donbosco
Inconceivable Member
- Messages
- 3,122
The adults said, “Found him in a ditch.” Little boy me would question, "Who?" In turn in response to conversations that adults around me were having I would ask, “Who wrecked his truck?" Or. “Who ran off to South Carolina with that Jones girl?” I would query. “Jacob Marshall," would be the answer. Whether it be Chatham County folks, Piedmont People, other Southerners, Anyone. Anywhere. Anytime. It was Jacob Marshall 24-7. He was into everything, did all drastic deeds, wrecked his car, got drunk, lost his job, left his wife, was found in a ditch, skipped church, cheated his neighbor, got sent to Camp Butner, and on and on. I never met Jacob Marshall though because he was a #DeepChatham Creation. Maybe better said - Jacob Marshall was UNreal.
In fact, it was that name that my parents and other adults used when discussing local happenings around children. The best that I can figure is that this was done to insure that we not pass on gossip ourselves and such things come back to haunt our parents. You know that “little *pitchers* have big ears” after all. Of course the adults always knew who they were talking about through context. My Momma had a way of saying the name and then clicking her tongue - she clearly enjoyed doing that. Then she’d smile a quirky smile. And return to The Tall Tales of Jacob Marshall.
In truth this Jacob Marshall figure was a rather ingenious one occupying an important liminal space in a T-Totaling boot-legging, properly Christian yet often outlaw culture. I imagined him unkempt, family-less, and unshaven. Just the same, as a young boy I thought him the most remarkable character in the world...so busy, so outrageous...little did I realize he was the sum total of all such "happenings" in my little world of #DeepChatham. Whenever I saw a ‘rough’ looking character along the roadside or hanging around some gas station or country store I wondered (but never asked) if that might be HIM. Jacob Marshall was Chatham’s Shadow.
Now as I think back on Jacob Marshall he becomes, at least to me, a folk hero (anti-hero?). Oh the adventures he had! The tall tales he lived! And spinning a yarn to entertain was sure enough a pastime. From Bonlee Hardware to the Boone Trail Service Station to Hunky Paschal’s Barber Shop the fictional narrative capacity on display was outstanding — all within 100 yards square! From the Bearded Hermit Ole Jess Johnson who forsook an almost glorious career pitching for the St. Louis Cardinals to the “Wild Dogs” of Ore Hill Mountain to the elusive Indians of the Tick Creek Train Trestle the #DeepChatham Chronicles entertained and informed one and all. The Devil’s Tramping Ground needs no mention. That’s a Chatham Tale that went viral long before viral was cool.
Did YOU have a Jacob Marshall in your world?
In fact, it was that name that my parents and other adults used when discussing local happenings around children. The best that I can figure is that this was done to insure that we not pass on gossip ourselves and such things come back to haunt our parents. You know that “little *pitchers* have big ears” after all. Of course the adults always knew who they were talking about through context. My Momma had a way of saying the name and then clicking her tongue - she clearly enjoyed doing that. Then she’d smile a quirky smile. And return to The Tall Tales of Jacob Marshall.
In truth this Jacob Marshall figure was a rather ingenious one occupying an important liminal space in a T-Totaling boot-legging, properly Christian yet often outlaw culture. I imagined him unkempt, family-less, and unshaven. Just the same, as a young boy I thought him the most remarkable character in the world...so busy, so outrageous...little did I realize he was the sum total of all such "happenings" in my little world of #DeepChatham. Whenever I saw a ‘rough’ looking character along the roadside or hanging around some gas station or country store I wondered (but never asked) if that might be HIM. Jacob Marshall was Chatham’s Shadow.
Now as I think back on Jacob Marshall he becomes, at least to me, a folk hero (anti-hero?). Oh the adventures he had! The tall tales he lived! And spinning a yarn to entertain was sure enough a pastime. From Bonlee Hardware to the Boone Trail Service Station to Hunky Paschal’s Barber Shop the fictional narrative capacity on display was outstanding — all within 100 yards square! From the Bearded Hermit Ole Jess Johnson who forsook an almost glorious career pitching for the St. Louis Cardinals to the “Wild Dogs” of Ore Hill Mountain to the elusive Indians of the Tick Creek Train Trestle the #DeepChatham Chronicles entertained and informed one and all. The Devil’s Tramping Ground needs no mention. That’s a Chatham Tale that went viral long before viral was cool.
Did YOU have a Jacob Marshall in your world?
