The.Depression.Breckinridge.HISTORY-OtherFrom: KyArchives 
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Subject: The.Depression.Breckinridge.HISTORY-Other


The Depression  
Breckinridge County KyArchives History Other 
Book Title: A Glimpse Of The Past 
The depressions of 1898 and 1929 to the mid 1930's were humdingers.  The 
depression of 1898 did not last as long as the one of 1929.  They had no 
respect for people, business or society.  The rich and poor alike succumbed to 
its fury.  Here to fore, when tragedy struck, the victims could cry on the 
shoulders of the unaffected and get aid and sympathy.  This time, everyone was 
crying with no supporting shoulders to lean upon.  Everyone had his torubles, 
and each believed theirs the worst. 
People depending upon salaries for existence began to panic over lack of 
income, necessary for food and shelter.  Rural communities, with their farms, 
gardens and livestock were the last to feel the impact.  The influenced every 
phase of Kentucky and American life, within a few months, on coming 
catastrophe.  Stockmarkets crashed leaving millionaires paupers the following 
day, with portfolios full of worthless securities as mementos of their 
heydays.  Banks closed freezing customer's deposits until an accounting was 
made to establish their solvency.  Many failed to reopen, leaving depositors 
dependent on settlements through foreclosure proceedings. 
If a crisis is localized, it effects only segments of industry and business; 
help can come from unaffected areas.  But when a nation as a whole is 
experiencing the same hardship and privation, no aid is available from any 
source.  Within a few hours, after the impact of the oncoming catastrophe 
became apparent, pandemonium and panic swept the nation.  Merchants and 
industrial organizations could not use their checking accounts, making it 
difficult to produce merchandise and pay salaries.  Paychecks there were 
uncahsed were worthless; until each bank's solvency was checked and approved, 
making it difficult to buy food and fuel.  To country folks, with barns full of 
grain an dother livestock food, larders, pantries teeming with plenty of 
nourishing food, the impact was less disturbing. 
Several families and individuals, which had left their rural communities and 
moved to metropolitan areas for employment and better opportunities, returned 
back home to relatives or friends they had left behind.  This insured food, 
heat and shelter even though it worked hardships on all concerned.  City 
dwellers were less fortunate.  The employment organizations were flooded with 
people looking for jobs.  People registered with local, state and national 
relief agencies in their quest for help. 
The Salvation Army, church organizations, Red Cross and other charitable 
institutes fed and aided millions of helpless citizens, of whom, only weeks 
previously, were well to do families and individuals. 
CCC camps were established throughout Kentucky and the nation to employ needy 
young men and boys to work in reforst-ration and help public projects, so as to 
lighten the burdens of low-income families.  Many of the pine and cedar groves 
adorning roadways and countryside are the result of this organization. 
The W. P. A. program was set up for the employment of older men needing help.  
With pick,hoe, shovel and wheelbarrows, they worked on road projects and other 
public improvements.  The nature of their work, with pioneer equipment, caused 
the letters W. P. A. to be translated into the slogan, "We piddle around". 





Submitted by: Dana Brown 
http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00005.html#0001067 



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