Kate interviews Joseph Russo
I was recently graced with the opportunity to meet an inspiring man. Standing at about five feet with a pearly white smile, all of which are his original teeth, Joseph Russo greets me at the front door. This is a man about to celebrate his ninety-eighth birthday on October 17th. Joseph Russo was born and raised in Middletown, Connecticut, where he still resides today. He lives alone, a widower, in a neatly kept apartment, self-sufficient regardless of his legal blindness. Russo tells me his secret to youth is never having smoked or drank. He explains that he was surrounded by many a drunk but chose a cleaner path for himself.
Russo chats cheerfully about his lengthy and exciting career as a saxophonist in a symphonic big band. He shows me many photos dating back as far as 1926. He speaks fondly of his wife Charlotte and his children who live nearby and are all very successful. He talks about the devastations of the late twenties and thirties but he remembers mostly Prohibition which affected him because the clubs where he performed were shut down after alcohol distribution stopped.
We sit at the kitchen table quietly when Russo begins to weep. He apologizes and says that it is difficult at times to recall living in such poverty as a child. We discuss the struggles of his poor Italian family. Thankfully, his father, being a mason, did not go without work. However, being one of five children, there was little to share. He holds his mother and her cooking in high regard, talking about the fifteen cent chickens she would buy, kill and cook. Russo recalls neighbors coming to their home to see his mother, Rossina, because she would read and write their English for them.
After, WWI, the Big Bands died out and it was time for Russo to pursue a new career. Without having much direction, he stumbled upon a small store for rent in downtown Middletown. He decided to go to Hartford and purchase pastries and then sell them at a profit. Russo states “It all started with $20!” This little delicatessen, first of its kind, would run under his ownership for about thirty years. I feel enriched and grateful that Joseph Russo shared his time and memories with me and added to that, Joseph Russo carries the exact same name as my late father. In the search for important historical information, I found a mentor and a friend.
Kate interviews Enid Ione Jobson
Oral histories have become a picturesque way to share amazing stories with our communities. In an interview with a dear friend, Enid Ione Jobson, 87 years old, from Essex, Connecticut, some of these memories were captured. Enid Jobson is from Sheboygan, Wisconsin and has such a grace and strength about her. She is worldly and smart and never forgets a face. She can recall many fond childhood moments being on Lake Michigan, and being fortunate enough not to be directly affected by the Depression. Although Hobson was just a child during this time, it is still clear to her. She giggles when talking about playing kick the can and her metal racecars. When asked about the effect of the Depression, she does remember meager men coming by the house looking for work and food. Her grandmother was gracious enough to share and the men would stay in the yard. Jobson also speaks of Roosevelt with kindness, mentioning the work camps he put together in an attempt to help these men dressed in their “bibs.” She speaks vividly of her history and has immense gratitude. She tells a sad tale of an African American family in need of assistance with an ailing father. The hospital asked neighbors to look after the family while the man was close to death and no one responded. It was illegal in Wisconsin to house African Americans at this time.
However, Jobson also says that “everybody pulled an oar on the boat during the Depression.” The Depression was a time of sadness but also of hope. As for the FWP, thank you to President Franklin Roosevelt for the great initiative and to the all the writers for their work.
However, Jobson also says that “everybody pulled an oar on the boat during the Depression.” The Depression was a time of sadness but also of hope. As for the FWP, thank you to President Franklin Roosevelt for the great initiative and to the all the writers for their work.
Margareta Stoichkov interviews Elizabeth Masztl
The interview with Elizabeth Masztl, on 10/13/2009, brought the past to life in the present. Her memories were filled with vivid images of farm life in Hebron, Connecticut. In the 1930s, Elizabeth was the 6th daughter in a family of six girls and one boy. Her parents handled all the jobs around the farm. It wasn’t easy to work in the fields with the horses and to produce the food for everyday life. They had cows, horses, chickens, and pigs on the farm. Their day was really long; it started early morning and lasted until late at night and everyone in the family had their chores. Elizabeth was nine years old when she started milking the cow twice a day. Her family grew their own food from their garden.
