Depression Era Summer Temperatures Broke Heat Records

Iowan grew up with summer temperatures during the depression-era drought that broke heat records.

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The depression era and drought went hand in hand. In fact, the drought years were a contributing factor to the depression era.

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During the summer of 1934, with temperatures breaking all heat records, my family carried mattresses outside, and we all slept under the open sky each night for two months. Those mattresses remained out all day, and not one drop of rain or dew brought relief.

Margaret Barkley Johnson
Bloomfield, Iowa


Back in 1955 a call went out from the editors of the then Capper’s Weekly asking for readers to send in articles on true pioneers. Hundreds of letters came pouring in from early settlers and their children, many now in their 80s and 90s, and from grandchildren of settlers, all with tales to tell. So many articles were received that a decision was made to create a book, and in 1956, the first My Folks title – My Folks Came in a Covered Wagon – hit the shelves. Nine other books have since been published in the My Folks series, all filled to the brim with true tales from Capper’s readers, and we are proud to make those stories available to our growing online community. 

 



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