Elder Interview-Blanche Powless
Name/Title
Elder Interview-Blanche PowlessEntry/Object ID
A.2008.001.334Tags
Needs Accession Sheet, Needs Location, Needs PhotoDescription
Powless, Blanche (Hill) Born 12/22/1927 Parents: Dennison and Sadie (Powless) Hill Maternal grandparents: Gerald and Cynthia (Denny) Powless Paternal grandparents: Ludwig and Lucy Rose Hill Her grandparents had very little education. Her dad went to Flandreau, South Dakota, and her mother went to the government school here in Oneida. Her dad was a carpenter. They lived on Hwy 54 going toward Seymour. She went to Trout Creek School, and then she went to the Oneida Mission School. They moved to the Old Oneida Hospital. They did not have transportation. The people next door had a horse and wagon, so they would ask them for a ride. Her mother was a good cook, bake a lot, she made quilts, sewed a lot and a good homemaker. They did not have running water or electricity, Her chores was to go and get the eggs, milk and sometime some wood. When she lived in the Old Oneida Hospital in 1947 that building burn down. On Sunday, they went to Church and after Church; they came home and had a Sunday dinner. On Christmas Eve, they went to Midnight Mass. Then in the morning, they go to open their presents. On Easter, they went to Church her father used to take some water to Church. Then they came home and ate there Easter dinner. Her parents spoke the Oneida language. If someone got sick, they took some home remedy of some kind. Her father walks to do their shopping in Oneida at the farmer Store. Her and mother made corn soup. She graduated from the Oneida Mission School in 1941. She went to an all girl school Springfield, South Dakota for 2 years. Then she came back to Oneida. She went to school in West De Pere for a short while, then to East Green Bay and she graduated from there. After school, she went to work in Milwaukee for a while. Then she got married to Edmond Powless in 1945 in Milwaukee. They have 5 daughters, 7 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren. They built a house near Green Bay and still live there. Her advice to the youth is to stay in school and have respect for others.Recording Type
Audio/VisualCollection
Elder InterviewsCataloged By
Gerzetich, Courtney (Cottrell)Category
Digital Media