Also, she had her own handmade dolls because her parents could not afford to buy more than one. She played with and dressed the wooden dolls. She smiled and said,”I made more than one, I had a doll family.” That was her entertainment. They also read a lot, played cards and told stories to make the nights funnier. They listened to the radio which was important in their lives.
They heated the house with a wood stove and had no electricity and no refrigerator. The ice man brought ice to their house for their ice box.
Also, she had her own handmade dolls because her parents could not afford to buy more than one. She played with and dressed the wooden dolls. She smiled and said,”I made more than one, I had a doll family.” That was her entertainment. They also read a lot, played cards and told stories to make the nights funnier. They listened to the radio which was important in their lives.
They heated the house with a wood stove and had no electricity and no refrigerator. The ice man brought ice to their house for their ice box.
Melissa McDermott interviews Muriel Schuman
Muriel Schuman was in high school when the Great Depression hit in 1931. She doesn’t recall it being a bad time because everyone was in the same boat. Money was tight everywhere, so everyone would make their own fun. In high school, going on a date would be a walk and then maybe getting a 5 cent ice cream after. In her household, she would have singing nights, where the whole family would just sit around and sing together. There were 5 girls in her family. Her mother would go to a store during a big sale and buy cheap dresses. After, she would go home and hem them to fit all the girls. The family would do anything to keep their money under control.
Her father owned a shop in Middletown called Shelpes where her and her siblings worked. Although their shop suffered a little bit, because no one had money, they still were able to keep it running. This was a big help for her dad because it was a family run store and everyone helped out.
She remembers in high school that friends of her father committed suicide because they struggled so much.
Muriel goes on to say that the difference was that no one knew any other way. There was no money. They didn’t drink alcohol because they couldn’t afford it, but they did smoke a lot to curb their appetite. Even President Reagan advertised smoking. Everyone helped each other out. Once the war came, everything started getting better. Muriel says that she is very lucky. She always had a home, there was always food on the table and she always had her family which was very important to her.
Her father owned a shop in Middletown called Shelpes where her and her siblings worked. Although their shop suffered a little bit, because no one had money, they still were able to keep it running. This was a big help for her dad because it was a family run store and everyone helped out.
She remembers in high school that friends of her father committed suicide because they struggled so much.
Muriel goes on to say that the difference was that no one knew any other way. There was no money. They didn’t drink alcohol because they couldn’t afford it, but they did smoke a lot to curb their appetite. Even President Reagan advertised smoking. Everyone helped each other out. Once the war came, everything started getting better. Muriel says that she is very lucky. She always had a home, there was always food on the table and she always had her family which was very important to her.
Lindsay Schmittberger interviews her Grandmother
Lindsay: Where did you live during the Depression?
Gram: We lived in Chelsea, Vermont.
Lindsay: What was your father’s occupation?
Gram: He was a farmer.
Lindsay: Did you get to spend a lot of time with your father or was he out working a lot?
Gram: I was always with him! He would drive me to school in our horse-drawn wagon every day. That saved us a lot of money on gas. Back then gas was one dollar for five gallons. Can you believe that? We would pick up some of the kids on the way and charge them ten cents per mile that we drove them. I got to put the money in my bank.
Lindsay: Do you recall the conditions of the Great Depression?
Gram: I do. For us, it wasn’t so bad because we were farmers. I can imagine life in the city was worse. The farmers had it made.
Lindsay: How so?
Gram: Well, let’s see…I remember everyone was really friendly. No one hesitated to help another out in the neighborhood. We all helped fix a friend’s roof one time. We didn’t have carpenters and roofers and all that back then. We all just helped out.
Lindsay: That sounds like a nice place to live.
Gram: It was! And when we used our phones, we had what they call “party lines.” A switchboard operator would connect you. Your calls weren’t very private like they are now. You could hear others talking. I remember one time; I was talking on the phone and I said “Well, I will tell you when everyone stops listening in on my call!” Then I heard “click, click, click.” Everyone hung up! (laughs) It was funny!
Lindsay: (laughs) Wow! Now I know your family had their own food because you were farmers, but what about electricity? I can imagine that being expensive.
