I remember quite a few things from the depression, we never had too much to eat and had to become creative in what we made for dinner. Our family was not poor, I never thought of things that way. We were lucky my husband had a good steady job. Many men did not have work, and had to stand in soup lines to eat. The men were very proud of taking care of their families, when they could not do so, many lost faith in everything.We were so lucky back then. So many people lost their homes or farms to foreclosure. Many families had to be split apart and go live with other family. If they had no other family, many children went to work in stores, and on farms for room and board. Many young children were sent on the orphan train, never to be seen again by their families. Other families lived on the road, they went wherever they could find work.
We were very lucky, We had a home and my husband had a good job. Even still, I will never forget trying to make dinner each night. Many nights we had biscuits and gravy for dinner,without sausage or meat of any kind. We ate gravy bread. Yes, gravy poured over bread on a plate.For breakfast, (if we were lucky) I made warm bread and milk with a little sugar (instead of eggs ,oatmeal or cereal). If I had any I'd add vanilla or a touch of nutmeg or cinnamon. Most days breakfast was just coffee and maybe a couple slices of bread, which we would spread with butter, then fold the bread in half like a sandwich, and then dip it in the coffee.It was a treat if we had jam and we would sprinkle sugar on top of the butter sometimes.
Beans were a common meal. I traded clothes I made or mended to a local farmer for beans, and rarely small cuts of meat or fat.
What really helped us along was hot homemade bread. I knew how to bake and knead my own bread and I made it as often as I could. I remember cooking for hours and hours on a little wood-burning stove. If we had enough I would make baked goods. Then, I would send one of my daughters to the old widow's house with a plate of food for dinner. I made a lot of meals up as I went along. Whatever we had, I would mix together. I became a professional chef when it came to making soups and stews. I made meals then no one has even heard of today.
In summer, we would use a three-burner kerosene stove for cooking. I recall going off to the gas station for ten cents worth of kerosene, and I can still smell the stink of it. I never did miss that part.
My husband did lots of things to keep us going. We lived in the small town of Sunbury, Pa, we had family a few miles away that owned a cow and chickens. My husband would stop after work helping with anything they needed, in return for a few quarts of milk a day. With all the canning I did from our garden, our weekly grocery bill wasn't that big. We only bought the bare necessities, just what we needed and nothing more.
Holidays were sure different back then.Christmas was always an exciting time, but there were never many gifts. I sewed dolls and doll clothes for my daughters. I made homemade candy, fudge and popcorn balls. I never let on to anyone else how hard it was.Someone else always had it worse I knew. I was proud that I did the best I could for my family. I learned to make due on very little. It was a skill that helped me all my life. A skill we could all use today.
The above short narative was taken from stories my great grandmother told my grandmother, many years ago.I am lucky to have heard these stories of the Great Depression.The lessons my great grandmother learned from living in that time stayed with her just as she said, all through her life.If you look at photos from the time you can imagine a bit easier, what people went through.
Photos from the Great Depression:
http://history1900s.about.com/library/photos/blyindexdepression.htm
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Comments: 15
Thank you again, we all need reminders. And this one we should never forget.
Thank you for presenting a good article about 'LIFE' ...
Thank you so much for sharing