| James McNitt's text |
Bill McNitt's annotations |
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There was no question of my going on to college; the money just wasn't
available. I made a stab at it by taking a semester of German at Junior
College night school in Grand Rapids. Once a week I would ride in with the
delivery man who sold Conklin creamery butter to the Grand Rapids
stores. I
stayed with the aunts overnight and attended class, then rode back with him
the next day. It was an awkward arrangement, and I gave up after completing
the semester.
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I was relegated to working in the store, as I had done during previous
summers. With the Depression in full swing, business was gradually going
downhill. The farmers had little cash and could not pay their bills. When
they got a little money, they would stock up at the A. & P. in
Coopersville. We accepted eggs in trade. Along with other banks all over the
country, the local bank closed. It would eventually reopen, although many
banks didn't.
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The Coopersville Observer, Friday, July 31,
1931, included the following in an article about Conklin: "Although
the McNitt family have for many years been identified with the history of
this locality, W. T. McNitt had wandered from the community and taken up
other work. During his wandering he enjoyed a varied experience having
been employed for a considerable length of time in the railway service and
as a traveling salesman and was for some time in business in Grand
Rapids."
"About three years ago Mr. McNitt felt the urge to return to the
home fields of the clan McNitt and opportunity presented itself in
Conklin. He was fortunate in being able to secure the large and well
lighted brick store room formerly occupied by R. H. Smith Mercantile Co.,
and the wide knowledge of merchandising gained during his experience as
salesman and in the conduct of his Grand Rapids business has stood him in
good stead in his business venture in Conklin."
"In his store there is abundant opportunity for the display of his
choice and varied stock of merchandise and he has utilized this
opportunity to the utmost with the result that he has given his customers
a store that is up to the minute both in quality of goods handled and in
present day merchandising methods. He believes in putting the goods he has
for sale where the prospective customer can see for themselves and this
belief he has put into practice. His method of doing business is meeting
with the success it warrants." |
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Life in a small town, even during the Depression wasn't too bad. We lived
first in a house on Main Street, later in an upstairs apartment directly
behind the store. At the rear of the store was an outdoor privy which served
both the business and the apartment. Behind the house was a water pump. It
was my job to carry water up the stairs as needed
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We had many friends, chief among them. the Borgman family who lived
outside the town on a farm. They had several children. The oldest,
Velma, was married and lived in Muskegon. Byron was away most of the
time in the army. Leonard later joined, but was eventually discharged
as being unsuited to army life. Johnny, nearer my age, was my
companion until he joined up with the C.C.C. We drove up to see him
once in the north woods. Then there were Sarah and Dolly. A younger
sister was killed during the time we knew them when her dress caught
fire from the stove in the living room.
John and Emma Borgman of Conklin
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The Borgman parents were named John and
Emma. Census records show Byron as the oldest child and the oldest
daughter as Verlan or Verland rather than Velma. No daughter named
Dolly is listed, but perhaps the daughter named Emma was called Dolly to
differentiate her from her mother. The daughter who died in the fire
was probably Bernice, who died on May 3, 1931 at age 10. |
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Another friend was Thelma Zimmer, who worked in the store until hard times
forced Dad to let her go. Her younger sister was killed when a train struck
the car in which she and two other girls were riding on their way home from
school, which had been let out early. Only the girl sitting in the middle,
Thurza Doane, survived.
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Census records shiw Thurza Doane's first name as Theresa.
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There were social get-togethers, normally potluck affairs. The predominantly
German matrons of the area were mostly excellent cooks and bakers. I learned
to play cards, mainly pedro, 500, and auction bridge, forerunner of the
modern contract bridge. I even learned, after a fashion, to square dance. In
the interest of social activities, I joined the Grange, a farmers
organization.
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Glenn went on the road again, selling to stores a line of spices and
extracts. The vanilla extract which was a mainstay of the line, was mixed
and bottled at the aunts'. Many years later. when the house was sold,
there was still a generous supply of it in the basement.
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Dad still managed to get away each fall for deer hunting. He was accompanied
by Charlie Batson, the local Ford dealer, along with his brother and others.
Many years we had canned venison throughout the winter.
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My grandfather was still hunting regularly
when I was young. When he stopped by, he often brought venison,
squirel, rabbit or other meat for my mother to prepare. |
| I forgot to mention above the local pool hall,
where I learned to play a passable game of Rotation, also a variation of
poker known as Freezeout. Each player is given 25 chips; the one who first
loses his chips pays. This was Bob's Tavern, run by Bob Jablonski. |
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| Among my duties in the store as a clerk were
cutting meat, filling gallon jugs in the back room with vinegar or
kerosene, grinding coffee, and measuring and cutting yard goods. During
quiet periods I had plenty of time for books and magazines. |
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