DEPRESSION ERA 1930-1941
Although the stock market crash occurred in 1929, the real crunch in Hardin County(like much of the rest of Iowa) came in 1932 and 1933. A review of the Sentinel from late 1929 does not reveal a feeling of foreboding. People were continuing to buy, build and carry on their everyday lives. As noted in the Automobile Era section, road paving was accomplished between 1930 and 1932, providing jobs for not only the laborers but also for people involved with the manufacture of the machines and materials necessary for the project.
The present configuration of Estes Park dates to 1931. A landscape artist by the name of N.F. Guernsey planned the walks, shrubbery, pool, drinking fountain, even the amphitheater effect for the band shell. This band shell replaced the pagoda built in 1898 with funds raised by the ladies of Iowa Falls. The new band shell was also built by private contributions made during the spring of 1931. The Hardin County Citizen(I.N.Nichols paper) published a list of donors(band, $500; Ira Nichols, $500; George Beebe, $200; Central States Electric Co., $100; Iowa Falls Fair Association, $100; etc.). Practically everyone contributed something in money or work, the grand total being $3,838.25. The band shell was dedicated in September 1931.
About the only good thing to happen in 1932 was the completion of a new Washington Avenue bridge (extant). The first of the Iowa Falls banks (State National) closed its doors in June 1932. The Mayor called for a ten day business holiday on July 4. Bank customers were asked to sign waivers promising not to deplete accounts by more than 10% per month. Three banks were able to reopen under this waiver system(First National, Peoples Trust & Savings, and Security Savings). On Wednesday December 21, 1932 all three banks closed. It was five months before a new bank opened…. The Iowa Falls State Bank opened for business in the old First National building.
A stone bridge was completed across Wild Cat Glen linking residential area's built up in the teens and twenties. The city park staff built shelter houses and fireplaces in foster Park about this same time.
In 1929 two Greek immigrants (Harry Pergakis and Ernst Karrys) had combined their businesses into the Princess, a candy kitchen, ice cream parlor, café. It rapidly became one of the most popular establishments in Iowa Falls. Christmas Eve 1934 the princess burned. Even in the midst of the Depression the business was immediately rebuilt in the 600 block of Washington. Today the Princess features the sparkling black Carrera glass façade, sleek rounded corners and sophisticated lettering of the 1935 Art Deco Design.
There was little, if any, new construction between 1934 and 1941. In that year the city decided to build a new city hall, and two new buildings were constructed on Washington immediately west of the Metropolitan Opera House. All are of light tan brick and similar design. The building closest to the Met is a two story double storefront (I.O.O.F.), and the building on the corner (Strutz Bldg.) is a two story single storefront. City Hall is a two story free-standing design with a symmetrical façade. All of these buildings depend on simple cast concrete panels for decorative detailing and all reflect the simplicity of design that is common to commercial structures from the 1930's and '40's.
Industrial design in the community appears to be restricted to the construction of the gas plant building (on East Rocksylvania) in 1930. Residential construction continued, but certainly on a more limited scale than before.