What Every Small Town In Arizona Had In The 1930s. It Was A Simpler Time.
By Monica Spencer|Published January 11, 2016
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Monica Spencer
Author
Monica is a Diné (Navajo) freelance writer and photographer based in the Southwest. Born in Gallup and raised in Phoenix, she is Tódich'ii'nii (Bitter Water People) and Tsi'naajinii (Black Streak Wood People). Monica is a staff writer for Only In Your State, photo editor for The Mesa Legend, and previously a staff writer for The Navajo Post. You can reach her at monica.d.spencer@gmail.com.
I think there are days when we all feel it, a pull in our chest that yearns for a life in another time devoid of all the electronics, deadlines, and the rushed pace of our modern lives. For some people, there’s a romanticism in wanting to live the lives and experiences of our parents, grandparents, and even great-grandparents. I know there are days when, even as a Millennial (barely a Millennial, I should add), I want to give up my computer, phone, and general life in the city for a life entirely different.
But simpler doesn’t always mean better or easier. Plenty of people even during this time period and later still lived without electricity, running water, and other amenities most people enjoy and take advantage of today. In any case, let’s take a look at some things you would probably encounter in most small towns in Arizona by looking at some old photos. Think about how many you remember or wish were still around.
1. A sheriff or local cop who looked out for the community.
Most guards these days may be equipped with handguns instead of rifles, so this could seem intimidating to workers. What's interesting is that the miner strikes and deportations happened two decades earlier, a not-too-distant memory to many.
10. Many families in the 1930s and 1940s were starting to become larger consumers and enjoyed modern amenities they had never before had. This photo shows a telephone lineman doing some repairs.
14. Even mail left and arrived a little differently than it does today. This one was at Pinto Creek, a tiny little place between Roosevelt Lake and Globe, in 1940.
18. If the town was too small to have a theatre, chances are you probably had to make a special trip to town or watched whatever was showing at the community center, like these folks.