Gram: We didn’t have electricity because it was expensive. We used our battery powered radios for entertainment and getting the news. We didn’t have a fridge, so it was hard to keep things cold. We had an ice box though. We mostly used that.
Lindsay: What did your family do for fun?
Gram: We would listen to the radio. It was charged by a windmill that we had out back. Or we would play cards and board games. Or sometimes we would go down to the town hall where they had roller skating every once in a while.
Lindsay: Do you see any similarities between the Depression and the economic downturn we are experiencing now?
Gram: Not really. Well, I guess so. Back when I was young, the banks went out. Now I see the stock market. I think that is somewhat similar.
Lindsay: How did the Depression change your life?
Gram: It didn’t really have much of an effect on my life because I was so young at the time. But I am sure that it changed my parents’ life
Gram: We lived in Chelsea, Vermont.
Lindsay: What was your father’s occupation?
Gram: He was a farmer.
Lindsay: Did you get to spend a lot of time with your father or was he out working a lot?
Gram: I was always with him! He would drive me to school in our horse-drawn wagon every day. That saved us a lot of money on gas. Back then gas was one dollar for five gallons. Can you believe that? We would pick up some of the kids on the way and charge them ten cents per mile that we drove them. I got to put the money in my bank.
Lindsay: Do you recall the conditions of the Great Depression?
Gram: I do. For us, it wasn’t so bad because we were farmers. I can imagine life in the city was worse. The farmers had it made.
Lindsay: How so?
Gram: Well, let’s see…I remember everyone was really friendly. No one hesitated to help another out in the neighborhood. We all helped fix a friend’s roof one time. We didn’t have carpenters and roofers and all that back then. We all just helped out.
Lindsay: That sounds like a nice place to live.
Gram: It was! And when we used our phones, we had what they call “party lines.” A switchboard operator would connect you. Your calls weren’t very private like they are now. You could hear others talking. I remember one time; I was talking on the phone and I said “Well, I will tell you when everyone stops listening in on my call!” Then I heard “click, click, click.” Everyone hung up! (laughs) It was funny!
Lindsay: (laughs) Wow! Now I know your family had their own food because you were farmers, but what about electricity? I can imagine that being expensive.
Gram: We didn’t have electricity because it was expensive. We used our battery powered radios for entertainment and getting the news. We didn’t have a fridge, so it was hard to keep things cold. We had an ice box though. We mostly used that.
Lindsay: What did your family do for fun?
Gram: We would listen to the radio. It was charged by a windmill that we had out back. Or we would play cards and board games. Or sometimes we would go down to the town hall where they had roller skating every once in a while.
Lindsay: Do you see any similarities between the Depression and the economic downturn we are experiencing now?
Gram: Not really. Well, I guess so. Back when I was young, the banks went out. Now I see the stock market. I think that is somewhat similar.
Lindsay: How did the Depression change your life?
Gram: It didn’t really have much of an effect on my life because I was so young at the time. But I am sure that it changed my parents’ life
Interview with Diana Seckla by Diana Dolishny
Diana Seckla grew up in Birch Island, Vancouver, Canada. She was born in Alberta on her parents’ ranch, but moved with her siblings to Vancouver to live with her aunts. Seckla’s mother, Elizabeth McFadden was born into a rich family and lived a life of luxury. She married a Scotsman who had come to Canada to look for work. Because of her rural upbringing, McFadden had a very traditional set of values and a closed view of the world. Though she was rich, McFadden had no desire to visit the cities and learn more about the world she lived in. She chose to stay on the family ranch. McFadden had beliefs quite similar to those of Mrs. Marie Haggarty’s aunts. She believed that a woman was lucky to be able to read and write and anything beyond that was more a hindrance to a woman than a help.
If McFadden had moved to the city, even for just a small amount of time, she would no doubt have seen the value of a woman with an education. While she might not have sought a better education for herself, she might have become a stronger woman, strength being a trait she could have greatly used when her husband left her for the war. However, instead of displaying strength as many other women of her time did, McFadden went slowly insane. She alienated her children by sending them to her sisters to take care of and was eventually admitted to an asylum because she became too much for her husband to handle when he returned from the war. So though McFadden may or may not have benefitted from an education to the point where she would be strong enough to overcome her mental struggles, an education would have benefitted her in some way.
