In the early 1930s, Iowa was growing rapidly as a farming state and as a destination for those who wanted to settle in the up and coming cities. Here are a few vintage Iowa photographs of typical life in the Hawkeye State from the turn of the century, into the 1930s. Did your grandparents ever tell you about their lives when they first got to Iowa?
- In rural towns like Dickins, everyone got the news from the local paper.
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- Small, simple farm houses dotted the landscape from the Mississippi River to the Missouri River.
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- Accomodations varied, from this above-average family home…
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- … to the much more common shantytowns, like this one in Spencer.
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- Many families were able to start their own small farms thanks to the Resettlement Act in the mid 1930s.
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- Housework consisted of cleaning, cooking, and you know, churning butter.
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- Corn has always been a major industry in Iowa. Here, workers shuck corn in Grundy County.
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- Baling hay, feeding livestock, pitching straw… a farmer’s work is never done!
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- Luckily, at least the fresh fruits and veggies were good!
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- Way before trough heaters were a thing, this farmer from Estherville broke ice so that his mules could drink.
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- Iowa Falls was a happening town in the 1930s! Here, people line up outside a theater for a performance.
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- In the smaller towns, such entertainment didn’t exist. Iowans were forced to be creative! Here, two siblings have a “corn fight”.
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I’m always fascinated by Iowa history – especially our farming industry! Take a look at these 27 Rare Photos That Show Iowa’s Farming History Like Never Before for a great look at one of the most important states in the country.
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