On Prohibition, the Great Depression, and the past meeting the future

A conversation with a life-long Clinton County resident - who has a very sharp memory - led to time well spent this past week leafing through the 1980 History of Clinton County, specifically the "Once Over Lightly" section of newspaper clippings compiled by Shirley Karber.

Ken Moore, who is well on his way to observing 61 years with the F.C. Mason Company in 2002, prompted the research with his reflections of growing up during the depression. As a youth living on a farm near Maple Rapids, Ken recalled his father being paid in 'script,' rather than cash, which could be used at various businesses to purchase goods.

"Things didn’t cost much - because no one had much money," he said matter-of-factly.

Today, when names like Enron and Kmart are in the headlines, it’s interesting to look back to the days of the Great Depression and the time period that preceded it and see what was "in the News" then.

It seems that the more things change, the more they stay the same.

1925: "The Hayes Factory ceased operations in St. Johns last June. No one here caused or even wished this to happen. Industrial conditions have not been all that could be desired. There has been more need and more suffering in Clinton County this winter than in some years past. Those who have barely enough to eat and who are thinly clad are not in this condition from choice."

1926: Kids today had role models. "The 'Charleston' is the most modern of the new freak dances. Probably a great number of the people here have never witnessed the epileptic endeavor. The participants imitate two people attempting to do the two-step on a piece of ice during an earthquake."

1927: "Thirty-six men, three for each of the 12 banks in the county, will make up a squad of vigilantes prepared to carry on armed warfare against bank bandits."

"Safe crackers made a $500 haul at Westphalia early Sunday morning when they blew the door off the safe in the Alfred Snitgen General Store with nitroglycerin. The thugs made a get-away."

Guess vigilante justice didn’t work too well then either.

1929: Who remembers this flick? "'Talkies,' the last word in motion picture development, will be seen and heard in St. Johns for the first time Sunday, July 14, at the Iris Theatre. C.R. Beechler, owner of the theatre, says the first talkie will be "Careers," starring Billie Dove and Noah Beery."

1930: Insert 'drugs' for 'intoxicants' and this item is timely today. "Seven county places were searched and four persons, three men and a woman, were taken into custody Thursday as a result of the most extensive liquor raid staged by county officers in recent years. All were charged with illegal manufacture and sale of intoxicants."

"Forty-three baskets, practically twice the usual number, were sent out at Thanksgiving time. With the unemployment rate at 10 percent, it is the moral obligation of those who are able to help those in need."

1931: "Milk is at 10 cents a quart; sirloin steak 29 cents a pound; butter 30 cents; sugar is under 10 cents in some stores. Landlords are reducing rents and clothing prices have sagged about 10 percent."

"Determined to 'clean the county,' Sheriff Barnes has since Monday conducted an investigation that has led to the destruction of 600 bottles of beer, 110 gallons of home brew mash, one gallon of wine and one still. "

"There are plenty of Clinton County men out of work who want a job. More than 200 applied to County Engineer Lyle Belknap for employment on the State Highway Department project for the widening of US-27 grade to 56 feet between St. Johns and DeWitt."

1932: "The Fowler State Savings Bank failed to open Tuesday morning. The board of directors decided to close the bank temporarily for reorganization after a conference with the State Banking Department.

Times were really rough - the county voted for a Democrat. "Franklin D. Roosevelt carried Clinton County over Herbert Hoover by 481 votes. Hoover received 4,627 and Roosevelt 5,108."

1933: "Few were mourners at the bier when 1932 slipped into history at midnight Saturday. Goodbye and good riddance was the slogan as the economic stress of the past 12 months was recalled."

"Governor's Proclamation, Tuesday, Feb. 14, 1933: Gov. Comstock this morning ordered all Michigan banks to observe an eight-day holiday from Feb. 14 to Feb. 21." The closing order was accepted philosophically by the people, as the passerby stopped to read the official notice then continued on their way."

Prohibition flopped - an omen for the War on Drugs? "Today, Thursday, May 11, is New Beer's Eve in Michigan, and the 3.2 legal brew will go on sale at 6 p.m. all over the state. The two restaurants of Bruno and Ed Mazzolini and the Steel Hotel in St. Johns will serve the white-collared beverage to local residents when the clock strikes six today."

"Three hundred men, now idle, will be given work before the end of the week under President Roosevelt's Civil Works Administration project. The county's share of CWA money is $72,000 and all must be expended for work by Feb. 15, 1934. The men will receive $12 per week for 30 hours."

1934: "The CWA will cease March 31. County employees have been paid $100,000 through the program."

"Unemployment is distinctly on the wane in this community. Monday a call was issued to 80 men who formerly were employed with CWA workers and only 30 appeared. Olney B. Moore said some were working in the peppermint or farming, while others are working in Lansing or Flint factories."

Future journalists will record what, if any, parallels there may be in the headlines of today and those of the depression era.