Yesteryears: Folks found hope in 1932

The nation’s economy was in shambles, and many people were outraged by the inability of their elected officials to do anything about it.

Despair and disillusionment were rampant throughout the country. Small wonder that many people were happy to bid the year 1932 goodbye.

As dismal as things were, the human spirit could not be dimmed. Somewhere beyond the bread lines and the insistent clamor of bad news, people sensed a horizon of hope.

One of the ways in which it was reflected was in the 324 marriage licenses issued that year in Charlottesville and Albemarle County. The number was just nine fewer than the previous year.

And the positive outlook for the future wasn’t limited to the young. The ages of city residents tying the knot ranged from 15 to 75. In the county, the scale went from 15 to 65.

And as bleak as things were in 1932 it didn’t stop people from visiting Charlottesville. According to numbers compiled by the Chamber of Commerce, more than 3,000 people traveled to the city as delegates to conventions or were members of special travel parties.

One of the biggest events for the city in 1932 was serving as host for the annual Institute of Public Affairs. Prominent figures in American public life traveled here from around the nation that July.

For two weeks the potentates participated in roundtable conferences. Their focus was trying to figure out ways to get out of the political and economic mess the nation was in.

History shows they weren’t able to come up with any solutions to stop the continuing decline of the economy. But during the fortnight they spent here, they did a lot of good for the local economy by spending money on things like food, lodging, travel and souvenirs.

Whether or not the sour economy had anything to do with it, the Charlottesville Library enjoyed a large increase in patronage in 1932. According to librarian Nancy M. Wood, the increase in activity had started rising sharply in 1931.

The number of books and magazines checked out of the library in 1932 increased by 20,069 from the previous year.

Total borrowing by city residents in 1930 was 99,000. In 1931 that number increased to 112,670. In 1932 it rose again to 132,739. Wood also reported an “appreciable increase in the use of fiction, nonfiction and juvenile works and magazines.”

Wood also calculated the total number of borrowers for 1932, coming up with the number 7,711. Of these, 4,431 were adults, 1,181 were juveniles and 2,099 were residents of Albemarle County.

The library obviously was increasing in popularity. In answer to that, Wood announced that, for the first time, the library’s reading room would be kept open from 3 to 5 p.m. on Sunday afternoons

As tough as things had been for many people in 1932, the local library served as an oasis. For no charge, people could forget their troubles for a time via books, or learn about the latest wedding fashions for that anticipated walk down the aisle.