THE GREAT DEPRESSION WAS A VERY SAD TIME IN AMERICA. MILLIONS OF CITIZENS SUFFERED, AND POVERTY WAS QUITE COMMON. THE GLOVER'S WERE VICTIMS OF POVERTY, AND WERE ON THE RELIEF "DOLE," AS IT WAS CALLED. I REMEMBER GOING TO COLONIAL FIRE HOUSE WHEN THE FIRE HOUSE WAS ON LIBERTY STREET AND NEWKIRK AVENUE. ON THE SECOND FLOOR THERE WERE BURLAP SACKS OF DRIED FRUIT, FLOUR, SUGAR, NAVY BEANS, AND OTHER STAPLES. THE LINES WERE LONG, AND THE NEED WAS GREAT.
QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS: tglover320@optimum.net
Tuesday, April 01, 2008
1931: RELIEF THEN, WELFARE NOW
THE GREAT DEPRESSION WAS A VERY SAD TIME IN AMERICA. MILLIONS OF CITIZENS SUFFERED, AND POVERTY WAS QUITE COMMON. THE GLOVER'S WERE VICTIMS OF POVERTY, AND WERE ON THE RELIEF "DOLE," AS IT WAS CALLED. I REMEMBER GOING TO COLONIAL FIRE HOUSE WHEN THE FIRE HOUSE WAS ON LIBERTY STREET AND NEWKIRK AVENUE. ON THE SECOND FLOOR THERE WERE BURLAP SACKS OF DRIED FRUIT, FLOUR, SUGAR, NAVY BEANS, AND OTHER STAPLES. THE LINES WERE LONG, AND THE NEED WAS GREAT.
Tom, I was just thinking last week, how Mom and Dad made it thru the 30s, when they were on Hartley Av, thru the depression. Never heard any stories. I wonder if that is why Dad enlisted in the Corps in 43, at aqe 27. I know Grandpa was on military disability check from WWI, that must have kept Grandpa and Grandma going. Never kept him from shooting pool tho at the Bar across the street from McCabe's in the Square.
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