“How Mono Boomed During the Great Depression”

On Monday, August 5, author David Carle, will present How Mono Boomed During the Great Depression “ at the monthly Mono Basin Historical Society meeting.   A potluck dinner and business meeting begins at 6 PM at the Lee Vining Community Center; the program at 7 PM.

Mono Boom

Tunnel workers celebrating on completing a section beneath the Mono Craters/Photo courtesy LADWP

While the Great Depression afflicted the nation through the 1930s, the Mono Lake Basin experienced an economic “boom.”  Local populations more than doubled as 2,000 workers and their families came to construct the Los Angeles Aqueduct extension and tunnel project; while the Civilian Conservation Corps built trails and campgrounds; and 100 highway workers paved portions of the Tioga road; and by 1940, 70 miners toiled at the Log Cabin Mine.  On Saturday nights, many joined locals in Leevining (the 1930s spelling of Lee Vining) and June Lake to dance, drink, gamble and carouse.  Long-term impacts from the aqueduct project would slowly become apparent as quieter decades followed the temporary boom.

David Carle is the author of 13 non-fiction books and 2 novels, and is the President of the Mono Basin Historical Society.

All are welcome to this free event.  Visit the Mono Basin Historical Society webpage atwww.monobasinhistory.org.

 

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