Carol Steyart - Engagement Ring
"I was born in ’28 and the depression was in the ‘30’s. I remember my mom and dad always had a little insurance policy. I don’t know how old I was. I wasn’t very old maybe 4 or 5 something like that. And I remember an insurance man, Mr. Mellencamp (not that it makes any difference to you guys) , but anyway, he came, and they’d come once every so month’s for the payment. That’s how they did it then in my little town. I can remember mother not having the money. So He said “Well “ (isn’t that funny that I can remember that?) He said, “Is there any way you can borrow something or sell something Sadie? “ She said ‘Yes, I think so, can you come back next week?” He said, “Oh yeh.” What she did - she sold her engagement ring so she would have enough. It was a thousand dollars on each kid or something like that. It has been so long I don’t remember. When I got to be 21, I believe, 18 or 21 we turned the policies back to Mom and Dad so they could have their money. But At the time they wanted the money. That popped into my mind when you said the depression because we were never without food. Never. Always had something. You would never know that there was a depression. My mom could really make good stuff."