I could have sworn I saw this same story on Little House on the Prairie just months before this one aired on The Waltons. Theirs was called A Harvest of Friends (aired 9/11/1974). The parallels are strong: Charles Ingalls gets injured; John Walton gets pneumonia; Charles' home mortgage is on the line if he doesn't get the work done; John's lumber business is on the line if he doesn't get the work done. In both, in the end, the townsfolk come to aid of their friend to save their home and business, but more importantly restore their ability to provide for their families in harsh times. So, did The Waltons borrow this story line from Little House on the Prairie since they did it first? Perhaps? Either way, they are both touching stories about hard work, facing adversity, and not only families coming together, but also communities coming together to help one another.
NOTE: The hospital scene with John and John-Boy shows just how stern the usually calm and collected John can be. Great acting by Ralph Waite in that scene.
NOTE: The hospital scene with John and John-Boy shows just how stern the usually calm and collected John can be. Great acting by Ralph Waite in that scene.