This transcript was automatically generated and might contain errors.

[0:00] Narrator: Next up on Destination Freedom.

[0:02] Miss Pride: Well, you see, Mr. Landis, we've got 11 classrooms, 14 teachers, and 462 children.

[0:09] Mr. Landis: I see, Miss Pride. And how long have you been here?

[0:12] Miss Pride: Since 1900, 16 years after Hardigan was built.

[0:16] Mr. Landis: What's the biggest problem here?

[0:18] Miss Pride: Oh, Mr. Landis.

[0:21] Miss Pride: That's the lunch bell. Open the door, you can see for yourself.

[0:29] Narrator: And I opened the door, and pouring out of the schoolrooms were dozens of energetic, active youngsters. Much like youngsters I'd seen in other schools, only most of these wore the clothes of the poor, oversized caps, cut down adult pants. But all were so alive, leaping with energy. It was marvelous to watch.

[0:51] Miss Pride: That is the trouble.

[0:53] Mr. Landis: How so?

[0:54] Miss Pride: They don't know what to do with themselves. Hardigan has no gymnasium, no playground, no assembly hall, no lunchroom.

[1:00] Mr. Landis: How do you keep these children out of trouble?

[1:02] Miss Pride: We've got Miss Ruth Blue. Whenever the kids are in trouble, we find her.

[1:07] Mr. Landis: Why don't you look around the building?

[1:09] Narrator: So I went looking around the old building for the first time.

[1:16] Narrator: Welcome to Destination Freedom Black Radio Days Podcast, a copyrighted program of No Credits Productions LLC.

[1:23] Narrator: Our producer director, Danielle Betts.

[1:26] Narrator: Next on Destination Freedom, the Angel of Federal Street.

[1:32] Narrator: The Angel of Federal Street tells the story of the great humanitarian of Chicago, Ruth Blue Turnquest. What happens when the angel Gabriel is calling roles of new names of heavenly angels and the pearly gates get stuck? The name of a person still on earth is called, and St. Peter and the rest of the angels have to get to the bottom of the problem. One section of Chicago's South Federal Street is backed up against the railroad tracks. A treeless avenue with rows of rundown houses and one ancient grade school. But one factor lifts this district above the others. It's the living legend of the angel of Federal Street and of that ancient grade school's assistant principal, Ruth Blue Turnquest.

[2:16] Narrator: Next on Destination Freedom, the Angel of Federal Street.

[2:27] Narrator: And now Destination Freedom.

[3:17] Narrator: A treeless avenue with rows of dilapidated houses and one ancient grade school. In short, a section typical of many of the city's slum areas. But one factor lifts this district above the others. It is the living legend of the angel of Federal Street of that ancient grade school's assistant principal, Ruth Blue Turnquest. In a chapter entitled The Angel of Federal Street, we bring you the Turnquest story.

[3:53] Gabriel: Calling all saints and angels. This is Gabriel calling all saints and angels, calling all saints and angels to assemble at the pearly gates and proceed immediately to St. Peter's chambers. By heavenly proclamation, today is the day. Today is the day for the celestial midcentury election of heavenly angels. For the celestial mid-century election of heavenly angels, calling all saints and angels.

[4:25] Gabriel: Much like today, when Gabriel called all angels together. On each was sitting one of a million souls, waiting for this election, waiting to be admitted into heaven or rerouted to Lucifer, calling all saints and angels, all angels. Gabriel had rolled up and down heavenly highway, pulled all the old angels out to vote on what will be new angels. An old heavenly democratic custom handed down by Moses.

[5:11] St. Peter: Well, uh, according to my record, the only one missing will be Saint Matthew.

[5:14] Gabriel: Well, couldn't you wake him?

[5:15] St. Peter: My trumpets broke, St. Peter. I told you. Have it fixed.

[5:19] St. Peter: I don't see Luke.

[5:20] Gabriel: And he used to count the ballots.

[5:22] St. Peter: Well, uh, I checked him. Um, here. Here's the I's J's, K, L's. Okay. Luke. St. Luke.

[5:32] Gabriel: Oh, he was busy trying to save a soul from well. Luke is always tussling with the devil. I hope he wins this time.

[5:38] St. Peter: Well, everyone else is accounted for. Shall I pass out the ballots?

[5:41] Gabriel: Yes, yes. Go ahead. Go ahead. Now will all eligible to vote on the admission of souls come to your attention, please.

[5:50] Gabriel: Angel down, angel down. Now remember, the qualifications for heaven. You'd vote for those who've done the most for their fellow men on earth. Some souls out there have been waiting a long time for this election. Judge each fairly in light of heavenly standards. For those you pick shall immediately be swung through the pearly gates. Dwell in heaven and wear the remnants and wings of angels.

[6:16] Gabriel: Now you young angels who are casting your votes for the first time. I must remind you that we vote for only those souls seated out there on the stars. Only those spirits have parted from earth. Is that understood?

[6:32] Gabriel: Very well, very well. Gabriel was passing out the ballots. Saint John will collect them. Saint Agatha will count them, and Gabriel will read the results.

[6:44] Narrator: Well, everything was going into heavenly schedule. And if I noticed anything out of the ordinary, it was only a group of angels whose earthly habitat had been Chicago, whispering over something or another. I suppose they wanted to compare notes. But when St. John had counted the ballots, Gabriel took the platform to announce over the heavenly loudspeaker those to be admitted.

