A sewing room was established in the Daviess County Courthouse to help both the needy and to provide jobs. The Sewing Room was located at the courthouse and workers received 30 cents per hour with the exception of a few skilled workers who were paid 40 cents per hour.

At first workers were employed 30 hours per week, but was reduced later to 15 hours in order to distribute funds among more families. To be eligible for work, the women had to be dependent upon her own resources for living, or she must have dependents, or a husband sick or otherwise unable to work.

If they could, they were asked to bring their sewing machines and cloth or material that could be used to make garments. All the materials had to be furnished by the local community.

In a period extending from December 31, 1933, to February 15, 1934, over 1,500 garments were made and distributed to approximately 600 people.

A few examples of things that were made were: 179 dresses, 43 comforts and blankets, 15 comfort liners and tops, 14 rugs, nine aprons, 94 bloomers, 19 skirts, 39 coats, 23 overalls, 77 shirts, 14 trousers, eight pairs of curtains, 253 mended pairs of hose, 33 boy’s suits, 64 slips, 22 boy’s pants, 11 sweaters, 13 boy’s waists, underwear, 61 suits, 69 dolls, seven caps, 35 pair of gloves, 35 pajamas, four layettes, 13 pairs of pillow cases, three collars, and nine table spreads.

By 1936, five sewing rooms had been established in Daviess County being located at Gallatin, Pattonsburg, Coffey, Jamesport, and Jameson. Among other things, 737 shirts and 267 dresses had been made by 55 ladies. It was said the sewing rooms had exceeded anything accomplished in surrounding counties.

— written, researched and presented by Wilbur Bush, Gallatin, MO (2004)

The Daviess County Courthouse in Gallatin, MO, looking northwest from West Grand and Main Street. The First National Bank of Gallatin building is foreground at left.