What Every Small Town In New York Had In The 1930s. It Was A Simpler Time.
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Lea Monroe
Author
The first partially successful photograph was first taken over 200 years, a step forward in technology that we couldn’t be more grateful for. Helping us to see just how much the times have changed, looking through old photos of New York is something that’s always interesting to see. Taking you on a trip back to a time when things were much more simple, get your daily dose of nostalgia with these mind-blowing photos of the Empire State from the 1930s.
Taken in the town of Middletown in Orange County, this shot from 1939 gives you a peek at how New York's small towns were centered around this strips of road.
Something that's usually now considered a bit of a hidden gem, General Stores used to be in every small New York town. Pictured here, you can see the old Sterlingville general store that was once up in Jefferson County in the late 1930s.
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It was during this time in history when more and more of New York State's parks began to become developed. While many know Watkins Glen as being one of our most stunning state parks, many may not realize that this land has been managed by New York since 1924. Also, make sure to take notice of the outfits in this photo!
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Before New Yorkers were busy running to the local grocery store for milk, they were having their delicious dairy delivered right to their homes! Captured in 1939, you can see a family's milk by the side of the road somewhere out in Orange County.
To imagine elementary school's as anything other than considerable size buildings with hallways full of classrooms is a hard idea for some of us. Back in 1939, you could find one-room schoolhouses like this in every small New York town.
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Children's school desks now come in a more simplistic design, where they're lightweight and easy to pick up and move around a classroom. But back in the 1930s, it took a bit more craft to create these heavy desks like the ones you see here captured in 1937 in Albany County.
Nowadays, barns can often feel few and far between, with businesses and neighborhood developments being built up everywhere. But back in 1937 in Otsego County, you could find charming little barns like this on almost every road you traveled along.
Something that you also don't see as much nowadays, train stations were once always a quick ride or walk away from where you lived. Here you can see an old railroad station out in Cooperstown from 1937. Sadly, it seems that closing down New York's railways has become a more popular decision to be made in modern days.
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Small town fun is something New Yorkers have been enjoying for ages! Here you can see a shot of a local flyer for the Cortland County Fair from 1939.
The days of scrubbing our clothes clean in a barrel may seem like they're far behind us, but it wasn't until the 1950s that automatic washing machines became popular and entered the American household. Pictured in this shot from 1936, you can see what laundry rooms once looked like in Albany County.
Not all of New York's roads were paved during the 1930s. In this shot from Otsego County, you can see a family driving cows down a dirt road during September of 1937.
It’s always interesting to see how much New York has transformed over the years. To immerse yourself in more state pride, check out how If You Can Pronounce These 16 Words, You’ve Lived In New York For Far Too Long!
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