Remembering
the Great Depression
eorge Dunn always had enough to eat from his family farm in Beardstown, Ill. People came from the city and worked for his father for $1 per day.
One of his most vivid memories was visiting his grandparents about 75 miles away. On their way home, they would stop for an ice cream treat for 10 cents. For the whole family, it cost 40 cents.
“It made it very vivid when my parents didn’t think we could stop,” Dunn said.
“It was not something I had to dwell on at that time. My folks were able to take care of things. But I was aware that things were very tight.”
Still, the Depression years were some of the happiest Dunn remembers. Since television didn’t exist and radio was scarce, people relied on school, church and each other.
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