Memories of The Great Depression l929-l939.
Was a baby then when the stock market crashed October 29, 1929. The beginning of time for bad encounters of poverty in our great nation here in our beloved United States of America.
Have no memories of the crash, because was born in January, l928. My Maternal Grandfather suffered a nervous breakdown a few months later. Then my Maternal Grandmother attempted to survive by renting a shop and making hats, until it was no longer financially possible. She lost the home they had raised a family in which my Grandfather had paid cash for in l901, moved in with a relative. Her single daughter remained with her, and secured a position with Civil Service. They later rented, then moving to a daughter's home when becoming ill, and passing on from cancer. This was my home which meant my quarters were then in an unfinished attic. We did not have electricity then, nor running water. Using kerosene lamps and pumping water from a hand pump to carry water to the house
We were fortunate in that we lived on a farm. Was the best alternative. Because we could raise animals i.e. hogs, sheep, chickens and horses. My father worked the land raising corn, oats, alphalafa and barley. His father had quit deeded the farm to him when he married. Which was land my grandfather had purchased according to the Homestead Act. We depended on the land to support us. He had horses to cultivate and plant. Then we had milking cows, of course, providing us with cream to sell and raised chickens to provide eggs to sell. Was all of the income we had until harvest time of the crops in the fall.
Were very difficult times during the l930's. An education was not always possible for the boys and some girls, because they were needed to help work the farms in our area. My father provided services to the school in exchange for my education through providing meat and dairy products, through the Eighth Grade in a one room school house.
The mother and I made our own clothing from yard goods sometimes traded for with eggs, or from printed feed sacks which we purchased chicken feed in. As most people did then. "Store bought" clothes were a rarity because of the lack of funds. Will never forget a little red dress my Aunt purchased for me, a treasure in those days. It was beautiful to me.
We raised and canned our own vegetables, storing them in the cellar, and even beef. Dad smoked his own hams. Thereby, living on the farm provided us with food and more or less self efficient as much as possible. We were forced to use what we had, during those difficult times of the Great Depression. Necessities were all that matters. There was a movie house in the small town, though NEVER could we afford to attend. My allowance was l0 cents per week, and recall using those funds to purchase a hamburger, such a great treat in going to a cafe and ordering that, ha. The family never "went to a restaurant for a meal". Beyond our financial means at that time. Every Saturday night we traveled five miles to the city to sell cream and eggs. Usually had no funds for gas other than those trips. Then we purchased sugar, flour and essentials for cooking. We made our own butter, of course,bread, jam, even lye soap, and canned our own vegetables. Storing them in the underground cave.
Washed our hair once a week with vinegar rinse and rain water collected in the rain barrel. We had a windmill and two wells for providing water. Would fill buckets from using a pump. One was used for drinking water and the other for other purposes i.e. bathing. Then another one was in the stock yard providing water for the animals. Recall using canning wax as gum to chew on as a child. Is surprising, when thinking back on it, how people can "make do" with what is available. During evening hours when everyone was home, we studied by kerosene lamps, Dad read the newspaper he picked up in town once a week, even though older news, and the Mother crocheted making pot holders, table clothes, clothing, etc. We had a small battery operated radio, which was used to hear ongoing news, and serials such as "The Shadow" and others.
Recall that should anyone need medical treatment, Doctors would exchange their services in lieu of dairy products, or chickens from farmers. Or, merchandise patients needed to part with. Seldom did anyone have cash for their medical services.
Particularly recall my Grandfather's reactions to the one bank in our small town. When the banks closed and no one was allowed admittance, he lost funds, and items in his safe deposit box. Whenever he walked by the bank after that, can still visualize him raising his fist in anger. He never did business with banks after that.
Also, was the talk of the town when President Roosevelt ordered private citizens to turn in their gold coins. Amazingly my parents owned some l933 twenty dollar coins, which evidently was special to them and would not even consider parting with them. There was a $l0,000 fine for people not turning what was in their possession. Heard the parents discussing a plan to hide them in the upright piano. (little pitchers have big ears, ha). Later when the banks opened, is reported, a Government official was present to view a person's contents on whether there was any gold. Amazingly, understand the law is still "on the books" granting the government to recall privately owned gold in 2008.
THEN the drought during l934-l939.
These were the worst possible horrible years for farming. Still cringe from those memories. Have no idea how we managed to stay alive during those years.
Dad hunted for rabbits during the winter months, and even squirrels. Which he hung frozen until needed during winter months. We had exhausted most of the canned beef later, and hams. We had no animals to slaughter because there were none, not even chickens for eggs. Because they had nothing to eat, nor water. The rendering trucks were familiar sights in those days. When we watched our livestock of horses, cows, hogs and sheep who had died. Nothing was growing to feed them in the pastures, the drought had killed all of the grass also. The hay from the barn had been exhausted. Our chicken house was empty. Dad had to bury them. Recall placing my child hand in the cracks of the soil, caused by lack of rain and the drought. We lost our fruit trees also.
Recall the windmill not providing much water. Climate was hot and dry during the summer months, even water was scarce and precious. Very little breeze, if at all. We brought blankets and quilts out on the front porch to make beds to sleep on at night oftentimes. Of course, we had no fans because there was no electricity during those times yet.
We had some ragged men come to the farm seeking work and food. As a child they were frightening to me and would run and hide. Perhaps seeing a stranger also. The Mom would share a sandwich or whatever could be spared, and was very much appreciated. No telling how long it had been for them without food. Men left their families to seek employment then, hundreds of them. Some of them never returned, the mothers needed then to raise their families. Therefore, hear many stories where boys developed a hatred for their fathers who, in their mind, abandoned them, when instead they had left to search for employment to survive.
Some relatives and neighbors stating they were living mostly on molasses and bread, We each shared what we could. Looking back, am wondering how any of us survived at all. Was most surely a miracle. Of course we did not have funds to purchase anything in the city. There, some had electricity in their homes and city water to assist them in living.
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