There are things in life that are constantly changing, and others that have remained for decades. When thinking about the past, what do you think of that isn’t around anymore? What is different today? At the same time, what parts of the everyday life in North Dakota specifically are still around? Looking back at these photographs from the 1930s taken here in our state may help answer some of these questions, and give us a glimpse into exactly what it was like back then.

1. Shoveling snow in downtown Hettinger, ND.
John Vachon/yale.edu
2. A man named Herman Gerling, posing with his dog and cat on the truck he used to haul water in barrels up from the spring to his farm.
Russell Lee/yale.edu
3. A hardware store window and advertisements in Crosby, ND.
Russell Lee/yale.edu
4. Children reading from a catalogue at their farm home's kitchen table.
Russell Lee/yale.edu
5. Farmers unloading hay into their truck near Dickinson. At the time it cost about $20 for a ton.
Paul Carter/yale.edu

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6. Children building a snow fort during their recess at a school in Morton County.
John Vachon/yale.edu
7. The grain elevator and flour mill in Fargo, ND.
Arthur Rothstein/yale.edu
8. A fancier farmhouse than most at this time, taken in 1937.
Russell Lee/yale.edu
9. Saturday afternoon crowd catching up with each other on a street corner in Williston.
Russell Lee/yale.edu
10. Rural classroom photo taken in October of 1937. You can see Halloween decorations on the window.
Russell Lee/yale.edu
11. Cars parked along the street next to a cafe.
Russell Lee/yale.edu

It’s always fascinating to reflect on the past once and a while. What similarities and differences can you see from these photographs while comparing them to today? There are tons of obvious ones, of course, but there are subtle things in there, too.

See more rare, vintage photographs of North Dakota here!

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