.
Dwellers in Hooverville, Circleville, Ohio: photo by Ben Shahn (1898-1969), Summer 1938, for U.S. Farm Security Administration
Circleville, county seat of Pickaway County. Average small Ohio city, depending upon surrounding rich farmlands for its livelihood. Because of its non-industrial surroundings, retains much of old-time flavor. Outstanding industries: Eshelman's Feed Mill. Employs 150-200 men the year 'round. Pay averages about eighty-five cents an hour. Container Corporation of America makes paper out of straw, can absorb by-product of all neighboring farms. In addition, a number of canneries and feed mills. During depression many farms of the district were foreclosed. People who lost homes naturally gravitated toward the town. A town of its character is unable to house new influx of population. Consequently there sprang up around it an extensive Hooverville. Circleville got its name through having been built in a circle as a better protection against the Indians. (Ben Shahn's FSA general caption for his 1938 Circleville portfolio)
Circleville, county seat of Pickaway County. Average small Ohio city, depending upon surrounding rich farmlands for its livelihood. Because of its non-industrial surroundings, retains much of old-time flavor. Outstanding industries: Eshelman's Feed Mill. Employs 150-200 men the year 'round. Pay averages about eighty-five cents an hour. Container Corporation of America makes paper out of straw, can absorb by-product of all neighboring farms. In addition, a number of canneries and feed mills. During depression many farms of the district were foreclosed. People who lost homes naturally gravitated toward the town. A town of its character is unable to house new influx of population. Consequently there sprang up around it an extensive Hooverville. Circleville got its name through having been built in a circle as a better protection against the Indians. (Ben Shahn's FSA general caption for his 1938 Circleville portfolio)
William Blake: The Divine Image
William Blake's plate of The Divine Image, from Songs of Innocence, 1789 (Library of Congress/William Blake Archive)
To Mercy, Pity, Peace, and Love
All pray in their distress;
And to these virtues of delight
Return their thankfulness.
For Mercy, Pity, Peace, and Love
Is God, our father dear,
And Mercy, Pity, Peace, and Love
Is Man, his child and care.
For Mercy has a human heart,
Pity a human face,
And Love, the human form divine,
And Peace, the human dress.
Then every man, of every clime,
That prays in his distress,
Prays to the human form divine,
Love, Mercy, Pity, Peace.
And all must love the human form,
In heathen, Turk, or Jew;
Where Mercy, Love, and Pity dwell
There God is dwelling too.
William Blake: The Divine Image, from Songs of Innocence, 1789
'And God said: Let us make man in our image': Genesis I.26 (King James Version)
Dwellers in Hooverville, Circleville, Ohio
Dwellers in Hooverville, Circleville, Ohio
Dweller in Hooverville, Circleville, Ohio
![[Untitled photo, possibly related to: Dwellers in Circleville's "Hooverville," central Ohio (see general caption)]](http://lcweb2.loc.gov/service/pnp/fsa/8a18000/8a18400/8a18467r.jpg)
Hooverville, Circleville, Ohio
Dwellers in Hooverville, Circleville, Ohio
Dwellers in Hooverville, Circleville, Ohio
William A. Swift, dweller in Hooverville, Circleville, Ohio
Street scene, Circleville
Street scene, Circleville
Street scene, Circleville
Street scene, Circleville
Street scene, Circleville
Street scene, Circleville
Street scene, Circleville
Two boys standing in front of candy store window, Circleville
Main and Court Streets, Circleville
Main and Court Streets, Circleville
Main and Court Streets, Circleville
Main and Court Streets, Circleville
Main and Court Streets, Circleville
Main and Court Streets, Circleville
Main and Court Streets, Circleville
Main and Court Streets, Circleville
Doctor's office, Main and Court Streets, Circleville
Courthouse, Circleville
Street scene, Circleville
Wonder Bar, hot spot of Circleville
Wonder Bar, hot spot of Circleville
Wonder Bar, hot spot of Circleville
Wonder Bar, hot spot of Circleville
Circus poster, Circleville
Environs of Circleville
Stoves, parts for all stoves, near Circleville
Environs of Circleville
Hall of Independent Odd Fellows, Circleville
Sign on outskirts of Circleville
Environs of Circleville
Hall of Independent Odd Fellows, Circleville
Sign on outskirts of Circleville
Railroad station, Circleville
Photos by Ben Shahn (1898-1969), Summer 1938, for Farm Security Administration (Library of Congress)