Roosevelt's Deal-Gilmer

75th Anniversary of the New Deal in Gilmer County

Franklin D. Roosevelt was the 32nd President of the United States and inherited the worst economic disaster that has ever faced our nation, the Great Depression. To combat unemployment, negative attitudes, and the stumbling economy, FDR created The New Deal. In May of 1932 Roosevelt said, "The country needs, and unless I mistake its temper, the country demands bold persistent experimentation. It is common sense to take a method and try it: If it fails, admit it frankly and try another. But above all, try something."

Gilmer County, WV CCC Enrollees
Gilmer County Bridges by WPA
Gilmer County Businesses-NRA Enrolled
Gilmer County Road Projects
Gilmer CWA and Relief Administration Food and Other Commodity Shipments from December 1933-????
National Youth Administration Projects in Gilmer County
New Deal Agencies
New Deal Sewing Projects (FERA & WPA)-Gilmer County
NRA Consumer Card Signees (August 1933-)
Gilmer County and the Works Progress Administration Images
Gilmer County and the National Youth Administration Images

This map shows the percentage of households receiving relief benefits from the federal government in 1935. These percentages directly reflected the unemployment statistics for the various counties in West Virginia. FDR believed that, with relief, job creation, and the right planning, the United States would recover from the Great Depression.

The Presidential Election of 2008 brought about many comparisons to Roosevelt's time. Like FDR, President Obama inherited a poor economy and attempted fast action to turn the financial slump around. Critics of the New Deal believed then and now that it did more harm than good. Actions of the Obama administration have been and will be criticized in the same manner. In the November 24, 2008 issue of Time magazine, President Obama was superimposed into a famous photograph of FDR. President Obama has stated that he admires the work that FDR did and looks to him for guidance toward solutions for today's economic troubles.