Thanksgiving and a message of hope …
By Greg Kowalski
There didn’t seem to be much to be thankful for that Thanksgiving.
In one sense, it was a time of uncertainty; in another, the future seemed inevitable — and it wasn’t good.
November, 1940, should have been a time of hope and promise. The Great Depression, despite some setbacks, was easing, and the economy was rebounding.
The number of people on government assistance was at its lowest level since 1932, with “only” 689 active cases in Hamtramck. Unemployment was down, although much of that was due to the increasing number of men joining, and being drafted into, the military.
That went to the core of what was wrong.
It had been more than a year since World War II began on Sept. 1, 1939, and things had only gotten worse in Europe and Southeast Asia as the Germans and Japanese expanded their grips of tyranny.
The horrors of the Nazis were especially meaningful in Hamtramck, because so many residents had family members still in Poland, which by this time was being devastated by the Germans and Russians.
In desperation, many Hamtramckans appealed to Congressman Rudolph Tenerowicz to find out what was the state of their loved ones in Europe. Tenerowicz said the German and Russian embassies would be contacted to find information, but it doesn’t appear that he had much success.
Still, life went on.
“Are we excited!” exclaimed an ad for the 1941 Packard cars that were ready to hit the streets for prices anywhere from a mere $907 to a choke-inducing $5,500. These were offered by the Dick Hughey Co., on Jos. Campau, one of the many car dealerships that were regaining strength after the Great Depression.
“Things are good in Hamtramck,” Liberty State Bank proclaimed as it urged people to save in case of an emergency. And the O.K. Beauty Salon at Jos. Campau and Belmont was offering “Holiday Beauty Specials,” including “A genuine O.K. permanent” for only $3.50. (They usually cost $5.) Max’s Jewelry was celebrating its 27th year in business and giving away gifts to customers.
The ever-popular Sweetland Confectionary just moved to a new location at 10209 Jos. Campau. And Jimmy Durante, a long-time singer-comedian-actor who was a huge star back then, was packing them in for his performances at The Bowery Nite Club.
But something was wrong.
This Thanksgiving, in 1940, was still more than a year before the war began for the United States on Dec. 7, 1941, but already it was clear that we were moving towards the conflict.
The draft was in full effect, although so many men were enlisting in the military that the draft quota for November was 627 men for the entire state. There were 500 men of draft age in Hamtramck alone at that time. And there were other seemingly minor, yet telling, items:
• Six Hamtramckans were in a Marine Corps. Reserve unit called up for “special services” and sent to Quantico, Va.
• The common council gave permission for the Greek War Relief Association to solicit money in Hamtramck to help Greece in its defense against the invading Nazis.
• A vicious political ad showed the image of President Franklin Roosevelt rushing to join the ranks of Hitler, Italian dictator Benito Mussolini and Japanese Emperor Hirohito.
• Movies depicting the threat of the Nazis, such as “After Mein Kampf,” are shown at area theaters.
• A newspaper article featured a young draftee praising life in the Army. “It’s far better than I’ve ever expected,” he said.
And on it went. The coming conflict could not be ignored. “Thanksgiving Day Not the Same” was the headline on the front page of The Citizen newspaper on Nov. 15, 1940.
The story beneath related how the date of the holiday had been moved up a week to help businesses extend the holiday shopping season, which traditionally begins on the day after Thanksgiving. And, the story noted, “The big food item on the Thanksgiving menu – turkey – will be bigger, better and cheaper this year than in recent years…”
But it’s the end of the story that resonates with the spirit of Thanksgiving, and makes a pointed message that matters even today. In his annual Thanksgiving proclamation, then-Mayor Walter Kanar poignantly noted:
“I believe that this year especially we have good reason to be grateful and count our blessings, when we compare our peaceful lives and return to prosperity with the suffering, misery and hunger which exists abroad as a result of the greed and schemes of dictators.
“I believe that we should realize that the many privileges and comforts which we enjoy are the direct result of the form of democratic government which we have, and do our utmost to protect and safeguard the principles on which that government is founded by uniting solidly behind our flag, and not allowing minor differences and petty ambitions to cause any rift in our united front.”
Happy Thanksgiving.
(Mr. Kowalski is the Executive Director of the Hamtramck Historical Museum, and he has published several books on the history of the city.)
