| A History of STRUM and the TOWN OF UNITY by Roy Matson |
| THIS IS PAGE 21 | TABLE OF CONTENTS | PAGE BACK | PAGE FORWARD |
| "bank Holiday", lasted a week or ten days until a quick examination had taken place. Some remained closed while several small banks in this area merged after a time. Others opened with depositor restrictions that were lifted after a few months. In June the FDIC Act was passed and a sort of confidence restored. Here in Wisconsin a $25,000,000 issue of script was proposed. Cities where banks had failed had ordered such issues printed with future redeemable dates. It was later learned that up to 10% were never presented for payment. The community was certainly not prospering. Unity creamery was paying about 60 cents a hundred for milk, butter was 18 cents per pound, oats were 14 cents, heavy hens 14 cents per pound. The Chicago market quoted eggs at 9 cents per dozen. At times there was no quote on either wheat or barley. The summer of 1933 moved into late fall with a blue economic outlook. The unvoiced question on most everyones lips seemed to be "what Now?". Bank closings had eliminated cash reserves for many elderly. Work was scarce and any wages for the able bodied were very low. The so-called brain trust in Washington had been working. A fireside chat by the President had stressed the importance of “priming the pump” and the first of the alphabet work projects was launched. The CWA accepted a school building painting job, which along with a township road shaling project were the first attempt to place some cash into local circulation. Pay was an unheard of 50 cents per hour and just about every man able to wield a brush or a shovel was eligible. J. H. Mathison mentioned in later years that the sale of men’s underwear was unbelievable that first Saturday night pay day. This project continued during the winter and by spring the CCC camps for youth were ready to go. Tree planting, dams, soil conservation, etc., made an impression on area farmers and provided An Aerial View of Strum, about 1940. (Picture-Description). |
| Original Page With Picture (slow loading) (this picture is the same as the Aerial View of Strum, about 1940. |