What Every Small Town in Delaware Had in the 1930s. It Was a Simpler Time.

Ever wonder what it was like in Delaware in the 1930s? Life in the 1930s in Delaware was simple and carefree, especially in the small towns. Take a look at these historic photos of Delaware from 90 years ago, and you'll see the history and the lives our parents and grandparents lived in the Diamond State. Every town in Delaware, small or large, had the following as part of everyday life in the 1930s.

1. Main Street (1938)

Main Street was more than just the center of each town's business district! It served as a place to meet with your friends and neighbors and catch up on the town news.

2. A General Store

The town's General Store was the place to go for groceries, newspapers, and even clothing. They were integral to Delaware's small-town life.

3. Banks & Lodging Houses (1938)

Sure, most small towns didn't have the gigantic hotel that Dover did, but there were still small lodging houses for weary travelers. And of course, each town had a bank.

4. Town Meeting Halls (1938)

Whether you were headed to the Town Hall for an official, political meeting or a public sock hop, the Town Hall was the place to be in 1930s Delaware!

5. A Drug Store (1936)

Much like they are today, 1930s Delaware drug stores were the place to go when you were feeling ill or needed to pick up household items or health necessities. Each town's residents knew their pharmacists and drug store employees well.

6. A Schoolhouse (1938)

Many were one-room schoolhouses, even. These tiny learning centers are responsible for educating many of our parents and grandparents in 1930s Delaware.

7. Dirt Roads

Of course! I swear, there were still plenty of dirt roads in small-town Delaware when I was a child. It's no surprise that unpaved roadways were common in the 1930s.

8. A Barber Shop (1939)

Some things really don't change! Even today, where else would you go to get a haircut? Each town's barber knew his clients like, well, the back of their heads.

9. A Blacksmith, or Farrier

Horses were still very much a part of daily life in 1930s Delaware, so skilled blacksmiths were needed to make their shoes. Of course, blacksmiths were also extremely skilled craftsmen who helped build the very towns they lived in.

10. Milk Delivery

The milkman was a common sight in 1930s Delaware, before modern refrigeration made milk delivery services nearly obsolete. Homemakers in Delaware certainly got to know their milkman!

11. A Town Tavern

Most towns had a place to grab a bite to eat and rest up from your journeys on the road. This Tavern was located along the Brandywine, on the border of Pennsylvania.

12. Church (1936)

Sunday mornings were for church in nearly every 1930s Delaware town. Whether we're talking big congregations like Wilmington or small chapels like this one in Lewes, going to mass was a central part of the lives of many Delawareans.

These historic photos of Delaware make me feel like I've just stepped into a time machine and give me a sense of nostalgia and pride in my Delaware roots. Now that I'm feeling nostalgic, I think I'll keep time traveling and grab dinner tonight at Delaware's only colonial restaurant, Jessop's Tavern.