[7:08] Gabriel: Dr. Charles Drew, Carter G. Woodson, Attorney Charles Houston, Justice Brandy, Hayward Braun, John Peter Albert.

[7:20] Narrator: I was busy with George Washington called the new angels. Elijah was getting their souls ready to pearl the gates when it happened. Read her name.

[7:29] Gabriel: Ruth Blue Turnquest.

[7:35] Narrator: Something was wrong. The pearly gates had stopped clicking. They were stuck.

[7:43] Gabriel: Ruth Blue Turnquest.

[7:53] Narrator: The angels flew out to see what was happening. The gates refused to turn only when the wrong soul had been voted in or when an accepted soul was still down on earth. This was serious.

[8:07] Gabriel: Order. Order in heaven, please. Some conduct unbecoming an angel. There's been some irregularity in the balloting. Now when the angels voted for the admission of this Ruth Blue Turnquest. Come on, admit your guilt.

[8:32] Narrator: As soon as I said that, six angels stood up and raised their hands. This was mutiny, holy mutiny. I singled out the ringleader.

[8:41] Gabriel: Just as I thought St. John, Saint John of all angels, to deliberately vote for an unworthy soul.

[8:49] St. Peter: Now, the soul we selected is not unworthy, Saint Peter. No, no, not at all. That is not why the gates stopped turning.

[8:59] St. Peter: We voted for the admittance of a soul that's still on earth, Saint Peter. But we seldom give the title of angel to people on earth. You can never tell what they're turning out until they leave them down there. It's against the rules. Except in special cases, St. Peter.

[9:17] Gabriel: I haven't heard of any such cases.

[9:18] St. John: Well, if you'll check the Celestial Code, Volume 19, chapter 8 on how to become an angel and still live on earth. In paragraph 6, you'll find that it says I remember.

[9:28] St. John: I remember that chapter, I remember. That we may vote the title of angel to any worthy human, provided there is a two-thirds majority, and such a vote is not vetoed by the keeper of the pearly gates, i.e., you, Saint Peter.

[9:44] St. Peter: Yeah, no, you're right. Now, I'll give you enough time to explain why I shouldn't veto this Ruth Blue Turnquest. Then I'll make up my mind. I don't like to be harsh, but after all, I've been entrusted by the master to watch the gates, and we simply can't have the title of angel conferred carelessly. Now, who is ready to explain this Ruth Blue Turnquest? Well, who voted for her? Come on, speak up. Speak up.

[10:21] Angel Landis: I voted for her, Saint Peter.

[10:23] St. Peter: And what made you do that, Angel Landis? You haven't been in heaven that long enough to jeopardize your status this way.

[10:30] Angel Landis: I know, Saint Peter, but she's more like an angel than many angels I've met up here.

[10:36] St. Peter: You explained that remarkable.

[10:37] Angel Landis: Well, this is what I meant. As you know, before I became an angel, I was a school teacher on earth. In fact, the principal of the world is a grade school. All that's on the record. Go on.

[10:48] Angel Landis: Well, I was assigned to a school on Federal Street in Chicago. Hardigan School. I don't guess very many angels know about that school, but it was over by the railroad tracks in the slums. At the bottom of the slums, in fact. I'd never taught in a place like it before. It didn't have what a school needed, and when I reported, I asked one of the teachers all about it.

[11:14] Miss Pride: Well, you see, Mr. Landis, we've got 11 classrooms, 14 teachers and 462 children.

[11:21] Mr. Landis: Well, I see, Miss Pride. And how long have you been here?

[11:24] Miss Pride: Since 1900, 16 years after Hardigan was built. It's quite ancient and outdated. What's the biggest problem here?

[11:33] Miss Pride: Oh, Mr. Landis. That's the lunch bell. Open the door, you can see for yourself.

[11:45] Narrator: Well, I opened the door, and pouring out of the schoolrooms were dozens of energetic, active youngsters. Much like youngsters I'd seen in other schools, only most of these wore the clothes of the poor, oversized caps, cut down adult pants. But all were so alive, leaping with energy. It was marvelous to watch.

[12:07] Miss Pride: That is the trouble.

[12:09] Mr. Landis: How so?

[12:10] Miss Pride: They don't know what to do with themselves. Hardigan has no gymnasium, no playground, no assembly hall, no lunchroom.

[12:16] Mr. Landis: How do you keep these children out of trouble?

[12:19] Miss Pride: We've got Miss Ruth Blue. Whenever the kids are in trouble, we find her.

[12:23] Mr. Landis: Why don't you look around the building?

[12:25] Narrator: So I went looking around the old building for the first time. Down the basement stairs, I saw a group over in a corner and heard an outcry.

[12:35] Student: Ow, Miss Blue, I heard my arm.

[12:39] Miss Blue: Hold still or I'll paddle you. You know that's not hurting you, boy. Hold still. Now, just hold that arm straight again, and we'll have it. Hold it.

[12:50] Narrator: I came up to the group. A ring of students were around a busy, fast working woman who was replacing the splint on a boy's broken arm. He gritted his teeth, and when she was through.

[13:02] Miss Blue: Now, how's that? You you like to kill me. But it feels alright. You watch those trucks when you cross the street next time. They'll kill you quicker than I will.

[13:16] Narrator: There in the basement, this teacher acted as mother, doctor, companion, and confidant to a noisy train of children that followed her all over the building. It wasn't until the last child was gone that she noticed me.

