These 14 Houses In Michigan From The 1930s And 40s Will Open Your Eyes To A Different Time
It's hard to imagine what life was like in Michigan just a few generations ago. That's why these rare photographs, released by Yale University and the Library of Congress in a collection of some 170,000 images known as Photogrammer, are so valuable.
We've compiled a variety of images of housing from the Depression era of the 1930s-40s. What you'll see is a mix of old farm houses, resettlement shelters, and even Michigan migrant families living in tents. These powerful shots were a part of a collection put together by order of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Policies to capture folks in the midst of economic struggle. Have a look.
14) Abandoned farm house on the Allegan Project. Allegan, June 1937.
13) An abandoned house in Mansfield, formerly a prosperous mining town, April 1937.
12) An old barn on property of fruit grower is used as bunkhouse for about twelve single men Berrien County, July 1940.
11) Boarding house, Baraga, Aug. 1941.
10) Buckboard Charlie in his shack near Iron River, April 1937.
9) Cabin rented by House of David, Benton Harbor, July 1940.
8) Girls playing cards and drinking a soda pop in Detroit, 1941.
7) House where Charles A Lindbergh was born in Detroit, July 1941.
6) John Nygren sits in front of his shack in Iron River, April 1937.
5) Members of the Gavanea family. Gibbs City, a sawmill town, April 1937.
4) Migrant child eating in front of tent home, Berrien County, July 1940.
3) Mrs. Herman Perry in her home at Mansfield. She is the wife of an old-time iron miner who worked in the mines before they were abandoned, May 1937.
2) Mrs. William Sharrard and one of her children. Her husband has been a farmer of the cut-over regions for years, but cannot make a living at it. The family is on relief Near Silk Lake, May 1937.
1) Wife of migrant fruit picker. They live in a one-room windowless shack on property of grower Berrien County, July 1940.
Pretty telling, huh? Kind of makes you appreciate all the modern conveniences we enjoy today. Tell us, have you heard of the stories about Depression-era living in your own family? Anyone out there have some pics of the family home from back in the 30s and 40s? Please, share with us!
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