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WORTHINGTON — Running boards, rumble seats and canvas tops marked Worthington’s entry into the fabulous “Roaring Twenties.” Cars had come to the mud trails of the prairie and the arrival of the automobile meant a street paving program to accommodate the vehicles.
The city’s first paving program “made 56 blocks of concrete out of the prairie mud,” according to a newspaper report of Oct. 28, 1920. The community celebrated with a dance at the National Guard Armory and a big street parade through the downtown area.
Gasoline was 16 cents per gallon, the price was 15 cents for children and 25 cents for adults for a ticket at the Grand Theatre. The Grand Theatre, one of the finest movie houses in the area, was sold to George Ehlers and Nic Casareto, and the two men made the official announcement that a 700-seat, all-new theater would soon be opened on the city’s main business street.
Wortington soared to a new population of 3,481 persons — an increase of 45% from 1919’s official census report of 2,395. Ten pounds of sugar sold for 75 cents, three loaves of bread were 20 cents and men’s suits were $23.85.
The railroads, so important to the settlement of the region and to the community, gave way to the Fords, the Graham-Paiges and the Hupmobiles. By 1920, there was only a short segment of concrete running three miles west of Worthington and another short stretch at Rushmore.
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County commissioners were promising (in 1921) that 240 miles of improved (graveled) roads would be completed and that 90% of Nobles County residents would be no more than two miles away from “permanent roads.” The 240-mile objective was somewhat strong, however, as the board was letting bids before the end of the year in an attempt to reach the 200-mile mark.
The first year of the decade also marked the arrival of a new businessman, Jack Boote. From Hawarden, Iowa, Boote purchased a shoe repair shop here in September.
Hog prices dipped following the end of World War I and brought farm income to the lowest level in four years. Late in the year 1920 there was discussion in the community regarding the lack of extra stocks in retail stores. Merchants were having special sales to enable the firms to obtain cash to pay utility bills.
The school systems in city and county were planning a school lunch program to assure that each child received a proper diet; residential telephone rates were $1.75 per month; license plate charges for the automobiles were based on what amounted to 2% of the list price of the car; and the golf course — now GreatLife — opened April 18, 1921.
Harvest hands were earning $2.40 for a 10-hour day in the fields and the 18th Amendment banning liquor was adopted Jan. 16, 1920. Through the decade, the court records showed that not all the residents of Worthington and Nobles County believed Demon Rum was bad for their health. The reports of the era show that the Wilmont area was a prime source of illegally-produced booze.
Also, the Worthington City Council purchased property for a new National Guard Armory at Third Avenue and Ninth Street for $8,500.
