The “Roaring Twenties”

The Roaring Twenties were marked by prosperity after World War I and drastic changes for women, such as gaining the right to vote and freedom from corsets and long, structured clothing to more modern attire. Ladies bobbed their hair and displayed a more liberated demeanor. Prohibition led to the emergence of speakeasies and bootleggers, and dances like the Charleston became popular. The frivolity and excess ended with the stock market crash in October 1929, which marked the beginning of the Great Depression.

The dresses displayed in our “Century of Fashion” Exhibit reflect these events. To help you place these dresses in proper context we have compiled a timeline of national and local events happening during the Roaring Twenties.

1920

National: President is Woodrow Wilson. First U S Cross-country airmail flight is completed. Average life expectancy in the United States is 54.09 years.

Local:

April: Lawrence County women vote in presidential primary for the first time following ratification of the 19th amendment. Lawrenceville Chamber of Commerce organized with Andrew L Maxwell elected 1st president.

December: Owners Frank Reed and Edward Brennan celebrate Grand Opening of Hotel Lawrence with New Year's Eve Gala. Built at a cost of $150,000 the hotel includes 54 guest rooms in addition to top floor offices for Indian Refining Company.

1921

National: Warren G Harding is elected US President.

Local:

February: Teacher Emmet Bunyan and seven students are killed in explosion at Crossroads school when several boys unknowingly play with nitroglycerin container used in the oil fields.

October: Area churches organize Lawrenceville Charity and Welfare Association with offices in courthouse basement.

December: Lawrence Township library opens in two- room building on 12th St. in Lawrenceville, housing collection of 686 books.

1922

National: Reader’s Digest magazine is first published. The tomb of King Tut is discovered.

Local:

April: Stella Wiltz is elected on the Democratic ticket as Lawrence Township supervisor, the first woman elected to public office in the county.

July: Community business leader Andrew L Maxwell dies of stomach cancer at age 65.

1923

National: Calvin Coolidge become US President. Neon signs are introduced. Time magazine is first published. The first Disney cartoon, ‘Alice’s Wonderland’, is produced.  The League of Nations is established. Prohibition begins.

Local:

January:  County businesses and residents pledge $25,000 toward the construction of a factory building on South 11th St. in Lawrenceville for Eli Walker Company of St Louis who will employ 25 women as sewing machine operators with weekly salaries ranging from 7 to 18 dollars.

August: Indian Refining Company announces relocation of its corporate headquarters from New York City to Lawrenceville bringing 300 ‘city’ people to the area.

1924

National: The first perms for hair are available. The Model T Ford is sold for $290. J Edgar Hoover was appointed the first director of the FBI.

Local:

January: Responding to complaints of working women, the Charity and Welfare Association establishes a day nursery in Lawrenceville. Lucinda Porter, County native and last surviving daughter of Revolutionary War soldier in Illinois, dies at age 87. ( See one of her dresses at the Exhibit.)

March: Mrs. Hurley Gould’s Avalon Theater opens for business with feature film ‘Scaramouche”. The new movie palace has a seating capacity of 1000 people.

1925

National: The New Yorker magazine is first published. The “Grand Ole Opry” radio show begins in Nashville. The Scopes (Monkey) Trial is the top news story.

Local:

October: County businesses sponsors the placement of marble marker southeast of Lawrenceville by local Boy Scouts to commemorate 1920 federal census finding that location is center of native white population.

1926

National: The Book of the Month Club begins. The first radio jingle is broadcast (Wheaties). NBC is formed. Zippers become available. Henry Ford announces the 40-hour work week. Rt 66 is established across the US. A A Milne’s “Winnie the Pooh” is published.

Local:

May: Arrests were being made for making moonshine.

December:  Old Folks Home of Methodist Church opens in Lawrenceville; JB Stout is the Superintendent.

1927

National: CBS is formed. The Holland Tunnel is opened. Babe Ruth sets a home run record. Charles Lindbergh flies solo across the Atlantic Ocean.

Local:

May: Lawrence County News protests the judicial pension of county and circuit judges with 24 years’ service at $4000 annually.  “We have heard of no law to pension farmers after a like period of service.”

1928

National: The first teletype machine is used. The first Disney cartoon with sound, ‘Steamboat Willie’ is produced. A machine to slice bread commercially is invented. Bubble gum is all the fad.   Penicillin is discovered.

Local:

August: Fire caused by explosion of steam still kills 27 men at Indian Refinery, the worst industrial accident to occur in county.

1929

National:  Herbert Hoover is elected US President. The first Academy Awards are presented. Richard Byrd flies over the South Pole. The car radio is invented. The stock market crashes.

Local:

First National Bank of Sumner is robbed of over $8000. All three culprits, Hillary Linton of Terre Haute, Thomas Herndon of Mount Carmel, and Harley Cochran of Lawrenceville are apprehended. First National Bank of Bridgeport robbed of over $4000 two months later.

September: F.W. Woolworth Company opens department store on West side of Lawrenceville square. CM Jones is named residential manager.