Schoolcraft College

M8 Assignment: Historical Fiction

A day in the Life

Timothy Malane

History 153 – Contemporary American - U.S. History

Dr. Alec Thomson

June 3, 2018
 Malane I

I am writing this essay on June 3rd 1939 to tell the story of how a great man provided my

relief from the death grip of the Great Depression. First, let me start with and introduction. I am

a fireman from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. My name is Jeremiah Baker. I just turned 28 years old

June 1st. I enjoy following the Pittsburgh Pirates when I have time to read the newspaper. I am

not married yet but I hope to meet a girl soon now that I am back in Pittsburgh. I recently moved

back to Pennsylvania after working in Washington State. In 1933, before I moved out West, I

was becoming a burden on my family. I was trying to find work in town but I couldn’t find any.

I mean, ANY! My dad was only working at the factory for very few hours at that time. We

couldn’t afford food so I would wait in line for stale bread at the food banks. It was

embarrassing. My family was proud before the Great Depression. As a result of my dad not

working much, my family was forced to pawn or sell anything we had that could fetch a few

pennies. It was the only way we could buy anything. The event that thrust my family into the

depths of despair was a bank run in 1929. My dad had almost $2,000 in the bank. Then came the

stock market crash. He heard rumors that there was going to be a run so he rushed over to the

bank. He was too late to get it all. He only got $154. My dad was crushed. It was our entire life

savings and now it was gone. My dad said there was nothing he could do. It was time for me to

get real serious about finding work.

I was growing tired from coming up emptyhanded while looking for a job. I was willing

to do any job for money. Occasionally I would find work. It was usually manual labor. Some

odd jobs I did were loading coal into ovens, splitting firewood, cleaning floors in factories. The

jobs rarely lasted for more than a few days and the pay was disgraceful. Nonetheless some pay

is better than no pay. This went on from 1930 until 1933.

 Malane II

I was 22 years old in 1933 when, by the grace of God, I heard about the Civilian

Conservation Corps. The CCC was a new work program that President Roosevelt had started that

year. It was originally open to unmarried men between the ages of 18 and 25. I was so eager to

join the CCC I immediately signed up for the Corps and was granted a spot. The CCC was a

lifesaver because it provided me employment, shelter, food, and clothing. I finally felt that I

could earn some money and no longer be a burden on my family. I am eternally grateful for that

great man FDR. The money wasn’t great but I felt proud. I earned $30 a month and $25 of that

was sent back to my family in Pittsburgh. The only downside was that because of my age, I was

only eligible for 3 years. Then in 1935 FDR and Congress passed the Emergency Relief

Appropriation Act. The ERAA expanded the age limit to 28. Hot dog!!!

A typical day working while in the CCC consisted of clearing the forest for trails at

national parks, planting trees, building bridges and roads. I worked 5 years in forest protection

division from 1934 until this year. There were many thing I learned here which include fire

prevention, pre-fire suppression and firefighting. I really enjoyed working outside and being in

nature. It made me into the man I am today. I am so grateful for the work ethic that I learned

while in the Corps. My experience in CCC is the reason I was able to find a job with the

Pittsburgh fire department. FDR and his “New Deal” saved me from a potential life of rail riding

or crime. I am one of the success stories that came about because of FDR’s swift actions to end

the Depression. I pray that we are nearing the end. I never want to go back to the days of

begging for food.