[13:31] Miss Blue: You're the new principal?

[13:32] Mr. Landis: Yes.

[13:33] Miss Blue: I'm glad you came. I'm glad you're my assistant.

[13:37] Mr. Landis: Do you do this often?

[13:38] Miss Blue: No more than twice a day. The other times I'm upstairs teaching.

[13:42] Mr. Landis: You get along with children unusually well. What method do you use?

[13:47] Miss Blue: I just open my heart to them. I open it so wide they can see what's in it. If they see love and respect, they'll go all the way with me. Give me their hands, let me lead them.

[13:58] Angel Landis: If they see prejudice, they'll stick out their fists and fight.

[14:02] Angel Landis: I prefer to have their hands.

[14:05] Angel Landis: She was strict, outspoken, but she held their hands, and they would do things for her because she did for them no other teacher would do.

[14:16] Angel Landis: The longer I watched her work, the more confident I was she would come up here sooner or later.

[14:21] Angel Landis: And since she seemed to be taking so long down there, I thought we angels should go ahead and vote her in.

[14:28] Angel Landis: And that's why I lobbied for her, St. Peter.

[14:30] St. Peter: Order order now.

[14:34] St. Peter: In my opinion, the reason given by Angel Landis for conferring the halo upon Ruth Blue Turnquest is not sufficient.

[14:43] St. Peter: And therefore, I must exercise my beautiful power.

[14:46] Angel Anderson: Just a minute, Saint Peter.

[14:48] Angel Anderson: I voted for it too.

[14:52] Angel Anderson: Now, before you pass judgment, listen to me.

[14:56] Angel Anderson: Speak briefly.

[14:57] Angel Anderson: You're holding up a million souls, and the devil getting more active.

[15:01] Angel Anderson: Speak briefly.

[15:02] Angel Anderson: As everyone knows, I came into this kingdom of heaven by way of the battlefield.

[15:12] St. Peter: And what's that got to do with Miss Blue?

[15:14] Angel Anderson: I'm coming in that. Hurry on, Saint Peter.

[15:18] Angel Anderson: I didn't come into the Federal Street community from the outside.

[15:21] Angel Anderson: I was born in it.

[15:23] Angel Anderson: I played in its streets.

[15:25] Angel Anderson: Sat on the railroad tracks.

[15:27] Angel Anderson: Lived in shacks that would tremble on the bottom when the big trains rolled.

[15:31] Angel Anderson: And in the wintertime, I drag an old gasoline drum inside the house for my mother to make a stove and then go out on the tracks and pick up coal that shook off the cars.

[15:43] Angel Anderson: It was on that kind of a day that I first met her.

[15:47] Angel Anderson: Winter.

[15:48] Angel Anderson: The snow covered my ankles.

[15:50] Angel Anderson: It was morning, and all the other kids were in school.

[15:53] Angel Anderson: I was waiting for the coal train to come by, hoping I'd get some coal to take home when another boy saw her.

[16:01] Student: Jiggas, Jigas, here comes that Hardigan teacher.

[16:04] Student: Who you talking about?

[16:05] Student: Miss Blue.

[16:06] Student: Come on, she's running over here.

[16:08] Student: Come on.

[16:08] Angel Anderson: But I couldn't run away with the sack of coal, and I knew we'd freeze at home if I dropped it.

[16:14] Angel Anderson: I stood still trying to decide.

[16:16] Student: Come on, come on.

[16:17] Student: Help me carry this coal.

[16:19] Student: Help me.

[16:20] Student: Not me.

[16:20] Student: She's coming.

[16:21] Student: Let the coal go, man.

[16:22] Student: Let it go.

[16:23] Miss Blue: Hey, boys, you boys.

[16:26] Miss Blue: Don't run.

[16:26] Miss Blue: I want to talk to you.

[16:27] Miss Blue: Come here.

[16:28] Angel Anderson: I held on to the coal and she came up.

[16:31] Miss Blue: Now look at this.

[16:33] Miss Blue: Look at this.

[16:34] Miss Blue: Freezing to death when you could be in school at least getting warm.

[16:37] Miss Blue: Albert, what's the meaning of this?

[16:40] Angel Anderson: I wanted to go, Miss Blue.

[16:42] Angel Anderson: But my mom, she needed coal.

[16:44] Miss Blue: Did she tell you to stay out of school to get it?

[16:47] Angel Anderson: No, she didn't.

[16:48] Miss Blue: You've been out all week.

[16:49] Angel Anderson: Well.

[16:50] Miss Blue: Say you're due to graduate in a couple of semesters if you keep up.

[16:54] Miss Blue: Don't you like school anymore?

[16:56] Angel Anderson: It's not that.

[16:57] Angel Anderson: It's just that.

[16:59] Miss Blue: Go on.

[17:00] Angel Anderson: Every time I go to school, the kids, they all laugh.

[17:03] Miss Blue: Well, there's nothing funny looking about you.

[17:07] Angel Anderson: It's about my feet.

[17:08] Angel Anderson: I don't have no shoes.

[17:12] Miss Blue: I see.

[17:14] Miss Blue: Leave the coal sack here and come on to school with me.

[17:16] Angel Anderson: Like this?

[17:17] Miss Blue: As you are.

[17:18] Miss Blue: When you walk home, you'll have shoes on your feet.

[17:21] Miss Blue: I'll see to it.

[17:22] Miss Blue: Come on.

