TURNING POINT
When Oscar died, Caleb Potter, Getrude’s father, slapped her really hard on the back and said “Sis, remember what you are made of”. Bob was only 2 years old and Bill was just starting school
As a single mother living in the depression, Gertrude received a lot of support from her parents: Caleb and May Potter. Gertrude’s sons, Bill and Bob, received a lot of their morals from Caleb (Grandpa) Potter.
Gertrude did her best to keep her family together and utmost to make sure boys were well-fed and received a good education, as her parents did for her.
After Oscar died, the family lived with family friend, Dr. Heulen, for a few years until they could get back on their feet.
Women were not employed outside the home at the time, as they were needed to help run the farm and household. There were no freezers and limited refrigeration at the time, so people had to can things, including meats.
It took great courage for her to seek employment and leave her boys. Gertrude got a job with the WPA, traveling 5 states, Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, Tennessee, West Virginia. Gertrude’s work took her to the residents of the Appalachian Mountains. The roads were very rough to drive and people did not trust “foreigners”. She bravely traveled these windy roads to help those most in need. That is where Gertrude’s heart lay. She loved God with all her heart, mind and soul and in doing that loved others.
With all the additional travel required for her job, Gertrude thought it best to move the family from Dr. Heulen’s home to her parent’s farm in Worthington, Ohio. Grandpa and Grandma Potter were a great deal of help to Gertrude who worked long hours while trying to raise two rambunctious little boys as a single mom. During the day Grandpa Potter worked with horses and Bill liked the horses. Bob liked the farm machinery. They worked hay loaders with pitchforks to fill the wagon. This was extremely hard work as the hay bales weighed between 500-600 pounds!
The Potter farm was a dairy farm that also had work horses and acres of corn, oats, hay and wheat. Bill and Bob had early morning chores which included milking cows, feeding horses, and collecting eggs for breakfast. After studies, they would mend fences, harvest crop and run the dairy. In summer, it was especially important to keep the milk cool. Grandma Potter took card of the chickens and Grandpa Potter ran the rest of the farm.
Bill and Bob were allowed to relax on Sunday. They walked to church and Grandpa Potter walked the fields on Sundays to check the crop.
Grandpa Potter taught the boys “When you see a person who needs help… wait for them to ask you” (pride will break them gently, then they will ask for help). When Bob was 8 years old, 3rd grade, the neighbor asked for help driving the tractor. They told Bob, “put your foot here and keep those front wheels on top of the hay” That was Bob’s first experience driving an International Harvester. John Deere had a flywheel, which was harder to drive at the time. The grateful neighbors treated Bob to dinner for his help. This triggered something in Bob to help his neighbors as he was very appreciative of the good food and eager to repeat. To this day, Bob works for good food.
Gertrude’s travels to the 5 states meant her boys were on their own a lot. Bob and Bill went to school in Youngstown and stayed with Grandpa Potter when not in school. Grandpa Potter was always there to provide direction let them know when they had to straighten up.