The Worst Hard Time Part 14

Kansas State professor's estimate of volume of dust, as reported by Amarillo Daily News, Amarillo Daily News, April 22, 1935. April 22, 1935.

Hi Barrick's duties from his oral history on file at Oral History Program, Oklahoma Historical Society, previously cited.

Descriptions of rabbit clubbings from Boise City News Boise City News and oral history of Verdela Harriman Fry, on file at Oral History Program, Oklahoma Historical Society, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, author visit September 6, 2003. and oral history of Verdela Harriman Fry, on file at Oral History Program, Oklahoma Historical Society, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, author visit September 6, 2003.

16: BLACK SUNDAY.

Description of weather that morning, author interviews with Ike Osteen, Melt White, and Norma Gene b.u.t.terbaugh Young, all previously cited, and newspaper accounts.

Osteen activities, from author interview with Ike Osteen, and Mr. Osteen's book, A Place Called Baca, A Place Called Baca, previously cited. previously cited.

Description of storm hitting Dodge City from Black Sunday: The Great Dust Storm of April 14, 1935, Black Sunday: The Great Dust Storm of April 14, 1935, Frank L. Stallings, Jr. (Austin, Texas: Eakin Press, 2001). Frank L. Stallings, Jr. (Austin, Texas: Eakin Press, 2001).

Lucas funeral from Hazel Shaw's previously cited book, Suns.h.i.+ne and Shadows, Suns.h.i.+ne and Shadows, and and Boise City News, Boise City News, various editions, April 1935. various editions, April 1935.

Trucks in ditch and sky black in Boise City from remembrance of Louise Fairchild, as told to Natalie Weaver and Andrew Randolph in Boise City Language Arts cla.s.s, 1999, on file at Cimarron Heritage Center, Boise City, Oklahoma.

Folkers's experience from Faye Folkers Gardner's previously cited book, So Long, Old Timer! So Long, Old Timer!

Story of Joe Garza and saving the child from interview with Garza, recorded 1985 (no month), on file at Oral History Program, Oklahoma Historical Society, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, author visit September 8, 2003.

The a.s.sociated Press team, from AP dispatches, chiefly the one sent the day after Black Sunday, April 15, 1935, printed in the Amarillo Daily News, Amarillo Daily News, April 15, 1935. April 15, 1935.

When storm hit Denver from photos and records on file at Denver Public Library, Western History Department, Denver, Colorado, author visit May 12, 2004.

How the Germans fared from author interviews with Ehrlichs, July 18, 2003, and Borths, September 12, 2003.

What happened to Ehrlich, from Willie Ehrlich oral history, Oral History Program, Oklahoma Historical Society, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, recorded July 17, 1986.

Black as night from Berenice Jackson, Oral History Program, Oklahoma Historical Society, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, author visit September 6, 2003.

When the storm hit Texas Panhandle from Amarillo Daily News, Amarillo Daily News, April 15, 1935. April 15, 1935.

Woody Guthrie account from a recording made March 21, 1940, between Guthrie and Alan Lomax, as presented on "Woody Guthrie on Weekend Edition, Oct. 20, 1996," from the transcript.

17: A CALL TO ARMS.

Bob Geiger dispatches from a.s.sociated Press filings, previously cited.

Hugh Bennett waiting for storms to call for aid from previously cited USDA biography and Brink, Big Hugh, Big Hugh, and news accounts, as well as government booklet, "The National Gra.s.slands Story," United States Department of Agriculture-Forest Service (Was.h.i.+ngton, D.C.: U. S. Government Printing Office, 1964). and news accounts, as well as government booklet, "The National Gra.s.slands Story," United States Department of Agriculture-Forest Service (Was.h.i.+ngton, D.C.: U. S. Government Printing Office, 1964).

Land "essentially destroyed," from USDA, Yearbook of Agriculture 1935, Yearbook of Agriculture 1935, previously cited. previously cited.

Beginnings of conservation plans from The Soil Conservation Service, The Soil Conservation Service, D. Harper Simms (New York: Praeger Publishers, 1970). D. Harper Simms (New York: Praeger Publishers, 1970).

Odalee Bohn Lowery recollections, from oral history on file at Boise City Public Library, Boise City, Oklahoma, and from previously cited Young, Footsteps. Footsteps.

Dalhart stirrings from John L. McCarty Collection, Amarillo Public Library, Amarillo, Texas.

Formation of Last Man's Club from Dalhart Texan, Dalhart Texan, April 22, 1935. April 22, 1935.

Rainmaking from the Dalhart Texan, Dalhart Texan, April 29, 1935, and Dawson, April 29, 1935, and Dawson, High Plains Yesterdays, High Plains Yesterdays, previously cited. previously cited.

Roosevelt actions, in part, from Franklin Roosevelt and the New Deal, Franklin Roosevelt and the New Deal, William E. Leuchtenburg (New York: Harper & Row, 1963), and William E. Leuchtenburg (New York: Harper & Row, 1963), and The Age of Roosevelt, The Age of Roosevelt, 3 vols., Arthur M. Schlesinger (Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 19571960). 3 vols., Arthur M. Schlesinger (Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 19571960).

