In A Newport Minute | 1926-1935

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This video is the 16th in our series, In A Newport Minute, created by the Newport Historical Society as part of Newport’s contribution to America Turns 250. Each installment highlights a moment in American history within a ten‑year span, beginning in 1776 and continuing to the present day.

Across these 25 short videos, we’ll explore how Newport grew, adapted, and evolved alongside the nation—sometimes in step with national events, sometimes in its own unique way. Our goal is to bring local history to life and show how our community’s story fits into the larger American narrative.

We invite you to follow along every two weeks as we share new chapters in Newport’s past.

Overview

This video chronicles how Newport and its surrounding area experienced and responded to the early years of the Great Depression (1929–1933), tracing economic decline from the 1929 stock market crash to local unemployment and industry contraction. It highlights the town’s economic vulnerabilities, especially in textiles and shoe manufacturing, that fueled widespread job losses.

The narrative details relief measures across government and community levels: federal and state work programs, local Relief Committee initiatives, volunteer drives, donated resources, and civic coordination that provided jobs, food, clothing, and training. It emphasizes communal solidarity and practical programs that helped Newport endure the crisis.

All of the videos in the series can be viewed using the link below:

Sources & Credits:

Archives & Historical Collections

• Newport Historical Society Photo Archives
• The Argus-Champion Digital Archives (1930–1932), Richards Free Library
• The Argus-Champion (May 26, 1932 edition)
• The National Eagle Digital Archives (1933–1935), Fiske Free Library, Claremont, NH

Online Articles & Historical Records

• Great Depression Newspaper Headlines & 1929 Stock Market Crash – Click Americana
  
• New Hampshire Department of Corrections History – NH.gov
  
• Best College Towns in the Northeast – 97.5 WOKQ
  
• The History of Social Work in the United States – University of Texas at Arlington Pressbooks
  
• Senatorial Bloodhound: Charles W. Tobey of New Hampshire – The Knoxville Focus
  
• George Austin Dorr Memorial – Find a Grave
  
• USS North Carolina (BB-55) – Wikipedia
  
• USS South Dakota (BB-57) – Wikipedia
  
• 1931 USA Christmas Seal Block Reference – eBay
  
• Archival Photo Reference – Facebook
  

Key Words:

George Santayana, Mr. Ellison, Fred Aiken, Elmer Dodge, Newport, United States, October 1929, National Guard Armory, Newport Post Office, New Hampshire (NH), NH Prison system, Relief Committee on Unemployment, Boy Scouts, Red Cross, Methodist Church, First National Stores, Information Booth, “Good News”, “Be Loyal to Newport”, “Ingathering Day”

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