| A History of STRUM and the TOWN OF UNITY by Roy Matson |
| THIS IS PAGE 22 | TABLE OF CONTENTS | PAGE BACK | PAGE FORWARD |
| work for the youth. During the fall of that year the WPA made its appearance, paying $12 per week on public works projects. The spring of 1934 was a continuation of midwest drought. Dust storms from the Dakotas and western Minnesota darkened the sky. No rain occurred until early June. Pastures were bare and less than a 10% hay crop caused farmers to market cattle at bare freight charges. The story is told of a local sheep raiser who was billed more in freight charges than he got for his sheep. His scrawled reply on the bill was “I have no money but do have more sheep.” Banks that were open had no money to loan. Sheriff’s auctions were frequent and in many instances friends and neighbors halted such sales or limited bids at rediculously low prices permitting the owner to retain possession. A moratorium on foreclosure sales was imposed for a time. And there were other unusual happenings. One blustery day a delivery truck backed up to a local business place and a goodly crowd watched while a keg of 3.2 beer was rolled in and made ready for dispensing. Repeal of the 18th Amendment on Prohibition had been voted by Congress on February 20, 1933. The proposed 21st amendment had been sent to the states and it became effective December 5, 1933. In the mean time 3.2 beer had been termed non-intoxicating, and while this attempt to evade the ban on alcoholic beverages ended up in the courts, Unity officials held off any action. Five places on main street served beer for a time and Unity, for the first time since its formation in 1878, was no longer dry. In 1935 town officials purchased a caterpillar track tractor and a snow plow for $5,000. The next year a move began to create a dam at the bridge crossing on the Beef River. WPA labor was available and township cost would be small. Clearing the proposed lake area of brush began the following year. Putting in the footings for the actual dam continued through the winter. In the meantime a park improvement bond issue of $5,000 was voted in by a 336 to 81 margin and in the spring of 1938, the lake was an actuality. The township entertained another referendum in 1939. PWA had money available for construction of a four year high school building. Contributions by local taxpayers was in kind, that is site, water, sewer, etc. The vote failed 180 yes to 238 no. (The total vote was one more than on the dam issue). About this time town officials paid $400 for the Temperance Hall to members of that now inactive society. Purchase of a fire truck was also made. Also at this time many farms had taken advantage of the instruction of rural electrification. The Farm Security Administration was sponsoring a finance program for your farmers. Then to the Scandinavian descendants of this country came news that Hitler had invaded Norway in April, 1940. European nations were already involved in the struggle. It seemed Congress had an awakening coming. With a world war cloud high on the horizon, the U. S. Senate passed the Selective Service Act on September 16, 1940 by a vote of 58 to 31. The Act was extended in August of 1941 by a 45 to 30 vote. Less than four months later, December 8, 1941, the United States declared war on Japan. The World War II effort reached about everyone and only a line can be spent here. Harold Brian, head of the VFW Post states that membership in that group was over 120 after the war ended, including WWI veterans. He added that not all veterans belonged and that many local men never served overseas. Germany signed an unconditional surrender on May 7, 1945. Japan followed in August. A Union Free High School District including all of Unity had been formed in 1945. The vote was 267 to 67. Every nook of the district #2 building was in use to make this accomodation. Only 6 years earlier voters had rejected a new building at very low cost. The school tax for 10 grades had been $2,769.97 in 1935. 12 grades in the new district required $22,840.97 in 1947. Residents of the village voted to incorporate in 1948. The population had increased over the years and a water and sewer utility was required. Other improvements seemed necessary and a division between the village and the township seemed desirable to accomplish all of |