Ohio Department of Aging Great Depression Story Project

[opsec]

http://aging.ohio.gov/news/greatdepressionstoryproject/default.aspx

Found this referenced on another forum. This is the closes thing we have to a time machine. Old people from that era have written brief comments and observations about the lifestyle of the period.

In March-April, 2009, the Ohio Department of Aging solicited stories about the Great Depression from Ohioans who lived through it. Our hope was to gather recollections and lessons learned that people of all ages today could use for perspective on our current economic situation and perhaps some advice for surviving in adversity.

Ohio's greatest generation did not disappoint us. More than 300 individuals sent in their stories of life during the 1920s, 1930s and 1940s. The four collections below include nearly 1,000 excerpts on a variety of topics.

Volume 1 - posted Sept. 2009
Includes: Food, Cooking and Eating; Schools and Education; Self-Sufficiency, Resourcefulness and Frugality; The Comforts of Home; Jobs, Schemes and Other Ways to Make Money; Family, Community and Kindness Toward Strangers; Lessons, Values and Advice; Then v. Now
 
Volume 2 - posted Oct. 2009
Includes: Food, Cooking and Eating; Entertainment and Recreation; Self-Sufficiency, Resourcefulness and Frugality; Public Assistance and Government Relief; Jobs, Schemes and Other Ways to Make Money; Family, Community and Kindness Toward Strangers; Finances, Money and Making Ends Meet; Clothing and Laundry
 
Volume 3 - posted Nov. 2009
Includes: Food, Cooking and Eating; Schools and Education; Self-Sufficiency, Resourcefulness and Frugality; The Comforts of Home; Jobs, Schemes and Other Ways to Make Money; Family, Community and Kindness Toward Strangers; Lessons, Values and Advice; Medical Care and Home Remedies
 
Volume 4 - posted Dec. 2009
Includes: Holidays During the Great Depression; Food, Cooking and Eating; Entertainment and Recreation; Rural v. City Life; Public Assistance and Government Relief; Transportation; Finances, Money and Making Ends Meet; Depression Era Clothing and Laundry; Other Thoughts

[silverseeds]

"Later, a friend I worked with said in the Depression he rode the rails and stopped to eat vegetables out of a garden. The owner said he would shoot him if he didn't stop. My friend said 'go ahead,' as he was that hungry. "
- James Randolph, Columbus

I found this interesting. being that my family lived along some train tracks during this time, had a huge garden, and would have such people help in the garden for food.....