Georgia was a completely different state in the 1930s. Almost 70% of the population in Georgia was rural in 1930, and the farmers were hit especially hard during the Great Depression. To top it all off, one of Georgia’s worst droughts happened during 1930-1931, further adding to the distress of Georgia farmers. Architecture is so important because it’s really indicative of how societies lived, as seen by the photographs of houses below. During that time, people were so bad off financially that the typical Georgia family had no electricity, no running water and no indoor bathrooms. The New Deal brought several relief programs to farmers in Georgia, and some of the houses pictured below are a result of those programs. Check out these 12 houses in Georgia from the 1930s. They will surely open your eyes to a different time!

  1. Repainted and remodeled house, Irwin County, Georgia - August 1935

Arthur Rothstein via Library of Congress/LC-USF33-T01-002108 This is what a typical rennovated home looked like in the 1930s.

  1. House formerly inhabited by family which has been resettled. Grady County, Georgia - August 1935

Arthur Rothstein via Library of Congress/LC-USF34-T01-000396 An old abandoned shack in the 1930s.

  1. Wooden church, St. Marys, Georgia - March 1936

Walker Evans via Library of Congress/LC-USF3301-009034 A very unique looking church in St. Marys.

  1. Resettlement homestead near Eatonton, Georgia. Briar Patch Project - March 1936

Walker Evans via Library of Congress/LC-USF3301-009046 This home was part of the Briar Patch farms, a resettlement administration project near Eatonon.

  1. Abandoned plantation house, Monticello, Georgia - March 1936

Walker Evans via Library of Congress/LC-USF3301-009049

  1. Housing for African Americans in Atlanta, Georgia - March 1936

Walker Evans via Library of Congress/LC-USF342-T01-008032 Back in the 1930s, racial segregation was legal and African Americans lived in separate communities. A recent survey by Nate Silver from fivethirtyeight.com shows that Atlanta is still the most racially segregated city in the south.

  1. More houses in Atlanta, Georgia - March 1936

Walker Evans via Library of Congress/LC-DIG-fsa-8c52205

  1. Operating general store on Hell’s Half Acre, project area of Plantation Piedmont agricultural demonstration project, near Eatonton, Georgia. - June 1936

Carl Mydans via Library of Congress/LC-USF34-006687 “This store carries a very small stock and opens only when prospective customers call owner from his home nearby” - original description

  1. Old blacksmith shop at Hell’s Half Acre, crossroads corner on area of Plantation Piedmont agricultural demonstration project. Near Eatonton, Georgia - June 1936

Carl Mydans via Library of Congress/LC-USF34-006689

  1. Shack in Irwinville, Georgia - June 1936

Carl Mydans via Library of Congress/LC-USF34-006694 “Grady Watson was moved from this shack at Irwinville, Georgia, to a new Federal Emergency Relief Administration (FERA) house and farm unit in Irwinville Farms rural resettlement project.”

  • original description
  1. Flue cure tobacco barn on Irwinville Farms, Rural Resettlement Administration project at Irwinville, Georgia - June 1936

Carl Mydans via Library of Congress/LC-USF34-006699

  1. Dr. Herman Dismuke leaving a home visit in Ocilla, Georgia - June 1936

Carl Mydans via Library of Congress/LC-USF34-006700 “Dr. Herman Dismuke, Ocilla, Georgia, leaving Grady Watson home after treating a child. Dr. Dismuke, by special arrangement, takes care of all residents of Irwinville Farms resettlement project at reduced rates.” - original description

Isn’t this fascinating? What do you think of these houses and their stories? Tell me in the comments below!

Arthur Rothstein via Library of Congress/LC-USF33-T01-002108

This is what a typical rennovated home looked like in the 1930s.

Arthur Rothstein via Library of Congress/LC-USF34-T01-000396

An old abandoned shack in the 1930s.

Walker Evans via Library of Congress/LC-USF3301-009034

A very unique looking church in St. Marys.

Walker Evans via Library of Congress/LC-USF3301-009046

This home was part of the Briar Patch farms, a resettlement administration project near Eatonon.

Walker Evans via Library of Congress/LC-USF3301-009049

Walker Evans via Library of Congress/LC-USF342-T01-008032

Back in the 1930s, racial segregation was legal and African Americans lived in separate communities. A recent survey by Nate Silver from fivethirtyeight.com shows that Atlanta is still the most racially segregated city in the south.

Walker Evans via Library of Congress/LC-DIG-fsa-8c52205

Carl Mydans via Library of Congress/LC-USF34-006687

“This store carries a very small stock and opens only when prospective customers call owner from his home nearby” - original description

Carl Mydans via Library of Congress/LC-USF34-006689

Carl Mydans via Library of Congress/LC-USF34-006694

“Grady Watson was moved from this shack at Irwinville, Georgia, to a new Federal Emergency Relief Administration (FERA) house and farm unit in Irwinville Farms rural resettlement project.”

  • original description

Carl Mydans via Library of Congress/LC-USF34-006699

Carl Mydans via Library of Congress/LC-USF34-006700

“Dr. Herman Dismuke, Ocilla, Georgia, leaving Grady Watson home after treating a child. Dr. Dismuke, by special arrangement, takes care of all residents of Irwinville Farms resettlement project at reduced rates.” - original description

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