Nokomis Culture
The culture of Nokomis is very similar to that of the other rural communities of our area. It includes outdoor activities, such as hunting, fishing, and swimming; however, neighborly and spiritual duties are taken seriously and are considered sacred in this small community in the south. One of the popular gathering places was the local swimming hole, Dee's Wash Hole. The area was actually a creek that could only be accessed by traveling on foot through a swampy area.
Doris Green Crenshaw in 1949 at the local swimming area known as Dee's Wash Hole.
Above: Walter Barlow, Dwight Stewart, Eldred Hollingsworth, and Doris Green in 1950 eating watermelon on the banks of Dee's Wash Hole.
Hog Killin'
Hog killin' was another community activity in Nokomis. Once a year, two or three families would get together to butcher hogs. It had to be in the winter because there were no refrigerators or indoor water. People had wells, either the cranking kind with bucket on a rope, or a large dug-out well. People would start early in the morning, heating the iron pot with fire under it. Then when the water got hot, they would shoot the hogs, take them by the legs and put them in the hot water. This boiling water loosened the hair on the hogs. Then the families would lay the hogs on a table, and all members would scrape the hair off the hogs. After dividing the meat among all families who assisted in the butchering, families would gather around a radio and listen to the Grand Ole Opry.