In No Time at All

by Carl Hamilton

Those who grew up in rural Midwest America from 1910 to 1940 may remember and share the hundreds of recollections Carl Hamilton compiles in ‘IN NO TIME AT ALL. However, most of those folks who are still left, are well into their eighties and soon no one will remember first-hand. First writing for his children and grandchildren, Hamilton uses refreshing vignettes and profuse illustrations to create a humorous and honest piece of nostalgia. IN NO TIME AT ALL recalls the familiar trappings of country life between two world wars and, with a tinge of regret, commemorates their passing. Everything is here - the poetry of early mornings before the countryside awakens, the poverty of the Depression, the delights of the Fourth of July, and the drudgery of endless farm chores. Farmers "built the barn before the house," once-a-week bathing was considered adequate, the main parking problem was getting near the popular grocery store, the "wish books” (catalogs) created unfulfilled expectations, and foreclosure and sheriff's sales were death blows to Depression-weary farmers? During that era, on a midwest farm, the kitchen range was the heart of the home, necessities included carpet beaters, soapstones, curtain stretchers, and flatirons. Corn was planted when the oak leaves were as big as squirrels’ ears. If you didn’t grow vegetables, you didn’t have vegetables. Runaway Teams of horses terrified onlookers; and at least six hand operations were necessary to select and process open-pollinated corn. Phone service meant party lines and ringing central; The glamorous trains suffered from ”hot boxes” and “pulled couplings"; country kids came to school armed with a soggy sandwich, an apple, and a mashed-up cookie; The Model T rattled, vibrated, shook, shimmied, and occasionally kicked. Soap making called for ingredients at lard, fat, and bacon grease. Read about a world gone by – It was as real as the world is today.

Genres: History

185 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 1974

Reviews

[Agn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had just reached the part of "Nature's Metropolis," by William Cronon, that described abstractly how the great cattle yards of Chicago operated and came to be - when by chance I found and bought "In No Time At All," by Carl Hamilton of ISU. In it he recounts his first-hand experiences growing up in northwest Iowa, where (among other 'farmy' things) they fattened calves bought from ranchland to the west and then shipped them by rail to the Chicago stockyards.

My grandfather was a Wyoming cattle rancher. I grew up in Iowa. I design buildings in cities (we have a Chicago office) and, wanting to better understand the economic relationship between country and city, began this program of reading in order to do so. I didn't realize at the outset that I'd be retracing family history in the process.

The sole other Goodreads reviewer called Hamilton's book "boring." Depends on your point of view, I guess; I'd call it "important." Not many of us left have any idea how beef reaches our table, much less experienced firsthand the land itself or any part of the supply chain. I think it's vital to understand and the book was excellent.

[Roberta · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've been guilty of nostalgic thinking about the past and envying those who lived in simpler times. This book shares the reality of those times with love but frankness, and while I still envy the feeling of community that existed among rural neighbors, the day-to-day struggles were heart breaking. And those who made their living on farms faced the ever present possibility of an unsuccessful crop or falling farm prices that would cause them to go bankrupt and lose their farm. It seemed like most never got to a point of security where they could count on having enough resources to make it through the bad years.

The work was hard and never ending and the lack of modern conveniences meant only weekly baths (during extreme heat they might clean the sweat off in the stock tank), outdoor privies and dealing with hoards of flies in the summer.

It's not surprising that most technological advancements were quickly embraced, but the unintended consequence was that neighbors became more self-sufficient and the community of support weakened. It's interesting to see how the mechanization of farming affected the industry, surrounding towns and the economy.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book tells the tales of farming in Iowa during the 1920's and 1930's. These stories are similar to the ones I heard from my grandparents as I grew up in rural Iowa. A good trip down memory lane.

[Sharla · Rating 1 out of 5]

Boring.