Like many small towns across the United States, Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania was hit hard by the Great Depression. However, in addition to the financial strains that countless small towns were hit by, Selinsgrove was rocked by numerous natural disasters that continually devastated the local economy and region. Throughout the course of the Great Depression Selinsgrove and the Snyder County region were plagued with fires, droughts, and flooding. In addition to this, Susquehanna University suffered as college extracurriculars floundered due to the disposable funds needed to sustain activities like rushing fraternities weren’t readily available or present.
(Picture from Charles Fashold Flickr)
In the early years of the Great Depression, Selinsgrove, along with the rest of Snyder County was rocked by a drought that devastated the local economy. State observers came to survey the damage and indicated that the damage caused by the drought cause some of the “most distressing condition that has been known in a generation.” (newspaper)
(Picture from Charles Fashold Flickr)
The soil was described as being “packed as hard as clay and baked as dry as a pile of ashes.” It was noted that many farmers would be devasted by the conditions, as they were unable to grow staple foods like corn and potatoes, in addition to other vegetables that could be canned or jarred. (newspaper)
(photo in possession of Phi Mu Delta Mu Alpha chapter)
The local college community was impacted by the Great Depression as well. As the university suffered, so too did extracurriculars on campus. Greek Life on campus suffered due to the lack of disposable income students had access to. Starting in 1927 fraternity recruitment for the fraternity Phi Mu Delta suffered, with the number of incoming members decreasing over a ten year period. (interview with Vincent Bucci, May 2, 2024)
(Picture from Charles Fashold Flickr)
On Thursday March 19, 1936 the largest recorded flooding in Snyder County occurred, with the Susquehanna River reaching a height of 31 feet. Flooding impacted the town due to the river overflowing into Penn’s Creek about a mile north of the town, culminating with the creek itself overflowing into town. (Story of Snyder County)
(Picture from Charles Fashold Flickr)
Damage to Selinsgrove entered the hundreds of thousands of dollars range, in addition to damaging countless local businesses. Out of all of the towns in Snyder County, Selinsgrove was hit the hardest, with areas of Shamokin Dam also being affected. (Story of Snyder County)
(Picture from Charles Fashold Flickr)
In the early morning hours of February 15, 1938 a fire broke out on Market Street. The buildings that were most affected by the fire were Wentzel’s Department Store and an apartment building, with the First National Bank’s walls helping to prevent the spread of the fire. Two of the fourteen residents of the victimized apartment building perished in the fire, with one resident being transported to the hospital in critical condition. (Story of Snyder County)