MEADIAVILLE

Meadville, unlike most of the nation, thrived during the Great Depression of the 1930's. The New York Times and TIME magazine both proclaimed that Meadville was “a depression-proof city whose streets were paved with gold.” Meadville, like most of the nation, felt some riffles from the depression, but the factories in the town protected Meadville from some of the larger impacts of the Great Depression. Many employers during this time would only give jobs to Meadville locals to avoid a huge influx of workers, who would in turn push locals out of jobs. Why did we choose 1935? What was so special about this year? Well, 1935 was the peak of the Great Depression, and we found it interesting to learn that Meadville was so cushioned from the nation's largest depression. This is a prime example of Meadville's strength, resilience, and incredible sense of community, something we will watch grow throughout time, ultimately leading to present-day Meadville.