Ora Carpenter Omerza history, 5th installment

I was a junior in high school when the great depression hit. Although it was very hard on my family, as it was on everyone, we were very fortunate for we had land and grew most of our food. We had very little money but we never went hungry as so many did at the time. Because of the depression and no work available my Aunt and Uncle, Flossie and Clive Beebe, decided to go to Los Angeles where he could study to be an architect. The school was a city school and no tuition. My Aunt got a job working in Kress Dime Store.

After high school I went to two years Jr. College at the Gila College. I graduated in 1932. That summer, Flossie and Clive came home for a visit and they wanted me to go back to Los Angeles with them and go to the same school Clive was attending and take up hair dressing. I was overjoyed. My folks said I could go. What a thrill to go to such a big city as Los Angeles. It wasn’t all glamour however. We lived in a very small apartment. I couldn’t get into school right away so there were many long and boring days. Jobs were scarce.

I remember the earthquake of 1933. I can never remember being so frightened. The center of the quake was Long Beach and Los Angeles wasn’t hit too hard but I was ready to go home. However I had a chance to get into school about that time so I stayed and entered school. It was a thrill to think at last I was going to get to do what I had wanted to do all my life.

Our department was on the 9th floor and I can remember several times the building gently swaying with the after shocks of the earthquake.

I enjoyed school, however it seemed I had to study a lot of things that didn’t pertain to hair dressing. After I got into school, the school had openings for girls to work in homes for board and room and carfare. I needed to get a job since I had been with my Aunt and Uncle for sometime. Their apartment was too small and they couldn’t keep me forever. I tried a couple of these places and found one that worked for me. The man was a dentist and he and his wife went out every night. I was to stay with the little girl who was about 5 or 6. I had Sunday off. I got board and room and a little extra. It was about an hours ride on the street car from the school. I stayed there until I finished school and got a job in a beauty shop.