Alexander Hall and Sarah Cain
Recorded
July 22, 2023
Archived
July 22, 2023
37:08 minutes
0:00 / 0:00
Id:
atl004821
Description
Alexander "Alex" Hall (75) shares memories of growing up in Wilmington, North Carolina, with his daughter, Sarah Cain (45).Subject Log / Time Code
Sarah Cain says having today's conversation is a birthday present for her dad, Alex Hall. She asks him to talk about his family tree. Alex says his mom's side of the family immigrated from Scotland. He talks about an ancestor on his dad's side who came to America on the Mayflower.
Alex says his mother's father built bridges in New York. He says the family then moved to Savannah, Georgia, and ultimately to Wilmington, North Carolina. Alex says his mom lost her dad when she was 12.
Alex talks about his family's pharmacy history. He says his grandfather opened Hall's Drug Store in 1901. He says the building is still standing in Wilmington today.
Alex says his dad studied to be a pharmacist at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill.
Alex remembers being paid a penny for every bottle he filled at the drugstore. He says by the time he was 11, he was working the soda fountain.
Alex remembers when he and his friend Bob used ammonia to take care of the soda fountain's roach problem. He says his dad never lost his temper.
Alex says he is 5 years younger than his brother Jim Hall. He says a lot of mischief occurred at the soda fountain.
Alex talks about what it means to have had a drugstore education.
Sarah asks her dad to talk about waterskiing. Alex says everybody skied and that everybody sprayed everybody. He remembers spraying a future federal judge repeatedly.
Alex remembers getting 3 reckless skiing tickets. He also remembers driving to South Carolina with friends to set off fireworks.
Alex remembers getting caught with fireworks and a bottle of George Dickel whiskey on a subsequent trip he and friends made to South Carolina.
Alex remembers winning a bar fight before running away from the police. He says the experience led to his dad finding out that he drank.
Sarah asks Alex to talk about waterskiing with his brother Jim. Alex remembers how a night of partying led to Jim waterskiing in his boxer shorts the next day. Alex says Jim did end up losing his shorts on the water.
Sarah remembers having her own boat as a young girl and running it into the yacht club pier.
Sarah asks her dad to talk about his career. Alex says he originally wanted to be a doctor. He remembers working as a chemist before getting his real estate license.
Alex talks about deciding to go to law school. He remembers being taken in as an intern by Richard "Racehorse" Haynes, a criminal defense attorney in Texas.
Alex says trials are fun if you are prepared. He says it took him a while to want to retire.
Sarah asks Alex to talk about his interest in real estate. Alex says he started buying land when he was 21. He talks about the importance keeping land and not selling it.
Alex remembers the day Sarah was born.
Sarah asks Alex what advice he would give to his granddaughter who wants to follow in his footsteps.
Sarah says how much she has enjoyed hearing her dad's stories. She wishes him a Happy Birthday.
Participants
- Alexander Hall
- Sarah Cain