Baltimore's Recovery After The Depression

Baltimore like most of the United States city's have recovered from the depression. In 1929 Baltimore like the other city's suffered considerable blows by the Great Depression. Before the depression happened that year Baltimore had set records in business such as new automobile sales, buildong permits, and great bank debits. It was considered to be a prosperous avenue for Baltimore. Then the Great Depression happens like others Baltimore started to decline. After 1929 Baltimore well as Maryland it self started to recover and in 1932 broke there own records. Unemployment in Baltimore city was less than it was then any other industrial community. Economically especially regarding electric power were better then ever it had been in 1932. Baltimore was recovering nicely peoples lives were getting back to what it was but better. Even gasoline usage compared to the whole country national average was at peak condition for Baltimore and Maryland. Unlike other city's Baltimore was able to recover in a way that all activities business wise or social could function properly with out panic. Even the Port of Baltimore and Maryland's farm industry was help towards this stability of this city. Maryland it self was known through out the depression for being able to have stability. Even though all the turmoil that caused by that Great Depression of 1929 Maryland and Baltimore survived. The Great Depression of 1929 might have slow things down but Baltimore push through with such strength it is a shame this city for some reason isn't known well as city's. Baltimore in all sense grew from that chaotic situation and has never looked back.

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Back Ups In Case of A Emergency

As stressful the depression was especially with people needing stamps or ration cards to get foods or clothing they needed back ups. Spare stamps in order to continue in getting what they needed. Here in Baltimore they were especially use as else where aorund the country. They were individual stamps connected together. Some families get them from relatives who were in the military or stationed in Baltimore already. It was a time of toughness and these stamps weren't like they were endless supply. Baltimoreans had to use them wisely but most importantly don't forget them. If you talking about a single item being valuable these spare stamps were the ideal important commodity. It really makes you think what people here in Baltimore and around the country had to endure to survive through that unsettling situation. Those spare stamps were like money and more valuable then any htinhs else during the depression of 1929. You can only hope that time will never happen again in our life times.

Baltimore's African American Community

During the Great Depression of 1929 every city was hit hard. Baltimore was no exception especially with its African American community. Most people didn't know Baltimore was considered a southern city due to many African Americans from the south. The south was hit badly by the great depression. African Americans were out of work becoming unemployed. In many of the southern city's African Americans who were farmers or laborers tryed to survive on short rations. Baltimore was no exception but different with the city African American community to do more in suriving this depression. Especially at the time color of your skin was still a issue. A consequence of the great depression was unfortunately crime increase in alot of sections duirng that period particularly the south. Many sections of cities crime increase was with stealing of foods and clothing. Baltimore suffered through the same problem in crime increase.

At the ttime president Hoover assured or guaranteed that in 1930 employment would be better for sections through out this country. Secretary Dav is made the same reassurance business wise. Baltimore as rest of the country was anticipating that because 1930 will be when recovery starts. The African American community in Baltimore as others around through out this country during that time could only hope and wait for that assurance to really come true.

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Comparisons of Past Depressions To The Great Depression

Baltimore has suffered through many hardships through out its history. Nothing more when hit by the Great Depression of 1929. Some had Baltimore in a strangle hold that people of those eras didn't think they would come back from. The Embargo Depression of 1808 unlike the Great Depression was political and effected it differently. Baltimore at that time was known for its manufactuirng skills. Unemployment became rapid in Baltimore which led to a considerable amount of lost finances. Baltimore exports dropped from 10, 016, 257 to 1, 890, 704 in 1808. Even Baltimore's commerce was hit hard that made things looked bleak. Very much what the Great Depression did. Baltimore officials had no choice but resort to a pulbic lottery in hoping of bringing things back from dispair. It did settle things a bit but Baltimore was still in a crisis. Just as Baltimore was going through the Great Depression and slowly recover from it.

In 1819 Baltimore like the rest of the country was suffering through a depression that hit economically. Baltimoreans in manufacturing industry's were losing jobs because of the manufactories had stopped. About one third of those manufactories went to one and half. Leaving six thousand workers with out work. Prices of businesses dropped to a point of catastrophic failure. Salaries were reduce to a point of twent five per cent. Even properties were affected being taxed two dollars on each own property worth a hundred dollars. That propmted Batlimore to create the economic soup society to handle things financially. Banks in Baltimore along with the rest of the country were forced to suspend all payments. Baltimore in 1819 was going through a panic economically almost broke the city. Through all that Baltimore would survive and push forward.

