Mark Forry
English 1110.03 M W 1:15pm to 3:15pm
Michael Lohre
10/15/12
Exploration Seven
I
researched the Weedpatch camp where the Joads camped. The Weedpatch camp was created by the FSA or
Farm Security Administration. This camp is where many of the “Okies” stayed, or
wanted to stay because, just as in the book, once they got into California,
everyone, including the police, treated them very poorly. These camps were
police free, which allowed them to not have to worry. They also had sanitation,
running hot and cold water, showers and laundry facilities. It cost the families
a dollar a week to stay there, but they let them do work around the camp to pay
for it if they could not afford it. John Steinbeck did a good job portraying the camp in the book, as i found many similarities with it and my research. In these camps, they made their own
governments and policies, much like villages do nowadays. They had a nursery
and clinic and church on Sundays for those that wanted to attend. They also
eventually had their own school for all of the children. This was probably
caused by all of the bullying that was happening to the camp children because
of how they dressed and how they were living, although they did not have a
choice. Weedpatch was its own community, which allowed them to feel safe and
generate money for themselves. The Weedpatch camp is still in existence today.
It still houses migrant workers that need a little help. They are currently at
work at restoring some of the buildings in the Weedpatch camp so that they can
keep some of the history of the camp there. This camp is important to me
because it shows me that the United States still cares about its migrant works
and that if they ever need help, we are there to give it.
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| This is a picture of the Weedpatch camp from the thirty’s. Other than a few camp buildings, most everyone was living in tents with their families. |
http://www.weedpatchcamp.com/History/history.htm
http://www.weedpatchcamp.com/Life%20in%20Camp/life.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weedpatch_Camp
I definitely agree that Steinbeck's description of the Weedpatch camp seems to be very authentic. He has a way of making you feel as if you are actually there. Great Research.
ReplyDeleteExcellent description and a lot of great information. and I definitely agree Steinbeck nailed his description of these camps perfectly.
ReplyDeleteVery impressive, it helps so much to visualize where they lived now that I can see it with my own eyes. I'm also impressed that it is still in business to this day! This also makes me appreciate that author's accuracy in describing real places to the reader. Thank you for your time! Much appreciated!
ReplyDeleteIn times of great despair it’s nice to think about the unreported figures in history that developed a nice place for migrant families to live. In my book these people are considered heroes.
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