A unique opportunity for some cash was announced in 1938 that Dallas County, Iowa, would pay a bounty on starlings and crows until July 1, a nickel per foot, or ten cents per bird. Starlings were considered pests, causing damage and spreading disease. The Wilsons had seen a flock of about 2000 of the dark speckled birds, like a big swarm of bees, their raucous screeching like rusty hinges.
Seventeen-year-old Dale had already bagged 36 starlings by June 3. He and his brothers pooled their cash and bought a bicycle from the Freestones for $10, so he bicycled to Adel, sixteen miles away, with bird feet as proof. He brought home $3.60.
The Clabe and Leora Wilson family had a huge garden and canned everything they could. Neighbor O.S. Neal would hire a younger brother, Danny or Junior, to help him deliver milk. Mr. Neal paid his helper a little cash, plus milk to take home.
Four days later, Dale headed for Adel with evidence from 48 starlings and 3 crows. His mother Leora was so relieved when he returned home, this time with $5.10.
Even Junior, age 12, earned money that summer, at 50 cents a day, helping tear down the old Dexter hotel. The other workers called him “Swee’Pea,” from Popeye cartoons, because he’d wear one of his brothers’ sailor hats to work.
Halfway through June, verification from another 55 starlings netted $5.50. Three days later Dale brought home $4.70 cash. Finally Dale made his last trek to Adel June 21 for another $6.50.
$25.40 in all, for ridding the area of 254 bird pests. And those five 32-mile trips on a second-hand one-speed bike got Dale in shape for sports.
“Mom, what size shoes do you wear?” Dale parked the big Sears, Roebuck Catalog on the kitchen table.
“Now Dale, you’re not going to spend your hard earned money on shoes for me.”
“Yes, I am.”
Dale had noticed the holes in the soles in her shoes, that she’d cut cardboard to fit in them. Leora said that his generosity nearly made her cry.
Sturdy women’s shoes cost about $3.00, or thirty starlings. And there was still money enough for the senior expenses of a determined seventeen-year-old, even during the Great Depression.
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From Leora’s Dexter Stories: The Scarcity Years of the Great Depression. Also part of The Immigrant and the Outlaw: A Collection of Stories from America’s Heartland in a story called “Teenagers During the Great Depression,” and has been produced for Our American Stories.
Such a touching piece, Joy. The generosity in that final detail is beautiful.
Thank you, Kymber. It says a lot about a young man. He was one of the three brothers lost during WW II, never found.
It’s such a pleasure to read about the Wilson brothers and their strong work ethic. It’s very touching how they all contributed to their family and strived to pay for their own personal expenses. 🙂
Thank you, Nancy.
The best part of the story is Dale’s using the money he earned to buy his mother new shoes!
Thanks so much, Liz!
You’re welcome, Joy!
A terrific story, Joy. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you, John. A favorite!
Another great Wilson story! I have to admit the thought of killing like that is not to my taste, but that is because I have the luxury of my life and not Dale’s. I can see a change in outlook from my sweet (maternal) grandmother to me. She was born in 1912 and grew up on a farm where the cats all lived outside and were supposed to hunt mice in the barn. She never thought of cats as a pet you would cuddle with on your bed, as I do. And that’s because our lives are completely different.
Luanne, I guess their droppings were making sidewalks, buildings, even clothes on the clothesline slimy and stinky! Starlings are not native the the US. I can’t imagine that many, but I guess they’d become such a nuisance to the area, because that was tax money to get rid of them. Yes, completely different, although Guy’s mom kept her Siamese cats in the house, but all the others were barn cats.
Yes, pests. When we were working on our house before we moved into it the pigeons had taken over and they had giant poo piles in front of the doors, etc. It was pretty bad. We had to hire a pigeon person to put those little metal things around the house that prevent them from roosting at the edge of the roof.
Yes, pigeons.
What a wonderful story. It’s a perfect reminder of how easy most of us have it today.
Thank you, Janet. I didn’t want to hear those stories while growing up, because that was usually the lesson. Now the stories are just so precious. Dale is one of the brothers lost during WWII, never found.
You make me curious about their method for killing the birds. Shotgun?
Is that a good guess, Eilene? Starlings move in flocks. Clabe Wilson taught all five sons to hunt for food during the Depression, and they were allowed to carry their own firearm when they were 12 if they could demonstrate safe handling.
So enjoyed this Ms. Joy. Why was I not surprised to hear what the boys did.
Thank you, JD. I enjoyed meeting their personalities while learning how hard it was for a family during those days.
My guess would be rifle, 22. Very cheap then compared to shotgun shells. Our uncles had rifles and Grandpa Wilson maybe had a shotgun. A rifle shot into a tree would have a good chance and the boys were all good shots. I biked into Dexter many times (5 miles) with pop bottles (2 cents each). Only one bike ride to Adel. Grueling, with big hills. I wonder if Dale pushed the bike up some hills as I was forced to do!
Thanks, Bob. One-speed bikes! Redfield hill! A bunch of pop bottles would have been much harder to carry.
This is fascinating, Joy. I’ve never thought of starlings as pests, but do remember my cousins getting rid of them because they were pests. They are sometimes huge flocks. That Dale bought shoes for his mother is very nice.
Thank you, Tim. I think that the mess they left on sidewalks, roofs, washing on the line was because they came in those big flocks. I liked what the story showed about Dale’s personality, even as a teenager.
😍
The pop bottles went to Adkins Grocery. Before recycling and bottle deposits, I could find 12/15/? in ditches on the way into Dexter. The ride to Adel was just a personal challenge, about summer after 7th grade. One time only!
Love these memories, Bob!