Years to follow such as in 1837 Baltimore went through a depression other words called "The Panic of 1837" unlike the depression of 1929 was prosperous for this city. Propserous but with its disadvantages such as riots where Baltimore was called mob town before boom town. With the help of Samuel Smith and three thousand volunteers help stopped the riots. The panic continued on May 11, 1837 with all banks in Baltimore operations of payments were suspended. With the help of currency by Baltimore and Ohio Railroad thought of denominations worth up to five cents, ten cents, and twenty five cents in bringing money circulation. By 1842 Baltimore's own credit was at a dismal down fall because of the panic of 1837. Later a period of five years came with a wind of liquidation unheard in Baltimore but didn't needed that much recovery. Baltimore much like else through its history have gotten through calmly. Even through the Ohio Railroad strike in July of 1887 where that word mob town was placed on Baltimore again. As the result of Baltimore going through these inexpilcable depressions situations when B&O Railroad shutting down become casulty's.

Each crisis or depression was different but shared other aspects that the Great Depression in 1929 had through out Baltimore city. In 1914 another depression started but adverted by goods sold to Europe because of the war. After the war ended a knife shaking depression happened and Baltimore own Banks clearances evaporated dropping to twenty five percent. Baltimore's transportation system was paralyzed with a substantial increase of suicides. Compared to the Great Great Depression of 1929 Baltimore had went through a cycle of catastrophies. Being that in 1929 was the most traumatic because of it over expanding and just crippled this city tremendously.

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One of the Valuable Artifacts To This City

During the Great Depression sugar ration stamps was widely valuable. Here in Baltimore sugar ration stamps was the only way to get sugar at that time. My father's Uncle James at the time was in the military and sent these stamps to his Mother Annie Belle Berry so, she could use them. At the time of this depression nothing was easy to get with out a certain ration or stamp. Every one in Baltimore was scrapping to just survive but most importantly provide for there families any way they could. Sugar ration stamps were so valuable to get sugar because with out that no one in Baltimore could cook certain foods. Not to leave out Baltimoreans who needed it medically keeping up there sugar intake. Those kinds of stamps were the money at that time and not every body could get one. So it made being together as a family even more important. Pulling for one another helping out no matter where you are. In a way even though the Great Depression was a terrible situation it did make the country and Baltimoreans stick together through that tough time. With out helping one another out family wise or others Baltimore might not have gotten through the Great Depression.

The Effects of the Stock Market Crash had on Baltimore

One of the luckiest things could happen, I came across a Baltimore Sun news paper clipping about two weeks old on the stock market crash of 1929. It's a little by shear luck because my brother had held it for me remembering, I was researching the depression era and Baltimore's role in it. It was written by columnist Fred N. Rasmussen who did a great job in telling the cause and effects that it had on Baltimore. Also, giving the credit for Baltimore being able to succeed during that crazy time.

It was a time of turmoil in which the President of the United States was Herbert Hoover during this crash that brought businesses to there knees. Stocks being at half the price that they were worth. It was on October the 23, that the stock exchange it self felt like falling apart. That day was a unknown of shares in liquidation unheard to businessman. When Winston Churchill him self who at the time was visting New York see's a collapsed of 12,894,650 shares go down to record low not good. The very next day in the Baltimore Sun called it "Money Kings Halt Stocks Wildest Plunge In Worst Selling Scare In 15 Years" (Rasmussen 10). During the depression that was a day to never forget for Wall Street known to most as Black Tuesday. The economy was really in bad shape and didn't look good for most cities.

Baltimore city had a advantage over most cities was its diverse economy. With other cities relying on one industry they didn't fared as well during the crash. Baltimore felt the effects of this crash afterwards in 1930 when Chesapeake Bank and Baltimore Trust Company went under. Governor of Maryland at the time Albert C. Ritchie had no choice to closed all banks in Maryland. Baltimore's managers of most the city's banks didn't go under because they saved consertatively. Any one who was home owner in the city some how avoided foreclosure mostly. Not to leave out how unemployment in Baltimore was growing and African Ameicans were among the highest. Baltimoreans in 1931 accounted for forty two thousand with out work. Company's such as the Electric Company and Unit Railways because of this chaotic time went under to become Baltimore's Transit Company. The situation was desperate especially when in 1932 the B&0 Railroad had to be brought back from receivership by a eighty eight million dollars loan from federal reconstruction Finance Corp. Baltimore took some bumps in the road at this period of trnasition.

It wan't until 1932 when Rosevelt was elected that things started to look up. He brought forth a new funds deal to put alot of people back to work with city projects. For example, new schools, play grounds leading to Howard Street, and the Baltimore city very first public housing development. It sure looked like Baltimore was starting to get passed this chaotic time of the Depression. According to Rasmussen "However it was the coming of World War II and the need to produce war material thatn finally pulled Baltimore and the nation out of the Depression" (Rasmussen 10). Baltimore by many probably wasn't looked at as other many cities to pop out of the Depression with historic credentials but it was changed from this overwhelming period.

Interview of A Centurion

To know more about how it was like for Baltimore during the 1929 Depression, I couldn't get a better source than some one who actually experienced this critical time. She is a friend of my family who in which has so much experience on Baltimore's history. Mrs. Anne Veditz is ninety nine years old and with in four days will become a centurion. A centurion is who when some one has lived for a century. A remarkable achievement because you don't hear too many people living that long especially in this day and age.

