My great-grandfather, my grandmother Smith’s father, was called “Pomp” by all of the great-grandchildren—no idea where it came from, but it was unique. His real name was William Joel Franklin Dwiggins, and he was born right after the Civil War in 1866. He lived until March of 1952, when I was eleven years old. His home was right across the street, so I saw him all the time and got to know him fairly well in the way of a child.
He and his wife moved into the town of Mocksville in 1920. He and my grandfather bought nine lots on what is now Church Street, and the two of them plus my grandmother’s brother all built homes here. The wood for the houses was all cut from their land out in the country, so all the houses were/are wood. All three are still here and are lived in by people who keep them looking beautiful.
Although I am not exactly sure why they chose to move into town, I imagine that they realized that there would be more opportunities to make a living here than on the farm. So Pomp actually had a very interesting and varied career. He got a job at Sanford’s Department Store and sold pianos for them. At some point, he also worked as a revenuer. His role was to visit all of the stories and places that made and sold liquor to be sure they were properly licensed. My feeling is that that job was more interesting than it sounds on paper! In addition to those two positions, he also in his later years sold pianos for Bowen Music Company in Winston-Salem. In that position he traveled, delivered pianos, and also tuned them.
When he traveled, he was an avid letter writer, and I am lucky enough to have several of the letters that he wrote to his wife, Lovie Belle. In them he talks about how much he misses her and will be happy to be back home.
As a child, I took piano lessons, and was much encouraged by Pomp. I think he believed that he had something to do with my taking lessons, and perhaps he did. What I do know is that he enjoyed hearing me play and that he gave me two music books, which are now among my treasures. I remember that he always listened to the Renfro Valley radio program and ordered a hymn book from there. It is one of the ones that I still have.
I feel very lucky to have gotten to know a great-grandfather because that is a pleasure denied to many.