Thu, Nov 26 2009
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Recent economic woes prompt recollections of Depression There was a reason why James was working so hard at such a young age.
“I hate to say this, but I had an alcoholic and absentee father for much of my young life,” he said. “I brought home the money to my mother, Madge T. James. They (school district officials) named the kindergarten center here after her.” At the time, James said, he did not understand the pressure that his father was under. “I have three children,” he said. “I know how important it was for me to provide for my children. When you are the breadwinner for your family and you can’t bring home money for your family, you try to escape how bad things are in your life. I have come to realize that, now.” ‘In the same boat’ Reding, 89, has a long connection to the area. His grandfather and great-grandfather constructed the mill that once stood along Shoal Creek at Redings Mill. The mill was destroyed by fire in 1936. “Everybody was in the same boat then,” he said. “They lived the best they could. My dad worked at the Union Oyster Co. seven days a week, 12 hours a day, for $1 a day, and he was glad to get it. “We didn’t have any money. Back then, neighbor helped neighbor.” The company, which sold fish, oysters and fine cheeses, was at 514 S. Joplin Ave. “I remember that there were a lot of bums,” Reding said. “They walked up and down the alleys. If you gave them some coffee or some food, they would put a mark on your garage so that other bums would come there. People would share even though they did not have a lot to share. “Most were single men, trying to find work somewhere. They had no money, no nothing. They were sort of like the street people we have today.” The food stores that exist today did not exist then. “The food was homegrown on farms around here,” Reding said. “We had relatives down by Neosho who lived on a farm. They would give us fresh vegetables. When we had vegetables, we would take some to them. It was neighbors looking after neighbors, which is something we don’t have today.” Reding’s family lost money in a bank that failed. In March 1933, four of Joplin’s banks closed for a 10-day “holiday” to regroup. “I remember we were trying to buy a home, but we couldn’t pay anything more on it,” Reding said. “The bank told us to pay on it when we could. They said they were not in the real-estate business. They did that so we could stay in our home.” 
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