I am continuing to write about events that our local communities faced in 1935 during the peak of the Great Depression. In the winter of 1935, 21 million Americans were sustained by organized public relief. Basic industries sank back to the abysmal levels of 1932.

Mr. Hale Guss, the Northampton Borough manager in 1935, said, “Any residents interested in new sidewalks and curbing can apply to the WPA, Works Progress Administration. They will provide all the labor if the homeowner provides the material. The cost of sidewalks and gutter will not exceed 10 cents per square foot, curbing was 40 cents per linear foot, $40 for 100 feet of curbing!”

In 1935, movies on Sunday was a hot topic of conversation. On Sunday, a few movies were shown in the evening only with the American Legion profiting by a small percentage of the proceeds from ticket sales. Sunday movies were illegal in 1935. Hard to believe!

There was an actual referendum on the issue: Sunday movies — yes or no?

In the First Ward, it was 175 yes votes to 234 no votes.

In the Second Ward, it was 303 yes votes to 424 no votes.

In the Third Ward, it was 350 yes votes to 370 no votes.

In the Fourth Ward, it was 317 yes votes to 248 no votes.

The total votes were 1,145 yes votes to 1,276 no votes.

A similar vote was held in Coplay. The Sunday movies were defeated by a vote of 428 to 335.

Sunday movies would wait for number of years before they became a reality.

On Nov. 10, 1935, the Nazareth Bath Football Club clashed with the Northampton Triangles on Miller’s Field behind the Roxy Theater. They were independent football teams playing for the championship of Northampton County.

Coach Eddy Newhart, of the Triangles, put his team through a tough practice session in hope of winning the game on Sunday. Nazareth felt confident they would be the first club to defeat the club this season. Fans of both teams were assured they would see a real game of football on Sunday. The kickoff was slated for 2:30 p.m. with Mike Lisetski, Wally Knerr and Al Erdosy officiating.

Unfortunately, this writer could not find the score in the old Cement News. Who won the game?

Now let’s view the 1935 Exchange Club Halloween parade, a popular fall tradition enjoyed by thousands. The chief marshal was Penny Young, the Northampton postmaster.

The prize list will interest you. It includes Csensits Economy Store, a serving tray and five glasses; Universal Pants, a pair of pants; C.H. Gross, two quarts of ice cream; Northampton Quarry, $5 worth of cement blocks and five tons of crushed stone; Northampton Sanitary Dairy, a quart of milk for 10 days to three winners; Kornfeind’s Market, one ham; Roxy Theater, one season guest pass; Retzler’s, three gallons of ice cream for three winners; Penn Oil Company, 10 gallons of gasoline; and Miller’s Department Store, a towel set.

Lentz Motor Company, at 1540 Main St., offered a 1935 Chevrolet Coupe with perfected hydraulic brakes for $495, with no sales tax.

Luckenbachs, at 1918 Main St., was selling Philco table model radios for $9.95 and Silvertone radios for $19.95.

The weekly meeting of the Unemployed Citizen League was held in Hluschaks Hall in Newport. The meeting was well attended. The league worked with the Roxy Theater showing films to benefit the unemployed. Members of the league engaged in a door-to-door canvassing to sell tickets. They wanted to sell as many as possible and urged everyone to attend at least one show during the benefit week.

Unemployment would continue to be a problem until the advent of World War II. In two weeks, we will be at the Mary Immaculate Seminary and the new Northampton Post Office. Please join us!