Historical Images: Remembering Things Our Ancestors Had to Go Through
Page by Bob Leathers
Why are these historical images here? Because they connect us to the past and help tell the story of what some of our ancestors had to go through..
These events have been largely forgotten by the modern day public.
These events have been largely forgotten by the modern day public.
This is not a Hanna gallery. It is a people gallery. The images on this page were collected over time from the Public Domain and Congressional Record. The pictures represent the historical side of immigration and the less fortunate living in the Old Country and in America. In most cases the photographer is unknown or not available.
Prior to 1890 - each state regulated immigration. In 1892, Ellis Island in New York - over the next 62 years - opened its doors to over 12 million immigrants. Some of those immigrants came to Old Carbon and Hanna.
For many people the early years in American were difficult. Some came from hard times and hard times continued after they arrived. Life was filled with many obstacles. The road they travel was indeed a bumpy one.
1866 to 1910 - People from many places in the world left their homes and immigrated to the United States. Some of them ended up in the Coal Camps of Old Carbon and Hanna and over time formed the backbone of their communities. They were fleeing poverty and hunger, housing hardships, job shortages, crop and land failures, rising taxes, religious issues and much, much more. They came because the coal mines at Old Carbon and Hanna were perceived as a place of opportunity. The people created a melting pot of cultures, customs and ideas. They learned from each other. They were hard working people who came and stayed.
Prior to 1890 - each state regulated immigration. In 1892, Ellis Island in New York - over the next 62 years - opened its doors to over 12 million immigrants. Some of those immigrants came to Old Carbon and Hanna.
For many people the early years in American were difficult. Some came from hard times and hard times continued after they arrived. Life was filled with many obstacles. The road they travel was indeed a bumpy one.
1866 to 1910 - People from many places in the world left their homes and immigrated to the United States. Some of them ended up in the Coal Camps of Old Carbon and Hanna and over time formed the backbone of their communities. They were fleeing poverty and hunger, housing hardships, job shortages, crop and land failures, rising taxes, religious issues and much, much more. They came because the coal mines at Old Carbon and Hanna were perceived as a place of opportunity. The people created a melting pot of cultures, customs and ideas. They learned from each other. They were hard working people who came and stayed.
1929-1941 - The Great Depression took place. It was very difficult for the people. It was the longest and deepest downturn in the history of the United States and the rest of the world. It lasted more than a decade, beginning in 1929 and ending during World War II in 1941. It ended when America got involvement in the Second World War resulted in the drafting of young men into military service, and the creation of millions of jobs in the defense industry.
Ellis Island
Images collected from the Public Domain and the Congressional Record.
Each image tells its own story.
Each image tells its own story.
Final discharge from Ellis Island
Immigrant Family at Ellis Island
Images of the Old Country
Immagrants left the Old Country because they were fleeing housing hardships, job shortages, crop and land failures, rising taxes, religious issues, along with extreme poverty and hunger.
Images collected from the Public Domain and the Congressional Record.
Each image tells its own story.
Each image tells its own story.
1940's in Birmingham
1940's: I smile when people get the wrong idea about the slum quarters of Birmingham and the conditions that we lived in. None of them were council owned but private landlords. I lived in the 1940's onwards, the house I lived in only had gas lighting. Riddled with woodworm and dry rot. No plaster on the ceiling as upstairs you looked through the floorboards and could see downstairs, walls built with sand and rubbish so insects lived in the walls, so DDT had to be used. (when we moved in the 60's all our furniture had woodworm so had to be dumped) A few folk in the next road had a bit more money and could buy a carpet instead of a rush mat or lino. These hovels could not be saved or restored only demolished, in the areas around me the people did not know what a slum was as they never went into those areas. I smile today when I see the so called Back to Backs that you can visit today, I wished I could have lived in one of those, my mother would have thought she was a queen. If you have not lived in a hovel in the slums you cannot comment on conditions that folk lived in. Birmingham got rid of those areas and started to build decent homes for the people making a few mistakes on the way. But Hey that's life. If my mother was alive to day and you told her she lived in a hovel in the slums she would call you a liar as she kept it spotless, you can live in a cave and make it look like a palace and call it home. The slums of Nechells gave me the values I have today and to quote my mother she said "you can be born in the gutter and still dine with King's" and as I grew I found that was true. (Unknown)
We All Lived with Nan
We all lived with nan, Mom, dad and 4 kids in 2 bedrooms and a boxroom where nan slept. No bathroom, shared toilet and brewhouse in the courtyard. Cold water and one brown sink in the kitchen. Tin bath did for us. Nan had been a bargewoman and she and mom were spotless even though there was damp and we had bedbugs. We were poor but clean. Funny .. even now I wash pans and put them away while cooking and I clean up as I go. We had pride. Mom handsowed our clothes made from her old dresses. (Jean Graham)
Finland Images from the Public Domain
Images of the New Country - Early America
Images collected from the Public Domain and the Congressional Record.
Each image tells its own story.
Each image tells its own story.
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