This exhibit shows what a 1930s house in East Texas might have looked like. In East Texas, which was primarily an agricultural area, most homes still used wood cookstoves, which were difficult to regulate temperature. The family would have relied on books, games, and the radio for entertainment, and would have used common household items like a milk churn, washboard, and lye soap. The icebox was used to keep items cold, and ice would be delivered by the iceman to be placed in the upper compartment.
The automobile on display is a 1929 Ford Model A Roadster with a "rumble seat" or "mother-in-law seat" in the back. The hub cap display shows the names of different makes of automobiles from the time period. Most towns in East Texas were built along the railroad, which was important for transporting goods like timber and cotton before the oil boom and drilling equipment during the boom. The exhibit also includes photos, including one of a muddy road in Gladewater.
Now turn towards the Hallway, view the large poster above the entrance to Boomtown, USA, and click "Next".
