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How Booma Oil Led To The Great Depression

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Booma Oil currently is “one of the largest family-owned oil heating companies” located in Boston (Booma Oil). Today, it provides heating oil for houses throughout the East Coast. Although the company has been successful, Booma Oil had humble beginnings. Roland Clayton Booma, my maternal great grandfather and founder of Booma Oil joined the work force in the 1930s during the Great Depression. Roland came from a poor family. His parents could not afford to pay for his tuition to go through school, and Roland had to work and contribute to his schooling. Nonetheless, his hard working personality and smart business decisions made it possible for him to achieve the American Dream. The Epic of America defines the American Dream as, "that dream …show more content…

The first settlers of America came in hope of a promising future and new opportunities. This lead to the concept of the American Dream, and the belief that one can go from rags to riches. Many people want to achieve the "rags to riches" dream, and in order to pursue it, some immigrate to the United States. My great-grandfather wanted to achieve this dream as well. Unfortunately, the hopes and promises that were linked to the American Dream seemed to fade during the Great Depression. When the stock market crashed in 1929, it caused the start of the Great Depression- the start of "most severe depression ever experienced" in United States history (english.illinois.edu). During this time, unemployment rose and incomes dropped, which caused the good consumption to drop as well. To make things worse, farmers were unable to keep up with the dropping food prices and went bankrupt. At the same time, states located in the Great Plain region was struck with drought and could not produce crops. In 1930, 4 million people found …show more content…

Roland came from a poor family in Swampscott Massachusetts, and had to share a bed with his younger brother because their parents could not afford a second bed. As a child he was bright and industrious. He was always thinking of different ways to make money. To pay for Dartmouth’s tuition, Roland took a year off before entering college and taught swimming lessons to make money. Even after getting in, he had to continue to work to pay his way through. He was very motivated. In high school, he decided he wanted to go to Dartmouth, and was determined to make it

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