[17:26] Angel Anderson: I was proud to walk beside her to Hardigan school.

[17:29] Miss Blue: She took me inside that office.

[17:32] Miss Blue: Here.

[17:33] Miss Blue: Stand on this paper.

[17:36] Miss Blue: Now I'll take this pencil and draw the shape of your foot.

[17:42] Angel Anderson: Uh-huh.

[17:43] Miss Blue: Hold still.

[17:45] Miss Blue: There.

[17:45] Miss Blue: That's it.

[17:46] Miss Blue: Step off.

[17:49] Miss Blue: Now hand me those scissors.

[17:51] Miss Blue: I'll just cut out this pattern.

[17:53] Miss Blue: Take it downtown with me.

[17:55] Angel Anderson: Uh-huh.

[17:56] Miss Blue: Now you sit here until I come back.

[17:58] Miss Blue: I'll drive downtown.

[18:00] Miss Blue: It won't take long.

[18:02] Angel Anderson: I sat there rubbing my feet for a while.

[18:04] Angel Anderson: Then I got up to peek in the hallways at the other kids coming in and out.

[18:09] Angel Anderson: And somehow the old school that I had been ditching seemed to be the friendliest place I'd ever been.

[18:14] Miss Blue: Get back up on that chair.

[18:16] Miss Blue: I thought I told you not to get off.

[18:18] Miss Blue: You'll catch a death of cold down on that floor.

[18:21] Miss Blue: Here.

[18:22] Miss Blue: Stick out your feet.

[18:23] Miss Blue: Stick them out.

[18:25] Miss Blue: Bought you a pair of shoes and some socks.

[18:27] Miss Blue: Here.

[18:28] Miss Blue: Put them on.

[18:29] Miss Blue: And when you get them on, you get back upstairs in that class.

[18:32] Miss Blue: And if I catch you ditching school again, I'll break every living bone in your body.

[18:37] Angel Anderson: Yes, Miss Blue.

[18:38] Angel Anderson: I'll come, Miss Blue.

[18:40] Miss Blue: Hold it.

[18:41] Miss Blue: Hold it.

[18:42] Angel Anderson: Yes.

[18:43] Angel Anderson: Yes, ma'am.

[18:44] Miss Blue: Here.

[18:45] Miss Blue: Stick this in your pocket.

[18:46] Miss Blue: Better pin it in.

[18:48] Miss Blue: Ten dollars.

[18:49] Miss Blue: Keep your mouth shut.

[18:51] Miss Blue: Take it to your mother.

[18:52] Miss Blue: It's for coal.

[18:53] Miss Blue: And don't tell anyone I gave it to you.

[18:55] Miss Blue: I haven't got money to pass out all over the school.

[18:58] Miss Blue: Now get upstairs.

[19:02] Angel Anderson: That was the last time I did school.

[19:04] Angel Anderson: You know the rest, St. Peter.

[19:06] Angel Anderson: After I finished high school, I got married to a girl on Federal Street.

[19:11] Angel Anderson: We had a son.

[19:12] Angel Anderson: I worked in the coal yards, and when the war broke out, I took my boy over to Hardigan school.

[19:18] St. Peter: Well, well, well, Albert, he looks exactly like you.

[19:24] Angel Anderson: Does he act that way?

[19:26] Angel Anderson: Well, I don't know, but if it gets into any trouble, the way I did, once you remember those shoes.

[19:33] St. Peter: I remember how you kicked them out in three weeks and came back and asked me to buy you more.

[19:39] Angel Anderson: Well, I don't think you'll have to buy Junior shoes.

[19:42] Angel Anderson: As long as I'm overseas, I'll be sending back enough to take care of him.

[19:45] St. Peter: Uh, but yes, Albert.

[19:49] Angel Anderson: Let's step over this way a minute, Miss Blue.

[19:53] Angel Anderson: I don't want Junior to hear us in case I don't come back.

[19:57] Angel Anderson: Albert.

[19:58] Angel Anderson: I'm just saying, in case.

[20:00] Angel Anderson: I want to know that Junior's in good hands.

[20:03] Miss Blue: Well, now your wife's perfectly able to.

[20:05] Angel Anderson: Maybe he's able and willing, but you know what a kid's liable to get into around this neighborhood.

[20:11] Angel Anderson: You know what I you know what to do.

[20:14] Angel Anderson: All I want is your promise that you'll do as much for my son as you did for his father.

[20:20] Miss Blue: I will.

[20:22] Miss Blue: You know I will.

[20:25] Angel Anderson: And that set my mind at ease, Saint Peter.

[20:29] Angel Anderson: Once a boy gets under her wings, I've never heard of him flying crooked.

[20:34] Angel Landis: And that's why I voted for her.

[20:36] St. Peter: Yes, that's good.

[20:38] St. Peter: Very interesting, Angel Anderson.

[20:41] St. Peter: But as long as you can't cite any unusual evidence, you can't prove there's an angel on Earth.

[20:48] Angel Landis: Now I can prove it, St. Peter.

[20:51] St. Peter: And who are you, young lady?

[20:53] Angel Landis: One of the new angels.

[20:55] Angel Landis: I've only been here a year.

[20:56] Angel Landis: I'll have your record.

[20:57] Angel Landis: I voted for Ruth Blue Turnquest because she kept her word and looked after my children after I after I left Earth.

[21:05] St. Peter: Is this true?

[21:06] Angel Landis: When my husband leaves Earth, and I hope he'll come this way, he'll verify it.

