 | Faye Graves, a native Wichitan, attended school at Friends and Wichita State, concluding at Midwestern Theological Seminary. He has been active in media for many years with Channel 12, KIRL, KFDI, KOOO AM & FM (Omaha), KFRM & KICT 95, as an owner, manager, producer, director and announcer. He has served as President of the Haysville Board of Education. He has also served on several national boards of the Southern Baptist Convention. Faye currently serves as Executive Pastor and Director of Administration and Education at Immanuel Baptist Church, 1415 S. Topeka, Wichita. You may contact Faye by e-mail fmgraves@amenibc.org, or by phone at (316) 262-1452. |
Nostalgia
2008-04-01 10:35:00
Remember...
Question: I have been reading about the 1930s and 40s, the Depression, World War II and all of the things folks had to put up with back then. The Depression and days following were such a hardship on everyone. What was it like for a child growing up in late 30’s and early 40’s?
Answer: As I remember the 40’s, I do not remember a really difficult time. My father was a paint contractor. We always had food on the table. It wasn’t the food we would choose today, but we didn’t know that back then. We always felt we were eating well. We weren’t hungry and the family was happy. We always knew of people that were worse off than us.
We had cereal for breakfast and a sandwich for lunch...typical of today; but dinner would consist of food you might not want today such as brains with eggs, chicken livers and gizzards. We had liver and onions with lots of seasoned gravy. This is still a family favorite today. On weekends, my mother would always have a giant bowl of either some flavored pudding, rice pudding or jello in the refrigerator for us to serve ourselves as we wanted.
I attended Harry Street grade school and I remember walking about 6
We lived on South Water Street. Usually my dad would take my mother and me out one evening a week for ice cream, sometimes to Watts Drug Store on the corner of Main and Harry or downtown to the Old Mill where Otto and his wife had marble tables. Boy they had great ice cream! Saturday, we would go to the Southern Theater with the other kids for a double western feature and usually a serial. They would pass out free gifts such as comic books. The downtown theaters had the Briar Fox Club that met on Saturday mornings. Admission for kids was a nickel. I can remember lots of things costing a nickel back then.
We rode our tricycles on the sidewalk. We made scooters out of old roller skate wheels and orange crates. We were treated to a new pair of shoes every year. My dad painted a whole building in exchange for our family car. Evenings were usually filled with programming from the big console radio. The family gathered around to listen to Major Bowles and the Original Amateur Hour or the Lone Ranger, Inner Sanctum, Fibber McGee and Molly, the Lux Radio Theater, Hit Parade and numerous others. We didn’t miss TV because we never had seen one or knew what it was.
I’ll never forget December 7, 1941, when the Principal of Harry Street School gathered us together in the auditorium to hear President Roosevelt on the radio as he declared war on Japan. Then came rationing of gas, food, nylon hose. There were savings bonds and savings stamps and much tragedy as our older men were drafted and many lost their lives.
I had a very frugal childhood but I didn’t know it back then. The 40’s had many difficulties but as they do so often, they make us appreciate the things we have today.
The Spring of the year is still the same as it was when I was a kid...often times there’s lots of wind. I might suggest you do as I was told to do when I was a kid and “Go fly a kite!”
Until next month, be safe.
