Title: Jay and Debbie Hagans

Identifier: DAO50499   (https://digital.lib.ecu.edu/50499)

Description: Photographs of Jay and Debbie Hagans taken at the Town Common, Greenville, N.C., accompanied by an oral history interview, for the Beyond Bricks and Mortar project. Jay Hagans is a former resident of the Shore Drive neighborhood, that was destroyed in the 1960's to make room for the Town Common Park. Mr. Hagans recalls his family's experiences with the redevelopment process. They were one of the last families to sell, but were fortunate enough to be able to build another house and not have to rent. He was baptised at the Sycamore Hill Missionary Baptist Church in their baptismal pool. Mr. Hagans's mother, Eleanor Hagans, was the first black female police officer in Greenville. She also taught school during the year and worked as the playground director during the summer. Mr. Hagans reminisces about the close-knit community downtown and the positive experiences he had as a child. Interviewer: Heather White.