[21:11] Angel Landis: He went over to the school just a week after I passed away.

[21:16] Angel Landis: He took our two girls and two boys and walked into Miss Blue's office.

[21:21] Mr. Martin: Now, Mr. Martin, these children are big enough to walk to school by themselves.

[21:25] Mr. Martin: You don't have to come over like this.

[21:28] Mr. Martin: This would be the last time, Miss Blue.

[21:31] Mr. Martin: You see, uh, now that my wife is gone, there's nobody at home to look after.

[21:36] Mr. Martin: Uh I've appointed my oldest girl, Helen, to do the job, but you know, sometimes the boys won't mind.

[21:42] Miss Blue: Oh, I'll look after that.

[21:43] Miss Blue: I hope you would.

[21:45] Miss Blue: Helen just see that they'll clean up every morning and uh get over here.

[21:49] Miss Blue: I'm away from home 15 hours.

[21:51] Miss Blue: It's a heavy load to put on a little girl, but I gotta work.

[21:55] Miss Blue: I'll see that Helen gets along all right, Mr. Martin.

[21:58] Miss Blue: You go right on to work.

[22:02] Angel Anderson: And when she said that, St. Peter, I was easy in my grave.

[22:07] Angel Anderson: But I did feel restless when Helen started having trouble with the boys, and one time she told Miss Blue she just couldn't get them up.

[22:15] Miss Blue: Uh-huh.

[22:16] Miss Blue: So they're still home in bed, huh?

[22:19] Miss Blue: Well, Helen, never mind.

[22:20] Miss Blue: I'll take this ruler with me.

[22:22] Miss Blue: Now, lead the way home.

[22:24] Miss Blue: Go on, girl, lead the way.

[22:26] Angel Anderson: And she took the shortcut across the vacant lot and came in on the boys sound asleep.

[22:33] Miss Blue: Get up!

[22:34] Miss Blue: Get up out of that bed, every last one of you.

[22:37] Miss Blue: Get out of that bed.

[22:39] Miss Blue: Now get yourselves in the bathroom and clean up.

[22:41] Miss Blue: No, wait, I don't even trust you out of my sight.

[22:43] Miss Blue: Give me the soap, Helen, I'll do it.

[22:45] Miss Blue: And lay out the comb and brush while you're at it.

[22:47] Miss Blue: Oh, the nerve.

[22:48] Miss Blue: Sleep until 11 o'clock when you should have been in school.

[22:51] Miss Blue: Stick your head under this water here.

[22:55] Angel Anderson: That water running over their faces, St. Peter, made the sweetest sound that had reached my heavenly ear since I left the earth.

[23:04] Angel Anderson: I had to cast my vote for that angel.

[23:06] Angel Landis: That's what they called her anyway.

[23:08] St. Peter: Yeah, that's right.

[23:09] St. Peter: They did call her.

[23:11] St. Peter: Angel?

[23:12] St. Peter: Who gave her that title in the first place?

[23:15] St. Peter: Who started this thing off?

[23:18] Mother Evans: I guess I'm to blame, St. Peter.

[23:20] St. Peter: Ah, you, Mother Evans.

[23:22] St. Peter: I thought you were one of my steadiest angels.

[23:26] Mother Evans: Well, I thought so too, St. Peter.

[23:29] Mother Evans: Then how do you explain this?

[23:31] Mother Evans: Well, now you know I had a grandson, Benjamin.

[23:34] Mother Evans: Well, now Benny was somehow always getting into trouble.

[23:37] Mother Evans: Not serious trouble, but troublesome trouble, especially at school.

[23:40] St. Peter: Yes, yes, yes.

[23:41] Mother Evans: Well, now then there was that day he got into bad trouble.

[23:43] Mother Evans: Police come to the house, took him away.

[23:45] Mother Evans: See he broke into the neighbor's house, stole some things.

[23:47] St. Peter: You remember the case?

[23:50] St. Peter: That case would be handled by Lucifer, not me.

[23:53] Mother Evans: Well, go on.

[23:55] Mother Evans: Well, well, the judge was just about to send my Benny away, and just about to give his decision.

[24:01] St. Peter: The way you about to do now.

[24:07] Mother Evans: Well, you bring the boy to the stand so I can pass judgment.

[24:11] Judge: It is my considered judgment that the charges.

[24:14] Miss Blue: Judge, your honor, may I have a word with you, please?

[24:18] Judge: Why?

[24:19] Judge: In just a minute, Miss Blue.

[24:21] Judge: This won't take but a minute, Judge.

[24:23] Judge: Please.

[24:24] Judge: Well, I suppose if the prosecutors don't mind, but only for you, Miss Blue.

[24:24] Judge: Only for you.

[24:32] Mother Evans: Come in and took the judge inside his chambers.

[24:36] Mother Evans: They only stayed a few minutes, but when the judge came out, he's a changed man.

[24:42] Judge: In view of new evidence brought in by Miss Blue, I'm allowing the defendant to go free, provided he's put under Miss Blue's supervision for the duration of grade school.

[24:53] Mother Evans: Oh, thank you.

[24:54] Mother Evans: Thank you, Judge.

[24:56] Judge: Don't thank me.

[24:57] Judge: Thank the lady over there.

[24:58] Judge: Do you know who that is?

[25:00] Judge: She's an angel, Judge.

[25:02] Judge: The angel of Federal Street.

