Ironically, having a mother who cares enough about you to stay with your father, even if times are tough, is a privilege worth more than money. Even if she had literally no other option at this time, its still a boon that gave those kids a lease on life better than most these days.
That's how low the bar has fallen. That something as simple as being raised by your father is a huge deal.
Actually, what's interesting here is that Dad looks to be quite well groomed and in good clothing contrasted with everyone else around him. I wonder if he came from work or church?
They all look about par for being well groomed. No less tidy than the father. The mom's got a nice dress with patterns and multiple fabrics, and has her hair done. Eldest son has a button down shirt and pants just like his dad. The two young ones have simpler clothes, but that just makes sense for their age.
Church is an option, but photography was probably a big deal for their class, so maybe just dressed up literally for the camera.
The two young ones have simpler clothes, but that just makes sense for their age.
I have old family picture from rural farming times and the young kids clothes were much more rough than in the picture above. Near potato bag with holes.
That picture's clothes looks good enough for nice occasions like church.
This is the late 30's not that late 1880's. A camera photo was a novelty, but not a rarity. They are groomed enough, but the children are clearly dirty and lower class. I assume they were probably playing outside before the picture was taken. They are effectively well kempt for their condition.
Almost no shot anyone that poor had a camera and very rarely would even any of their friends have a camera even in the 1930s. That's why I specified "in their class", this might be one of only 2-3 photos of them in their entire lives.
While more people would have had access to photography, this mas was a West Virginia coal miner, just outside of Morgantown, WV, near the PA border. Which means yeah, this was probably one of the only photographs of him that exist. They are extremely poor by comparison.
Likely work. Men had to look nice for work or be expected to only be at the worst jobs. It's one of the reasons why women got obsessed with having nice clothes when going out.
The thing is, if he was doing a white collar job he'd probably have a higher income and wouldn't have to live in such a dilapidated house. If he were blue collar, he'd be a hell of a lot dirtier coming off of work. Just a curiosity. Wish we had more info on the photo. Maybe we should do a reverse image search.
Hard to tell from a black and white picture but I would guess the jeans are dirty as heck. Clothes dont mean much to an appalachian, so wearing the same few clothes over and over was a normal thing. As long as they were clean really was the only thing that mattered. Most familys did have one good outfit for church and special occasions.
As someone mentioned, this feller had the unfortunate luck of being a coal miner. So you can only imagine how filthy his clothes were, even if all he did was sit outside and bust up rocks all day versus being inside the mine. Could also be this picture was taken before he left for work that morning.
He could have also been doing office work. I'd think he'd be wearing overalls if he were actually doing the mining. He'd still get dirty from the dust, but he wouldn't look covered head to toe.
Been racking my brain over what it could be. Given the rough shape and time. I'm gonna say either a straight apple with either a slightly bent stem inserted upside down, or one that's broken and repaired badly.
That or it's a Dr grabow Ajustomatic. But iirc that's a 50s thing.
Not surprising, even in the 90's, many of my classmates who were like only 10 years old were bringing chewing tobacco to school, it would have shocked most people. I thought it was normal lol. Even tried it once made me sick as fuck.
But were talking about a place where you would routinely seen 10 year olds driving tractors and working on the farm. Kids were given way to much responsibility, but maybe that wasnt such a bad thing.
Its strange living in canada where its a literal crime to leave your kid at home alone when they are under 12. In ohio for example, there is no set age, just says when you feel they are responsible.
Ill never forget my dad sticking my ass behind a lawn mower when I was 8, i looked more like 12 but still. "Dad, this thing scares me, im worried im gonna cut my foot off.", "Thats why i know you will be responsible and careful while using it". Touche dad, touche.
Could be they were just dug up and being left out to dry. The roof would likely get the most sun if your in the middle of the woods.
Did you guys know that potatoes are actually a vegetable that was cultivated by native american indians. Which many explorers took back over to europe where it thrived.
Can't find the article of the actually privileged black worshipping retard claiming a picture of Cornish coal miners covered in soot was ''blackface'' and therefore racist and had to be taken down.
