Page 49 - Adobe Photoshop PDF
P. 49

ple, in my junior high school, the main buildings consisted of a rela-
            tively modern building connected to a very old one. In fact, sometimes
            LQ WKH ROG EXLOGLQJ SLHFHV RI SODVWHU ZRXOG IDOO R൵ WKH FHLOLQJ  8QGHU
            the auspices of the Works Progress Administration, our old classroom
            EXLOGLQJ ZDV WRUQ DSDUW DQG FRPSOHWHO\ UHQHZHG  :H HYHQ JRW ÀRUHVFHQW
            OLJKW ¿[WXUHV ± D EUDQG QHZ GHYHORSPHQW DW WKDW WLPH
                   School buildings all over Salt Lake were remodeled where nec-
            essary. At West Junior High (now called Horace Mann Junior High) we
            had no gymnasium or showers. In our physical education class indoors
            ZH XVHG D SRUWDEOH EXLOGLQJ ZLWK DQ HLJKW IRRW FHLOLQJ  KDUGO\ ¿W IRU
            basketball. We fellows would sweat during PE and then go to the next
            FODVV ZLWKRXW WKH EHQH¿W RI VKRZHUV  +RZ WKH JLUOV VWRRG RXU VPHOO LV D
            wonder. Horace Mann Junior High received a gymnasium and showers
            under the WPA.
                   Dad had to organize work groups, select legitimate public works
            WKDW ZHUH QHHGHG  HVWDEOLVK DFFRXQWLQJ V\VWHPV WR UHFRUG ¿QDQFLDO WUDQV-
            actions, etc. Dad was an outstanding business manager and his talents
            were critical at the time. It was wise that the Federal Government adapt-
            ed a “works project” approach, which is far more constructive to the
            individuals and the economy than the “dole” system that the British
            followed.
                   1R RQH VKRXOG WKLQN WKDW VXFK H൵RUWV ZHUH UHFHLYHG WR XQLYHUVDO
            acclaim. There were members of the Communist party in Salt Lake who
            WULHG WR VSRLO KLV H൵RUWV  WKUHDWHQHG PDVV LQYDVLRQV RI WKH :3$ R൶FHV
            etc. Threats were made against Dad personally, and one night a large
            rock was thrown through the plate glass window in our parlor that faced
            the street. It was decades later that the fact emerged – the International
            Communist Party had sought, through its U.S. subsidiary party, to dis-
            rupt the services of any program that would restore a viable economy in
            the United States.
                   Dad managed the public works activity for about two years. His
            salary was $325.00 per month. At the same time the head of the Com-
            munity Chest (equivalent to the United Bay Area Crusade) had a salary
            of $500.00 per month. Talk about disparity in responsibility and com-
            pensation! Dad had responsibility for more money in one month than


                                             45
   44   45   46   47   48   49   50   51   52   53   54