Copy write YES: Chapter One The Great Depression: On October 1929 the Great Depression began and lasted until the start of WW- II 1941. This period of time in American history is the beginning of my story. The Depression brought out the best and at times the worst in our fellow man. I soon come to believe that only two group of people existed in our little coal mining patch town along the Monongahela River in Fayette c©©©©©ounty Pennsylvania. People that struggled day after day to make life better for themselves and their family and those who went through life sponging off of his fellow man, imposing upon another’s generosity or hospitality without sharing in the cost or responsibility involved (Freeloader.) The Great Depression, as devastating as it was, had a positive outcome in our country’s history, bringing together and uniting a generation of hard working people with deep pride and principles of right and wrong and the deep belief in his God and country with devotion and respect for his fellow man. A man’s word or hand shake was a contract, as good as gold. Many of the men would leave home for weeks at a time looking for work. They would hop coal or freight train and go around the country in search of work. They would often live in the old abandoned coke ovens around the coal mines and were called Hobo’s (homeless and usually penniless) After everyone had eaten supper (dinner) the women would make up a lunch basket and the kids would take it to the men staying in the old coke ovens. They would stop by the homes and offer to do work (Cut wood, grass etc) in return for food or old clothing. Some become peddlers, selling merchandise along the road or from door to door. I remember the organ grinder with a tin cup and a little monkey on a chain. When someone would put a nickel in the ten cup the organ grinder would crank the organ handle, playing the same song over and over ( turkey in the straw) and the monkey danced all around, until the music stopped. The little monkey would wait until another coin was dropped in the cup, then he would start dancing again. The peddlers sold brooms, pencils and one of the peddlers sharpened seizers and kitchen knives. Clothes were washed by hand: The woman’s work was never done. They worked from daylight till dark cleaning house, cooking for the family, working in the home garden, canning food and raising children. Clothes were washed by hand, using a wash board and two large tubs one for washing the other for rinsing, then wringing the clothes out by hand. They would hang them outside on a clothes line to dry. They ironed clothes using heating irons having a detachable handle and heated on kitchen coal fired stove. The daughters helped their mother with the chorus around the house. The woman scrub the floors on there hands knees, using lye soap and a scrubbing brush. The boys assumed many of the fathers responsibly while he was out looking for work. Some family’s lived off of the land; hunting, fishing, picking apples, peaches and berries and sold them. The boys took their guns (.22 rifles and 410 shot guns) to school and went hunting before and after school for small game, rabbits, squirrel, and pheasant. In 1935 the government created The Works Progress Administration (WPA) for the unemployed to help feed and provide clothes for the children of families who could not find work. The people of The Great Depression had faith, strength and courage, with the profound belief in his God and country. “Where there is a will there is a way” became a way of life for them. December 7th, 1941 Japan attacked Pearl Harbor: In 1941 the depression would end and the country would face another disastrous event marked by great loss and lasting distress and suffering. The young men and woman living in the times of the great depression would bear the burden of W W-II at home and on the battle field and would go down in history books as “America’s greatest generation” Chapter Two

In response to James R 's message:

A reminder of the past . Could become the future
Copy write YES: Chapter One The Great Depression: On October 1929 the Great Depression began and lasted until the start of WW- II 1941. This period of time in American history is the beginning of my story. The Depression brought out the best and at times the worst in our fellow man. I soon come to believe that only two group of people existed in our little coal mining patch town along the Monongahela River in Fayette c©©©©©ounty Pennsylvania. People that struggled day after day to make life better for themselves and their family and those who went through life sponging off of his fellow man, imposing upon another’s generosity or hospitality without sharing in the cost or responsibility involved (Freeloader.) The Great Depression, as devastating as it was, had a positive outcome in our country’s history, bringing together and uniting a generation of hard working people with deep pride and principles of right and wrong and the deep belief in his God and country with devotion and respect for his fellow man. A man’s word or hand shake was a contract, as good as gold. Many of the men would leave home for weeks at a time looking for work. They would hop coal or freight train and go around the country in search of work. They would often live in the old abandoned coke ovens around the coal mines and were called Hobo’s (homeless and usually penniless) After everyone had eaten supper (dinner) the women would make up a lunch basket and the kids would take it to the men staying in the old coke ovens. They would stop by the homes and offer to do work (Cut wood, grass etc) in return for food or old clothing. Some become peddlers, selling merchandise along the road or from door to door. I remember the organ grinder with a tin cup and a little monkey on a chain. When someone would put a nickel in the ten cup the organ grinder would crank the organ handle, playing the same song over and over ( turkey in the straw) and the monkey danced all around, until the music stopped. The little monkey would wait until another coin was dropped in the cup, then he would start dancing again. The peddlers sold brooms, pencils and one of the peddlers sharpened seizers and kitchen knives. Clothes were washed by hand: The woman’s work was never done. They worked from daylight till dark cleaning house, cooking for the family, working in the home garden, canning food and raising children. Clothes were washed by hand, using a wash board and two large tubs one for washing the other for rinsing, then wringing the clothes out by hand. They would hang them outside on a clothes line to dry. They ironed clothes using heating irons having a detachable handle and heated on kitchen coal fired stove. The daughters helped their mother with the chorus around the house. The woman scrub the floors on there hands knees, using lye soap and a scrubbing brush. The boys assumed many of the fathers responsibly while he was out looking for work. Some family’s lived off of the land; hunting, fishing, picking apples, peaches and berries and sold them. The boys took their guns (.22 rifles and 410 shot guns) to school and went hunting before and after school for small game, rabbits, squirrel, and pheasant. In 1935 the government created The Works Progress Administration (WPA) for the unemployed to help feed and provide clothes for the children of families who could not find work. The people of The Great Depression had faith, strength and courage, with the profound belief in his God and country. “Where there is a will there is a way” became a way of life for them. December 7th, 1941 Japan attacked Pearl Harbor: In 1941 the depression would end and the country would face another disastrous event marked by great loss and lasting distress and suffering. The young men and woman living in the times of the great depression would bear the burden of W W-II at home and on the battle field and would go down in history books as “America’s greatest generation” Chapter Two

I like your memories, Mr. James R. Very interesting and I remember the elders telling such stories, as they remember their lives. Thanks for posting that. You note in there the "government" creating the CCC to put people back to work. Suppose they did not? No East Park, no black limestone wall holding back the earth on Water Street leading uphill past the train station area, and so many other projects. That was the government. I agree I hate hands in the til, and beauracracy and too much is awful. But you have such a mind for good writing, please consider opening your mind more freely and not shutting the hatch when "government" triggers the shut-down valve. Thanks for sharing your memories, liked it.

In response to ?? 's message:

RE: A reminder of the past . Could become the future
I like your memories, Mr. James R. Very interesting and I remember the elders telling such stories, as they remember their lives. Thanks for posting that. You note in there the "government" creating the CCC to put people back to work. Suppose they did not? No East Park, no black limestone wall holding back the earth on Water Street leading uphill past the train station area, and so many other projects. That was the government. I agree I hate hands in the til, and beauracracy and too much is awful. But you have such a mind for good writing, please consider opening your mind more freely and not shutting the hatch when "government" triggers the shut-down valve. Thanks for sharing your memories, liked it.

Thanks for sharing your memories, liked it.:... Thank you ?? "government" creating the CCC: --- The CCC was a work program for young men between 18 to 24 (Google FDR and the CCC ) Google The WPA is the program that you might have had in mind.