Amateur films: Ivan Besse collection: Britton, South Dakota Part III (1938)

★★★★★ · Long Ago & Far Away · donwert · 2010-05-31

Another silent and B&W film of everyday life in the small town of Britton, SD. This community in northeastern SD is in a farming region and the town was no doubt dependent on agriculture. Considering that the Depression still prevailed and that this area had recently experienced Dust Bowl conditions, the people appear to be reasonably well-dressed, well-nourished and happy. At the beginning we see a large excavation with many men shoveling dirt---a WPA project, I wonder? We then see youngsters enjoying the community swimming pool and playing a pick-up game of baseball. After a long sequence…

★★★★ · Part III continues to show Britton,S.D. in 1938-39 · ERD. · 2010-01-02

Lots more to see in this portion of Mr. Besse's 1938 silent film of Britton, South Dakoka. I enjoyed watching the kids at the town's swimming pool,the town band, the school children, boys playing baseball, the pet dogs, and the men at some club having fun and a dinner. Great photography.