The Great Depression
No help wanted
Woonsocket suffered greatly during the Depression years. By 1935 over 4,000 textile workers out of 8,000 were either unemployed or working part time. Jobs were scarce as businesses tried to operate with as little help as possible. Signs in the windows of mills and other businesses stating, “NO HELP WANTED” or “ONLY EXPERIENCED NEED APPLY”, were a familiar if unwelcome sight. Businesses closed or cut down production, unemployment was high, and prices dropped because purchasing power was drastically reduced. Those who were lucky enough to have a job were often forced to take pay cuts.
The 1930’s also witnessed the end of an era for Woonsocket. The city’s importance as a major cotton manufacturing center had vanished. It was during this period that the Social and Globe Mills were torn down. In addition, the Lawton Spinning Company, the city’s last major cotton manufacturer announced its liquidation. At one time Lawton Spinning had employed more than 1,000 people. During the early 1930’s, however, the number had decreased to less than 400 workers, and by the summer of 1934 only about 150 were employed. Labor unrest led to the Great Textile Strike of 1934, the most violent and deadly strike ever in Rhode Island.
Another mill whose closing dealt the community a severe blow, was the Alice Mill of the US Rubber Company. It shut down in 1932 and remained idle until September 1941, when the mill reopened for production of barrage balloons, and ten-man life rafts needed for American’s World War II effort.
During the Great Depression, the Works Progress Administration (WPA) implemented numerous projects in Woonsocket to address high unemployment. Key Woonsocket WPA projects included grading and paving streets, improving Cass Park and Globe Park, and constructing the stone wall at Dunn Park. Some workers were also involved in the demolition of the Eagle Mill.
