John Miller, Jr. oral history interview 2, 2011 September 14

Description

In this interview John Miller, Jr., Superintendent of Green Acres Rest Home in Charlotte, North Carolina, from 1961 to 1982, continues to describe life at the rest home from his childhood through his time as superintendent. He shares memories of specific families who worked there and of men who influenced him as a boy and recalls trips into Charlotte. Other topics discussed include the older county home, management of the black facility, suicides that occurred at Green Acres, African-American education pre-integration, local church involvement with the rest home, construction of new buildings and the lake, the neighboring Industrial Home for Girls and the laundry service it provided, and farming operations after he became superintendent. Miller also recalls his father's death and his mother's retirement and explains the transition of the County Home from a public institution to a private business. He discusses his creation of a statewide association for rest home operators and recounts the county's decision to build a hospital on County Home land, his subsequent decision to step down from the business, and the rest home's move to downtown Charlotte.