Okay, I know this is from a small-town newspaper. But I find it extremely interesting as to what counts as news worth publishing.
I found this little blurb in the Benton Harbor Weekly Palladium, dated March 30, 1930. For those unaware of it, Benton Harbor is in Michigan, and sits on the southeast side of Lake Michigan (and it gets cold there).
The paper tends to be full of the small-town gossipy stuff you’d expect. Among that is a section with what they call “Matters of Minor Interest” that includes such things as George Butzbach’s horse running away (this was 1930, after all).
But I was most intrigued by the very first item.
MATTERS OF MINOR INTEREST
Chronicled in and About the City
The first barefoot boy of the season was seen on the streetcar Wednesday.
Isn’t that wonderful?
It reminds us that the first “barefoot boy” was as much a harbinger of spring as the first robin. It reminds us that it was worth noting. It also reminds us that there was none of today’s ridiculousness about riding public transportation barefoot.
These days a newspaper notice of a “barefoot boy” might note his being arrested for trying to use a library.
Another “then and now” picture might include both then and now, Benton Harbor was predominately of African ancestry and had a park “given in perpetuity to the people” of the town. Now the governor has thrown out the city officials elected by the people and installed a Gauleiter to run the town. The first action was to give away the park for a rich white country club. You can bet no bare feet will be permitted – maybe even on the beach.
A few weeks ago, as I waited at a red light, I glanced into the glass door of a local county bus. Sure enough, there was a huge sign that said “Shirt and Shoes Required to Ride”, right inside. But you would not know until the door opened and you started walking up the stairs. So a if kid or teenager who was dropped of at the beach in the morning by his parents, and had no shoes with him, decided to go home early, he would have to walk, since they would not let him on. Unreal. I assume, once again, that the sign was not there until you know when…..