Stories from the depression

Pic of grandma from the mid 50's

My grandmother never really told many stories about her childhood when I was growing up. She was never very sentimental, always too busy taking care of everyone and dealing with day to day crap.

The last few times I've gone up to visit she has told me and her great grand kids a few interesting stories about her childhood that really make me realize how good we have it in this day and age.

My grandmother was born in 1926 in Springfield Ohio. When she was 4 years old the depression hit the rural farmers hard, forcing many off their land and creating severe hardships for just about everybody. They decided to move to Phoenix, Arizona where the newspaper had said there were some job opportunities and less economic hardship. They loaded the model T with a few belongings, mom, dad and six children. Severely overloaded, the Model T could not make it up any major incline so the family would have to get out and push it up every hill and ride downhill and on the flat areas. They ate sandwiches and slept on blankets on the side of the road. There were no highways back then just small poorly maintained country roads.

When they arrived in Kansas City the Ford broke down. With no money to fix it My great grandfather took his family to a local Catholic Church to ask for help.

They let him and his family live in the basement of one of the church buildings, in exchange he would work as a janitor and a handy man for the church. With six kids to feed, My great grandmother did laundry for 10 cents a pound and great grandfather worked his job at the church and as a concrete finisher on the side. Soon, they were able to move out of the church and come to an arrangement with an apartment building where they were able to work for their rent.

Back then, many places did not have a proper bathroom with hot running water. All the children would have to bathe each Saturday night in a galvanized wash tub in the kitchen, with water heated on the stove. Guests and the youngest children bathed first and the unlucky older kids got the cold murky water.

In those times all the kids had to work. The boys had it easier than the girls for some reason, just having to mow a lawn here and there but mostly they got to screw off and go fishing. The girls on the other hand, had to help their mother with sewing, washing, cleaning, food preparation etc... There was very little dissent or back talk in those days. I am told my great grandfather Harry was gentle and never hit the kids but great grandma Marie would beat the living shit out of anyone who gave her guff.

They never made it to Phoenix and most of the kids and grandkids never left Kansas City for some reason.

Now at 81 years old, my grandmother looks back and says they actually had it good during the depression compared to a lot of other people. They had clean clothes, food, a roof over their heads and a penny for a piece of candy once in a while.

Think of all the stuff we complain about and take for granted these days. I consider myself lucky that I didn't have to go through that kind of hardship. Its good to be reminded of these things once in a while.

I'm going to drive up and take the kids to see Grandma, my Aunt and my Uncle in a few days. I should be able to check in once in a while and let you know what is going on.