Up in the Woods: Shell Lake During The Great Depression, 1928-1941

Abstract

The period between 1930 and 1940 saw the worst economic period in American History. In the northern woodlands of Wisconsin, the Village of Shell Lake fought to survive. Before the Depression, the village was quickly becoming one of the most prominent towns in Washburn County. But at the turn of the decade it quickly lost over 10 percent of its population with a heavy portion of the rest left unemployed. The village represents many of the general themes across the nation in regards to the Depression as follows. Its business sector mainly dealt with manufacturing and general labor industries as well as farmers whom were all dealt major blows economically. In tandem with the nation’s bank system collapse, The Bank of Shell Lake shut down in 1931 and left the citizens without access to bank support. Without financial access, the village crumbled. In this paper, I will be analyzing the efforts made by the Village of Shell Lake during the Great Depression. I will also be presenting data and information on the extent to which Shell Lake and Washburn County received aid from the Government. And finally, I will be comparing Shell Lake to the national trends of the Depression.