Harold Ickes, in part, from Righteous Pilgrim: The Life and Times of Harold L. Ickes, 18741952, Righteous Pilgrim: The Life and Times of Harold L. Ickes, 18741952, T. H. Watkins (New York: Henry Holt, 1990). T. H. Watkins (New York: Henry Holt, 1990).

Ickes quote on idealism from New York Times Magazine, New York Times Magazine, May 27, 1934. May 27, 1934.

Bennett from previously cited USDA biography and Brink, Big Hugh. Big Hugh.

McCarty quotes from his columns in the Dalhart Texan, Dalhart Texan, April, May, June, 1935. April, May, June, 1935.

Cimarron County telegram from Boise City News, Boise City News, April 1935. April 1935.

18: GOINGS.

Osteen breakup, all from author interviews with Ike Osteen and Mr. Osteen's book, previously cited.

Resettlement activity in Baca, from records on file at Springfield Public Library, Baca County Library, Springfield, Colorado.

Osteen graduation, mother comments, from author interviews with Mr. Osteen, previously cited.

19: WITNESSES.

Donald Hartwell's writings are from his unpublished diary, on file at the Nebraska State Historical Society, Lincoln, Nebraska, and provided to the author. Copyright holder unknown.

Rothstein information, from Farm Security Administration public records, www.loc.gov/ammem/fsahtml, and The Depression Year, The Depression Year, Arthur Rothstein (New York: Dover Publications, 1978). Arthur Rothstein (New York: Dover Publications, 1978).

Pare Lorentz, "The Plow That Broke the Plains" from the film itself (U.S. Government short film, produced by Pare Lorentz, 1936), and from Pare Lorentz and the Doc.u.mentary Film, Pare Lorentz and the Doc.u.mentary Film, Robert Snyder (Norman: Univ. of Oklahoma Press, 1968). Robert Snyder (Norman: Univ. of Oklahoma Press, 1968).

Panhandle reaction to film from Amarillo Daily News, Amarillo Daily News, June 1, 1936. June 1, 1936.

Dorothea Lange from An American Exodus: A Record of Human Erosion, An American Exodus: A Record of Human Erosion, Dorothea Lange and Paul Schuster Taylor (New York: Reynal & Hitchc.o.c.k, 1939). Dorothea Lange and Paul Schuster Taylor (New York: Reynal & Hitchc.o.c.k, 1939).

Bam White watching film from author interviews with Melt White, previously cited.

20: THE SADDEST LAND.

Hazel Shaw pregnant, from her previously cited Suns.h.i.+ne and Shadows. Suns.h.i.+ne and Shadows.

Statistics on volume of dirt, from the New York Times, New York Times, March 31, 1935. March 31, 1935.

Statistics on out-migration from United States Census Population Survey, www.census.gov, and American Exodus: The Dust Bowl Migration and Okie Culture in California, American Exodus: The Dust Bowl Migration and Okie Culture in California, James N. Gregory (New York: Oxford Univ. Press, 1989). James N. Gregory (New York: Oxford Univ. Press, 1989).

Caroline Henderson letters from letters published in the Atlantic Monthly, Atlantic Monthly, previously cited. previously cited.

Hazel Shaw details from author interview with son Charles Shaw, September 21, 2003, and her previously cited book, Suns.h.i.+ne and Shadows. Suns.h.i.+ne and Shadows.

Weather statistics on Oklahoma, from a chart ent.i.tled "Oklahoma Weather Timelines," courtesy of the State of Oklahoma.

Ehrlich details from family history, Seventy-Eight First Cousins, Seventy-Eight First Cousins, and Willie Ehrlich oral history, both previously cited. and Willie Ehrlich oral history, both previously cited.

Borths from Rosa Borth Becker interview, September 12, 2003, and family history on file at Wolf Creek Heritage Museum, Lips...o...b.. Texas.

New York Times story from March 31, 1935, edition. story from March 31, 1935, edition.

Another New York Times New York Times story, May 27, 1934, edition. story, May 27, 1934, edition.

McCarty singing and Guymon visitors from Dalhart Texan, Dalhart Texan, various editions, Spring 1936. various editions, Spring 1936.

21: VERDICT.

Quotes from report are direct from public file, "Report of the Great Plains Drought Area Committee, Aug., 1936," www.newdeal.feri.org.

Second report directly quoted from "The Future of the Great Plains," 1937, public record, www.newdeal.feri.org.

Roosevelt thoughts from Harold Ickes's diary, Secret Diary of Harold L. Ickes: The First Thousand Days, 19331936, Secret Diary of Harold L. Ickes: The First Thousand Days, 19331936, Harold L. Ickes (New York: Simon & Schuster, 1953). Harold L. Ickes (New York: Simon & Schuster, 1953).

22: CORNHUSKER II.

Donald Hartwell's writings are from his unpublished diary, on file at the Nebraska State Historical Society, Lincoln, Nebraska, and provided to the author. Copyright holder unknown.

23: THE LAST MEN.

