...Jack Rivers is my 82-year-old grandpa.  Although his mind is old, he recalls his childhood       memories as if they occured the day before.  Jack is always telling stories of mischief and          adventure from his past.  He was born a few years before the Great Depression.             When I asked him if he would consider an interview about his experiences through the                 Depression, he immediately began a story.  "Save it for the interview,” I told him.                    He chuckled at my request...

Unemployed men search for jobs Courtesy of modern American Poetry

As my Grandpa explained, there were many factors causing the Great Depression.  Due to the sudden boom of stocks, shareholders relied on the success of their stocks to buy more stocks with loans.  The stock market boom was very unsteady because it was based on borrowed money and false optimism. When investors lost confidence, the stock market collapsed, causing personal failure.  Short signed government economic policies were another factor that led to the Great Depression. Politicians believed that business was the key to a successful country. Therefore, the government took no action against unwise investing.  The economy was not stable, and national wealth was not spread evenly. Instead, most money was in the hands of a few families who saved or invested.  Supply was greater than demand. Some people profited, but many farmers and workers did not. Costs rose, and Americans could not afford anything.  Unevenness of wealth made recovery difficult.   On, October 24, 1929, the stock market crashed.  This wretched day, also known as "Black Tuesday,” marked the beginning of the Great Depression.

At the beginning of the interview, Jack immediately began to tell a story on his reaction to the event.  "People were losing money hand over fist.  We didn t have much to spend.  There were some folks who committed suicide because they felt so desperate.  There was just no money around.”  Although he was only seven years old, Jack was aware that his community was going through a crisis.  Jack's father worked hard in the fishing industry and was always able to provide food, clothing, and a home for his family.  He (my great-grandfather) would awaken at three or four o clock in the morning to start his day as a commercial fisherman, and he would not return until dark.  This was not easy for a seven year old who rarely saw his father because he was working so hard.  On weekends and during the summer, Jack would often assist his father on the fishing vessel.  Jack lived with his parents, sister and brother in the small town of Provincetown, Massachusetts.  He and both siblings had the priviledge of attending school.

Jack and his sister, Emily Courtesy of the Rivers family

Little Jack and "the gang" Courtesy of the Rivers family

One of his few sources of entertainment was a gramophone, an item which one manually turns to listen to music.  Saturday afternoon was movie day.  The cost was a whopping ten cents!  Jack and his friends would often stop by the baker shop before going to the movie.  The baker had a special drawer of stale bread, which he would often sell to the boys…with a discount, of course.  Since Jack was only seven years old, he easily entertained himself and really did not notice the hardships of the Depression as an adult would.  He viewed the Depression through the eyes of a child.  Although he was not in the workforce, Jack watched as his parents worked hard to avoid the stress of the Depression.  "I had wonderful parents.  Things were just more strict back then."

Other than a very small allowance received from his parents, Jack and the boys had other ways of aquiring an income.  Swimming was a number one source of entertainment...and it was free!  Jack and his friends would swim  beside boats in hopes that the crewmen would throw coins into the water.  The boys would make a mad-dash dive to race to catch the coins.  Intense underwater fights were performed among the anxious youngsters.  On a good day, a boy could come home with three dollars in his pocket.

Kids on a skiff wait for coins Courtesy of the Rivers family

Jack Rivers, age 10 Courtesy of the Rivers family

When Jack remembers the conditions in which he lived under during the Depression, he makes a sigh and shakes his head, and states how thankful he is for his friends and family today.  Since Jack was only seven years old, he was not fully aware of the seriousness of the situation.  Today, however, he realizes the effect the depression had on him as a worker.  Jack has always believed in working hard for your own possessions.  "You can t rely on someone else for your own success"             My interview with my grandpa was an eye-opener for me.  Jack provided me with very much useful information and thoroughly explained his experiences during the Great Depression.  I found out a lot about the causes of the Great Depression that I did not know before.  Hearing my grandpa s stories is also very entertaining because he has a wonderful sense of humor.  This interview was a positive experience for me.  After speaking with my grandpa about his childhood during the Great Depression, I am now more appreciative of the conditions I live in today.