Wouldn't be surprising if it was taken down after reality caught up to the jump immediately with both feet approach many take on social media when trying to farm or generate clout to wield. I think it was a US politician who tried to paint child with cancer, and therefore bald, as skinhead because of a PR bit something was doing with them.
Ofc the ones who do this and those that support them and their tactics quickly memory holed the faux pas and went looking for the next windmill to tilt at.
Ancestors, what. There are millions of americans in appalachia still living like this lmao. Running water was a privilege where I came from. I spent most of my childhood drawing buckets out of a well.
I do have to scoff everytime I hear the word "white privilege" because I have never seen it. I see plenty of "rich privilege" though.
Like nearly everything based in Conflict Theory, whether it's race or sex based, it's always focusing on the elite class and nobody else. It explicitly has to ignore that for the majority of everyone else, this "inequality" either didn't exist or is drastically blown way out of proportion.
Bertha Hill, WV appears to be just outside Morgantown, WV, near the PA border and is in deep northern Appalachia. Looking on Google Street views, it currently seems to be a low-income suburb. Honestly, it seems like not much changed.
It's Sicily and the two areas are very different. The Mafia is Sicilian. Rome, Venice and Milan are Northern. Artsy fartsy north, Mafia rednecks South.
Transcript
Ellen, darling, goodbye for us both. Elbert said the Lord has saved him.
We are all praying for air to support us, but it is getting so bad without any air.
Ellen I want you to live right and come to heaven. Raise the children the best you can. Oh how I wish to be with you, goodbye. Bury me and Elbert in the same grave by little Eddie. Godbye Ellen, goodbye Lily, goodbye Jemmie, goodbye Horace. We are together. Is 25 minutes after two. There is a few of us alive yet.
Jake and Elbert
Oh God for one more breath. Ellen remember me as long as you live Goodbye darling.
You guys ever hear of the time that a famous canadian director was trying to make a documentary about the appalachian region when someone shot the poor bastard right in the heart.
I still think the coal mine supervisor riled buddy up and put the gun in his hand.
Pretty much my child hood, and honestly it wasnt that bad. I spent most of my childhood running through the woods barefoot until my dad got cable one year lol. I think all humans should have the opportunity to grow up in the woods like that, it gives you a unique outlook on life.
My dad made sure to let us know how "privileged" we were compared to alot of the poor in southern ohio. He used to take me and my siblings over to this couples house that he met through community action. Wed usually mow the lawn or pick up trash stuff like that.
They were both 80 years old, the husband had severe diabetes and lost both his legs below the thigh. She was severely blind and could not see anything.
They lived in a literal wood shack ontop of a dirt patch, no running water, no plumbing, just a bucket to shit into in the corner. I couldnt imagine how fucking cold it would get during the winter in there.
Funny thing is they really loved each other and were happy, it did not matter to them that they did not own anything but a shack. He died at 90 and she went a year or two after him.
Prolly millions of people still living like that in the appalachian region... prolly not much different from what the ghettos are like minus all the gang culture.
Instead we got the heroin white boy pants falling down culture.
Ironically, having a mother who cares enough about you to stay with your father, even if times are tough, is a privilege worth more than money. Even if she had literally no other option at this time, its still a boon that gave those kids a lease on life better than most these days.
That's how low the bar has fallen. That something as simple as being raised by your father is a huge deal.
If only she was liberated and instead was a prostitute along with her daughters.
Actually, what's interesting here is that Dad looks to be quite well groomed and in good clothing contrasted with everyone else around him. I wonder if he came from work or church?
They all look about par for being well groomed. No less tidy than the father. The mom's got a nice dress with patterns and multiple fabrics, and has her hair done. Eldest son has a button down shirt and pants just like his dad. The two young ones have simpler clothes, but that just makes sense for their age.
Church is an option, but photography was probably a big deal for their class, so maybe just dressed up literally for the camera.
I have old family picture from rural farming times and the young kids clothes were much more rough than in the picture above. Near potato bag with holes.
That picture's clothes looks good enough for nice occasions like church.
The little fella even has his best pipe out.
