The deep depression was in full swing in America. Banks had closed their doors and many people were so distressed they committed suicide. The economy was very low and so were the spirits of the people. The people were ready for new leadership. They were ready for a new president.
Papa always kept abreast with all the news. He read every newspaper available and talked with all of us about any and all situations here in the U.S., as well as world affairs. He loved politics and loved to share his knowledge with us. We would sit by the fireplace or on the porch and talk. Or as we would be sitting at the table eating, he would discuss the news with us.
The year was 1932 and time for the presidential election. Franklin Delano Roosevelt, a Democrat, was on the ticket. He was elected by a land slide and the country began to have hope. He took office the following year in 1933. His speeches were printed in the newspaper and Papa would read them and tell us all about what he had said. We had a radio at school and sometimes the teacher would let the whole class listen to President Roosevelt’s speeches. He enacted the National Recovery Act which started putting people back to work.
There were lots of different plans to develop jobs for the people. One was the Civilian Conservation Corps for the young men. T.M. got a job in the C.C.C. They went into the woods and built parks and park buildings from the trees they cut to clear the ground. A large number of these buildings are still in existence today and being used. The country was beginning to come out of the grips of the depression in which it had been held for so long. Most of the people could get jobs through one of the National Recovery Programs that President Roosevelt had instituted.
January came and with it came the President’s birthday. Birmingham had planned for months to celebrate his birthday by throwing a huge party at the Alabama Theater for him. A huge cake, half the size of the stage, with layer on top of layer was baked. To celebrate the fact that people were getting jobs and earning money again, dozens of nickels, dimes, and pennies were baked in the layers. The public was invited to attend the party without any admission fee. Papa wouldn’t have missed that party for anything. He read all about the party in the newspaper and told us all about the celebrations. We wondered if we would get to go. Finally the day arrived, but there was no gasoline in the old battered-up truck. That did not stop Papa, however.
He caught a big fat hen and walked down the road to Irondale with her under one arm. When he came back he had a can of gasoline that he had swapped the hen for. The days are short in January and it was almost dark when we got back home.
“Get your coats on, young’uns. We’re going to the birthday party!”
“Yeah! Yeah! We are going to the birthday party,” we answered in delight.
We all hurried and scurried about, washing our faces and combing our hair. Papa was as jolly as he could be and kept telling us what to expect when we got there.
“Everyone who goes to the party will get a piece of cake. If a coin is in the piece of caked that you get, you can keep the coing,” he told us.
We were all happy and excited. Finally we were ready.
“Get in the truck, it is time to go,” Papa hollered.
“Here, take these quilts to cover-up with,” Mama said as she handed us each a quilt. We were all huddled down in the truck and away we went.
The theater was beautiful. The lights were beautiful. The whole world and all that was in it was beautiful to us. On stage were flags and important patriotic people giving speeches. There were patriotic songs sung by all the audience. The party was great and we enjoyed all of the ceremony. Finally it was time to cut the cake. As the cake was cut and placed on plates, it was passed-out to everyone there. I could hear people shrieking with delight as they found a coin in their piece of cake. I wondered, “will mine have a coin it it? Will any of my family members piece of cake have a coin in it? Here comes the ushers to our section now! Now they are passing-out the cake on our row! Here is mine!”
I glanced down at the cake. I did not see a coin in it. I reached with my fingers to break a piece of cake off to eat. I reached again to break off another piece and my fingers felt something hard. As I broke it in two, I could see the side of a coin in the part that was still on the plate. I had a coin! It was dime! I actually had a dime in my piece of cake! What a night!
No one else in our group had a coin in their piece of cake, but that did not spoil the party for them. We all had a great time and I know I will never forget the night of Roosevelt’s birthday party.