Several years ago Virginia Cassells called the library with a reference question. She asked about Hobo signs that were posted on trees, houses, and fence posts during the Depression. These signs told Hobos whether a home would welcome them and give them food or whether they should avoid that house. As Virginia says, this reference question became an obsession, and the obsession became a book. "The Saga of the Dirty Thirties: Hobos, Grasshoppers and Drifting Sand" is that book. In it Virginia compiled the memories of many who lived through that difficult time.

In her introduction Virginia explains the reason for the book. "We, the children of the Great Depression, now living in the Nebraska panhandle, wish to share our experiences that are etched in our memories like footprints in the drifting sand of the ‘Dirty Thirties’."

Let me share a few of those memories with you.

Bank Closings:

• Ramona Coffee’s grandfather had a bank in Van Tassel, Wyoming. When it closed, he drove around to all his customers and renewed their loans.
• Ina Marie Copley’s father would not let her mother return the Christmas present’s she ordered. Even though they only had $30.00, he wanted his family to have at least that one Christmas.
• Mac McLarey from Harrison lost about $3,000 when the banks closed. He had only $10.00 in his safe. He quit using banks for many years after that.

• Jean Bissell remembered sand drifting so high that only the tops of some fence posts could be seen. She tied a string to a tumble weed and led it around like a dog.
• Esther Chrans ate sandwiches of bread and bacon grease or lard with bread.
• Margarie Debus from Newcastle Wyoming, wore flour sack underwear. Getting elastic was a treat.

• Jean Crane lived in Omaha. Her mother had an "X" on her house so Hobos knew they could stop for food. She and her sister would sit on the steps and visit with the men while they ate. Afterwards they did yard work in appreciation for the food.
• Bob Preston had no hobo mark on his house in Scottsbluff, but hobos came to their house for handouts anyway. Their address was posted under the river bridge. This was a common practice.
• Bill Lingren lived in Fairbury with his mother’s family. Since they lived near the tracks, many hobos stopped. Hobo marks were written in chalk on the sidewalk, scratched with brick or hooked on fences.

"The Saga of the Dirty Thirties" contains these and many more memories from people who lived through these times. Virginia Cassells and some of those who contributed their memories to this book will be at the Scottsbluff Public Library August 9^th from 2:00 – 4:00 to sign copies of the book. Books will be available for purchase at that time. (Virginia requests that those who contributed to the book arrive a half an hour early.) I encourage you to stop by and visit with Virginia, purchase a copy of the book and share memories with her. Virginia is donating profits from the sale of the book to the Scottsbluff Public Library Building Fund.

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