What would you ask someone from 1940?

In the coming weeks, the Herald will conduct interviews with two little boys and a baby. That is, they were seven and one in 1940, the year that they were listed as residents in East Rockaway on the U.S. census that was just released last week. The gentlemen, still residents, are now 72, 79 and 80 years old.

What questions should I ask them? What would you want to know about your town and its people from 1940? Do you know anyone from Lynbrook who is alive now and was listed on the census? Let me know! (See contact info below).

According to the official website, the 1940 census was taken in April of that year (official date was April 1, though entries were recorded throughout early April). The Federal government requires a census to be taken once every ten years for the apportionment of members of the U.S. House of Representatives. The first census was taken in 1790. Over the years, the format of census schedules changed and more questions were asked.

The 1940 census reflects economic tumult of the Great Depression and President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal recovery program of the 1930s. Between 1930 and 1940, the population of the Continental United States increased 7.2 percent to 131,669,275. Before I checked East Rockaway and Lynbrook, I found my family — my 1940 family — in Red Hook, Brooklyn. My mom, who died at 82 years old, was listed as a young 29. My dad, then 38, was a shipfitter at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, making a not-too-shabby $2,000 in 1939 (the average income then was $1,850). Their first five of eventual eight children (me being the last, and not showing up until 14 years later) were listed as teens and toddlers (three of my five brothers have since died.) It was fascinating. Who came to the door to answer the questions from the census taker? What wonderful scents were wafting in from my mother’s kitchen that day? Her famous pot roast? Leftovers? Was my sister wearing those hand-me-downs from her older brothers that she always told me about? She wouldn’t have a little sister to play with for another eight years.

Try to check out the census. It’s a little difficult to maneuver, since it’s not yet available by last names but by towns and streets. But it’s fun just searching the names. Let me know what you find! (516) 569-4000 ext. 202 or mmalloy@liherald.com. The website is http://1940census.archives.gov/about/