If McFadden had moved to the city, even for just a small amount of time, she would no doubt have seen the value of a woman with an education. While she might not have sought a better education for herself, she might have become a stronger woman, strength being a trait she could have greatly used when her husband left her for the war. However, instead of displaying strength as many other women of her time did, McFadden went slowly insane. She alienated her children by sending them to her sisters to take care of and was eventually admitted to an asylum because she became too much for her husband to handle when he returned from the war. So though McFadden may or may not have benefitted from an education to the point where she would be strong enough to overcome her mental struggles, an education would have benefitted her in some way.
Interview with Carmena Howard written by Emily Howard
Carmena Howard was born in Southington, CT on July 30, 1921
Carmena’s parents were first generation immigrants from Italy, who arrived through Ellis Island. Because she grew up with immigrant parents, she speaks both English and Italian. Carmena recalls being about 8 years old when the Great Depression began. Her family life was not as bad as it could have been. Her father was a baker at a local bakery called Acme. She remembers them as being lucky for her father still had work so they could have food and a stable home.
After going to school all day, Carmena and her brother and sisters would come home to work in the gardens that were in the backyard. Every now and then, the family would go to a church function. Because her father was a baker, she remembers eating a lot of sweets, such as donuts, and Danishes and cakes. She recalls eating Italian food, beans, fried peppers and soups as well. When I asked about her neighbors, she did not remember too much about them but she said that she lived in a quiet community. They all worked which was lucky considering the state of the economy and the distress of the U.S. When thinking back about what she did for fun, there was not much. They only played hop-scotch for fun. She spent the rest of her time tending the garden or attending school.
As for family traditions, she recalls always having an Italian Christmas feast where her family would come over and celebrate the holiday. She also remembers hanging her Christmas stocking, and waking up the next morning to find money and fruit in it. The Great Depression did not affect her family too much as her dad always had a job and the family never struggled for much. There was little free time in her family, because there was always something to do, such as picking grapes for her father to make wine; attending school, or doing chores.
Although they knew about the depression, she was not aware of the WPA or the Federal Writers’ project. She and her family went about their daily lives. If you were to ask Carmena if living through the depression affected the kind of person that she is today, she would simply tell you that it did not affect her for the worse. If anything, the depression made her better and stronger.
Carmena’s parents were first generation immigrants from Italy, who arrived through Ellis Island. Because she grew up with immigrant parents, she speaks both English and Italian. Carmena recalls being about 8 years old when the Great Depression began. Her family life was not as bad as it could have been. Her father was a baker at a local bakery called Acme. She remembers them as being lucky for her father still had work so they could have food and a stable home.
After going to school all day, Carmena and her brother and sisters would come home to work in the gardens that were in the backyard. Every now and then, the family would go to a church function. Because her father was a baker, she remembers eating a lot of sweets, such as donuts, and Danishes and cakes. She recalls eating Italian food, beans, fried peppers and soups as well. When I asked about her neighbors, she did not remember too much about them but she said that she lived in a quiet community. They all worked which was lucky considering the state of the economy and the distress of the U.S. When thinking back about what she did for fun, there was not much. They only played hop-scotch for fun. She spent the rest of her time tending the garden or attending school.
As for family traditions, she recalls always having an Italian Christmas feast where her family would come over and celebrate the holiday. She also remembers hanging her Christmas stocking, and waking up the next morning to find money and fruit in it. The Great Depression did not affect her family too much as her dad always had a job and the family never struggled for much. There was little free time in her family, because there was always something to do, such as picking grapes for her father to make wine; attending school, or doing chores.
Although they knew about the depression, she was not aware of the WPA or the Federal Writers’ project. She and her family went about their daily lives. If you were to ask Carmena if living through the depression affected the kind of person that she is today, she would simply tell you that it did not affect her for the worse. If anything, the depression made her better and stronger.
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