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The Kitchen Table

Boarding school saga continued (long)

11 years ago

My father had a General Store, a Grain Elevator, and a Stockyards, all necessarily situated beside a railroad track. We lived above the store. The family farm about a quarter-mile away was also his responsibility By the time my Senior year of High school approached, the depression was affecting my family severely.

The stock market crash had filtered down to us, with the lack of money and depressed prices. Then came several years of extreme drouth. This meant that products for my dad's business were not coming in. Folks who frequented his store were charging their purchases and he was too soft-hearted to dun them for payment. Our big garden was drying up, although we were able to produce at least some of the food we were used to.

As a result of all this, board and tuition money for my Senior year just wasn't there. It was arranged that, in payment for room and board, I would live with an elderly relative and her daughter. I was to help with housework and be a companion to the mother when the daughter was away. I became a "day student" at the school as were many of the local students. I walked the ten long blocks to and from school in the morning, back for lunch, and home in the afternoon. All of this exercise was good for me as I didn't have the severe colds that I had experienced when living in rather over-heated dormitories.

I found the mother and daughter pleasant to live with and the work not too overwhelming. They had a large family who often visited and were congenial.

Thus I was able to finish my senior year and to graduate at the top of my class in June.
(to be continued)

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Comments (10)

pam_25f
11 years ago
Fascinating. I feel like I am reading a published story.
ravencajun Zone 8b TX
11 years ago
I agree I can just picture the places and the times like a movie.
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chisue
11 years ago
This is especially timely as we try to pull out of the Great Recession -- and Americans now have a social security lifeline that didn't exist then.

During the Depressiion, my paternal grandmother rented a big house in a college town and took in boarders while also caring for her four youngest children; their uncle took in the two eldest boys. My mother was sole support of her mother and ailing father. Hard Times, indeed.
User
Original Author
11 years ago
If you are interested--
Story now continued at reets22.wordpress.com
sjerin
11 years ago
Aww, does that mean you won't post anymore installments here?
morz8 - Washington Coast
11 years ago
Seniorgal, I've been enjoying this so much. I hope you know how much we appreciate your sharing your writing with us.

Some of it comes close to home. My mothers eldest sister (born in 1920) also went to live with another family to finish classes. She helped with the children and some household duties for food and a room. She told me she missed her family so much that when someone from their church offered her a last minute bus ticket to come home for Christmas, she jumped at the chance. And didn't even think until later what a predicament she may have left the woman of the house, with no help for the holidays or with the children while she carried out entertaining. Auntie Marg doesn't remember that even being pointed out to her, no hard feelings at all but understanding instead.

I skipped forward to your blog you pointed out. I have my fathers slide rule in its leather case and remember him using it. I have no idea how it works but love having it.
kathleen44
11 years ago
I keep reading the same one, where are others that are different please I enjoyed reading but would like to read it on, thanks.

kathy
User
Original Author
11 years ago
To Kathy:

Look at reets22.wordpress.com

Stories seemed long for message board
Sue_va
11 years ago
Kathy, see if this works for you. If it does there is a place lower down on the page where you can enter your email address and get each addition sent to you. I just saw that today and signed up. We will see if it works.

Sue

Here is a link that might be useful: Seniorgals blog
Sue_va
11 years ago
Seniorgal, since you and I are only a year or so apart in age, we have many similar memories. Times were hard, but since those were the only times we knew, it seemed normal for me and my family.

Keep writing. Young folks need to know what it was like, and maybe will appreciate life now a little more.

Sue

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