In today’s column, we will be visiting local businesses and attend a meeting in Cementon. The year is 1936.
Our first stop in today’s column will be at Schaffer’s store at 47 Second Street in Coplay to purchase some groceries with our Depression dollars. You could purchase a packet of Wheaties cereal for 11 cents, twelve pounds of Banner flour for 48 cents, oysters at 16 cents a dozen and a large packet of Rinso was 20 cents. Minced ham from the meat counter was 19 cents a pound and A & B fresh sausage was 19 cents.
Our next stop is at Geo. J. Falk on 25 West 10th Street in Northampton to look at the new 1936 Pontiac. The price was $615; it was a high price for the Depression. Mr. Falk said the 1936 Pontiac averaged 23.9 miles per gallon. Mr. Falk related, “The Pontiac was tested in the Yosemite economy run. Pound for pound you can’t do better.”
To sell any automobile was a challenge. Many people repaired their old automobiles to keep them on the road. If your old Chevy needed tires you could stop at Quality Service Station, the home of Firestone tires in Northampton. The station was owned by George and Harold Schisler. You could purchase a set of 4 tires for $6.95 per tire. With $10 down and pay the balance when you had money…