Believe It Or Not by Bill Cox 1930

COX

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 6/13/2015 at 21:51:26

Believe it or not!
By Bill Cox

The year was 1930.
Herbert Hoover was President of the United States.
The stock market had crashed the year before when 16,000,000 shares changed hands, a decline in value estimated at $15,000,000,000 b the end of 1929. Stock losses from 1929 to 1932 were estimated at $50,000,000,000. The worst depression in American history had now begun.

You could buy a Model A Ford Sport roadster for $595. Hogs were selling for between 3 and 4 cents per lb. Corn was selling at ten cents per bushel, if you could find a buyer.

Dr. Boyd was driving a 1928 Cadillac, and I had a 1921 Model T Ford. Max Schmeling of Germany was heavyweight champion. A dollar bill looked longer than your arm. People were saying if Hoover was elected again, all of us would have to steal our neighbor’s roasting ears and try to get by for another four years.

But history isn’t my theme for writing this article. I had just finished picking nearly 2800 bushels of corn for 2 cents per bushel that fall. I was now the proud owner of nearly $80 that included some other money I’d saved earlier. Driving my Model T Ford, I went to Newton to stock up on grocery supplies for the winter ahead. If you’re not bored by now, please feast your eyes on the supplies I brought home that long ago day of 50 years.

30 lbs. Red Rooster coffee, $4.50; 50 lb. lard, $5.00; 100 lb. sugar, $8.00; 50 lbs. bacon ends, $4.90; 8 sacks flour, $11.92; 3 lb. cans baking powder, @1.35; 8 cases, 24 cans each, corn, peas, hominy, etc., $19.20; 12 lbs hamburger, 3 lb. .25 cents, $1.00; 20 lb. navy beans, $1.58; 4 cases 24 cans each peaches and pears, $14.00; 4 lg pkgs. Tea, $1.16; 1 case canned milk, $1.68; 24 tins tobacco, @2.00; 6 gal. gas, $1.00; total $77.29.

Yes, I’ll confess, treaded myself to two maidrites and coffee for 25 cents and returned home still jingling nearly $2.50 ~ The Jasper County Tribune, Colfax, Ia 50054 Thurs 21 Feb 1980 - Page 5.