Chapter 10.5: Yearning to Breath Free
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Chapter 10.5: Yearning to Breath Free
Pittsburgh, 1933
The clang of hammers and the buzz of saws filled the air as Jacob Miller wiped the sweat from his brow. He was grateful for the job with the National Reconstruction Administration (NRA), working on a project to build a new community center in the heart of Pittsburgh. The work was tough, but after years of struggling through the Great Depression, Jacob was just happy to have a steady paycheck again.With a reliable income, Jacob finally felt confident enough to open a savings account at a local bank. At least his money was secure there nowadays, the boys in Washington would make him whole again if the bank failed or at least that's what Mr. Roosevelt said on the radio. He seemed the trustworthy sort and he was the one who landed Jacob this job so Jacob obliged him.
At home, Jacob's wife Sarah had been taking care of their young son Willie, who was now three years old. The steady income from Jacob's job allowed Sarah to focus on raising their son without the constant worry of where their next meal would come from. Maybe when Willie grew up some more they could play catch in the fields he was building.
Pittsburgh, 1934
Jacob wasn't alone in the project, two of his coworkers from the Jones & Laughlin mill, Leonard and George, were in his group and they ate lunch together every day. They and most of the other guys in the 5th Park Platoon as they called themselves would make their own baseball team and play against other work teams in the city. They were far from good, but it was to battle the others with his comrades and it gave him something to do in his free time. It helped that his enormous size gave him an advantage over the others. Idleness was to be avoided at all costs, it reminded him too much of the bad years.In July they were done with the fields, the buildings and even some roads and trees nearby. Many of the workers would stay on for the next project but Leonard, George and Jacob saw that the mill was hiring again and applied. Having been prior employees who knew their way around the machines helped them land the jobs and they were back to 1929, as if nothing had happened. They were making 60 cents an hour, less than the 70 they had before the layoffs, but bread was cheaper now and Jacob was just glad to be back at his old job.
Pittsburgh, 1935
They had moved out of the Hooverville last year but with the birth of their daughter Patricia, the Millers wanted something bigger. There was a new NRA complex built nearby that they filled out an application for. The administrators would do 2 interviews with their family before accepting them on account of their good character and their stable non emergency job.The apartment would be 600 square feet with a bathroom, two bedrooms, and a central living space with a kitchen, heater and room to eat or play. Outside there was a play structure a block away and the train was relatively close by which could bring Jacob to work.
Willie, now five years old, was growing into a lively and curious child. Jacob and Sarah took turns reading to him each night, determined to give their son the best possible start in life despite the hardships they had faced. He enjoyed climbing up the mass of wood and steel with the other kids and was almost ready to start school. Things were looking up for the Millers.
Gary, Indiana, 1933
Margaret watched as her older brother Sam packed his bags, ready to leave for his new assignment with the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). At 18 years old, Sam had been struggling to find work in their hometown of Gary, Indiana, and the CCC offered a glimmer of hope during these dark times.As the economy slowly improved, Margaret's family's grocery store also experienced increased sales. Despite the additional work needed, Margaret spent more time to focus on her studies. She had recently discovered a passion for psychology and was excelling in her high school classes. Of course, her parents also made her study Hebrew and Jewish law every Sunday and after school on Tuesday. It wasn't as interesting but she paid enough attention to receive praise from her rabbi.
Southern Illinois, 1933
Sam arrived in southern Illinois, where he would spend the next six months working with the CCC to plant shelterbelts and prevent soil erosion in the drought-stricken region. The work was hard, but Sam found a sense of purpose and camaraderie among his fellow CCC workers.As he learned new skills and gained discipline, Sam couldn't help but feel a sense of pride in his contributions to the nation's recovery efforts. He knew that the work he was doing would help protect the land and the livelihoods of countless farmers in the region.
Gary, Indiana, 1934
After completing his stint with the CCC, Sam returned home to Gary with newfound confidence and determination. He quickly found work as a construction worker on an NRA housing project, putting the skills he had learned in the CCC to good use.Sam's income provided a much-needed boost to the family's finances, allowing Margaret to continue focusing on her education. She was thriving in her high school classes and had begun to dream of attending college to study psychology.
As the housing project progressed, Sam felt a sense of pride in his work, knowing that he was helping to build a better future for families in his community. He loved watching the buildings slowly going up day after day as they completed each step. Maybe someday he could be the designer that everyone was dancing to the tune of.