THE GREAT DEPRESSION AND WORLD WAR II

I graduated from college in 1934. The Great Depression started around 1929 and lasted until the late 30's or early 40's. The college cafeteria sold bargain price meals for the struggling students. After I graduated I got a job with the WPA, which was a blessing, doing what I already knew what to do - measuring houses. There were about 15 of indigent (which means very little money) architects.

I do not remember any terrible hard ships during that time. We did not eat fancy foods but we never really did anyways. It didn't seem to affect me personally.

During World War II I remember rationing. We had ration coupons for gasoline and food. Jean was quite a help when she was born because we got more ration stamps. Because I was pregnant with Jean we petitioned and got a letter from Dr. Fairfield so Weston would not have to go into the service. I think we gathered up every excuse we could not to go to the war. I remember that we had to keep the curtains drawn at night so no light would shine through. The streets would be so quiet and dark. You could just see the darkness settle in and no noise. The dark houses at night were awful. There would be someone who would go around to check the neighborhoods to make sure there were no lights showing. There was even a song I remember about when the lights go on again. I don't know how long that lasted but it seemed forever to us at the time. Women would get together to do mending and sewing for soldier boys. I remember listening to the news on the radio and I think we were kept pretty well informed. Weston was working four jobs at the time just to get enough bucks to keep us going.

When the war ended I remember great celebrations. You could at last leave your curtains up in your house. The end of the war brought back the freedom of moving about. I don't remember much about President Roosevelt. I guess I along with most everybody was too busy bringing up kids and trying to keep them amused to pay too much attention to other things. On the radio we would listen to different shows. We also read magazines and newspapers. I can't think of anybody in my family who was in the service. My brother did not go in the service. He worked on the Manhattan Project I think at the time. It was so secret my mother nearly went crazy. He could not tell anyone what he was doing and my mother just hounded him to know what was going on. Some people did whatever they could to stay out and other people were so patriotic they would do anything they could to get in.