Most of them probably had decent jobs on the railroad or in the coal mines. Some of the homes don't look so bad. I saw one picture with a 41 Ford in it, so that wasn't depression era.
My Grand parents were from Hillsboro WV we used to go visit in the early 60s and it pretty much looked like those pictures but grand ma was always happy . She was always cookin something up . Daddy caught a snaping turle in the creek and that was lunch she just cracked that shell and started making lunch. She made everything out of what they could get . What memories for a boy from Boston.
My dad grew up on a farm in hemp hill,West Virginia. Born in 1923 my grandfather blacksmithed,logged,and worked in the mines as well as operating the farm. They bartered and traded skills for what the farm couldnt provide. It was a hard life,but they never did without. They kept all sorts of animals for meat,lard,honey, and plowed almost 13 acres with mules. It made him a strong versatile man with a deep faith in god and his own ability.
6:56 Graduation Gifts Sold Here Doesn't look like much to choose from; then again, probably not much need for them anyway. The picture of the children in school 5:58: they sure look clean compared to the pictures of kids at home. Parents back then didn't want their children to "look poor" at school. My grandfather said (grew up in rural Ohio during the depression) that it was embarrassing that they had to wear "dungarees" (as he always called jeans) to school, but wearing ones with holes in them was the worst! Always wore the best pair to school!
The difference between this depression we are almost in & the one in the 1930's is the communication we have at our finger tips. The video games. Relieves the boredom somewhat. So no sad faces. Until they hit rock bottom & wind upon the street. I think we're going to see a lot of that in the 21st century depression. Blatant homelessness.
In 1918-22 they suffered and died by the bushel from the flu, 60,000 in Pennsylvania alone, barely 8 years later, they are living? through the great depression for 10 years or so till WW2 started, and then ,yeah they lived and died through WW 2. My ancestors lived during "the good ol days"??? Really??? I'm not so sure.
Amazing the number of children that didn't have shoes! My dad probably grew up like that..he never talked about his childhood! He had one sister and seven brothers!
My parents were born in 1917 and 1923 respectively ( dad then mom). Dad was born in the Company House owned by Weyanoke Coal and Coke Camp in Mercer County, West Virginia. His father ( my grandfather) was an Above Ground Mine Foreman. Being a Foreman, they were a little better off from the regular Coal Miner. My Grandparents were able to buy a small family farm with a cabin and barn on it, in Giles County, Virginia (just across the WV/VA state line). When dad was 6yo, my grandfather died of ruptured appendix (no antibiotics in 1923) so Mama Audrey pack up dad and two older sister and moved them to the farm. Dad worked that farm from about the age of 8-9 until he left home in World War II. He also attended White Gate School from 1st to 10th and graduated ( only went to 10 in 1932). Dad and Mama Audrey always told that they we dirt poor farmers and when the Depression hit…no difference in their lifestyle.
This is a stong AMERICA YOU WORKED OR YOU STARVED IT WASN'T A WHITE OR BLACK THING MY MOTHER IN LAW TALKED ABOUT BOILING CHICKEN FEET FOR DINNER AND HAVING TO NURSE SOMEONES BABY TO KEEP IT ALIVE ! IN THE SOUTH PEOPLE RAN STEELS TO FEED THEIR FAMILIES! A OLDER WOMAN IN OUR COMMUNITY LOCKED ALL HER KIDS IN A LOG BARN STALL WENT BACK IN THE HOUSE AND SHOT HERSELF! ANOTHER TOLD US KIDS EVERY ONE TALKS ABOUT THE GOOD OLD DAYS , SHE THERE WERE NO GOOD OLD DAYS ! TODAY IS THE GOOD DAYS ! AS KIDS SHE SAID THEY DARN NEar STARVED to DEATH!
West Virginians are a rare breed of people. What hasn't killed them has made them humble and stronger. They are resourceful, kind and respectful. It's in there DNA.
Look at the childrens dirty little feet at 1:47 from going barefoot in a coal mining town. It could not be helped for everything to be filthy in a coal mining town. We have it made today and do not even realize it. God Bless those who work and live in a mining town.
With “leaders” like Dementia Joe and Traitor Joe, we’ll be back in a depression in no time!
Most of these people were so poor they probably didn't even know there was a depression.
Most of them probably had decent jobs on the railroad or in the coal mines. Some of the homes don't look so bad. I saw one picture with a 41 Ford in it, so that wasn't depression era.
Things look a little better here. But today's people couldn't do it my father was born 1924 I've heard about it died at 97
My Grand parents were from Hillsboro WV we used to go visit in the early 60s and it pretty much looked like those pictures but grand ma was always happy . She was always cookin something up . Daddy caught a snaping turle in the creek and that was lunch she just cracked that shell and started making lunch. She made everything out of what they could get . What memories for a boy from Boston.
