Family love sustains GV man through Great Depression

Editor’s note: Rosemary and Don Fuller are Green Valley residents. At a recent Fuller family reunion in Detroit, Don gave a lecture to members of the Laffrey, Mitchell, Edwards and Fuller families about being caught up in the Great Depression. Here are excerpts from it with occasional editorial input inserted for clarity.

“The lecture is about one of our nation’s very worst disasters, and about our Laffrey, Mitchell, Edwards and Fuller families being caught up in it.

“Even though Rosemary and I still look and act like teenagers, we’re beginning to be old, and I believe strongly that this important chapter of our family history must be told first hand and then passed on to our future generations.

“That very great disaster was the Great Depression. It lasted nearly 12 years (1929/30 to 1941.) It ended only because another great disaster was forced on us by the Japanese.

“WWII lasted for about four years (1941-1945.) About 16 million of our young men marched off to that war. Millions more of our men and women entered our empty factories to make the tools of war.

“This multi-employment of our nation’s people caused our Great Depression to end.

“Human are amazing creatures. Most of us are adept at adapting to all sorts of situations: great, fairly good and terrible.

“During the Depression, Americans spent the little money they had on the basics of life — housing, seeing the doctor, transportation, meals, clothes, medicines, etc.

“Backyard vegetable gardens were everywhere.

“My Uncle Fred was a well-known builder in Detroit (but) almost no building of large structures occurred during the long Depression. Uncle Fred was unhappy, I’m sure, but accepted the situation and found work which paid a lot less ... I recall Uncle Fred driving a bread truck at one time.

“I was about 9 years old. Like millions of other men, my dad was without a job. Like most 9-year-old boys, I wanted more than anything else — a bicycle.

“I knew my parents had no money for buying a bike. I didn’t even ask. I was a very unhappy kid.

“Then came the miracle, one summer day Uncle Fred came to our house with a small used bike for me.

“Mere words cannot convey the joy I felt that day.”

Other family members had jobs.

“My great pain then, and now, is my father not making it through the Great Depression successfully.

“[Before the Depression, Fuller’s family moved to Detroit where] Dad took a well-paying job in the business part of the Ford Motor Co.

“My childhood was perfect — doting parents, lots of joy, conversing, hugging, laughing, going on picnics.

“Then came disaster to our home — The Great Depression.

“Dad lost his job. Money became scarcer and scarcer at our house. In desperation Dad took a job he didn’t want — low paying, long long hours and not requiring his specials skills.

“On Sundays, his only day off, he slept most of the day.

“He became worn out, very discouraged, distressed, cranky, ill, non-communicative.

“Our home became like a funeral home.”

His grandparents sold their farm, moved to town and lived near Don Fuller’s family home.

“Lucky for me, they lived fairly close to my parents and me. I visited them often (and) was made to feel very welcome each visit.

“I was encouraged to tell my little boy adventures and worries.

“Oh, how I enjoyed those conversations.

“Without realizing what was happening, Grandpa was becoming my surrogate Dad.

“[One time] I complained about girls being so perfect — they didn’t fist fight or act up in class. They always did their homework and on and on.

“What on earth would I say to girls?

“His advice went something like this — ‘Girls are smarter than boys in this department. Just let them take the lead in the talking together department.’”

As a young man shipping off to war on an icy, bitterly cold Detroit night, Fuller’s grandparents and parents came to the train station to see him off.

“I saw tears in my Dad’s eyes. I gave an extra big hug.”

As he ended his talk, Fuller said “These reunions are an integral part of our lives.

“I believe that family provides the very essence of humanness. Needless to say, these reunions bring us wonderful memories.”

jlamb@gvnews.com | 547-9749