Chapter 1 Depression Girls Sound portrait Audio File

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Chapter 1 Sound Portrait - The Great Depression

standing up: Mae Ronan, sitting from left: Bea Trupp, Treva Dixson
Susan North: On October 29, 1929, otherwise known as Black Tuesday, the stock market crashed causing the worst financial disaster to blow the United States into destitute times that will last for 11 years. The president at this time was Herbert Hoover, the 31st president, and his view was only moderate, as he encouraged businesses not to cut wages, but failed to force them to do so. As unemployment rose, Hoover began some small relief programs that included public works projects, but no program grew to the size that was needed to combat the depression.

By 1933, the worst point in the depression, more then 15 million Americans – one quarter of the nation’s workforce was unemployed. The same year, Hoover lost the presidency to Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR).

On an unusually warm early October day in 2007, I was able to sit down and listen to Treva Hahn Dixson (96 years old), born 1911 in Bethel Township, Ohio – she was 18 years old at the time of the stock market crash, Berniece (Bea) Dixson Trupp (95 years old), born 1912 in Tipp City, Ohio – she was 17 years old at the time of the stock market crash, and Mae Dixson Ronan (85 years old), born 1922 in Tipp City, Ohio – she was 7 years old at the time of the stock market crash, as two young adults and a child that lived through the depression, you will hear in their own words, the caring and unselfishness that gave people the courage to pull together to survive. During the interview Bea’s son Danny Trupp is present.

Mae: It was during the depression and men who worked on the railroad - a lot of times when trains would go on sighting - and they were loaded with coal they would kick it off - and the people would go out and pick it up and that is what they burned in the winter besides wood. Men worked on the railroad knew what the depression was even though they had jobs. But, huh, they realized that people were in destitute circumstances, so they would try to help them in that way.

Susan: Times during the depression are tough for everyone, and with the help of others in Tipp City, people are able to endure and protect each other.

Mae: My sisters and brother - everyone helped everyone else. If you had and they didn’t you shared what you had.

Susan: Walking through downtown Tipp City, Ohio today, you would never know the effects the depression had on people. The businesses are booming, and the town is growing.

Bea: When the banks went under, it bothered them the same as anyone else - was hard on them – businesses. What businesses were here, ugh, the soap company and the canning factory. What else?

Bea: Yea (clock chimes)

Danny reminds his mother - Bea: Spring Hill Nursery – were Dad worked. Dad worked there at Spring Hill Nursery.

Bea: He worked at Spring Hill Nursery.

Mae: There was a furniture factory on Walnut Street and the Buggy Whip Factory.

Susan: As an 18 year old during the depression, Treva talks about her work experience.

Treva: I worked at Fireworks – Gilgore, Superior Underwear Factory. I went to Piqua and worked up there, too, at Superior. I started at the fireworks for $.25 an hour. It was good money then, we thought.

Susan: Mae talks about her and Bea’s dad and what he did for a living.

Mae, No, he had the ice business – he started the ice business when I was about six years old, and uh, he had it for, I guess, about ten years. Till electricity, electric refrigerators came out. And, up until that time he not only delivered to households, but all the stores had to have ice for their meats and their vegetables and so forth. And, so he delivered to all the stores. I can remember Fringes had a store, right up by the railroad. Audie Frings dad, and uh, I can remember going there with dad to deliver ice and the other grocery. Whatever grocery was available, or was there at the time, he furnished ice for them.

Treva: They went house to house delivering ice.

Mae: Yea, and they’d come to the house, cause we had an ice house. And, it was made with, uh, it was filled with cork for insulation, and uh, it would keep the ice from melting. And, my mom would always wait on people that came to the house if dad wasn’t there. And uh, then we would also sell, they had pop, I remember I like grape pop (laughs), and I was always begging them for grape pop. But, uh, they wouldn’t give it to me because they had it to sell.
I can remember friend of my mom’s came, and she had rescued a little squirrel, and uh when they would come for ice that little squirrel would be curled up on her lap. And, but she wouldn’t let anyone touch it because it would bite.
And, then there was a man come that always, uh a uh, a big German shepherd and he would ride on the running board of the car, because all cars had running boards then. And, he would come with the dog sitting on the running board to get his ice.

