It’s hard to imagine the difficulties that Oklahomans lived through during the 1930s. Some see it as a simpler time, but it was difficult due to the conditions of the drought and the Great Depression. Farmers became unemployed, many people migrated West and poverty was unimaginable – yet they still survived. What did daily life look during this era? Take a look at these 20 photos showcasing what small towns in Oklahoma had in the 1930s:

1. Local drought farmers waiting around for work.
Dorothea Lange/Photogrammar
2. And the farmers working the local fields.
Dorothea Lange/Photogrammar
3. Small churches were an important part of the community.
Dorothea Lange/Photogrammar
4. They had a local jail and sheriff on watch.
Dorothea Lange/Photogrammar
5. Main Streets filled with locals or deserted ones that became ghost towns.
Dorothea Lange/Photogrammar
6. Corn grinders for the breaking down of food.
Dorothea Lange/Photogrammar
7. Clothes lines were used to dry the clothes.
Russell Lee/Photgrammar
8. The local bank was not only a place of business, but a gathering spot for the locals.
Russell Lee/Photogrammar
9. Milk cans and milk delivery were commonplace.
Russell Lee/Photogrammar
10. Water wells were essential for survival.
Russell Lee/Photogrammar

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11. General stores were where you sent the children to pick up supplies.
Russell Lee/Photogrammar
12. Small schoolhouses that were usually no more than one room.
Russell Lee/Photogrammar
13. Barber shops with the iconic striped poles.
Russell Lee/Photogrammar
14. Poverty that was unimaginable.
Russell Lee/Photogrammar
15. The local mailman that was on a first name basis.
Russell Lee/Photogrammar
16. Mom and pop cafes that served a warm meal.
Russell Lee/Photogrammar
17. City halls smaller than one-room schoolhouses.
Russell Lee/Photogrammar
18. Feed mills for the local farmers to feed their livestock.
Russell Lee/Photogrammar
19. Lots for the horses and wagons.
Russell Lee/Photogrammar
20. And hitching posts for the mules.
Russell Lee/Photogrammar

Did you live in a small town in Oklahoma in the 1930s? If so, we would love to hear your story. Please share in the comments.

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