Loose Leaf Notes

The brick installations at the Old Marshall Jail feature bricks made by my Asheville Potter son Josh’s mobile brick factory, stamped with stories that he took from interviews and by everyday people in the Marshall community and beyond. Their readings by Josh were recorded during my recent visit. I think they read like spoken word poetry.

…If these walls could talk they’d tell you a story about the television that hung in the corner and how Geraldine Brown would watch it through the window during her overnight shift as the dispatcher. During those 26 years that she worked in this jail, these walls would tell you stories from those long nights and the biscuits she’d make in the morning. If these walls could talk…

The carpet was green  back then and wood paneling hung on the walls back then… If these walls could talk they would tell you stories about the food that was cooked and eaten, pinto beans and cornbread and Sharon Brown who drove to Greenville for discount cans when money was tight. Everyone ate the same food no matter what side of the bars you were on…

If these wall could talk they’d tell you about this room and how it was called “the command center” in E.Y. Ponders time. Folks say E.Y. could find out anything with just a couple of phone calls…He had a deputy in every holler. AJ Bridges was one of those deputies and as far as AJ is concerned he’s still a deputy to this day. You can walk over to Bowman’s Hardware and ask him yourself…

If these walls could talk, they would tell you a story about the people who were locked up in this jail. They would tell you about Omar Smith who escaped through the roof and jumped to the radio tower. He was gone for 9 months and made it all the way to New Orleans. We know because he told us how he did and the walls remember. If you ask Omar what he was in for he would “raising hell…” For most of its history this jail was low security. Folks say E.Y. Ponder used to let the boys go fishing in the pond as long as they were back in their cells by dark.   It wasn’t all Mayberry though. Remember that …

…If these walls could talk they would tell you a story about Clod Ball. Some folks say he was locked up in this jail for five years. No one really remembers how long it was or exactly why he was here. Maybe because he had mental illness and there were really no mental health services back then.  Regardless, he had a big beard and a wild look in his eye.  It’s said that E.Y. Ponder would bring local kids who were getting in trouble up to see Clod Ball in his cell. Clod would play the part and scare those kids straight. If these walls could talk they would whisper the names and the people who many are forgotten. Many wanted to forget…