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STATE: Minnesota
INTERVIEWER: Michelle F.
DATE: August, 1937
SUBJECT'S NAME: Sandy Rogers with daughter Elizabeth
Sandy Rogers is a forty three year old woman living with her only child, eight-year-old Elizabeth in a suburb of the state's capital city. Sandy's husband is currently in Chicago in search of a loan for the family store. For the past few weeks Sandy has been running the store and taking care of Elizabeth awaiting her husband's return in mid-September.
QUESTION: How have these times been hard on your family and business?
ANSWER: Well, with my husband gone for a spell, it has been hard running the store. It's not even that business has been busy, no business has been busy these days. I have to keep up with all the book work as well as making sure that the store is stocked with goods. More often than not, our good providers don't have any goods to sell us, but we buy what we can get and afford. I would hire a hand to help, a good strong boy would be of great avail, but we don't have the money. Neither my husband nor I am as strong as we used to be. Elizabeth is far too young and frail to be lifting the heavy boxes that come in here. I am worn out every day from all the work I am doing and every night just the thought of the work to be done the next day makes me weary. I am grateful that I have work; I am very aware that most folks in this country have no way of supporting their families. I am very thankful for our income, small as it may be. This small income just barely supports life for us though. It pains me to have to send my malnourished child to bed some nights without a proper meal. These times have been hard on us all.
QUESTION: What do you predict happening in your future?
ANSWER: I don't even want to think about the future at the moment. When thoughts of what may come seep through my brain, it frightens me beyond reasoning. If and when my husband comes down that road and has a melancholy mien about him, then I will know he did not get that loan and our conditions and entire livelihood for that matter will continue on in its downward spiral. The hope of that loan is the only thing that is keeping me going now. That loan is going to determine if we will survive. I also worry about the future of my daughter. Lizzy, as I call her, is a bright girl, but these times are taking their toll on her frail body. She is a weak child and malnourishment is slowly weakening her. Soon, she will have to leave school for it is closing, as most children are. I also worry about the health of my husband. His young, jaunty attitude and appearance is slowly fading. I am sure mine is as well. I sit in bed at night and wonder what will happen tome and my family; I wonder if we will get out of this mess. I wonder if anyone will ever get out of this mess alive. There's no telling what the future will bring.
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STATE: Missouri:
INTERVIEWER: Matt R.
DATE May 6, 1938
SUBJECT'S NAME: Tom Towers
In the year of 1938, Big Tom Towers dominated the professional wrestling circuits. Weighing in at 287 lbs. with a height of 6'10", opponents wouldn't stand a chance. He didn't wrestle too often though, as people began to lose interest in the sports/entertainment industry during the Great Depression. This led to many problems for Tom as well.
QUESTION: During this time of trouble, why would you choose to work as a professional wrestler, especially if no one can afford a ticket? Do you plan on taking up another occupation?
ANSWER: Well, I know that times are grim for all of us, and my occupation sure is a different one, but it is almost impossible to get a job elsewhere. Also, I have a fond interest in this business, and it would just be so hard to leave. I have managed to get by on what I have for five long, hard years, and I plan on keeping it that way. I don't have a family to support so the little money that I make goes into my pocket. So no, I still plan on being a professional wrestler as long as I'm healthy.
QUESTION: You mention "being healthy" . What would happen to you if you suffered a severe injury and are not able to compete?
ANSWER: I can only hope to stay healthy and injury free. Wrestling is extremely dangerous, getting slammed on the mat with such force. One wrong landing and I could see my career, my living, my life shrivel up and die. Obviously, I have to be particularly careful at this point in time with the depression and all. I remember way back in '28 when I was lifted up in a maneuver known as the body slam (I rarely got this move done due to my enormous size), and I landed straight on my head. I couldn't move for the rest of the match, and I had no feeling below my waist for five minutes. It was the scariest moment of my life, and I was told I might never be able to compete again. It took me two years to muster up the courage and return to the ring. But as I stated before, If I cannot compete, I cannot survive.
STATE: Idaho
INTERVIEWER: Megan S.
DATE: November 4, 1937
SUBJECT'S NAME: Margaret Pratt with daughter Emily and dog
Margaret Pratt is a thirty-five year old mother who lives in Oneida Country, Idaho. She has one seven year old child and her name is Emily. Margaret is recently working as a school teacher in the county. Her husband past away three years ago. They will be moving to Oklahoma in January to be with Emily's grandparents.
Question:
How have times been on your family since you husband's death and how did he die?