[25:04] Judge: Only an angel could have saved my boy.

[25:07] Mother Evans: I first gave her the title, St. Peter.

[25:09] Mother Evans: It seemed like a miracle that her words could do so much so quick.

[25:14] Mother Evans: I didn't know the title would stick, but when I asked about her work, I could understand why it did.

[25:22] Miss Blue: No need to thank me, ma'am.

[25:24] Miss Blue: I'm only doing what little I can to make up for what the community doesn't give my children.

[25:29] Mother Evans: You've helped us so much.

[25:30] Miss Blue: And they've helped me.

[25:32] Miss Blue: See how great and strong are the working people around Federal Street?

[25:36] Miss Blue: And after being close to that greatness for so long, I don't think I could ever leave.

[25:41] Miss Blue: In some of my classes, I see the faces of children whose uncles, aunts, fathers, mothers were once under my care.

[25:49] Miss Blue: And I feel like I'm part of a big family.

[25:57] Miss Blue: Hello, Miss Blue.

[25:59] Miss Blue: Hello there.

[26:00] Miss Blue: When I walked down the street, people would speak to me whose faces look like vague images of children's faces I once knew.

[26:09] Miss Blue: Once a truck driver pulled up alongside me, stuck out his head and said, Say, aren't you, Miss Blue?

[26:17] Truck Driver: That's my name, driver.

[26:18] Truck Driver: Who are you?

[26:19] Truck Driver: I'm Dad Eddie.

[26:21] Truck Driver: I was in your third grade in 1920, remember?

[26:25] Miss Blue: You the little brat who used to throw erasers at me?

[26:29] Truck Driver: Oh, you remember them erasers?

[26:31] Truck Driver: I almost got you, WhatsApp.

[26:33] Truck Driver: I'll be seeing you, Miss Blue.

[26:34] Miss Blue: I've been seeing you.

[26:39] Miss Blue: I'd see them one day, and maybe not again for years.

[26:43] Miss Blue: Sometimes I'd see some of my children who were in the professions.

[26:47] Miss Blue: Musicians, lawyers, doctors, teachers, good workers.

[26:53] Miss Blue: And sometimes I'd see some who hadn't done so well.

[26:56] Miss Blue: That time I was caught in the rain.

[27:03] Miss Blue: And the only shelter in sight was a tavern on the corner.

[27:14] Miss Blue: I was shaking my umbrella when someone called.

[27:17] Tavern Patron: Say, hey, look who's dropped in on us.

[27:20] Tavern Patron: Miss Blue from over at Hardigan.

[27:22] Tavern Patron: Welcome, teacher.

[27:23] Tavern Patron: Welcome.

[27:24] Miss Blue: Hey, come on in, Miss Blue.

[27:26] Miss Blue: Now, who is this in here welcoming me?

[27:28] Tavern Patron: It's me, Jimmy Pike.

[27:30] Tavern Patron: You remember me, don't you?

[27:31] Miss Blue: Your face looks familiar, but I never look long at faces behind bars.

[27:39] Tavern Patron: I'm the kid that skipped so much school that true an officer gave up.

[27:43] Tavern Patron: And here are Fanetta Hobbs and Vernon Jarrett.

[27:47] Tavern Patron: Some of your worst pupils.

[27:48] Tavern Patron: Hello, teacher.

[27:49] Miss Blue: Well, we never thought you'd come up inside a tavern to visit us, Miss Blue.

[27:54] Miss Blue: We knew you were persistent, though.

[27:55] Mother Evans: You always were.

[27:56] Angel Anderson: You wanna have a drink?

[28:01] Mother Evans: They were my children, too. They were the girls and boys whose fathers and mothers had not been able to escape the trap of poverty. The iron ring of race segregation that walled in the slums. For these are some of the things I have seen and seen. Children with rickets who can look out of their painless windows and see trains hauling in carloads of oranges and grapefruits they can't afford to buy. Children without clothes to come to school, mothers and fathers going without food so that their children might have the best helpings. Parents putting aside pennies to push their children through school, working in stockyards and rail yards, doing odd jobs, and fighting to make a home on Federal Street to make it the kind of home the advertising posters say every American should have. And that's why I kept saying it. She was the angel, the angel of Federal Street.

[29:15] St. Peter: Order, order in heaven, please. Will the angels please come to order? Will St. Peter reconsider his veto of Miss Blue? Well, well, settle down. Well, I can see the angels meant to have their way. As irregular as it was, voting in a living angel. But after all, I'm only the gatekeeper. Angels, please. After what you said, if Gabriel can read the name of Miss Blue and the gates will turn, she's in. If not, so you just have to wait until she departs from Earth. Gabriel, read off the name again, please. Quiet, quiet now. Read just as I was reading before. Exactly as before. Well, as I had said, Miss Ruth Blue Turnquest.

[29:59] St. Peter: Miss Ruth Blue Turnquest. Settle down. Yes. She was in. It was all quite unorthodox, as celestial elections go. All quite irregular. But if the angels want to allow one of their own to walk around free on Federal Street, I'm glad to. What can a poor gatekeeper do? Who knows? Maybe we should move heaven down to Federal Street.