Susan: To hear more of Treva, Mae, and Bea stay tuned for more stories in their words.

60 second commerical

60 second commercial for a personalized card from Hallmark.

(Daughter in military, which is stationed overseas, she sends her Dad a birthday card from her station overseas.)

(Amy at the post office: I want to make sure my dad gets this card a week from today.)

Postmaster: Yes, you have sent it first class air.

Amy: Thanks!

(Then shows Amy getting on a military plane)

(Scene changes to dad getting mail from mailbox, and then shows the dad in the house. He opens the card and the front of the card shows a picture of his daughter.)

Dad begins to read the card out loud: Dad, I wish I could spend your special day with you. Since that is not possible, I’m sending this card with my picture to remind you that I Love You and I wish you a very Happy Birthday! I hope to see you soon, Love, Amy

(The phone rings and the dad answers the phone)

Amy: Dad?

Dad: Amy!

Amy: Dad, Happy Birthday, did you get my card yet?

Dad: Yes, thank you! I miss you Amy, when is your next scheduled leave?

Amy: Really soon, dad! (The door bell rings) I heard the door bell dad; I better let you go it. I love you and Happy Birthday, dad! Bye.

Dad: Bye Amy, Thank you and I love you!

(Dad answers the door (Amy is standing there on the other side!)

Amy: Happy Birthday DAD! Surprise!

Dad: AMY!

Both cry….

Announcer: When you care enough to send the best. Send a Hallmark.

My 30 second commercial

My 30-second commercial.

Setting backyard of a suburbia house, sounds – boy laughing and talking to his dog about how pretty the dog looks now.

Mom: (talking to her child) Billy do you know where my new Suave shampoo is?

Billy: (smiling, with golden retriever dog, clean and brushed out with glowing shiny hair, standing next to the boy) Mommy, I washed the dog all by myself!

Mom: (patiently) Billy, what did you use to wash the dog with?

Billy: (holding up an empty bottle of his mom’s new Suave shampoo) I used it on Rover, Mommy! It made his hair shiny and he smells pretty, like you Mommy! (Billy innocent, big smile)

(pan off of mother outraged face)

Announcer: For glowing shiny and pretty smelling hair -- Suave. Visit us at www.suave.com

Commercial Spot transcript

This is the dialog from the Life cereal commercial with Mikey. 30 second

First boy: What’s this stuff?

Second boy: Some cereal, supposed to be good for you

First boy: I’m not going to try it.

Second boy: Let’s get Mickey

First boy: Yea, he won’t eat, he hates everything.

Second boy: He likes it, hey Mickey!

Announcer: Regular, Cinnamon, and Raisin Life, nutritious delicious.


This is dialog from a Dell Christmas Commercial. 60 second

Phone ringing

Woman Operator: Thanks for calling Dell, what can we build for you?

Man: Yea, hi, I would like to get a computer for my daughter.

Woman Operator: Ok, great, let’s get started.

Man: Ok

Woman Operator: So, how do you think she will be using it?

Man: She’s in college now, so writing papers, research, email.

Woman Operator: You know a wireless card is a great way for you daughter to work and stay connected.

Man: She’d love that.

Woman Operator: What else?

Man: Uhhh, I know she’s into music.

Woman Operator: Ok, keep going.

Man: Oh, and she loves digital photography.

Woman Operator: Well, let’s set her up with a larger hard drive. That would be perfect for storing her photos and music.

Store Clerk: Price check….

Man: Oh, I need to get her a printer, too.

Woman Operator: No problem, we have an all in one printer that would be great for her.

Man: Fantastic!

Woman Operator: You’re all set; we will get that right out.

Man: Great thanks!

Announcer: At Dell you get the computer that’s right from you right from home, Dell purely you.