Wonderful, enjoyable look-back at the way things were. The Depression years affected everyone. Depressed and impoverished times do not discriminate.
That was a hell of life to in those days.
My dad grew up on a farm in hemp hill,West Virginia. Born in 1923 my grandfather blacksmithed,logged,and worked in the mines as well as operating the farm. They bartered and traded skills for what the farm couldnt provide. It was a hard life,but they never did without. They kept all sorts of animals for meat,lard,honey, and plowed almost 13 acres with mules. It made him a strong versatile man with a deep faith in god and his own ability.
Hard times on America, but we survived it. Now if we can just do it again.
🇺🇸…
🕶️🚬 …
6:56 Graduation Gifts Sold Here
Doesn't look like much to choose from; then again, probably not much need for them anyway.
The picture of the children in school 5:58: they sure look clean compared to the pictures of kids at home. Parents back then didn't want their children to "look poor" at school. My grandfather said (grew up in rural Ohio during the depression) that it was embarrassing that they had to wear "dungarees" (as he always called jeans) to school, but wearing ones with holes in them was the worst! Always wore the best pair to school!
Didn’t see even one obese person. A silver lining of hard times.
THANK YOU
The difference between this depression we are almost in & the one in the 1930's is the communication we have at our finger tips. The video games. Relieves the boredom somewhat. So no sad faces. Until they hit rock bottom & wind upon the street. I think we're going to see a lot of that in the 21st century depression. Blatant homelessness.
People of today don't know what hard times is
In 1918-22 they suffered and died by the bushel from the flu, 60,000 in Pennsylvania alone, barely 8 years later, they are living? through the great depression for 10 years or so till WW2 started, and then ,yeah they lived and died through WW 2. My ancestors lived during "the good ol days"??? Really??? I'm not so sure.
Ty much
We need this reminder
It can happen again
Time to be grateful and buckle up!
Bluefield,West Virginia 1938
Amazing the number of children that didn't have shoes! My dad probably grew up like that..he never talked about his childhood! He had one sister and seven brothers!
The good old days🤠
My parents were born in 1917 and 1923 respectively ( dad then mom). Dad was born in the Company House owned by Weyanoke Coal and Coke Camp in Mercer County, West Virginia. His father ( my grandfather) was an Above Ground Mine Foreman. Being a Foreman, they were a little better off from the regular Coal Miner. My Grandparents were able to buy a small family farm with a cabin and barn on it, in Giles County, Virginia (just across the WV/VA state line).
When dad was 6yo, my grandfather died of ruptured appendix (no antibiotics in 1923) so Mama Audrey pack up dad and two older sister and moved them to the farm.
Dad worked that farm from about the age of 8-9 until he left home in World War II. He also attended White Gate School from 1st to 10th and graduated ( only went to 10 in 1932).
Dad and Mama Audrey always told that they we dirt poor farmers and when the Depression hit…no difference in their lifestyle.
West By God Virginny! (In all its Glory)
This is a stong AMERICA YOU WORKED OR YOU STARVED IT WASN'T A WHITE OR BLACK THING MY MOTHER IN LAW TALKED ABOUT BOILING CHICKEN FEET FOR DINNER AND HAVING TO NURSE SOMEONES BABY TO KEEP IT ALIVE ! IN THE SOUTH PEOPLE RAN STEELS TO FEED THEIR FAMILIES! A OLDER WOMAN IN OUR COMMUNITY LOCKED ALL HER KIDS IN A LOG BARN STALL WENT BACK IN THE HOUSE AND SHOT HERSELF! ANOTHER TOLD US KIDS EVERY ONE TALKS ABOUT THE GOOD OLD DAYS , SHE THERE WERE NO GOOD OLD DAYS ! TODAY IS THE GOOD DAYS ! AS KIDS SHE SAID THEY DARN NEar STARVED to DEATH!
West Virginians are a rare breed of people. What hasn't killed them has made them humble and stronger. They are resourceful, kind and respectful. It's in there DNA.
How many of the boys in these pictures, these would be the best of times for. They would have been old enough to go into ww2 and not made it home.
This well be us next year at this time,
Look at the childrens dirty little feet at 1:47 from going barefoot in a coal mining town. It could not be helped for everything to be filthy in a coal mining town. We have it made today and do not even realize it. God Bless those who work and live in a mining town.
Sad how fast we are heading there again at least our forefathers knew how to Survive
When no one has money, may as well go to warm climate and fish
Mother was from WVa, during the depression, no work, so they moved north to work in car plants