On October 23, 1915, ten-year-old Mollie Schuman was left alone to care for a group of children in a small one-room shack near Sterling, Colorado. While the adults worked far off in the fields, Mollie, already accustomed to responsibility, tended to the younger children and helped with tasks like topping and piling crops.
The living conditions in the shack were difficult, yet impressive in their organization. Nine people lived together in the cramped 10×14 foot space, but it was kept neat and orderly despite the limited room. This snapshot of life on the Colorado plains reflects the harsh realities of agricultural labor in the early 20th century, where even children like Mollie took on heavy responsibilities to help their families survive.
Mollie’s story represents the resilience and strength of families in rural America during this time, balancing hard work, limited resources, and the hope for a better future.
