Just like the rest of the country, Colorado fell on hard times during the Great Depression. After a long lived “wet period” from 1905 to 1929 (which brought much needed precipitation to the state), the area was now hit with the terrible Dust Bowl which, along with the economic collapse, led to lay offs, useless farmland, and an overall low quality of life for everyone in the state. Thanks to these hauntingly beautiful photos, we can get a better glimpse at just how Denver (and the surrounding area) looked during this difficult time:
1.) Baca County dust storm, 1936.
Yale Library of Congress/D. L. Kernodle
2.) “A little water for a thirsty land. Drought committee inspects artesian well irrigation project (Baca County, 1936).”
Yale Library of Congress/Arthur Rothstein
3.) “The mother said, ‘I keep her dressed nice every day because she is the only girl I’ve got.’ Great Western Sugar Company’s beet sugar workers’ colony at Hudson, Colorado (1938).”
Yale Library of Congress/Jack Allison
4.) “Threshing grain on one of the homesteads at San Luis Valley Farms, Alamosa (1939).”
Yale Library of Congress/Arthur Rothstein
5.) “Children of resettlement families playing in the schoolyard, community building, San Luis Valley Farms, Alamosa (1939).”
Yale Library of Congress/Arthur Rothstein
6.) “George Arnole exhibits a super of honey raised on his farm in Chaffee County (1939).”
Yale Library of Congress/Arthur Rothstein
7.) “Men watching World Series baseball scores on Main Street, Montrose (1939).”
Yale Library of Congress/Arthur Rothstein
8.) “Purpose steers are locked in tent for shipment, stockyard, Denver (1939).”
Yale Library of Congress/Arthur Rothstein
9.) “Inspecting washed potatoes. Monte Vista (1939).”
Yale Library of Congress/Arthur Rothstein
10.) “Town abandoned because of continuous crop failures. Keota (1939).”
Yale Library of Congress/Arthur Rothstein
11.) “FSA (Farm Security Administration) borrower Fred Schmmeckle, drilling wheat on his dry-land farm. Weld County (1939).”
Yelp Library of Congress/Arthur Rothstein
12.) “Serepio Media, FSA (Farm Security Administration) rehabilitation client, and son, Mike, in field. Costilla County (1939).”
Yale Library of Congress/Arthur Rothstein
13.) “General store and adobe houses. San Pablo (1939).”
Yale Library of Congress/Arthur Rothstein
14.) “Mrs. H.H. Poland, wife of rehabilitation client, with preserved food. Mesa County (1939).”
Yale Library of Congress/Arthur Rothstein
15.) “Woman field worker with topped sugar beets. Adams County (1939).”
Yale Library of Congress/Arthur Rothstein
For even more historic Denver photography, check out What Denver Looked Like 100 Years Ago…It May Surprise You.
Yale Library of Congress/D. L. Kernodle
Yale Library of Congress/Arthur Rothstein
Yale Library of Congress/Jack Allison
Yelp Library of Congress/Arthur Rothstein
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