The following 1930 (eighty years ago) reports were printed in the January 1, 1931 edition of The Richmond Palladium & Sun Telegram.

BAKING COMPANY REPORTS 1930 AS BIG YEAR.

 New Year’s Day for the Richmond Baking company this year, is not a holiday. So many orders are pressing that the factory will have to work regular hours on the first day of 1931, in order not to fall behind in filling requirements. E.K. Quigg, president, states that more orders are booked for January than were ever before received for one month ahead.

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PUBLIC THANKED BY FIRE CHIEF FOR AID GIVEN TOY PROJECT.

 A statement thanking the people of Richmond for their co-operation with the members of the fire company stationed at the city building in the recent Christmas toy project for the poor children of the city was made yesterday by Ed Miller, fire chief. (Chief Miller would die in the line of duty, in February, the month after this article was published).

 ”The firemen were supplied with thousands of toys for reconditioning the past year by hundred (s) of kind hearted people, to whom we extend our heartfelt thanks,” said Chief Miller. “These toys were distributed to more than 1,600 boys and girls at Christmas time, children who otherwise would have had a sad instead of a merry Christmas.” (Wouldn’t it be great if the Fire Department re-instated Chief Miller’s Toy Project?)

 The toy project will be carried out again this year and any families who have toys to donate to the firemen to be reconditioned for distribution next Christmas are asked to send them as soon as possible to the city building fire station.

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WILL COMPLETE 39 YEARS AS POSTMAN.

 William B. Arnold, 62 years old, is the oldest employe in point of service at the Richmond post office. Mr. Arnold will complete his 39th consecutive year of service next March (March 1932).

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DIVORCE COURT.

January 1, 1931; Christine Smith vs Howard Smith; D.S. Bradburn vs Martha Bradburn

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NEW CONSTRUCTION BUILDING PERMITS.

198 Permits Issued During Twelve Months (1930)

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GEAR COMPANY PRODUCTION IS NEARLY NORMAL.

 One Richmond industry that is running almost as well as a year ago is the Automotive Gear company. President C.E. Hamilton of that company reports that the day before Christmas the working force was only three men short of being as large as was at work the same day a year ago.

 Increased orders in December caused more men to be taken on, some departments being placed on a two shift basis. The men are now working eight hours a day. If business continues to increase, the regular working day of nine and one-half hours will ultimately be restored.

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NATCO STARTS ON NEW ORDERS AFTER NEW YEAR.

 H.W. Bockhoff, president of the National Automatic Tool company states the 1931 outlook for his company’s business has materially improved in the past two weeks. A large order for machines for the Ford Motor Car company of Detroit, has been closed and production on it will start immediately.

 A deal for a large order of special machines for the Russian government is pending. Other orders for early delivery are about closed, according to the reports made by the sales department to Mr. Bockhoff.

 At the present time officials of the company are busy selecting new machines and improvements on standard machines, submitted by the engineering department, for patenting.

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THEATER MOVIES.

 Now Playing at the Ritz Theater; HER MAN, starring Helen Twelvetrees, Ricardo Cortez, James Gleason and Marjorie Rambeau; The girl who had no tomorrow! He was her man—but he done her wrong,  runs the old song, and around this theme revolves a vivid, realistic, colorful drama of the regeneration of a girl born “on the wrong side of the island”.

 Now Playing at the Tivoli Theater; THE RIGHT TO LOVE, a Paramount Movie; starring Ruth Chatterton, Paul Lukas, David Manners; From Susan Glaspell’s Novel, “Brook Evans”. If this girl knew what the years will bring, would she choose again to love once—then pay all her life in sorrow? YES! For she cheats her frustration in the life of her daughter! Teaches her to choose fearlessly and love courageously! Both roles—-mother and daughter—- are portrayed by The First Lady of the Screen in a drama of passionate beauty! Added Presentations: LEATHER PUSHERS Present “Knockout Kid”; Ted Bock at the Organ; New Year’s Novelty Paramount News. Coming; Will Rogers in “LIGHTNIN”.

 Now Playing at the Hudson Theater; Matinee; 15c; Night; 20c; Two Features; LET US BE GAY, starring Norma Shearer, Marie Dressler, Rod La Roque, Gilbert Emery, Hedda Hopper. A Metro Goldwyn Mayer All Talking Movie; Norma Shearer —- turns in the best performance of her talkie career (and that’s not forgetting “The Divorcee“) in this modern romance made from Rachel Crothers’ outstanding Broadway stage hit. TRAILING TROUBLE, All Action! All Comedy! Hoot Gibson; There’s thrill piled upon thrill in this lightning-swift picture of thugs, Chinatown underworld, breakneck riding, and the great outdoors. Saturday; Buster Keaton, “DOUGHBOYS”.

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COMING YEAR MAY BE BEST FOR BELDEN.

 The Belden Manufacturing company, makers of insulated wire products, report the receipt of an unusual number of inquiries for this season of the year for prices and quantities of their products they are willing to contract to deliver in 1931. This company has enjoyed an unusual amount of business during the past year of depression, on account of the low cost of production at their new Richmond plant, and also on account of the low cost of copper metal.

 It is stated that if the present inquiries result in a material increase in the company’s 1931 business, there is a possibility of going ahead this year with the construction of the third unit of buildings at the plant in Fairview. This improvement when it is made, will represent an additional investment of around $200,000.

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ROBINSON EXPECTS NEW YEAR TO MARK START OF NEW ERA.

 H.R. Robinson, president of the Swayne-Robinson company, states that new orders recently received have caused him to form a more favorable estimate of business of his company in 1931. They are working now on a new order from the Fibre Conduit company, for conduit forming machines to be installed in new additions to the firm’s factories at Richmond and at Orangeburg, N.Y.

 The foundry department has been running steadily on grey iron casting orders, some of which are from new customers recently acquired. Speaking of the general situation Mr. Robinson said, “I look forward to 1931 as the beginning of another period of prosperity.”

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The news reported in this January 1, 1931 print was really good news…considering the Nation was in its 3rd year of the Great Depression. (1929-1939) Prohibition (1920-1933) would be abolished in 1933. DT.