A Memorable Childhood

No plumbing. A single lightbulb that hung over the family's cast-iron sink. But a always a smile on everyone's faces. This is a carbon copy of the life Donald lived as a child. 

The oldest of nine children, Donald Murray was born on April 5th, 1929, the year of the Great Depression. For this reason, times were very tough for everyone, not just the Murray's, and people had to make due with what they had. And during his early years, Donald  was expected to do more around the house because he was older than his eight younger siblings. Usually, chores consisted of helping his father, a woodsman, chop wood, and caring for the farm animals before and after school. Also, because his mother was the mainstay in caring for his siblings, Donald helped out. It was tough-only a one man income. But, he says, they managed very well even with little money.

Though there were many times when Donald enjoyed his young life, one of the major downsides of living in the early twentieth century was transportation. "Those roads were NOT plowed!" exclaimed Donald when asked about having to walk to and from school in the cold winter months. "The drifts were nearly five feet high sometimes."

Another system for transportation during the warmer months that was considered "great", were bicycles. As you can see in the picture below, biking was one of the only ways to get in touch with a friend or schoolmate.

And don't forget food! The Murray's raised their own, with animals from cows to chickens to supply them. They needed milking and care quite a bit. This, as I mentioned in the earlier paragraph, was one of Donald's jobs.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                    Click on the link below for more information on Thomas Edison's Lightbulb

                   and 1900 inventions that may have affected Donald's life.