Amazing pics. People dressed better in those days – drove cooler cars too.
Americana. about to rescue Europe from itself.
THAT is the free enterprise of which I refer and defer to.
I wonder how many of the kids are still around carrying of the tradition.
I have trouble even imagining what it would be like not having the resources to buy shoes?
Beautiful pictures!
I was born in 1942 and these photos triggered many memories. When I was quite young, there were still a few cars like those in these photos being driven. The first family car I remember was a 1935 Ford that my Dad drove until about the late 1940s. You could buy Royal Crown Cola and people still brought produce to market with horse-drawn wagons.
The pace of change back then, while rapid compared to previous eras, was nothing like today so there was considerable overlap in how people lived from one generation to the next. Thanks, Kate, for posting these.
Been there as a child, done that, standing outside, with nose stuck to the the candy store window.
Always had food in the tummy though, provided by our own family resourcefulness and not by food banks provided by others!
Graphic reminders for a generation who witnessed or lived that reality.
Thanks Kate!
Just looking at those pictures makes me feel i’ve put in a good days work…..
Indeed, I hope the descendents of the homesteaders carry this on their blood; Europe will need help, again… having said that, I despair when I see most 20- and 30-somethings in the big cities of Canada and the US (iPOD wearing, tattoed and pierced selfabsorbed narcissists)… not all of them, but too many. It seems worse the further south and the bigger the city?
I was born in 1939 and though I was only maximum 3 or 4 years old at this time I promise that things did not change all that much through the rest of the 40s for folks. These pics evoke very strong memories for me. Thanks for posting them.
Really good link there, also at the bottom of the page a second link to American cities with black and white photos covering about a century ending in 1950.
In the colour photos, I noticed the slightly different look to the sky because of the absence of contrails.
Great link; Thanks!
I’m absolutely amazed that the colour slides have survived 70 years.
My 40+ year old slides are in deplorable shape…
Notice that there are no fat people. None. Also notable that none are emaciated.
Although they were hard times, most had enough to eat reasonably well, and were active enough, mostly by necessity, to be fit.
I saw those a few months ago and was surprised at how colourful the clothes were. An interesting essay.
Those photos were amazing. I sense a quiet, self-confident dignity in all the faces. Have we lost that?
Thank goodness for Kodachrome. I think that is what a lot of these were shot on. Certainly a fond look back for people of my era. I was born in 1940 and grew up and lived through this time. My Life In Pictures
Those are brilliant. Thank you for the link!
Too often we take photo’s w/o a story never to be looked at again.
Wonderful photos, a real day-brightener. That #57, a building in Dillon, Montana, is still standing. Drove through there this Summer.
Real Ghosts from the past. Nice post.
Bleak times
Better people.
Somehow those folks don’t strike me as whiners.
WOW, thank you so much Kevin Libin and Kate.
Breathtaking pictures. A great historical document and powefully evocative.
Astute remarks about the lack of obeisity and the better dress, something my wife continually comments on.
What a shock to see that Crown Cola sign. I can vaguely remember that brand from my childhood.
LOL, I rode through Wisdom Montana this summer. Another rider had told me it was a favourite overnight stop. Trust me, it hasn’t changed.
A bit of a nit-pick:
None of these photos were taken during what is generally accepted as the timeframe of the depression. Even by late ’38 much of America was growing economically.
That said, the plight of working class americans (and canadians and everywhere else in the world outside of those that are majority muslim) has vastly improved since the time these beautiful pictures were taken (did it ever rain or snow back then?). The gap in living standards between rich and poor has nevet been as close as it is today – left-wingers would be wise to appreciate that…
Oh wow. I’m 99% sure that the woman on the far left of photo number 11 is my great-aunt.
Thanks for the link.
These were not considered the poor.
Loved the farmer tans. Wide brimmed hats and bright sunshine. Reminds me of the farmers who came to town Saturday afternoon to share a laugh and coffee at the blacksmith shop and/or the local cafe. Hopefully not too many of them spent the evening bending an elbow downing barley sandwiches while the kids were in the movie theatre.
Thanks for the pictures it brought back many memories since I was born in 37. Remember when the hand pump was brought inside to the kitchen sink. Wow that was progress. Bathroom took a little longer. Things didn’t get better till the early 50’s but we had such good times.
Born Dec ’45….
I remember Dad driving a ’38 Ford until ’49….
Most folks dressed that way especially the kids…boys with bib-overalls…..
All the men wore those fedoras to town….
I recall who-ever spotted a contrail yelling “jet” and everybody running to look…..
DC3’s and Lockheed Electras…..cruising overhead at about 2500′. The booming sound of the North-Stars….Canadian version of the 4 engine DC4 with Merlins….built for Trans Canada Airlines and CP….
I also recall the terror of being at the local station when a steam locomotive dragged a train in….scary for a little kid….
I remember the station agent taking me by the hand to the stand on the other side of the tracks to hang the mail bag up and seeing the train roar through taking it….
