What We Do When the Chips Are Down is What Defines Us – Stamford Winter of 1933

What I learned today by looking back to Stamford February 1933

February 1933 Stamford Ct. (76 years ago), my father was 9 years old. That's him in the picture I scanned today. He's  all the way on the left with his buddies at the bottom of Puritan Lane in Glenbrook. The winter of 1932/1933 was the worst part of the great depression. Yesterday while visiting my parents I asked my father what it was like, what he remembers about growing up in Stamford during this tough time.

[Picture: Sledding was popular, especially on Puritan Lane and Plymouth Rd. as they had little through traffic. With no TV kids sledded all day till 10 in the evening. Top Row From Left: ?, John Ohlin, ?, ? . Lower row from left: Howard Anderson, ?,  Bues, Earl Parmater, ?, ?. ]

Apparently my Grandfather, Emil N. Anderson, a house builder and immigrant from Sweden, was able to find work most of the time during the depression. But even he had a tough time during the winter of  '33. My father remembers my grandfather spending several months at home while only my Grandmother was able to find work outside the home. What did grandfather do during this toughest time in economic history? Did he sit around the house and wait for things to get better? 

My Grandfather died when I was five, so I don't remember him at all. Though he built several houses around Stamford, including the one my parents live in, I don't think of him when I see one of these houses. However, during the winter of 1933 my grandfather spent these months of unemployment in his workshop working on something other than building houses. He made some very special furniture for his family. He dried wood from a Walnut tree he took down in Greenwich and hand carved three very special chairs (each of his children have one of them today). He also made five grandfather clocks all with completely different designs (some English some Swedish). Finally he also built a few dressers and a writing desk (complete with three secret compartments). Whenever I see any of these pieces I think of him.

Though the winter of 2009 is nowhere near as bad as that of 1933, and I believe things will soon start getting better, these past couple of months when I call on clients I've found myself speaking to two kinds of people. One kind that seem to want to curl up on the side lines and wait till things get better. Another kind, much like my grandfather, who realize that when things get tough, the tough get going. These are the type that are remembered, and the type I want to work with.

-Tom

[Tom H. C. Anderson is marketing chairman and a member of the board of directors of the Stamford Historical Society.]

        

      

Images © Thomas Anderson