There is a section of Martin County that is known for two Cy Young award winners, Gaylord and Jim Perry, and all of their accomplishments playing baseball. On the other hand, I know it for the hardworking, friendly, compassionate, good and honest people who live there.

Farm Life is a section of the county that extends from N.C. Highway 171 to U.S. Highway 17 North. It borders Beaufort County close to Big Swamp and Old Ford. The hospitality in the Farm Life community is as good as it gets anywhere.

With last names like Tice, Griffin, Hardison, Lilley, Revels, Manning, Peele, Roberson and Rogers, a person has to be careful who they talk about because they are all related in some way. They can talk about one another, but an outsider better not get caught talking about a native from Farm Life! These families are close and parents teach family values that they expect to be carried over into school. They raise their children the old fashion way and expect their children to work hard at home and in school.

Each year, churches in the area have traditional dinner on the grounds. This is at the conclusion of a week of revival and is a chance to invite people from town to experience the best food they will ever eat. The food is prepared by the ladies and is served on the grounds of the church. Family members from out of town are always invited and carry home some of the leftovers, if there are any. Parents are proud to have their children from college home and get to brag about their accomplishments, and rightfully so.

The center of activity in Farm Life use to be at the old Asa Manning Farm Life School that is now closed. This is where games could be played, and basketball and baseball games were the most commonly played games. Asa Manning Farm Life School is no longer in existence, but riding past, it still seems like you can hear the kids playing in the school yard. Youth no longer play games there, but it was a hub for great athletes in its time. The Griffins Township fire department was the center of activity and now has been replaced by a newer one close to the old fire house.

The people mostly are farmers and proud to carry on the tradition their parents started. Tobacco has been replaced by corn, soy beans, peanuts and cotton. I have seen farmers on combines riding the road to help a fellow farmer who was sick or passed away, get their crops in. I’ve even seen farmers gather at a home to paint it when a friend could not finish it in time. Yes, these people live by a standard I wish we all lived by today. They care for their fellow man, and we could all take lessons from them!

The people in Farm Life gave me many memories and shared their children with me and, for that, I am most appreciative. If you ever get to ride through Farm Life, please do so, and watch these people as they go about their daily jobs. You will never meet better people or people that care about their children as much as the adults in Farm Life. That is why so many children return to live in the neighborhood their parents live in now. No, it really was not Gaylord and Jim that made me love this area — it was the people!

They were the best of times with the best of friends and in the best of places, Washington, N.C.! The Original Washington!

 

— Harold Jr.

 

Harold Robinson Jr. is a native of Washington.