I also remember a fella cranking a Ford with the spark advanced too much—-catching the crank in the …….. Nobody laughed…they picked him up and took him to Doc’ Weir…
The funeral of a guy who fell into the feeder of a thrashing machine….
WOW!! Pics 4 and 5 are taken just about 20 miles from where I grew up. And when I was a kid (in the 1970’s) I picked potatoes with those same baskets (made by the Malecite natives, who still make them today) and dumped them into those same barrels! Those two boys could have been my brother and I! What great memories those pictures jogged.
Good point, Gord!
Beautiful pictures. Many of them bring back a lot of memories of the 1940s.
Born in 1942. I can identify with the kid wearing the bib overalls.
Though times but great times. I came along a little later but we didn’t notice that we were poor or without. Real people, some segregation but still better off all around. People had morals and limits back then.
Beautiful pictures – many of them that brought back memories of my days as a youngster growing up in the beautiful Cypress Hills. I went to a little country schoolhouse that had outhouses – we had an outhouse at home and an indoor pump for ‘running’ water; and no electricity until I was a teenager (1963). We had trees to climb, horses to ride, haystacks to play in, an honorable Collie dog to protect us (backed up by Dad’s shotgun), kittens, cats, geese that roamed around our dam and intimidated us kids and our brave Collie dog. I wish kids today could have even a week of my childhood; they would never go back to video games. We worked quite hard but we really felt important when we finished a job. We were part of the business of living, not bystanders. My brothers and I once built a three legged calf (he was born with only three legs) a peg leg and tied it on his stump so he could stand to nurse. It worked, the calf lived and learned to run on his tree legs – my Mom and Dad made a point of thanking us and gave us half the proceeds from the sale of that calf. We lived in a bit of a time warp: I consider myself fortunate to have lived so close to the Greatest Generation and their parents.
Gee Foobert, you really are a person. Seeing photos others growing up , always triggers memories of my youth. Thanks for sharing and thank you George Eastman.
Great pics! You noticed how many of the kids were barefoot prior to 1940. The pics after 1940, none. While I remember going shoeless growing up in the ’50s that was by choice.
Someone mentioned how many of today’s youth seemed lost. In my area many are going from high school to welfare and compounding that with young children. So many have absolutely no skills or wherewithall to improve their futures. I’m sorry but a welfare case worker isn’t going to save them.
These are stunning! Thanks.
Gorgeous pictures of industrious and hard-working Americans and their families. Love these!
Forced abortions in China:
http://www.google.ca/search?rlz=1T4DBCA_enCA310CA204&q=chinese%20babies%20forced%20abortion&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbo=u&tbs=nws:1&source=og&sa=N&hl=en&tab=wn
Juxtapose this with Michael Ignatieff’s “bullhorn” diplomacy!
Amazing pics. People dressed better in those days – drove cooler cars too.
Americana. about to rescue Europe from itself.
THAT is the free enterprise of which I refer and defer to.
I wonder how many of the kids are still around carrying of the tradition.
I have trouble even imagining what it would be like not having the resources to buy shoes?
Beautiful pictures!
I was born in 1942 and these photos triggered many memories. When I was quite young, there were still a few cars like those in these photos being driven. The first family car I remember was a 1935 Ford that my Dad drove until about the late 1940s. You could buy Royal Crown Cola and people still brought produce to market with horse-drawn wagons.
The pace of change back then, while rapid compared to previous eras, was nothing like today so there was considerable overlap in how people lived from one generation to the next. Thanks, Kate, for posting these.
Been there as a child, done that, standing outside, with nose stuck to the the candy store window.
Always had food in the tummy though, provided by our own family resourcefulness and not by food banks provided by others!
Graphic reminders for a generation who witnessed or lived that reality.
Thanks Kate!
Just looking at those pictures makes me feel i’ve put in a good days work…..
Indeed, I hope the descendents of the homesteaders carry this on their blood; Europe will need help, again… having said that, I despair when I see most 20- and 30-somethings in the big cities of Canada and the US (iPOD wearing, tattoed and pierced selfabsorbed narcissists)… not all of them, but too many. It seems worse the further south and the bigger the city?
I was born in 1939 and though I was only maximum 3 or 4 years old at this time I promise that things did not change all that much through the rest of the 40s for folks. These pics evoke very strong memories for me. Thanks for posting them.
Really good link there, also at the bottom of the page a second link to American cities with black and white photos covering about a century ending in 1950.
In the colour photos, I noticed the slightly different look to the sky because of the absence of contrails.
Great link; Thanks!
I’m absolutely amazed that the colour slides have survived 70 years.
My 40+ year old slides are in deplorable shape…
Notice that there are no fat people. None. Also notable that none are emaciated.
Although they were hard times, most had enough to eat reasonably well, and were active enough, mostly by necessity, to be fit.
I saw those a few months ago and was surprised at how colourful the clothes were. An interesting essay.
Those photos were amazing. I sense a quiet, self-confident dignity in all the faces. Have we lost that?
Thank goodness for Kodachrome. I think that is what a lot of these were shot on. Certainly a fond look back for people of my era. I was born in 1940 and grew up and lived through this time.
