Tax records for 1923 show that Martha McSpadden, who had
formally worked for the Liberty Theater, was the manager for the
Grand. She assumed ownership of the theater in 1946, but not before
she influenced the outcome of WWII. Mrs. McSpadden insured that
theater employees contributed their share toward buying war bonds.
In a letter sent to Electran men and women in the military, Mrs.
McSpadden informed them of the impressive quotas that were met.
The Fifth War Loan Campaign had a quota of 295,000 dollars.
In total, all loans from Electra equaled over one million dollars!
The Fifth War Loan received $165.00 for every man, woman and child
in Electra. Not a small amount in the 40s. The letter also says:
"…and somewhere in the world a Flying Fortress named "The City
of Electra" is carrying bombs to the enemy because we oversubscribed
the Third War Loan Drive."
The Lost Art of the Small Town Courtesy .........Next
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