This is my great aunt’s persimmon driver from the 1950’s. She has played many rounds with this club and hit thousands of shots with it and it has stood the test of time and made it to my wall some 60-70+ years later. My Uncle played whenever he could, and up until he couldn’t anymore. My Aunt is still around today to relay these stories and relics, and, she has told me many stories about how her and Uncle Lewis, a small, and I mean small, town working class couple progressing through the middle stages of life, pursued the most upper echelon of recreational activities, playing golf. At the only country club within 200 miles. Mountain City Tennessee doesn’t have much (besides the best McDonalds in the country), and very few making anything significant of themselves was a sad reality for most. My mother’s side, all from the area. All working class, average career, secretary, chip delivery man, grocery store attendant, bus driver, what you would expect from this sort of area. Then there was my mother, the first in the family to go to college and graduate with a bachelor's degree, truly breaking the Mountain City cycle as it came to be known. As the generations progress, in my family, and in those around the world, especially in America, continue to push the boundaries of what has been predetermined for them based on historical patterns, whether that be economic situation, lifestyle, career, etc., and I believe this item encapsulates that identity of my family but also the push for self improvement that so many in this country desire.

– LA

Relationship:  Great-grandchild of im/migrant or more Great-grandchild of im/migrant or more