Jefferson County. He came to cook at the McFaddin home in the early 1920s. Louis was an excellent chef and a dapper dresser, but he had a temperamental disposition. He disliked intruders in his kitchen and occasionally threw red pepper into the wood stove burners to keep people out. Louis resided in the carriage house until his death in 1952. These rooms look as they might have when he lived here in the early 1930s: simple, hand-me-down furnishings, a bare light bulb hanging down. "It was one of these tall wardrobes. Then he just had one mirror on the wall and one of those throw rugs. He had a little old table, and I think there was a chair.' " - James White, Louis Lemon's nephew, describing Louis' furniture The small stove was only for heating. Louis and other domestic employees usually ate in the main house kitchen.
In 1915, Louis began cooking at the McFaddins' ranch in south Jefferson County. He came to cook at the McFaddin home in the early 1920s. Louis was an excellent chef and a dapper dresser, but he had a temperamental disposition. He disliked intruders in his kitchen and occasionally threw red pepper into the wood stove burners to keep people out. Louis resided in the carriage house until his death in 1952. These rooms look as they might have when he lived here in the early 1930s: simple, hand-me-down furnishings, a bare light bulb hanging down. "It was one of these tall wardrobes. Then he just had one mirror on the wall and one of those throw rugs. He had a little old table, and I think there was a chair.' " - James White, Louis Lemon's nephew, describing Louis' furniture The small stove was only for heating. Louis and other domestic employees usually ate in the main house kitchen.
Cecelia Smith began working for the McFaddins as a young girl helping her mother, laundress Brunie Payne. Ida McFaddin paid for Cecelia and her sister Hilda to attend Holy Rosary School in Galveston. As an adult, Cecelia moved to Galveston, but returned in 1940 to work for the McFaddins. She lived in the east side of the carriage house, furnishing her rooms with her own belongings and with items the McFaddins gave her.
Through the years, Cecelia and her employer, Mamie McFaddin Ward, became close. In 1975, Mamie set up a trust fund for her. After Mamie's death in 1982, Cecelia continued to live in the carriage house until 1985. She died in 1989.
Cecelia's memories, preserved in oral interviews, were invaluable for documenting life at the McFaddin house and carriage house. They are a significant part of the history of the McFaddin-Ward House Museum.
Cecelia Smith began working for the McFaddins as a young girl helping her mother, laundress Brunie Payne. Ida McFaddin paid for Cecelia and her sister Hilda to attend Holy Rosary School in Galveston. As an adult, Cecelia moved to Galveston, but returned in 1940 to work for the McFaddins. She lived in the east side of the carriage house, furnishing her rooms with her own belongings and with items the McFaddins gave her.
Through the years, Cecelia and her employer, Mamie McFaddin Ward, became close. In 1975, Mamie set up a trust fund for her. After Mamie's death in 1982, Cecelia continued to live in the carriage house until 1985. She died in 1989.
Cecelia's memories, preserved in oral interviews, were invaluable for documenting life at the McFaddin house and carriage house. They are a significant part of the history of the McFaddin-Ward House Museum.
The McFaddins paid employees well for the time and often took care of their medical or education costs, but they expected employees to work hard- six or seven days a week with one or two afternoons off. Chauffeurs worked every day. "But now on holidays, they might go and check around, maybe get the paper in, then go on back home. They were off Christmas and Easter." - Frank Molo, Jr., nephew of chauffeur Andrew Molo
Though they had specific tasks, domestic employees also performed other duties as assigned. "He used to drive to the bayou to pick up Mr. McFaddin a bottle of whiskey from those moonshiners. He used to get the best whiskey to make eggnog for Mr. McFaddin - Albertine Parker, referring to her husband, chauffeur Tom Parker
"They were good to you, but you didn't go there to sit down." - Albertine Parker, McFaddin cook and maid
When they were not working, domestic employees who lived onsite usually remained "on call." "Miss Carrie, she was a maid and, say, right after lunch, she'd go in the carriage house and lay down. Louis Lemon would do the same thing. And they had a bell or something that they'd ring when they wanted them, from the big house, you know.". Frank Molo, Jr., nephew of chauffeur Andrew Molo
Domestic employees even accompanied the McFaddins to their beach home on Bolivar Peninsula, where their work was usually easier. "They'd get the kitchen clean and they were free to do what they wanted to do. That was a little vacation right there. - Frank Molo, Jr. nephew of chauffeur Andrew Molo
The McFaddins paid employees well for the time and often took care of their medical or education costs, but they expected employees to work hard- six or seven days a week with one or two afternoons off. Chauffeurs worked every day. "But now on holidays, they might go and check around, maybe get the paper in, then go on back home. They were off Christmas and Easter." - Frank Molo, Jr., nephew of chauffeur Andrew Molo
Though they had specific tasks, domestic employees also performed other duties as assigned. "He used to drive to the bayou to pick up Mr. McFaddin a bottle of whiskey from those moonshiners. He used to get the best whiskey to make eggnog for Mr. McFaddin - Albertine Parker, referring to her husband, chauffeur Tom Parker
"They were good to you, but you didn't go there to sit down." - Albertine Parker, McFaddin cook and maid
When they were not working, domestic employees who lived onsite usually remained "on call." "Miss Carrie, she was a maid and, say, right after lunch, she'd go in the carriage house and lay down. Louis Lemon would do the same thing. And they had a bell or something that they'd ring when they wanted them, from the big house, you know.". Frank Molo, Jr., nephew of chauffeur Andrew Molo
Domestic employees even accompanied the McFaddins to their beach home on Bolivar Peninsula, where their work was usually easier. "They'd get the kitchen clean and they were free to do what they wanted to do. That was a little vacation right there. - Frank Molo, Jr. nephew of chauffeur Andrew Molo
Louis Lemon's Living Room
