Golden Memories: The Great Depression taught many lessons By Gladys

The Great Depression taught many lessons
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By Gladys Reyhtneour, Golden Memories
10/14/2008
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As a great-grandmother, I do not have the kind of pleasant and interesting memories that my grandchildren will have of all phones, videos, computers, CDs, etc.
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But riding through the countryside this fall and seeing all the beautiful fields of corn, it brings back memories of my father growing "broom corn" or sorghum. Then after harvesting it, he took it to the broom shop where he had brooms made for neighbors and us — especially little brooms for me and my friends.
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Another big event of my childhood was butchering day. The day when our neighbor, with his butchering equipment, came to butcher the two pigs my father had raised and fattened. When the day was done, scrapple and sausage had been made; hams and bacon ready to be smoked in our little backyard smokehouse. Then later to be hung in the attic to keep for winter eating.
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Then another exciting day was when the "rag" man stopped to buy the rags I had saved and was paid a quarter for a big bag full.
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Another exciting day was when a friendly older man, down on his luck, would stop and ask for a bite to eat. I would love to talk to him as he ate his sandwich and cup of coffee we had given him.
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Oh, the days of the Great Depression were a challenge, but so rewarding in teaching us to be appreciated, kind and above helpful.
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Each week, The Mercury prints letters or guest columns about Pottstown's past and the memories of area readers. Contributors whose work is selected for publication receive $25. Share your recollections by writing to Nostalgia, in care of The Mercury, Hanover and King streets, Pottstown, PA 19464.
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©The Mercury 2008
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I grew up in a humble family, and can relate to much of what Gladys is writing about in her article.
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I think the U.S.A. has wandered too far away from our humble beginnings, and can learn something from listening to our elders a bit more.
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When I was a teen we didn't have computers, CD's or cassette's either. We had vinyl records. The big thing when I was in school is when the first man walked on the moon - we watched in our school auditorium. I have to admit that the event was kind-of lost on me at the time being a troubled kid. Also when my school installed a swimming pool in the gym.
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We always had a phone. They used to have cooler land phones than now - but cell phones do rock.
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We didn't have VCR's. I grew up on black and white TV - and was AMAZED when it turned to color. We spent most every waking minute outside, and wandered around freely - safely.
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A big event was collecting corn and having a corn battle in our street - and we were made to clean it up.
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We wandered from end to end of our town trick or treating on Halloween - safely.
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Nobody ever had any real money.
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Or plastic - we didn't have that - and I know we wouldn't have been allowed to have any such thing.
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That started to change when I turned around 14 or so.
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Drug use, tainted Halloween candy - one local young man ended up in the hospital, people running into our house deliberately with their car, and men exposing - or propositioning the neighborhood girls for sex - themselves driving around in their car, one neighborhood girl died as a result of a motorcycle accident, another neighborhood girl died as a result of a drunk driver hitting our school bus, happenings or rumors of prostitution and rape started showing up in my quiet country neighborhood.
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Someone poisoned two of our dogs for no apparent reason.
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All the kids knew each other.
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I don't remember ever hearing the corn grow though I don't think. It makes a cool sound when the wind blows through it though.
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I wouldn't trade where I grew up.
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Funny, now I'm seeing my grandchildren acting much like me and my siblings did growing up. (and they have more available to them than what we had. )
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Someone said to me not long ago to not forget where I came from - which I find is pretty sound advice - not so much in why it was said to me - which I don't agree with.
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(I was getting too Christian. lol.)
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I really liked Gladys' post!