There may have been the Great Depression going on across the region in 1935, but from many indications Sidney was not suffering as badly as other areas around the nation.
While not many were flush with cash at the time, they were able to increase their educational skills, free. The Sidney Record of Oct. 17, 1935 reported, “Every indication points to the success of Sidney’s night school, launched last Thursday in the Sidney High School building, Professor Daniel Harris, educational director of CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps) Camp S-100, Masonville, presiding.” The school was then on Liberty Street, today’s Sidney Civic Center.
“This fine venture boasts of an enrollment of over 200 students with a staff of 21 volunteer teachers, who serve without pay, hoping their efforts may advance someone who has enrolled for the course.”
The story told about some of the courses, which included public speaking, mechanical drawing, trigonometry, typing, shorthand, carpentry, civics, biology, commercial law and airplane and engine mechanics,” the last being most useful for those looking to work at the busy Scintilla Magneto Company. All the classes were free.
There was a surge in pride at Sidney High at the time, during the regular school days. As the Record told readers on Nov. 21, “Last Saturday, playing in Afton, our Sidney school football team, led by Captain Robert Gorham, won its fourteenth consecutive game, covering both last and this year’s schedule.
“This is a record any student eleven or any other eleven for that matter, may well feel proud of and there should be a bit of pride on the part of our townspeople as well.
“Captain Gorham, speaking for the team, has fine praise for Coach John Pendlebury, who in his two years as physical director of the Sidney school, has proven highly successful in coaching all sports here.”
“Transients” as they were called at that time, were at work locally, as the Record of Nov. 28 reported, “According to the announcement released Tuesday by the State Works Progress Administration, federal authorities have approved the transfer of 22 transient camps from state W.P.A. jurisdiction.
“The 4,000 transients now in state camps will be paid under WPA schedules $15 a month for unskilled workers; $20, semi-skilled, and $25, skilled, in addition to maintenance and medical and dental care.
“Transients in camps will work 30 hours per week improving parks, building country roads and small bridges, as well as soil conservation and rehabilitation.
“The transfer of Camp Sidney transients, quartered in the plant formerly occupied by the Butterfly Silk company, Sherman avenue, is included in the order. There are 76 transients here, with Mr. J.B. Walsh in charge.”
Other vicinity camps were Hartwick Camp, Hartwick Seminary; Camp Whitney Point, and Camp Smithville Flats.
Business was still good with the Scintilla Magneto Company, and workers got a new perk that year, as the Record of Dec. 19 reported, “Sponsored by Vice-President Herman Hanni, Sec’y-Treasurer George E. Steiner, and other local officials of the Scintilla Magneto Company, and financed by that corporation, a reading and recreation room has been opened, locally, for the convenience of Sidney plant employees of that company, exclusively, in the Lee block, third floor, Main at Liberty Street.
“This supplies a long-felt want on the part of the workers who now have a place where they may congregate, enjoy a social time, peruse papers, periodicals, and play games, not the least attractive being pool.
“Turning back the pages of time, the opening of this gathering place reminds our elder residents of the days when Sidney business people and patriotic citizens, together with assistance from our two railroads, financed a popular and well attended Young Men’s Christian Association. As recalled, this was from the early ‘90s until about 1908.
“Perhaps this step taken by the Scintilla Company may awaken the ‘Y’ idea and Sidney youth would again have a gathering place that parents would highly approve.”
On Wednesday, the region experienced the “great blackout” of 1965.