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- [S24] The Newport Plain Talk, (http://www.newportplaintalk.com), 18 May 2013.
Vella’s 85 years in Point Pleasant
By KATHY HEMSWORTH
POINT PLEASANT–The house off Turner Ridge Road was built in 1925, and Vella Calfee was born in that house on Nov. 5, 1927. She explained her parents, James Walker Calfee and the former Bertie Reed, had farmed the 64-acre farm as she was growing up. Around back, by her garden, are the remnants of a cabin. Vella’s sister, Zetta Lois, was born in that cabin in 1922. Vella’s parents and sister are gone now, and she and her son, Robert Caldwell, live in the house where she was born and tend to the family farm. They have 23 head of cattle on that farm today. Discussing her life and the history of the community, she points out she still owns the carriage her family used as she was growing up. She said she recalls her parents riding on the bench of the carriage and she and her sister riding in the back.
“The carriage was for travel,” she noted. “We had a wagon for farm use. We used the wagon, which was pulled by two horses, to haul tobacco, vegetables, and anything farm related.”
Vella said the Point Pleasant community has definitely changed during her 85 years. “I don’t know many people that live there in the community now, most of them I knew died. I think I may be the oldest person in the community who has lived there their entire life,” she added.
She remembers when Solomon Ferry was in operation and had to be used to cross the river to Hamblen County. Actually, she recalls riding the ferry with her mother and sister. Vella attended Talley Memorial School, which was in operation in the Point Pleasant community. The old school building is still standing today, and for more than 50 years has served as a community store. She went on to Newport Grammar School then graduated from Cocke County High School. She attended Morristown Business College and took accounting classes at LaSalle University. Vella worked more than 35 years for American Enka in an of? ce position, spent 14 months as a private secretary for a doctor, and in June, will celebrate her 29th anniversary working for Douglas-Cherokee Economic Authority.
One of Vella’s favorite hobbies is gardening.
“I love to garden and I have to always have one,” she said. “I tend about a half-acre garden.”
Her favorite vegetables are green beans and onions. She even plants green onions year round, growing 15 pots of onions on her porch.
She also enjoys playing the piano and singing, a hobby she has had since she was 17.
Being raised in the country on a farm, Vella learned to cook at an early age, and enjoys cooking and creates her own recipes. Two of her most popular creations are her sweet tea and her strawberry pie, which she often makes for fundraisers and bene? ts. Her sweet tea has sold as high as $235 per gallon and her pie has sold for $100. She said in the past she made an “Vella Calfee original” cake which sold for as much as $105.
She has still found time to serve with other organizations. She joined Cocke County Republican Women in 1963. The club disbanded for a few years, but she rejoined when the club reorganized in the 1990s. She has served three two-year terms as president and currently serves on the club’s executive board. Vella served as Cocke County Republican Party chair for a year and served as vice-chair for two years. She was honored as Statesman of the Year in 2010 and was recognized at a ceremony in Nashville.
In addition, she has been a member of the Kiwanis Club of Newport since 2006.
She serves on the board of directors for Cocke County Adult Education. She was the ? rst treasurer for the board, and served in that position for 20 years.
Vella has attended New Home Free Will Baptist Church her entire life, and has served as song director, assistant song director, pianist, church clerk, and assistant secretary.
“I just try to stay as active as I can,” she said, smiling. “I believe in staying busy.”
Vella said she and her son are the only two members of her family remaining. “We enjoy living on the farm and keeping things going,” she said.
- [S112] Census, 1940.
Name: Vella Calfee
Titles and Terms:
Event Type: Census
Event Date: 1940
Event Place: Civil District 3, Cocke, Tennessee, United States
Gender: Female
Age: 12
Marital Status: Single
Race (Original):
Race: White
Relationship to Head of Household (Original):
Relationship to Head of Household: Daughter
Birthplace: Tennessee
Birth Year (Estimated): 1928
Last Place of Residence: Same House
District: 15-7
Family Number: 143
Sheet Number and Letter: 9A
Line Number: 30
Affiliate Publication Number: T627
Affiliate Film Number: 3881
Digital Folder Number: 005461287
Image Number: 00192
Household Gender Age Birthplace
Head James W Calfee M 52 Tennessee
Wife Verdie Calfee F 44 Tennessee
Daughter Zetta Lois Calfee F 17 Tennessee
Daughter Vella Calfee F 12 Tennessee
- [S58] Marriage Certificate.
Name: James Calfie
Birth Date:
Birthplace:
Age:
Spouse's Name: Bertie Reed
Spouse's Birth Date:
Spouse's Birthplace:
Spouse's Age:
Event Date: 09 Sep 1914
Event Place: Cocke, Tennessee
Father's Name:
Mother's Name:
Spouse's Father's Name:
Spouse's Mother's Name:
Race:
Marital Status:
Previous Wife's Name:
Spouse's Race:
Spouse's Marital Status:
Spouse's Previous Husband's Name:
Indexing Project (Batch) Number: I03651-8
System Origin: Tennessee-EASy
GS Film number: 1928644
Reference ID: pg 529
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