White family details from interviews with Melt White, previously cited.

d.i.c.k c.o.o.n and the hundred-dollar bill, and the barbecue from Hunter, Book of Years, Book of Years, previously cited. previously cited.

XIT reunion barbecue from displays at the XIT Museum, Dalhart, Texas.

McCarty leaving, from Dalhart Texan, Dalhart Texan, 1936. 1936.

Migration statistics, from Gregory book, American Exodus: The Dust Bowl Migration and Okie Culture in California, American Exodus: The Dust Bowl Migration and Okie Culture in California, previously cited. previously cited.

Death of Bam White, from author interviews with son Melt, previously cited.

d.i.c.k c.o.o.n broke, from Hunter, Book of Years, Book of Years, previously cited. previously cited.

Death of Doc Dawson from Dawson, High Plains Yesterdays, High Plains Yesterdays, and from Hunter, and from Hunter, Book of Years, Book of Years, both previously cited. both previously cited.

24: CORNHUSKER III.

All of Hartwell's writings are from his unpublished diary, on file at the Nebraska State Historical Society, Lincoln, Nebraska, and provided to the author.

25: RAIN.

FDR visit from Amarillo Daily News, Amarillo Daily News, various editions, July 1938, and from FDR archives, various editions, July 1938, and from FDR archives, www.newdeal.feri.org.

Trees, "Forestry on the Great Plains, 19021942," R. Douglas Hurt, Kansas State University, archive, History Department, www-personal.ksu.edu/~jsherow/lesintro.htm.

EPILOGUE.

Information on gra.s.slands from author interview with Mich.e.l.le Stevens, archaeologist with United States Forest Service gra.s.slands division in La Junta, Colorado, on August 10, 2003, and Forest Service history of gra.s.slands, previously cited.

Information on farm subsidies, and exporting of cotton, from USDA, author interviews, December 2, 2004, and subsidies list published at www.ewg.org.

Trees, from Hurt paper, previously cited, and author visit to southern plains, April 2426, 2002.

Population crash from United States Census figures.

Ogallala Aquifer from variety of sources: Water Follies: Groundwater Pumping and the Fate of America's Fresh Waters, Water Follies: Groundwater Pumping and the Fate of America's Fresh Waters, Robert Glennon (Was.h.i.+ngton, D.C.: Island Press, 2002); Kansas Geological Survey, report of the Ogallala, 2002; Kansas State Research Office, January 14, 2003. Robert Glennon (Was.h.i.+ngton, D.C.: Island Press, 2002); Kansas Geological Survey, report of the Ogallala, 2002; Kansas State Research Office, January 14, 2003.

Study on soil conservation districts and their impact on curbing future dust storms, from 2004 study by Zeynep K. Hansen and Gary D. Libecap, "Small Farms, Externalities, and the Dust Bowl of the 1930s," Journal of Political Economy, Journal of Political Economy, June 2004, vol. 112, no. 3. June 2004, vol. 112, no. 3.

Other Bennett information from previously cited USDA biography and Brink, Big Hugh, Big Hugh, and Soil Conservation Service records, provided by U.S. Forest Service, La Junta, Colorado. and Soil Conservation Service records, provided by U.S. Forest Service, La Junta, Colorado.

Folkers family details from author interviews with Faye Gardner, April 30, 2002, and Gordon Folkers, May 2, 2002.

Hazel Shaw's last years from author interview with her son, Charles Shaw, September 21, 2003.

Osteen epilogue from author visit to Ike Osteen's house, April 25, 2002.

Acknowledgments.

During a reporting trip for this book I arranged to meet a man about town in Guymon, Oklahoma, one of the little communities in No Man's Land that was hammered during the Dust Bowl. Gerald Dixon was well past eighty, a vigorous and bright-eyed man with a droll sense of humor and a quick step. We met in his cluttered office, a museum in itself, where he dabbles in just about every business in Guymon.

"Get in the car," he said at the start of the lunch hour. "I'm taking you to the finest dining establishment in town-the country club."

We rode in his big Buick out to the edge of Guymon, pa.s.sed a few wheat fields, turned off the main road, went past trailers and some abandoned farmhouses and onto a narrow, rutted dirt road. I could not see another car or another human. The wind was shrieking, the same tune I heard during most of my days on the plains, and tumbleweeds rolled by the car. The sky was white and warm and empty. I began to think that Gerald was lost or that he was playing a trick on me.

"You sure there's a restaurant out here?" I asked.

"'Nother couple of miles."

Finally we descended into a little draw to a shed with some cars parked around it. There were about a dozen guys, most of them Gerald's age, and a handful of women. They were cooking burgers over a big outdoor grill, drinking beer and pop, and talking up Sooner football. Gerald introduced me to his posse, Guymon lifers, and said I was looking for stories about the Dust Bowl. Over lunch, they gave me terrific leads and true-life details to flesh out what I'd only read about the Oklahoma Panhandle during the Dirty Thirties. These old folks were all kids then, teenagers mostly, but they remembered the dusters and the hunger as if they had happened last Friday.