By Christmas 1929, the stock market had already crashed in October, economic panic had set in and the country collapsed into the Great Depression. Durango, however, led a charmed life, for the moment, and was enjoying one last minute of relative prosperity. The year 1930, though, brought reality to Durangoans, and the problems they read about in other cities and states hit home.
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Durango Herald-Democrat Dec. 24-25, 1929 (combined issue):
“Brokerage house workers were reaping the highest harvest of gold this Christmas than ever had been distributed by the stock brokerages brokers and banking institutions not withstanding the abrupt decline to the value on the exchange during the last months.”
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Headlines:
“Skating ponds are built for kids”
“Don’t forget big Christmas party at Gem Theatre”
“Two men are attacked by buck Sunday”
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“Fox-Kiva, Married in Hollywood, Broadway couldn’t duplicate”
“Movetone singing, dancing, talking, songs, romance”
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“Mrs. Robert Corcoran is preparing a big Christmas dinner for those confined in the La Plata County Jail. Turkey and did all the trimmings. Sheriff Painter stated this morning that the prisoners would be given all kinds of cheer except that held in the office to be used as evidence. (obviously charged with a violation of the Volstead Act – Prohibition).”
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Editorial: “The world lives again those tremendous hours of Christmas when the past seems very vivid and memory is glamorous and wishful ... The clock stands still for a little space, men and women recapture some measure of the early rapture which rest on a childlike faith the goodness is everywhere and wickedness non-existence. The faint sweet murmur of an old carol. Thoughts traverse the hills and valley in the pale light of December. Stars glaze anew in the eternal miracle of divine live, the absorbing, complex and satisfying lesson given to humanity.”
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Other editorial: TOO MANY LAWYERS, everywhere in country, editorial points out New York City illustrated as the problem.
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“It is getting harder all the time to say which beverages and blondes are synthetic.”
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“The typewriter is 50 years old, but a lot of them still know very little about spelling.”
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“The reformer should be patient with us. After all the world’s wickedness keeps him in a job.”
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“Christmas can be enjoyed more if you have good health eat Pan’s Health Donuts will put life in living they will make a new man or woman out of U (advertisement).”
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“Madarin Cafe, 75 cents, relish soups, choice meat, turkey, duck, chicken, turkey roast, fried chicken vegetables, desserts, tea coffee and milk.”
Duane Smith is a Fort Lewis College history professor. Reach him at 247-2589.
