Eau Claire: 1930

The Great Depression caused a dramatic change in lifestyle for most of the people in Eau Claire. Unemployment and financial insecurity were two of the major concerns shared by the majority of the population. These concerns were not shared by the wealthy individuals whose financial independence helped them through this troubled time.
1930 Owen Park was established. The Boyd High School and city bands presented weekly concerts in the summer by 1932. The band stand was completed in 1938.
1931 Three of Eau Claire's four banks closed in the Great Depression.
1932 Sixteen percent of the city's population was on relief. City employees took a 10 percent salary cut. Teachers' salaries were reduced from 7.5 to 17.5 percent.
1933 Kitchen gardens were used to grow food in the city.
1933 Hunters supplied 450 families with rabbits for Christmas dinner.
1933 The State Theatre hosted the world premiere of "Out All Night."
1933 442 stores were open with total sales of $8,565,000. These stores employed 951 people with a payroll of $1,057,000.
1934 The federal Works Progress Administration (WPA) created jobs for those on relief. Carson Park was the largest project in the city but other small projects, such as the bandstand in Owen Park and sewers, also were constructed. WPA paid $48 per month for unskilled labor.
1935 Not everyone suffered during the depression. E. R. Hamilton, president of the National Cooker Company (now Presto), received a salary of $40,500 or $3,375 per month while relief workers were getting paid $48. Hamilton Avenue was named after him. And his horse estate can still be seen off of State Street, south of Hamilton Avenue.
1935 516 men now worked for the WPA.
1936 200 warrants were issued for delinquent state property taxes.

Created by Matt Unger on 6/13/97.

1930	Owen Park was established. The Boyd High School and city bands presented weekly concerts in the summer by 1932. The band stand was completed in 1938.
1931	Three of Eau Claire's four banks closed in the Great Depression.
1932	Sixteen percent of the city's population was on relief. City employees took a 10 percent salary cut. Teachers' salaries were reduced from 7.5 to 17.5 percent.
1933	Kitchen gardens were used to grow food in the city.
1933	Hunters supplied 450 families with rabbits for Christmas dinner.
1933	The State Theatre hosted the world premiere of "Out All Night."
1933	442 stores were open with total sales of $8,565,000. These stores employed 951 people with a payroll of $1,057,000.
1934	The federal Works Progress Administration (WPA) created jobs for those on relief. Carson Park was the largest project in the city but other small projects, such as the bandstand in Owen Park and sewers, also were constructed. WPA paid $48 per month for unskilled labor.
1935	Not everyone suffered during the depression. E. R. Hamilton, president of the National Cooker Company (now Presto), received a salary of $40,500 or $3,375 per month while relief workers were getting paid $48. Hamilton Avenue was named after him. And his horse estate can still be seen off of State Street, south of Hamilton Avenue.
1935	516 men now worked for the WPA.
1936	200 warrants were issued for delinquent state property taxes.