Henry Boucher

Everybody seemed to prosper during the postwar years. The economy was growing rapidly, investors were making a fortune in the stock market, and new technologies were creating new jobs. Experienced tradesmen could always find work someplace when the economy was good. But when the Depression hit and demand for goods plummeted it became difficult for even the most skilled workers to stay employed for very long. Henry Boucher had been a textile worker for many years. He had established a good reputation. During the hard times many of the mills were downsizing or closing, forcing Henry and his family to live on his savings. His account was recorded by a Mr. Guilfoyle of the Works Progress Administration (WPA) in 1939.

Editors Note: The following text is taken from the WPA record of oral and written testimony of Depression victims. In...