In the early 1930s, during the Great Depression, Allentown’s General Harry C. Trexler, the wealthiest citizen in the area, checked on an elderly female friend who lived frugally regardless of tough times. This story of Pennsylvania Dutch thriftiness and hard work illustrated the virtues held by the community. Despite Trexler’s tragic death from a car accident, a young graduate student named Ernest B. Fricke researched how Allentown coped during the Depression. Fricke discovered that despite economic hardships, the community, especially business leaders, organized efforts to mitigate the impact and cooperated with New Deal programs.
Fricke’s research revealed that Allentown struggled economically, with factory workers, construction workers, and retail sales hit hard between 1929 and 1933. However, community efforts, including the formation of trade associations and the Chamber of Commerce, helped limit the crisis’s effects. Banks in the area faced challenges but merging together and organizing helped prevent widespread closures. The Chamber of Commerce also played a significant role in promoting business recovery and recruitment efforts.
Despite challenges like the closure of silk mills and a recession in 1937, Allentown continued to attract industries and create jobs. Collaborative efforts with New Deal programs and the Chamber of Commerce’s leadership showcased how the city’s business community worked together during the Depression. Fricke summarized that Allentown’s entrepreneurs stayed active in lifting the community out of the Depression, embodying the city’s motto of “Dwell Here and Prosper.”
