These 14 Houses From 1930S Michigan Show A Different Time

It’s hard to imagine what life was like in Michigan just a few generations ago. That’s why these rare photographs, released by Yale University and the Library of Congress in a collection of some 170,000 images known as Photogrammer, are so valuable.

We’ve compiled a variety of images of housing from the Depression era of the 1930s-40s. What you’ll see is a mix of old farm houses, resettlement shelters, and even Michigan migrant families living in tents. These powerful shots were a part of a collection put together by order of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Policies to capture folks in the midst of economic struggle. Have a look.

Abandoned farm house on the Allegan Project. Allegan, June 1937.

Russell Lee/Library of Congress/LC-USF341-T-030050

An abandoned house in Mansfield, formerly a prosperous mining town, April 1937.

Russell Lee/Library of Congress/LC-USF341-T-010830

An old barn on property of fruit grower is used as bunkhouse for about twelve single men Berrien County, July 1940.

John Vachon/Library of Congress/LC-USF34-061084

Boarding house, Baraga, Aug. 1941.

John Vachon/Library of Congress/LC-USF34-063483

Buckboard Charlie in his shack near Iron River, April 1937.

Russell Lee/Library of Congress/LC-USF34-010824

Cabin rented by House of David, Benton Harbor, July 1940.

John Vachon/Library of Congress/LC-USF33-016004

Girls playing cards and drinking a soda pop in Detroit, 1941.

Arthur S Siegel/Library of Congress/LC-USW3-015983

House where Charles A Lindbergh was born in Detroit, July 1941.

Arthur S Siegel/Library of Congress/LC-USW3-016610

John Nygren sits in front of his shack in Iron River, April 1937.

Russell Lee/Library of Congress/LC-USF341-T-010738

Members of the Gavanea family. Gibbs City, a sawmill town, April 1937.

Russell Lee/Library of Congress/LC-USF34-010928

Migrant child eating in front of tent home, Berrien County, July 1940.

John Vachon/Library of Congress/LC-USF33-001972

Mrs. Herman Perry in her home at Mansfield. She is the wife of an old-time iron miner who worked in the mines before they were abandoned, May 1937.

Russell Lee/Library of Congress/LC-USF34-010898

Mrs. William Sharrard and one of her children. Her husband has been a farmer of the cut-over regions for years, but cannot make a living at it. The family is on relief Near Silk Lake, May 1937.

Russell Lee/Library of Congress/LC-USF34-010967

Wife of migrant fruit picker. They live in a one-room windowless shack on property of grower Berrien County, July 1940.

John Vachon/Library of Congress/LC-USF34-061119

Pretty telling, huh? Kind of makes you appreciate all the modern conveniences we enjoy today. Tell us, have you heard of the stories about Depression-era living in your own family? Anyone out there have some pics of the family home from back in the 30s and 40s? Please, share with us!