[30:53] Narrator: You have just heard Destination Freedom's dramatization of the Angel of Federal Street. The story of Ruth Blue Turnquest, assistant principal of the Hardigan School. Destination Freedom is written by Richard Durham and produced under the direction of Donnie L. Betts. The cast for The Angel of Federal Street, the story of Ruth Blue Turnquest included Donnie L. Betts, TJ Betts, Audrey Cabanus, Jeff Campbell, Dominique Johnson, Tony, Ruth A, and Kurt Soderstrom. The theme singer was Dominique Johnson. Musical direction and cello, Julie Swarthout, with guest Lionel Young on violin and guitar, and Rebecca and Sean Moritzki played the harps. Sound effects by Gabrielle. The engineers for The Angel of Federal Street were Leslie Gaston, Andrew Johnson, Jeff Smith, and Sam McGuire. Our stage manager is Jason Heaster. I'm your announcer Kurt Soderstrom, and now producer Donnie L. Betts and musical guest Fred Fuller and the Fuller Sound.

[32:05] Donnie L. Betts: Thank you. Thank you, Kurt. We want to welcome up to the microphone right now, Mr. Fred Fuller. Please give him a big round of applause.

[32:18] Fred Fullen: Thank you, Donnie. Well listeners, so I always said, you know, when I invited you, there's the family that plays together stays together. That's right. Family that plays together stays together. And I'm just thrilled about the entire works of all the family. We, through the years and through ranks, my wife and I started Fuller Sound together as a duo, as bass and vocal. And through the years, our daughters and son have joined us and they're incredible in what they do. I have an oldest daughter, Xiaomi, who's a piano player, who's supreme. She's teaching in Douglas County Public Schools and plays concerts and directs honor band and all kinds of good things. Youngest daughter's in New York and plays alto saxophone, and she's playing with lots of named people in New York right now.

And I have a young son who's still at home, he's in high school, and he's a percussionist, and he's doing just great, getting ready to go to a competition in San Diego in a couple weeks. Fabulous. So what first are you gonna do for us?

[33:27] Fred Fullen: We're gonna do a Clifford Brown tune called "Oot."

[33:33] All right: Okay.

[40:25] ♪ Musical number: "As Long As I Live" — performed by Unknown performer ♪

[41:15] Maybe I can't live to love you as long as I want to. Life is long enough, baby. I wanna love you for as long as I live. Maybe I can't give you time things that I want to, but I can promise you, baby, I'm gonna love you for as long as I live. Well, I share, and I care. I know live long enough. That's why I wear my booties when it rains. Eating apple every day, see the doctor anyway. What if I can't live to love you as long as I want to? Life is long enough, baby. I'm gonna love you for as long as I live, yeah. What if I can't live to love you as long as I want to? Life is long enough, baby. I'm gonna love you for as long as I live, yeah. What if I can't give you time.

[40:25] ♪ Musical number: "As Long As I Live" — performed by Fred Fuller and the Fuller Sound ♪

[41:59] ♪ Musical number: "As Long As I Live" — performed by Unknown performer ♪

[41:59] ♪ Musical number: "Love You for As Long As I Live" — performed by Unknown artist ♪

[46:55] ♪ Musical number: "Made Your Move Too Soon" — performed by Unknown artist ♪

[48:59] Unknown speaker: I'd like to talk to you about making your move too soon. I had a girlfriend whose man had left her high and dry, no money, no car, had checked out for two long weeks. She came across the street and she said, "Loan me the keys to your car." She walked out, put got into the car, put the keys into the ignition, and she started driving. I mean, she was desperate. I mean, she wanted to find the man who had taken her car and her money. Oh, she started driving for a long time. You know what I mean? Then finally, she saw her car parked outside a club. So she parked the car, walked into the club, and looked around. She saw the bartender and she said, "Bring me a drink and make it the heaviest thing in the house."

And then finally she caught eye of the individual she was looking for. There he was in the corner, one lady on the right side of him, one on the left. I mean, they were deeply engaged in conversation. She put... She said, "Excuse me. I haven't seen you for two long weeks. Where have you been?" He said, "Ship whip, should have moved up." She said, "I don't understand that." She said, "You know what? I think you made your move too soon. Do you understand that?" So he says, uh bleep. She said, "I know you've made your move too soon. You know what I want you to do? I've just packed everything that you have, your suitcase. I put everything in it that you had. And when you check out of here, I want you to pick up that suitcase, and I want you to check out. I don't want to see you anymore. You've been unfaithful. I've hung in a long time. Baby, I know that you've made your move too soon."

[52:15] Unknown speaker: She said, "I've been from Spain to Tokyo, from Africa to Ohio. I'm just a woman who sings my blues. I take my love out every way. I come back and you know that they stand there. One love ahead, one love behind, one in my arms, one on my mind. It's one thing, baby. I think you made your move too soon. Well, it's one thing, baby. It's one thing, baby. It's one thing, baby. I know you made your move too soon. Get on up and get on out of here."

[53:23] Unknown speaker: Right, all right. One more time. Fred Fullen full of sound.

[46:55] ♪ Musical number: "You Made Your Move Too Soon" — performed by Unknown performer ♪

[53:33] Fred Fullen: Wait for a minute for Fred to make his way up to the microphone again and have a little more conversation before the band comes back again. Now, I know throughout your life, your married life that people have butchered your wife's name. Can you please tell us?

[53:51] Unknown speaker: Yes, yes, I would love to. Her name is El Thopia.

[53:57] Fred Fullen: Okay, not Ethiopia. It's very unique to him.

[54:02] Unknown speaker: Very unique woman.

