THE EASTLAND DISASTER
by Tony Taton

During the Great Depression (1929 until 1938), the nation suffered on the day of October 24, 1929. The bottom fell out of Wall Street in New York City and the crash came with the closing of many banks.

The nation slowed down as shops closed. Twenty-five percent of the labor force of the nation was unemployed, while many people lost their homes because they couldn’t make the monthly payments. In the village of Lexington, a good portion of the men were employed in the commercial fishing business. There were two commercial fisheries in the village of Lexington. The Michael Meyers fishery and the D.C. Howard fishery employed some 20-30 men between them. Also, north a few miles, was Wm. Wiltsie, who also was a commercial fisherman and employed six to eight men.

In the winter months, the equipment was repaired, painted, made in tip-top shape and nets were repaired. There was plenty of time for hunting of rabbits, which were most people’s favorite and were very plentiful to the taking. After a good snow, the men would meet at Melvin Dingman’s Sinclair gas station, two car loads of them. Their dogs (12) and men would motor up to the Minden swamp to hunt rabbits. They would get back just after dark to the station. Sometimes they would have one or two burlap bags full. They would put them on the floor, take what they wanted for their families and the rest were given to the ladies of the village, whoever wanted them. None were wasted.

Some of the men were Mel Dingman, Jack Spencer, Colt Cummings, Elden Campbell, John Wandrei, Joseph Meyers, Pete Hyde, and my father, Charlie Taton. These old boys all lived to be old-timers and enjoyed the good game, which the good Lord provided for them. However, each of them played by the rules and were generous with their game with others who were needy in their times.