Margaret: My husband died in a car accident. He was a coming home with supplies from the hardware store and a tractor trailer went out of control and swerved into his truck. Yes, times have been very rough. Since his death money has been very hard to come by. Being a school teacher I don't get payed much. The school I teach at doesn't even have enough textbooks for my students. Also writing utensils are hard to come by so the children have to share. I have been working at local stores just to get money to bring food home for dinners. Emily recently got sick and I didn't even have enough money to get her medicine. I felt awful. When I got enough money the first thing I bought was the medicine for Emily. I could not bare to lose her. My mother and father have a business in Oklahoma and I plan to move out there and help them with it. This way I could earn enough money to support Emily. Also moving to Oklahoma would be better because my parents have an extra room I could rent. This room would have heat. The house I am currently living in has no heat so when it gets cold I have to bundle Emily up in blankets. I hope times will be better when we move to Oklahoma. I will be going to Oklahoma by train. A couple days ago I received a letter from my father with money for the far on the train for Emily and me.
Question:
Do you plan on staying in Oklahoma and do you think it will be better for you and Emily?
Margaret: For now I am not sure. I don't really want to think about moving again. It would be much to hard to find a decent place to live. I hope that I will be able to stay with my parents until I have enough money. I know they will not mind as long as we help with the business. Emily will even have to help because she would not be able to attend school. She can not attend school because the local school in the town my parents live recently burnt down. Times have been horrible. Then maybe Emily and I could move to a better town back here in Idaho. All I am thinking about now is that Emily and I will be all right and will have a safe place to live.
STATE: Texas
INTERVIEWER: Andrew M.
DATE: April 1937
SUBJECTS NAME: Jack Robinson
PERSON: Jack was born in Texas and has lived there all his life. He is married and has a son and a daughter who are both in their teens. He has worked as a carnival worker for a few years, but soon the carnival went out of business. He owns a farm now, but it is not doing very well.
QUESTION: What is it like owning a farm in these bad times? ANSWER: Well, it is very hard to keep this farm. I got the farm back in 1933. We have to pay the taxes on it, and it is difficult to pay them on time. We have almost not been able to pay them a few times and almost lost the farm. But we always seem to find a way to pay the taxes. Also, it is very difficult to keep the farm running. A few times I thought i was going to have to sell the farm because I couldnąt keep it going. This farm is the only thing that we have, so I hope we can keep this farm for a while. As a matter of fact, I hope I can keep this farm for the rest of my life.
QUESTION: Is it difficult raising teens in this depression? ANSWER: Yes, it is very difficult raising children. It is hard to put food on the table, never mind putting it on the table for two growing teenagers. They are growing so fast they need a lot of food which we donąt have. They are always looking for something to eat. We have thought of having them go off on their own but my wife and I would not be able to let them go. Hopefully, the depression will be over soon so that things can go back to the way they were. But until it is over, it will be hard work to raise these kids and to keep this farm.
Elena Thompson has had an extraordinary life. She moved from Mexico to the United States when she was a young girl and has lived here in Texas ever since. Three years ago Elena had a baby girl, Rose. Elena has lived in this small house with her husband, Bob, since she married him.
QUESTION: Why did you family move to The United States? ANSWER: We had a farm in mexico. One year there was a huge drought and the crops dried up. We could not grow anything, so we could not make any money. There was not much money saved, and it did not last us long. My sister and I went to find work elsewhere, but nothing turned up. Soon we were flat broke. We did not even have enough money to buy my baby brother medicine. He would not be able to make the trip so he had to stay in Mexico with my uncle. My uncle gave us just enough money to move up here to Texas as he was a little bit better off then we were. We thought things would be better in the United States. When we arrived we were horribly surprised. There was no work here either! My father managed to buy a tiny trailer with the money my uncle had given us. Not long after that, I married Bob and moved here with him. Even though it was rough when we arrived, I am now glad we came here. Otherwise I would never have met my husband.
QUESTION:How have you and your husband managed to keep a house like this even though the Dustbowl? ANSWER: Bob only had a small farm before the Dustbowl started so we did not loose too much except for a few chicken. He also started saving when he was very young. Bob used to chop wood and run errands for a wealthy rancher who paid him very well. Only some of that money went to him. Most of it went to a secret spot where he puts all of his earnings. We said that thist money would be for Rose when she grew up, but we have been forced to dip into it in the last few years. Even though he lost his job he kept his spirits up and went looking for another one. Soon, he found one working for someone in the Texas legislature. I have also been working at the local laundry. Rose can go with me and the man is very nice. It has been hard, but at least we have each other.
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