This is the late 30's not that late 1880's. A camera photo was a novelty, but not a rarity. They are groomed enough, but the children are clearly dirty and lower class. I assume they were probably playing outside before the picture was taken. They are effectively well kempt for their condition.
Almost no shot anyone that poor had a camera and very rarely would even any of their friends have a camera even in the 1930s. That's why I specified "in their class", this might be one of only 2-3 photos of them in their entire lives.
I found a source
While more people would have had access to photography, this mas was a West Virginia coal miner, just outside of Morgantown, WV, near the PA border. Which means yeah, this was probably one of the only photographs of him that exist. They are extremely poor by comparison.
Likely work. Men had to look nice for work or be expected to only be at the worst jobs. It's one of the reasons why women got obsessed with having nice clothes when going out.
The thing is, if he was doing a white collar job he'd probably have a higher income and wouldn't have to live in such a dilapidated house. If he were blue collar, he'd be a hell of a lot dirtier coming off of work. Just a curiosity. Wish we had more info on the photo. Maybe we should do a reverse image search.
I found him!
https://kotakuinaction2.win/p/19BGAp2aU5/x/c/4eSkwXiS27z
Hard to tell from a black and white picture but I would guess the jeans are dirty as heck. Clothes dont mean much to an appalachian, so wearing the same few clothes over and over was a normal thing. As long as they were clean really was the only thing that mattered. Most familys did have one good outfit for church and special occasions.
As someone mentioned, this feller had the unfortunate luck of being a coal miner. So you can only imagine how filthy his clothes were, even if all he did was sit outside and bust up rocks all day versus being inside the mine. Could also be this picture was taken before he left for work that morning.
He could have also been doing office work. I'd think he'd be wearing overalls if he were actually doing the mining. He'd still get dirty from the dust, but he wouldn't look covered head to toe.
Then the kids grow up to be told they are "slave owners" by niggers.
Is that kid smoking a pipe
Looks to be.
You are the subject matter expert, so your word is bond
Been racking my brain over what it could be. Given the rough shape and time. I'm gonna say either a straight apple with either a slightly bent stem inserted upside down, or one that's broken and repaired badly.
That or it's a Dr grabow Ajustomatic. But iirc that's a 50s thing.
Whilst everyone but the baby watches.
When your poor, entertainment is hard to come by.
Smoking cures Ashma.
I mean, that's what they told Theodore Roosevelt.
I'm sure his niece's husband stood by that statement.
Not surprising, even in the 90's, many of my classmates who were like only 10 years old were bringing chewing tobacco to school, it would have shocked most people. I thought it was normal lol. Even tried it once made me sick as fuck.
But were talking about a place where you would routinely seen 10 year olds driving tractors and working on the farm. Kids were given way to much responsibility, but maybe that wasnt such a bad thing.
Its strange living in canada where its a literal crime to leave your kid at home alone when they are under 12. In ohio for example, there is no set age, just says when you feel they are responsible.
Ill never forget my dad sticking my ass behind a lawn mower when I was 8, i looked more like 12 but still. "Dad, this thing scares me, im worried im gonna cut my foot off.", "Thats why i know you will be responsible and careful while using it". Touche dad, touche.
Did they leave their potatoes on the roof?
You don't?
That's rocks holding down shingles because they couldn't afford nails.
Could be they were just dug up and being left out to dry. The roof would likely get the most sun if your in the middle of the woods.
Did you guys know that potatoes are actually a vegetable that was cultivated by native american indians. Which many explorers took back over to europe where it thrived.
Disney and Marvel tell us our ancestors lived like kings beating blacks for sport.
In reality :
https://www.reddit.com/r/pics/comments/zi5d8u/belgian_coal_miners_riding_up_on_an_elevator/
Can't find the article of the actually privileged black worshipping retard claiming a picture of Cornish coal miners covered in soot was ''blackface'' and therefore racist and had to be taken down.
Wouldn't be surprising if it was taken down after reality caught up to the jump immediately with both feet approach many take on social media when trying to farm or generate clout to wield. I think it was a US politician who tried to paint child with cancer, and therefore bald, as skinhead because of a PR bit something was doing with them.
