Cornshucking day in 1939 at Mrs. Fred Wilkins' home near Tallyho, Granville County. North Carolina

[eleny]

I first saw this at Shorpy's site and then found it at the Library of Congress.
http://www.loc.gov/pictures/collection/fsa/item/fsa2000033164/PP/

[flamin lib]

1. That was my house and that was my Mama. nt

[eleny]

4. Seeing her from behind like that, I bet she looks like many of our grandmas

I'm sure my grandma had a dress just like hers!

[japple]

2. That's my Grandmother. Her biscuit pan was just like that and

always full of the best biscuits ever made.

[eleny]

3. Seems like they cooked so much more with so much less

[japple]

5. Both of my Grandmothers could do anything. Raised chickens,

wrung their necks & chopped their heads off, scalded & plucked, cut them up and fried them in a big, black, cast iron skillet on a woodstove. That would be a whole day's work for me. For my grandmothers, it was done before breakfast! I think life got a little easier for them after 1935 when they got electricity.

[pengillian101]

6. Shorpy's site

Don't ya just love that place?



That woman in the pic certainly was like one of my Grandmas. Not only did she survive the Great Depression, but raised 8 kids on the farm. My Dad told me that living on a farm wasn't bad at all as far as food goes - they had it. Eventually, they lost the farm. Grandpa turned to logging up north, then carpentry, and moved to the city and made a good life for his family. Beautiful home.

My other Grandma (after having 8 kids) got pneumonia and died at a young age, so I never met her. My Grandpa from that side soon gave up, lost their farm and turned to drink (as was the phrase at the time). The kids (my Mom) had to quit school and get jobs to survive.

The Great Depression era and survival - and here we are again.

[eleny]

7. I love Shorpy's and visit every day

Thank you for sharing your family stories, pengillian. My mom's father died very young in 1932 from a lung ailment. So she, too, quit high school on the spot and found work at age 15. At first as a live-in nanny and then cleaning houses until she could find work sewing in factory tailor shops. Very tough times.

[pengillian101]

9. Have you found Clara yet?

What a hoot she is. A 94 year old who survived the Great Depression - her grandson video taped her cooking her Depression-era recipes and a Clara You-tube star was born!

CD's, books, I read them and share them all. I love her recollections! I shared my book with a woman almost her age and we both enjoyed it.

[pengillian101]

10. Indeed - very similar!

"So she, too, quit high school on the spot and found work at age 15. At first as a live-in nanny and then cleaning houses until she could find work sewing in factory tailor shops. Very tough times."

Now, if you tell me that she was from Mondovi --- your ARE my sister, lol!

[yellerpup]

8. What a sweet thing to share.

There is great poetry in that photo. Reminds me so much of my childhood and those biscuits look yummy! :hi: