I was born in 1943. I think we got a fridge in 1947 or 1948. I know it was after my Dad came home from WWII in 1946. My grandparents had a real refrigerator before then, Mom & I lived with them while Dad was overseas. It was so small compared to now, with the freezer compartment I described.
Where I live now, electricity came in pretty late. Not sure when, but probably early 1950s. Our house didn’t have plumbing until 1967. Our old plumber told us he hadn’t even seen plumbing until he went into the Army during Korea. It actually inspired him to become a plumber.
Actually, I just counted back and I think my parents’ first fridge was at least 1949. My brother was born in 1947 and I know we still had the icebox when he was around 2.
We lived in the country, but weren’t farmers. The grandparents were Russian immigrants who lived in a large city, but they were fairly well-off for the times and in my mother’s family, my grandmother worked, too. When we lived with them, there were 3 wage earners, plus my Grandfather had a little band that played Russian music at weddings and such for extra money. My GGrandfather lived with us, too and he was the babysitter. That was the little fridge I remember: 1945—1946.
Wow! I guess if there isn't a nearby city, you're on your own.
My granparents bought the farm back in the early 30s and it already had a house on it complete with indoor plumbing and electricity. The story was that when the bathroom was put in that people would come from all over just to see it. That was the beginning of the rural electric cooperative out there.