Life in rural areas during the Depression was hard. Because prices for crops were very low, farmers received little for their efforts. They could not repay the loans that they had taken out on their farms in more prosperous times, and many lost their houses and farms.
As the hard times deepened, the Red Cross and the government set up stations to dispense food and other necessities to the needy. Out in the country, there were not as many food stations, so people had to travel long distances to town to receive supplies. This trip was a hardship because few had transportation or the money to make the trip.
The following items from the University Museum collection represent how people lived in the 1930s.
People did not have money to buy things like dishes, so companies gave away "depression glass" with their products.
Donated to the museum in 1971, this drinking vessel is made of green flared glass with flower leaf designs decorating the sides.
Depression Glass
Artifact courtesy SIUC Museum
Simple household chores were very difficult for women in the 30s even with the new "modern" conveniences. This iron, though easier to use than the old, heavy iron that had to be heated on a stove, was difficult to prepare and time consuming to use. Women had to fill the tank with gasoline, (which could be very dangerous) pump air through it, and generate the burner. Yet, it did work better than the old iron.
Gasoline Iron
Artifact courtesy SIUC Museum
This old-fashioned cherry pitter must have been thought of as a real luxury. With this device, women did not have to separate the seeds of the cherries by hand, and they could separate two at the same time. Though it was awkward and not very convenient, it was better than the old method.
Cherry Pitter
Artifact courtesy SIUC Museum
Another example of kitchen appliances of the 30s would be the icebox. The icebox was an insulated wooden box that kept food fresh because a block of ice was placed inside.
Icebox
Artifact courtesy SIUC Museum
The block of ice had to be replaced daily and was delivered by carrying the blocks with ice tongs. The water tray had to be changed constantly, or it would cause a big mess. There were many drawbacks to the icebox; however, it did keep food that needed to be refrigerated cool.
Ice Tongs
Artifact courtesy SIUC Museum
Women of the 1930s had to be creative and use every scrap of useful material. This quilt which has multicolored parallelogram-shaped patterns, also called tumbling block pattern, was donated in 1984 by William I. Laurent. Made by Maude Craig in Creal Springs, Illinois, in the Depression Era, this machine-pieced cotton quilt kept people warm on cold nights.
Tumbling Block Patchwork Quilt
Artifact courtesy SIUC Museum