Elder Interview-Reka Smith
Name/Title
Elder Interview-Reka SmithEntry/Object ID
A.2008.001.443Tags
Needs Accession Sheet, Needs Location, Needs PhotoDescription
Smith, Reka Irene (John) Born 07/26/1914 Parents: Hyson John and Jenny (Skenandore) John She remembers there use to be a cheese factory, train depot, and 3 stores. Her mother did a lot of canning, cooking, and baking. She went to school at the Oneida Mission then went to Wittenberg School and stayed there all winter. She came home only in the summer and graduated from there, she liked going to school in Wittenberg. She learned how to cook, bake, and sew. Both of her parents spoke the Oneida language but never taught the kids. Her mother went to school at the Norbert Hill Center and her father never went to school. Reka worked at the Oneida Golf and Riding Club. She got married at the age of 17. She got divorced and remarried to Ernie Smith in 1946. She worked at American Motors for 18 years. When her 2nd husband passed away she moved back to Oneida. She saw all the changes and went to church every Sunday. She makes quilts and has a quilt right now that they are trying to finish so they could raffle it off. She belongs to the Senior Guild. They are the ones making the quilts. All their quilts are hand sewn. **Transcript in Archives Box 15Recording Type
Audio/VisualCollection
Elder InterviewsCataloged By
Gerzetich, Courtney (Cottrell)Category
Digital Media