At age twenty Anne Veditz experienced the 1929 Depression in north west Baltimore. She lived on Pimlico Road at intersection of Quantico Ave. It was a time in which, she experienced various situations most people couldn't handle. The year before this chaotic time in Baltimore history her mother passed away. During the Depression Anne's thirteen brothers and sister in law moved in with her, father, and sister. She had to go at nights towards getting her high school education. Ms. Veditz had to endure alot especially in a hard time of purchasing food and items. As the interview went on, she explained that being able to go home wasn't safe because security was sketchy at best. Paricularly in which this chaotic time every body was just about desperate and in need.

One of the questions, I asked her, was transportation difficult? Yes, it was difficult for her to get on buses and street cars not quite as available. She had to go through Baltimore's law being strict because of the Depression. The police according to Anne were on the streets in neighborhoods making it hard to be out. The reason because of crime going up at the time and alot of uneasiness on who to trust. There were curfews in placed but, she couldn't remember exactly the time. The job situation very hard for people to keep there jobs. Some Baltimoreans had to take jobs working in laundry mats. Ms. Veditz her self worked in Regal laundry office at Gilmore and Mosher Street off Fulton Ave.

I also asked her, how difficult was it for kids to attend school? She responded with kids being afraid in finding away to school and back home. Anne her self had to take three buses just getting back and forth getting there. That was at night getting to school. Another questioned, I aked was there a money shortage? Yes, with money going towards paying for bills and the city just trying to survive.

The One question, I thought was important, how long did it actually take for Baltimore to fully recover from the Depression? Anne said that in 1936 things were not much better. She was married in 1934 and her husband them both combined making only thirty five thousand dollars. It wasn't until a year later she and her husband were able to purhcase there own house with car. She also explained that purchasing groceries was even harder. Anne and her Husband were able to visit Hollins Market but purchasing vegetables and groceries was aloud seven dollars and fifty cents or eight dollars. The hard part for her she was only making twelve dollars a week paid board eight dollars and balance.

I asked Ms. veditz this question. In your opinion, what advice would you give if any body had to go through a similar situation? I wished, I could have completed my education before going to the work force. What she trying to say get your education first before getting your self deep into the wrong job.

I thought this question really brought forth a real good interview. Looking back if you could change any thing, what would it be? Equal rights for all and enforcing the law & order for all citizens. Anne recalls shops on Gay Street had the front glass windows and doors broken. The inside of stores looted. Some merchants could not recover and had to close there business.

I couldn't asked for a better interview than that especially at her age able to rememmber the information, she did. Some times the best kinds of information on history comes from the elderly. Particularly people who have so much to offer us future generations not in forgetting about the past but learn from it.

Historic Find

As, I was looking for more research on my topic in this week Baltimore Sun Paper page ten their was a story about the 1929 Depression. I was shocked to see it because their was a whole column on the stock market crashing. To stumble on a piece information like that was pure luck. It totally was insiteful and full of detail information of how it happened. Most importantly who would of thought their be a source wrote on the Depression currently not three or ten years old. I looked forward to see if coming up with dources of information like that currently.

The beginning

So far, I am finding great sources on my topic the depresion era in Baltimore. I didn't think this soon material would be so easy to gain access in getting this research started. But, I have my first interview schedule for this friday with a lady who went through the era of the depression. She is a close friend of my family and has loads of valuable of information of what went on here in Baltimore at the time. It's interesting but as, I am just getting started with this topic there's so much already to cover and really get to know more about this particular history of Baltimore it is fun researching. I also plan to look up some critical articles fromm the Baltimore Sun and really get to know the specifics of what Baltimore had to endure at the time of the depression. This is a real good start for me in knowing this part of Baltimore history.

Proposal

My proposal is on the Depression Era in Baltimore city. This particular topic interest me more than others because it was such a turmoil time for Baltimore that most probably didn't think they would survive to see how things progress since then. Most of all, I actually know peolple still living today who went through that disruptive time and can give exact details in how it was back then in Baltimore. To really get a real research on this topic, I will be setting up interviews with with people who survived the era, real artifacts used as a meaning of survival during this period, and documentations of how it was then. I just find it to be a facinating subject for me personally because it can give me and hopefully others a insight into one of the toughest times in Baltimore's history.

Even though the derpession through out the whole country not every one had the same kind of situation to face. It be real interesting to look into Baltimore past and get to connect with how far this city has come. I look forward to finding out all about Baltimore's role in the Depression Era. To be honest this part of this city history is not complete known to me. But, I did find a artifact so far that was used back then for food called a war food ration card. It was the only way people could get food and survive during this catastrophic era. I like to leave with this thought that it might been a struggle during this period but people came together stronger mentally and physically.