A feeling of deja vu comes through when you read the Herald from October 1933, 75 years ago. Headlines back then announced the U.S. would lend millions in the NRA (National Recovery Act) drive. President Franklin Roosevelt was conferring on the merging of federal agencies to expand credit.
"Millions of dollars in loans are promised to enable public establishments handicapped by inadequate working capital to live up to NRA requirements," the Herald reported.
There was help from the government, too, when a charter was issued for the new First National Bank in Grand Forks. When the bank opened Oct. 4, 1933, it set a precedent as a depositor-owned institution. Out of the 50 percent dividends on their deposits in the defunct First National Bank, depositors bought common stock of the new institution.
R.F. Bridgeman was president of the new First National Bank. Grand Forks' own J.F.T. O'Connor, who had become national comptroller of currency, was the speaker at the bank opening. The Herald, referring to him as "Jefty," said the opening came with the helpful guidance from O'Connor.
Then, as now, times were tough and money was short. At least seven university students in 1933-34 were paying their fees in the form of farm products. Three or four were bringing shipments of potatoes. One student would supply turkeys for the Thanksgiving menu. Two or three were going to exchange beef, while one farmer near Grand Forks would supply milk.
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The enrollment at UND 75 years ago reached 1,348, with 925 men and 423 women.
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A front-page editorial by M.M. Oppegard, president and publisher of the Herald, called on the community to back Jack West's UND football teams. Fraternity and sorority members were starting a sale of tickets. The town must back the team to assure splendid entertainment and the publicity UND gets from having a superior football team, Oppegard said.
"On its banner of victory after victory, this team has carried the name of North Dakota and Grand Forks from coast to coast, from the northern boundary to the Gulf of Mexico," he wrote.
Then when George Washington University came to Grand Forks for a game with the UND Sioux, sportswriter C.D. Locklin wrote, "Football forces from the banks of the Potomac and the valley of the Red River will meet for a colorful grid battle Oct. 6." The game was played under the floodlights of North Dakota's beautiful new Memorial Stadium. The Sioux were basking in the four previous years as North Central Conference champions.
Sadly, the Oct. 7 headline in the Herald read, "Husky Colonials crush Sioux 27 to 6." But the Herald said 6,000 fans enjoyed watching the team push over one touchdown. John Howard's 110 piece university band performed, along with eight area high school bands.
Later, on homecoming at UND, the Sioux and the Bison battled to a finish of 7 to 7. They played in a wintry setting before 5,000 fans. Gov. William Langer crowned Sioux Queen Helen Fodness of Grand Forks.
