Great Depression
The collapse of the stock market in 1929 and the ensuing depression changed the economic and social direction of Richmond Hill. Construction of new homes and workplaces stopped and municipal affairs turned strongly towards dealing with the unemployed and the homeless. Make work projects were begun, such as a water main extension along Benson Avenue. Salaries of civic employees were cut by ten percent in January 1932. Teachers of the Richmond Hill Board of Education saw their salaries cut five percent in May 1932, and principals eight percent.
The village of Richmond Hill, together with North York, Markham and Vaughan purchased the radial railway run by the Toronto Transit Commission along Yonge Street in 1930, after the transit commission had planned to close the line due to sagging ridership. The service was renamed North Yonge Railways.
The Rose business remained successful through the 1930s, however. Four large greenhouse companies operated in Richmond Hill during the 1930s: H.J. Mills' greenhouses, Richmond Roses John H. Dunlop's greenhouses and Bedford Park greenhouses. The greenhouse rose growing business was labour intensive, but sales also stayed high through the depression. John H. Dunlop's greenhouses were purchased by H.J. Mills in April 1934, consolidating the rose business in three companies.
The David Dunlap Observatory was opened in May 1935. The observatory housed the world's second largest telescope at the time, surpassed only by the Mount Wilson Observatory in collecting area. The cost of the observatory was $500 000 and was funded by Jessie Donalda Dunlap, the widow of David A. Dunlap. The telescope is run by the University of Toronto.
The Richmond Hill Lions Club was formed in April 1938. Their main activity was serving the needs of the poor. They provided people on relief with food and clothing, such as milk and cod liver oil to poor children. They organised annual street dances to raise funds for the medical needs of impoverished children.
Read more about this topic: History Of Richmond Hill, Ontario
Famous quotes containing the word depression:
“Could it be that those who were reared in the postwar years really were spoiled, as we used to hear? Did a child-centered generation, raised in depression and war, produce a self-centered generation that resents children and parenthood?”
—C. John Sommerville (20th century)
“During depression the world disappears. Language itself. One has nothing to say. Nothing. No small talk, no anecdotes. Nothing can be risked on the board of talk. Because the inner voice is so urgent in its own discourse: How shall I live? How shall I manage the future? Why should I go on?”
—Kate Millett (b. 1934)