Carmen Carter
Remembers Turkey Farming
In 1929 Orlo and I had
been married two years and had a year old son, Douglas. We were just nicely getting started in the turkey raising business
on his parents' farm near Bridgeton. We had about a thousand young turkeys that spring and we bought feed on credit during
the growing season and paid for it when we sold the turkeys at Thanksgiving time.
But that year was different.
The newspapers were full of news about bank closing, businesses failing, and people out of work. There was just no money and
we could not sell the turkeys. So we were in debt with no way out.
But when we read about
the bread lines and soup kitchens in the cities, we felt we were lucky because we raised our own food. Our house was rent
free, just keep it in repair. Our fuel, which was wood, was free for the cutting. Then our second child, Iris, was born and
our biggest expense was doctor bills. However, this too was solved when our doctor agreed to take turkeys and garden produce
for pay.
About that time my husband
and a friend started operating a crate and box factory near Maple Island. After expenses they were each making about a dollar
a day. Food was cheap. Coffee was 19 cents a pound, butter 20 cents, bacon the same, with a five pound bag of sugar or flour
about 25 cents.
Gasoline was five gallons
for a dollar so for recreation we would get into our 1926 Overland Whippet and go for long rides. We also had an Atwater Kent
radio we could listen to when we could buy batteries for it.
I had always liked to
write poetry so I decided to submit some to Grit, a weekly newspaper. I was delighted when they accepted them and paid me
$2 each for them. That money bought a large bag of groceries at that time. I continued to write for Grit for several years.
Orlo finally got a job as a mechanic at a garage in Grant. He earned
$15 a week and for us the Depression was over. But it taught us to really appreciate what we had.