This isn’t a good picture by any technical standard and it’s old and well worn but it haunts me. I imagine the back story of two men during the Depression wondering how they will feed their families. The one on the left stares into the camera, his look one of defiance and yet fear. The other looks to the older for assurance. Did he get it? I don’t know.
Here are some other shots from the same time period.
The Cousins
The Tea Party
Saying nothing in particular 
> tea party – look at that baby carriage!
> cousins – Their expressions, wonderful. I love the little girl on the left.
That’s my mother!
These pictures gave me goosebumps. I was facing down a lengthy task list for my upcoming hospice fundraiser and find I have nothing, not a damn thing, to complain about.
Thank you for posting this, Jan.
It haunts me to. Best of luck with the fundraiser! Wish I was up there to lend a hand.
My dad used to tell us boys how bad it was then. He really wanted us to take to heart. He’d say, “You have no idea just how bad it can get, trust me.”
I’ve heard some horror stories too. My grandmother was a district nurse – took care of a lot of people who had no money, etc.
I once heard how Groucho Marx was so effected by the Great Depression, that years later whenever his kids would leave a light on in a room, he’d be right behind them turning those lights off. Didn’t want to waste a penny. ;o)
Haunting photographs that tell so many stories! Thanks for sharing, Jan. Loved your descriptions.
Thank you! I agree – old pictures really do spark the imagination!
Every picture tells a story… or suggests one. I especially like the photo of the two men at the table. There’s a story there, Jan.
Thanks Kate. I only knew one of the men – the other died before I was born! Would have loved to have known him though – now I can just imagine.
I love these old photos and imagine what their lives were like and what may gave been going through their lives.
Given the time period the shot was taken – I don’t think times were easy. But somehow they made it. Thanks for stopping by and commenting!
What a wonderfully evocative image even if the backdrop to it was awful.
Thank you!
It is hard to imagine the hopelessness of this period.
Truly – hopefully it won’t happen again but this world is so crazy!
I love looking at old photographs like this.
Me too.
Thank you for this, Jan. My father and his family lived on a family in Missouri during the Depression. Field crops failed, but they were able to keep the garden going and hunt a little, so did not starve. My mother’s family in a city in Ohio lost everything and there was not enough food. How can we so easily forget? Thank you for powerful message to remind us we are just a step away from being refuges ourselves.
Thank you for stopping by. I shudder to imagine living off my gardening skills. I’m sure we won’t survive!
I just love old photos, and these are really lovely, Jan. And that the one little girl is your mother is very special.
Thank you!
Haunting pictures, indeed, Jan. Especially the one with the two men. Gives me chills. And then, to see the kids…poor things.
I guess their parents gave up asking them to smile for the camera!
I really like your interpretation of the picture, Jan. You saw so deeply into these men, and could probably write an incredibly compelling story around the photo.
And how lovely to have such a sweet photo of your mom.
Thank you Shelley. The more old pictures I find amongst my mother’s things, the more I learn about her family.
I see ketchup on the table and it reminds me of a soup recipe from that era — ketchup and hot water! I can see why this photo is haunting.
Yup, that was a staple, along with just about anything made from a root vegetable. Some pictures make you feel that someone is staring right at you – that they can see you from the past. The picture of the two men makes me feel that way.