An amazing (to me) bit of history

[wdfifteen]

I'm editing a story by a man writing about how he restored an old farm tractor and he just happened to drop this paragraph in as an aside. To me it IS the story. Can you imagine?

"My mother died when I was age 15, and dad died of a heart attack in 1943 when I was 16. That left me with the (160 acre) farm. The neighbors signed a paper giving me the rights of an adult, so I could conduct what business had to be done. My wife Gladys and I married when I was 17. We were married for 64 years."

[GH85Carrera]

Wow. That kid had to grow up fast.

I can't imagine being an married and having a 160 acre farm to run at age 17.

[Scott Douglas]

His Ma and Pa musta raised him right.

[sammyg2]

People were allot tougher then, that's why we call them the greatest generation.

When my grandfather came home from WWII he didn't have much $$$ so he did odd jobs to support his wife and 2 kids as they worked their way accross the country back to New Mexico.

They spent the summer of 46 living in an old caboose at the rail yard outside Tuscon.
It had a small wood-fired stove to cook on and there was a water pump about a 15 minute walk away.

Can you imagine how HOT it would be, 4 people living in a caboose outside TUSCON in the summer?
I go ballistic if the AC goes on the fritz for an afternoon.

[M.D. Holloway]

ya but they used bacon fat for deodorant...

[VINMAN]

Can you imagine a16/yo from today's generation, with that amount of responsibility dumped on them?? Although I'm pretty sure Lubey's kid would do just fine!

[herr_oberst]

I can't imagine a 16 year old herr_o taking on that responsibility. Hell, truth be told, I wonder about a 55yo herr_o taking on that sort of a load....

What a great story...

[Tobra]

You should speak to older folks more often.

[Nostril Cheese]

I was driving Bobcats, framing homes, roofing, concrete and grading before I turned 18. I didnt have a choice in the matter. I think I'm better off because of it.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

There is certainly a great story in there, are you going to try to learn it?

I worked 40 hours a week junior and senior years of high school so I could pay for college. The young Russian kid that helped pick and pack this fall had the same work ethic. The U.S. kids, not so much.

[Tobra]

I blame George W. Bush.

[asphaltgambler]

Originally Posted by sammyg2

People were allot tougher then, that's why we call them the greatest generation...............................

This^^^^^because they had to be to even survive then. My dad said when asked this very question that "When presented with little or no options you did what you had to do..............................but .................some people didn't make it..............."

I then asked him to explain. He said that some (of their generation) were so damaged mentally and physically from the hardships and the war, they could not overcome. They suffered greatly later in life if they made it past 40's. He said "Most of us did end up OK but no one ever talks about the ones who weren't strong enough............"

[Jim Richards]

Some young people can handle adversity and great responsibility, and some can't. Same as it ever was.

[Jim Richards]

This isn't PARF. Please keep the political statements out of here.

[on2wheels52]

I grew up on a 160 acre farm. In the 50's it was possible for a couple to raise five kids on that much land. I suspect it would take 1600 acres (or more) today.
Jim

[sammyg2]

My kids are too darned spoiled.
If the fit hit the shan and they had to get after it to survive?
Who knows.

I send my daughter $1400 a month to cover expenses at college. She alsoi has a part time job so she has more fun that I do!
I slept in my pick-up and worked for $4 at a bike shop for expenses in college.

When my father graduated from high school his parents gave him $50 and a suitcase and said good luck, get out.

He got a partial scholarship at NMSU alternating going to school for six months and then working at white sands missile range for six months (for $30 a month). that paid for gas, rent, and books. He also had part time job playing stand-up bass in a dance band so he could eat.

His parents didn't have it so easy ..........

There was a time when people had to work in order to eat that day. Kids, grown-ups, everyone. But the worst part was during the depression when there wasn't always work to do!
Can you imagine having a wife and kids who are cold and hungry and you are willing to work hard, but there is no work to be had?
I can't.

I've been hungry but my wife and kids never have.
And unless the world economy crumbles and the dollar becomes totally worthless, I've made sure they never will be.

Spoiled or not!

[GH85Carrera]

My grandfather talked some about the depression. He worked at Armor & Co, as a meat packer. He said the company tried to share the limited amount of work. The company announced that the workers would only get to work every other day. He was making 2.5 cents per hour and only was allowed to work every other day.

They bought a house for $50. Not 500 but 50 bucks. Calling it a house is a stretch. It was one room shack, no water and certainly electricity. It had a wood burning stove for heat and for cooking. It was less than a half a mile from one of the largest packing districts in the country. If you have ever smelled a packing house you know they make the feed lot smell pleasant.

My dad was born in that house. He remembers waking up with frost on the bed and the water pitcher was frozen. He had to light the fire to thaw the water to get something to drink. The water pump was in the front yard and the outhouse was in the back yard.

[Jim Bremner]

prior to the pussification of America.

[JJ 911SC]

Originally Posted by Jim Bremner

prior to the pussification of America.

You got it...

[sammyg2]

This is the ranch house my mom lived in when she was little. Maybe from age 4 to age 12. Sumthin like that.
Grandma was the cook, grandpa was a ranch hand.
Not much to look at ...... but the rest of the ranchers lived in the bunk house.

Like they said in the movie true grit: you could throw a cat through the wall and not touch wood but it has a good roof.