My Life In Pictures
Those are brilliant. Thank you for the link!
Too often we take photo’s w/o a story never to be looked at again.
Wonderful photos, a real day-brightener. That #57, a building in Dillon, Montana, is still standing. Drove through there this Summer.
Real Ghosts from the past. Nice post.
Bleak times
Better people.
Somehow those folks don’t strike me as whiners.
WOW, thank you so much Kevin Libin and Kate.
Breathtaking pictures. A great historical document and powefully evocative.
Astute remarks about the lack of obeisity and the better dress, something my wife continually comments on.
What a shock to see that Crown Cola sign. I can vaguely remember that brand from my childhood.
LOL, I rode through Wisdom Montana this summer. Another rider had told me it was a favourite overnight stop. Trust me, it hasn’t changed.
A bit of a nit-pick:
None of these photos were taken during what is generally accepted as the timeframe of the depression. Even by late ’38 much of America was growing economically.
That said, the plight of working class americans (and canadians and everywhere else in the world outside of those that are majority muslim) has vastly improved since the time these beautiful pictures were taken (did it ever rain or snow back then?). The gap in living standards between rich and poor has nevet been as close as it is today – left-wingers would be wise to appreciate that…
Oh wow. I’m 99% sure that the woman on the far left of photo number 11 is my great-aunt.
Thanks for the link.
These were not considered the poor.
Loved the farmer tans. Wide brimmed hats and bright sunshine. Reminds me of the farmers who came to town Saturday afternoon to share a laugh and coffee at the blacksmith shop and/or the local cafe. Hopefully not too many of them spent the evening bending an elbow downing barley sandwiches while the kids were in the movie theatre.
Thanks for the pictures it brought back many memories since I was born in 37. Remember when the hand pump was brought inside to the kitchen sink. Wow that was progress. Bathroom took a little longer. Things didn’t get better till the early 50’s but we had such good times.
Born Dec ’45….
I remember Dad driving a ’38 Ford until ’49….
Most folks dressed that way especially the kids…boys with bib-overalls…..
All the men wore those fedoras to town….
I recall who-ever spotted a contrail yelling “jet” and everybody running to look…..
DC3’s and Lockheed Electras…..cruising overhead at about 2500′. The booming sound of the North-Stars….Canadian version of the 4 engine DC4 with Merlins….built for Trans Canada Airlines and CP….
I also recall the terror of being at the local station when a steam locomotive dragged a train in….scary for a little kid….
I remember the station agent taking me by the hand to the stand on the other side of the tracks to hang the mail bag up and seeing the train roar through taking it….
I also remember a fella cranking a Ford with the spark advanced too much—-catching the crank in the …….. Nobody laughed…they picked him up and took him to Doc’ Weir…
The funeral of a guy who fell into the feeder of a thrashing machine….
WOW!! Pics 4 and 5 are taken just about 20 miles from where I grew up. And when I was a kid (in the 1970’s) I picked potatoes with those same baskets (made by the Malecite natives, who still make them today) and dumped them into those same barrels! Those two boys could have been my brother and I! What great memories those pictures jogged.
Good point, Gord!
Beautiful pictures. Many of them bring back a lot of memories of the 1940s.
Born in 1942. I can identify with the kid wearing the bib overalls.
Though times but great times. I came along a little later but we didn’t notice that we were poor or without. Real people, some segregation but still better off all around. People had morals and limits back then.
Beautiful pictures – many of them that brought back memories of my days as a youngster growing up in the beautiful Cypress Hills. I went to a little country schoolhouse that had outhouses – we had an outhouse at home and an indoor pump for ‘running’ water; and no electricity until I was a teenager (1963). We had trees to climb, horses to ride, haystacks to play in, an honorable Collie dog to protect us (backed up by Dad’s shotgun), kittens, cats, geese that roamed around our dam and intimidated us kids and our brave Collie dog. I wish kids today could have even a week of my childhood; they would never go back to video games. We worked quite hard but we really felt important when we finished a job. We were part of the business of living, not bystanders. My brothers and I once built a three legged calf (he was born with only three legs) a peg leg and tied it on his stump so he could stand to nurse. It worked, the calf lived and learned to run on his tree legs – my Mom and Dad made a point of thanking us and gave us half the proceeds from the sale of that calf. We lived in a bit of a time warp: I consider myself fortunate to have lived so close to the Greatest Generation and their parents.
Gee Foobert, you really are a person. Seeing photos others growing up , always triggers memories of my youth. Thanks for sharing and thank you George Eastman.
Great pics! You noticed how many of the kids were barefoot prior to 1940. The pics after 1940, none. While I remember going shoeless growing up in the ’50s that was by choice.
Someone mentioned how many of today’s youth seemed lost. In my area many are going from high school to welfare and compounding that with young children. So many have absolutely no skills or wherewithall to improve their futures. I’m sorry but a welfare case worker isn’t going to save them.
Thanks for the photo’s … WOW…