Ofc the ones who do this and those that support them and their tactics quickly memory holed the faux pas and went looking for the next windmill to tilt at.
Ancestors, what. There are millions of americans in appalachia still living like this lmao. Running water was a privilege where I came from. I spent most of my childhood drawing buckets out of a well.
I do have to scoff everytime I hear the word "white privilege" because I have never seen it. I see plenty of "rich privilege" though.
Like nearly everything based in Conflict Theory, whether it's race or sex based, it's always focusing on the elite class and nobody else. It explicitly has to ignore that for the majority of everyone else, this "inequality" either didn't exist or is drastically blown way out of proportion.
Hey guys! I found more info on the picture! In fact, I found a second picture!
Apparently the dad is a coal miner out of Bertha Hill, West Virginia. It was taken by "Marion Post Wolcott" in September 1938
I also got a source from the Library of Congress website.
Bertha Hill, WV appears to be just outside Morgantown, WV, near the PA border and is in deep northern Appalachia. Looking on Google Street views, it currently seems to be a low-income suburb. Honestly, it seems like not much changed.
It's like Southern Italy, forgotten and treated as only a topic of conversation.
Isn't Southern Italy the nicest part of Italy?
It's Sicily and the two areas are very different. The Mafia is Sicilian. Rome, Venice and Milan are Northern. Artsy fartsy north, Mafia rednecks South.
Read Christ Stopped at Eboli to get an idea.
Happy to help!
A poor, but cute family
Or the trapped coal miner with his son’s dying letter to his wife :
https://www.reddit.com/r/MadeMeCry/comments/q8mta8/letter_from_a_trapped_coal_miner_says_goodbye_to/
Transcript Ellen, darling, goodbye for us both. Elbert said the Lord has saved him. We are all praying for air to support us, but it is getting so bad without any air. Ellen I want you to live right and come to heaven. Raise the children the best you can. Oh how I wish to be with you, goodbye. Bury me and Elbert in the same grave by little Eddie. Godbye Ellen, goodbye Lily, goodbye Jemmie, goodbye Horace. We are together. Is 25 minutes after two. There is a few of us alive yet. Jake and Elbert Oh God for one more breath. Ellen remember me as long as you live Goodbye darling.
You guys ever hear of the time that a famous canadian director was trying to make a documentary about the appalachian region when someone shot the poor bastard right in the heart.
I still think the coal mine supervisor riled buddy up and put the gun in his hand.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hugh_O%27Connor_(filmmaker)
Dude basically created the precursor to the imax screens.
This was pretty much my dad's childhood, except with two more siblings, and no father (died).
Pretty much my child hood, and honestly it wasnt that bad. I spent most of my childhood running through the woods barefoot until my dad got cable one year lol. I think all humans should have the opportunity to grow up in the woods like that, it gives you a unique outlook on life.
My dad made sure to let us know how "privileged" we were compared to alot of the poor in southern ohio. He used to take me and my siblings over to this couples house that he met through community action. Wed usually mow the lawn or pick up trash stuff like that.
They were both 80 years old, the husband had severe diabetes and lost both his legs below the thigh. She was severely blind and could not see anything.
They lived in a literal wood shack ontop of a dirt patch, no running water, no plumbing, just a bucket to shit into in the corner. I couldnt imagine how fucking cold it would get during the winter in there.
Funny thing is they really loved each other and were happy, it did not matter to them that they did not own anything but a shack. He died at 90 and she went a year or two after him.
Prolly millions of people still living like that in the appalachian region... prolly not much different from what the ghettos are like minus all the gang culture.
Instead we got the heroin white boy pants falling down culture.
My dad told me once "We didn't know we were poor until the social worker told us we were."
Interesting door as well.
It seems to be some sort of balcony window.
At first I thought there were stairs below, but I think it's simply a raised door/window with some boards nailed to the frame underneath.
Then there are the two skinny scrap boards at the shins in the bottom of the frame, possibly as a safety rail for the little ones.
Some kind of porch attached to the shack.
For sure a home made baby gate haha.
Literally how my grandfather grew up.