[54:04] Fred Fullen: Yeah, yeah, yeah. You know, it takes a real, real, a great singer to scat. You know, a lot of people are tempted. But I love that. Never make your move too soon.

[54:14] Unknown speaker: Yes, yes. She does a great job. What's the what was the second tune you did after the clip of Brown too?

[54:21] Fred Fullen: Um, "As Long As I Live." I'll love you as long as I live is the name of the tune. And I forgot who originally did it.

[54:29] Unknown speaker: We okay. We've heard so many people do it after, but we have our own special arrangements on a lot of different things.

[54:35] Fred Fullen: Beautiful. So we do lots of different material and we certainly have fun doing what we do.

[54:41] Unknown speaker: So yeah, definitely. You neglected.

[54:46] Fred Fullen: I know it. And I'm so glad you called me. I have to call you on 'cause you know, I gave him such a hard time, you know. He's graced our stage many times.

[54:55] Unknown speaker: That's right. The daughter and Rudy both did a high school production with me at Manual High School many years ago. I don't know if you remember that. It's called, it was a play about Justina Ford, the famous black doctor here in Colorado.

[55:10] Fred Fullen: That's right. And that's the first time we got a chance to work together. And you know, I've seen him throughout the years and now Rudy plays it. Everybody that you know has a band or has an instrument. Rudy's one of the most sensational drummers that I've ever had the pleasure of working with. And he's also my son-in-law, so we keep it all in the family.

[55:33] Unknown speaker: So yeah, Rudy joined us with Ron Miles back last year when we did our last show at the Soul Dove and a great member of that, was it a quartet then, Rudy? He had a quartet that night and it's he, I saw your daughter at, and I'm losing track of names 'cause I'm, you know, senior moment that lasts for weeks.

[55:54] Unknown speaker: Uh but she was playing at this church on on sixteenth.

[55:59] Unknown speaker: And it it was just you and a trio, just uh it's phenomenal.

[56:02] Unknown speaker: Because the acoustics can never just, you know, like this room.

[56:05] Unknown speaker: Very alive.

[56:06] Unknown speaker: She's done a lot of a lot of different things.

[56:08] Unknown speaker: A lot of uh she conducts uh uh an honor band uh uh, which is uh uh uh the best kids in the city, supposedly.

[56:17] Unknown speaker: Next to the young people we had here tonight.

[56:19] Unknown speaker: Right, next to the young people we had Well, it's a different configuration.

[56:23] Unknown speaker: Right, right, right now.

[56:24] Unknown speaker: Yeah.

[56:24] Unknown speaker: Uh, but she does lots of different things and is a great teacher and a great band player, great jazz and classical players.

[56:31] Unknown speaker: So I'm I'm just thrilled with all my children and my wife.

[1:03:19] Unknown speaker: Red Fullen full of sound.

[1:03:23] Unknown speaker: You will make the world around.

[1:03:30] Unknown speaker: Again, we want to thank everybody for coming out tonight.

[1:03:32] Unknown speaker: You you got time for one more for us?

[1:03:34] Unknown speaker: Sure.

[1:03:35] Unknown speaker: Okay, just one more and Rudy Rudy Rudy, put the symbol back on.

[1:03:40] Unknown speaker: One more and we'll let you go.

[1:03:57] Unknown speaker: Heard that crowd at the floor.

[1:04:00] Unknown speaker: Awful lonely.

[1:04:12] Unknown speaker: But what for?

[1:04:14] Unknown speaker: Awful longer.

[1:04:17] Unknown speaker: Don't get around much anymore.

[1:04:29] Unknown speaker: But nevertheless, why give up over my wheels, been invited on dates?

[1:04:37] Unknown speaker: Would have gone but what for our long lives out?

[1:04:44] Unknown speaker: Don't get around much anymore.

[1:05:41] Unknown speaker: Shall we full of keyboards?

[1:05:42] Unknown speaker: Yeah.

[1:07:46] Unknown speaker: Don't get around much anymore.

[1:07:53] Unknown speaker: What have done that what for?

[1:07:57] Unknown speaker: Oh for lonely without you.

[1:08:00] Unknown speaker: Don't get around much anymore.

[1:08:13] Unknown speaker: But nevertheless, I give up on my resident invited on dates.

[1:08:22] Unknown speaker: What have gone but what for all lonely without you don't get around much anymore I can't stand it without you don't get around much anymore I won't take it without you don't get around much anymore thank you for the sound that concludes this episode of Destination Freedom Black Radio Days I'm producer director Danielle Betts Support for Destination Freedom is provided by the Bonfee Stanford Foundation, the Ulypians Fund of the Denver Foundation, Arts and Society, and Karen and Johnny Klein.

[1:08:22] Unknown speaker: Destination Freedom Black Radio Days is produced by Danielle Betts.

[1:09:20] Unknown speaker: The series is remixed by Maurice Smith, aka Reese.

[1:09:25] Unknown speaker: Make sure you check us out at nocredits.com and pick up our podcast wherever you get your podcasts.

[1:09:30] Unknown speaker: iTunes, Radio Public, Spotify, etc.

[1:09:33] Unknown speaker: Follow us at Twitter at Donny Betts.

[1:09:35] Unknown speaker: Hashtag nocredits production LLC.

[1:09:38] Unknown speaker: Hashtag Black Radio Days.

[1:09:40] Unknown speaker: Hashtag Destination Freedom Black Radio Days.

[1:09:43] Unknown speaker: Thank you for listening.