These 10 Candid Photos Show What Life Was Like In South Carolina In the 1930s

A look back at the 1930s in South Carolina is a somber view of life during and after the Great Depression. Life was both hard and hardening in this era in the Palmetto State. Some people may remember that time, while others only hear the stories of hardship that have been passed down through generations. Below are some rare and candid photos that document the decade.

1. A fisherman on the dock oils his pants to help make then waterproof.

Charleston. Christmas Day, 1938.

2. A store front in a sad state of disrepair in Charleston.

Charleston, 1936.

3. Children on a fence watching as the farm hogs are tended to.

Summerton, June, 1939.

4. A candid shot of a sharecropper in the Upstate.

Chesney, 1937.

5. A group of people strolling through Middleton Plantation.

Charleston, 1930s.

6. Men loading tobacco.

Conway, 1938.

7. The men of the CCC hard at work building Oconee State Park.

Date: mid-1930s.

8. Trying to make the best of a lazy afternoon.

Gaffney, 1937.

9. A shack with advertising posted on the side.

Summerville, December, 1938.

10. A man calling out along the street that he has fresh shrimp for sale.

Charleston, 1930s.To see some rare footage of Charleston in the 1930's watch this vintage video from YouTube user Daniel Reynolds:

Do you have memories from this era, or do you recall tales passed down through generations in your family? Feel free to share them in our comments!

For more rare photos from South Carolina's past, keep reading with this photo archive of South Carolina's cotton mill history and these 21 photos from the Great Depression.