Back in 1933, a non-profit corporation was formed to develop a subsistence homestead site for 44 families in Austin. This week the story continues with details on how the families were selected. From “A Place on Earth: A Critical Appraisal of Subsistence Homesteads” by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Agricultural Economics published in 1942:

“Meanwhile the corporation had received more than 350 applications for homesteads and was faced with the necessity of selecting 44 of the applicants. The Director of the Division of Subsistence Homesteads, in a letter dated February 27, 1934, suggested two general guides to selection:

(1) That we aid a class in need of such help as we offer.

(2) That we select a group that will be able to liquidate the debt they assume.

According to a study made by an investigator, the local corporation adopted the following specific criteria for selection:

(1) All homesteaders must be residents of Austin.

(2) Seventy percent of the homesteaders were to be Hormel Company employees. The balance of the homesteaders were to be drawn from among the railroad employees, tradesmen, clerks and craftsmen of the town. Seventy percent was believed to be the ratio of Hormel workers to all employed workers in the town.

(3) All homesteaders had to be employed in work from which they could reasonably be expected to earn $600 a year for many years to come.

(4) Homesteaders were to be predominantly native-born.

Using these criteria the members of the corporation sifted the people to be considered down to 80 families. They employed a local social worker to investigate the home situations of these families, interviewing most of them themselves, and finally selecting 44 of the applicants. Generally they attempted to select families whose heads were assured of part-time work and who showed an interest in subsistence gardening. Several of those chosen were actually employed full-time. At the time of application 6 of the families were earning less than $1,000 a year; 32 from $1,000 to $1,600; 6 more than $1,800. Most of those selected had had some kind of farm experience; none were at the time employed in agriculture. Most of the group had at least some high school education. A majority were in their middle age.”

Monday: Memorial Day, HHH office closed

Coming Soon

Cooking Tips & Trends

After several schedule changes, the HHH, Austin Convention & Visitor’s Bureau and Community Education will present the next Cooking Tips & Trends on Wednesday, June 8 at 6 p.m. Chef Jack Irwin of the Cedars will present “Produce on the Grill and Beyond” with quick and easy recipes for summer produce. A special guest from the Austin Farmer’s Market will also present a segment. To register, call Community Ed at 460-1700. Cost is $15.

Family Fun Day

The Attractions of Austin, Austin CVB, & Austin Area Chamber of Commerce present Austin Family Fun Day on Saturday, June 18. These attractions will be open 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. with free admission: Mower County Historical Society, Paramount Theatre, Hormel Historic Home and The Hormel Institute.

The SPAM Museum will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. with free SPAM Samples.

The Jay C. Hormel Nature Center is offering FREE “Summer Solstice Ecoblitz” from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Pre-registration is required for Ecoblitz activities. Forms for registration are available at the Nature Center. For more information or questions contact the Austin Convention & Visitors Bureau at 437-4563.