Under Construction
History
1940 With the rearming of US forces the Great Depression was finally beginning to ease , and Americans were earning more and buying more so being able to buy goods and further fueling the economy. Outside of America things were not good as Germany invaded France which meant between Germany and Italy most of Western Europe was controlled by them except for England.Britain was being bombed incessantly and many believed it may only be time before America would be involved.
The first peacetime draft occurred in September 1940 which had ominous overtones for the future.
Social
In the US the feel good feeling of leaving the depression behind fueled the making of some great movies including "Gone With the Wind" and the "Great Dictator" , and Jazz sounds were the popular music of the day from the likes of Benny Goodman and Count Basie amongst others.
The Nylon stockings invented the previous year were all the rage with women.
Prices
Average wages per year $1,725.00
A worker in the new factories appearing can earn up to $1,250 per year
Average Cost of new house $3,920.00
Cost of a gallon of Gas 11 cents
Average Cost for house rent $30.00 per month
Radio $16.95
Average Price for a new car $850.00
Battery for Torch 10 cents
Hoover $52.50 year
Life magazine costs 10 cents
http://wiz.ancestry.com/wiz/RecordImage?IsFreeDB=true&recordId=305672932442
On the family farm in Mt Gilead Ohio *1940 census
Wallace or perhaps William Wallace McLain (G49) age 70
Fanny McLain (G49) age 68
Wallace McLain (G50) age 42 lived on farm, the house was valued at $1,000.00. Wallace McLain was separated from his wife Daisy McLain and worked as a laborer with an income of $860.00 per year.
Oral family history
I know from oral family history that Grandpa Wallace McLain (G50) had slaughtered all the dairy cows when the depression hit because milk sales were down and he could not afford to feed them. By the end of the depression he may have had a few cows, even if only to provide milk for the family.
By 1940 Wallace Mclain was working as a laborer, probably because the farm would not support him and his parents.
So...
William Wallace McLain (G49) would be my great grandfather at age 70 in the 1940 census.
That would make him born in 1869 or 1870.
His wife Fanny McLain would have been born in 1871 or 1872
in 1940 My Grandpa McLain (G50) was 43 and so was probably running the farm and born about 1897
The depression was ending, I know from oral family history that Grandpa Wallace McLain (G50) had slaughtered all the dairy cows when the depression hit because milk sales were down and he could not afford to feed them. By the end of the depression he may have had a few cows, even if only to provide milk for the family. I believe he was living on the same farm we visited as young kids.
By 1940 Wallace Mclain was working as a laborer, probably because the farm would not support him and his parents. In 1940 his annual income as a laborer was $860.00 per year. Wallace McLain was separated from his wife Daisy McLain who lived in Mt Gilead with their son Dale McLain (age 19) (G51) and daughter Wilma June McLain (Grosh) (G51) Dale, at age 19 worked at Florence pottery as a glazer and earned $900.00 per year, That's about $75.00 a month. The rent on Daisy Mclains apartment was $22.50 per month.
http://wiz.ancestry.com/wiz/RecordImage?IsFreeDB=true&recordId=305610732442
Daisy Mclain age 40, Divorced, rented at 22.50 per month
Daughter Wilma June age 16,
son dale age 19 worked as a glazer at Florence pottery and made $900.00 a year
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