| Summary: | THE GREAT DEPRESSION (ALSO KNOWN AS THE "DIRTY THIRTIES") When the stock market collapsed in Oct. 1929, President Hoover advised that business was "fundamentally sound", and prosperity was "just around the corner", but by 1933 thousands of American banks verged on inslovency. Runs on them by frightened depositors had drained them of their reserves. The Kintyre bank, for instance, went into the hands of the receivers as early as Dec, 1928, and other banks all over the county were meeting the same fate. By the time President Roosevelt declared a nation-wide "Bank Holiday" on March 6, 1933, the panic was general. In rapid succession, drought, dust storms, grasshopper infestation and widespread unemployment was experienced. The first relief act was passed in April, 1933. It set up a Civilian Conservation Corps under the supervision of the War Dept. Some of our county's boys participating were the Rahrich boys from Braddock, Kenny Ketchum and Benny Rau from Linton, Freddie Woods from Emmonsburg and Emil Humann, Hazelton. Through a set up called The National Recovery Act (NRA), Emmons County was able to build the present Courthouse with local labor, 30 per cent of the cost being donated by the Federal Government. The Agricultural Adjustment Act brought to our midst a County Agent, the first being C. E. Cavette, followed by Ben H. Barrett. A Works Progress Administration (WPA) gave work to many who would have been on the general relief rolls without it. Seeman Park became a thing of beauty under the supervision of Jonathan Hoff, with WPA help. Roads were built, ditches dug, sturdy outdoor toilets (delicately referred to as "WPA projects") constructed and dams (such as the Temvik dam) and stock ponds engineered. In a survey of all WPA sewing projects in the State, Emmons was first in the district comprising eleven counties. Ed- wina Wittmayer was the county supervisor and Mrs. Olive Lynch had charge of the Strasburg unit, Emmons County had the largest relief garden in the State: a 40 acre tract. Wally Kyes donated the land, Armand "Frenchy" Blanc helped survey the land, Dennis Casey was head timekeeper and Glenn Woods foreman of the project. It was irrigated with water pumped from the Missouri River. Thirty-two acres of potatoes were planted and the balance put into other winter vegetables. The seed was furnished through the Federal Engineering Relief Administration. Actual work was done by people on the relief rolls. An 8-inch pump (capacity of 1750 gal. per minute) was used. The garden supplied 1,200 families in the county. In addition to the large garden, there were 30 similar but smaller projects along Beaver Creek. Hague and Braddock also had "group gardens" that could be irrigated from "Frenchy" wells. One Linton firm sold 15 small irrigation pumps. With the garden produce and "commodities" that were distributed periodically, hunger was alleviated. The years of drought coincided with the hard years of the Depression. The dust storms continued and were referred to as "black blizzards". Russian thistles piled up against fences. Crops were plowed under and little pigs killed in an effort to raise prices. Unemployment prevailed so many of the young people "boxcarred" to the western states, looking for greener pastures. Chris Bosch and Isaac Blore hopped a freight to Washington, but found no work. Isaac stayed with relatives but Chris came home almost starved. When he returned to Emmons County, Tom Fergus, conductor on the RR, saw his weakened condition and insisted that Chris ride in the caboose, lest he fall from the top of the boxcar. World War II, in a sense, ended the Depression, but as far as most Emmons County people were concerned, it was over when it finally RAINED. WELFARE The poor we have with us always. Since this is a fact of life, the County Commissioners, at their first meeting in 1884 included provisions for the "needy poor" in establishing a 6 mill general levy. The Board served as the administrative body to hear the cases and act on them. In the early Commissioners Proceedings we find many requests for specialized care at the Bismarck Hospital tabled for further investigation. By the time they could meet again to vote on the issue, the patient was often cured or had died. In later years a "widow's pension" was established, allowing as high as $8 per child per month, so the mother could keep her family group together. On one occasion, two unwed mothers asked for help in providing for their small children, only to have the commissioners refuse them and berate them for their sinful ways. Church groups and friendly neighbors did much to lighten the load for the unfortunate. Garden produce was shared, and during the long winter months flour and other staples were "loaned" until trips to town could be made. As the standard of living became higher, the welfare needs increased accordingly. At present we have a county set-up that includes a Welfare Board, County Supervisor, a case worker, two office clerks and 3 "Homemakers". Hot lunch programs are in effect at all public schools, and are free to those who cannot pay. No child is denied dental care, glasses or a physician's services because his parents are unable to provide them. No mother is turned away because of her marital status. The cost of the programs may be high, but we are proud that there are no cases of real privation in our community. That is the democratic way of life! The 1930's dust bowl 50- Scanned with a Zeutschel Zeta book scanner at 300 dpi. Edited with Multi-Page TIFF Editor.
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