ONE THOUSAND CALHOUN CITIZENS LABORED ON DEPRESSION ERA PROGRAMS - Staving Off Destitution

(01/16/2026)

By Bob Weaver Government jobs provided by 1930s Great Depression era government works programs saved many Calhoun families from destitution. Men and women often walked 10-25 miles a day to get to their work sites. Nearly a thousand citizens of Calhoun county were being furnished employment in 1938 by the Works Progress Administration, according to figures furnished by J. Elmer Hall, chief county timekeeper. Eight hundred WPA workers are employed, and 82 school children are working under the National Youth Administration, said Hall, in addition to other programs. Included in Hall's list are 38 foremen and 17 superintendents and timekeepers for the various projects. Projects in the county, with superintendents and timekeepers are: Creek and Hollow Road: W.W. Bower, superintendent; Elias Yoak, timekeeper; 18 foremen; 475 workers. Minnora-Fink Run Road: W.C. Farrar, superintendent; Pascal Bailey, timekeeper; 130 workers. Street improvement in Grantsville: J.A. Giler, superintendent; R.P. Mollohan, timekeeper; 5 foremen; 64 workers. School Repair: E.E. Anderson, superintendent; 10 workers. Sanitation: Artie Gainer, superintendent; 5 foremen; 14 workers. Emergency Education: W.W. Wallbrown, county organizer; 11 workers. Recreation: Lenore Burns, Supervisor; 9 workers. Historical Research: Virgil Little, research worker; Alice Ice, typist. School Nutrition: Pearl VanHorn, supervisor; Arlene Trippett, timekeeper; 16 WPA workers, 12 NYA workers. Sewing Project: Mrs. A.E. Weaver supervisor; Geraldine Fox, timekeeper; 1 sewing room leader; 39 workers. Beautification of School Grounds: Ralph Hall, supervisor; John Lockney timekeeper; 1 foreman; 70 NYA workers. Commodities: Horace Haught, supervisor; 1 typist; 1 worker. Instruction of Crippled Children: Violet Jarvis, instructor. 28 operators of shovels and state road equipment should be included in the two road projects, the report said.

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