My friend, Marie was living with a man and had three children by him. The children were about ten, eight, and six when he was killed by a car. She went to Social Security. They denied her claim since she did not have a marriage license. She could not even claim his body. It was finally released to his mother. His Mother had the burden of burying her son. The Mother made all the arrangements for the funeral. The funeral reception was held at the Mother's home.
In a small town news that they were not legally married spread fast. The neighbors even disallowed their children to play with the children. This was back in the fifties. It was sad, Marie had to find work to support the family. She finally found a night waitress job. Her family helped her as she had nothing.
Welfare back then was almost nil. There were no food stamps, no housing, no free lunches at school.
Times have changed but not that much. In different neighborhoods, the children would still not be allowed to play with other children.
I lost touch wuth Marie, as I remarried and moved out of town,
rate
email
print
link to this page
Comments: 30
and it still is
There weren't very many people in those days though, so yes everybody did know about everyone else I guess.
There was even a hermit who lived behind where my house was in the woods. Lot's of old history around old rusty anchors, old rusty shackles.
An old haunted prison-like building within easy walking distance.
Most woman in the 50's were reluctant to even try to get drivers licenses, they took busses.
There was only one kid that I remember not being allowed to play with when I was little. By the time we were 6, he had been sent to juvenile hall for trying to kill his father multiple times(clearly not sane). He also would go outside and scream as loud as possible in the middle of the night for no reason. I could hear him 2 neighborhoods away. I think it's pretty clear why I didn't spend much time around him...