[Vegaschips]

I wanted to do something special to mark my 100th post so...here you go Clark County! A snapshot of life in 1940 courtesy of the U.S. Census. I've been working on it for the last month and a half and I'm full! Really, though, I've been around the country extracting data for friends and family at the same time and I hope you will too. I'll place an URL at the end for the census. As a bonus, I'll also include a plat map URL along with Sanborn and historical map sites. Very handy, I'll tell you. Now, for the snapshot!!

Places of birth hail from all over the United States, but just look at the smörgåsbord of countries; Denmark, Italy, England, Scotland, Sweden, Free State of Ireland, Norway, Greece, Germany, Canada, Russia, Spain, Hungary, Mexico, Yugoslavia, France, Holland, Poland, New Brunswick, Austria, Crete, Switzerland, Syria, Iceland, Belgium, Canada French, Montenegro, Finland. To be sure, this was a happenin' place in 1940.

In the whaduyadofuralivin' column they state; Fur business, hod carrier, flying cadet, darner, cowboy, blacksmith, showman, shill, cat-house manager, hat checker, comedian, patent medicine salesman, assayer, infirmarian, lumber merchant (Edward Von Tobel), civil service (mayor, John L. Russell), priest (Father Donald Carmody), employment manager (Nevada State, William Earl Felker), eight inmates (Las Vegas City Jail) and Representative to the President (Railroad, Walter Bracken). Sixteen gals listed their occupation as prostitutes in the “refreshment industry”. One gal's name was Irene Godbehere, a 23 year old born in Texas who called Phoenix her home in 1935. Arrow Harjo was a 22 year old Sooner that lived in San Antonio five years earlier.

Las Vegas pioneer William E. Ferron (former mayor and owner of several Las Vegas drug stores including the White Cross) valued his home at 404 Fremont for $30,000. James Cashman's place at 215 4th street listed for $7,000 and H.W. Harvey worked for the State Police. Roger Foley, born in Iowa, was a “Judge, Local Court”. His son, George Foley, 17, was born here. Sherwin Garside worked at the LVRJ.

Where'd they find 'em? Outside Las Vegas there was Sloan, Goodsprings, Sandy Valley and...Headwaters of the Muddy River, Lake Shore Mine, St. Thomas, Nelson, Pueblo, Tokio, Crystal, Byron, Farrier and...the WPA Hospital, “City dump, 10 souls enumerated”, Lorenzi Ranch, Stagrooms, railroad rooms, Elko rooms and the “jungles” (transients and hobos), “the following 20 persons enumerated in the jungles, Las Vegas (Hobo)”.

The Dunes was here along with The Desert Inn, Apache Casino and the El Patio. You had Western Airlines, Shaw's Jewelry, Moapa Valley Creamery, City Mercantile Co, Ronzone's Store (Bertha), Ethel's Liquors (Rapaport), Town Barbecue and Southern Nevada Disinfectant. Take in a movie? El Portal Theater or the Palace Theater was the ticket.

Not many motels, I only saw two, the Nevada and the Home Motels. Hotels? Well, you had the Granger, McDonald, National, Ritz, Wallman, El Patio, Union, Charleston, Virginia, Lincoln, Park, Las Vegas, Bellvue and Overland Hotels.

The “Auto Courts” I found were the Ambassador, Palace, Kings Rest, Lido, Old Rancho, Fremont, Deluxe, Monte Carlo, Silver State, Gateway, Normandie(sic), Boulder, Lincoln, Speirs and one "Private". And you could have your auto serviced at the El Rio Garage, Cashman Garage or Jeffreys Garage. Did these Auto Courts become “Motels” later on?

The Mission Bar or Las Vegas Tavern served alcohol as did the Yucca, Las Vegas, Northern, Frontier, 91 and Apache Clubs.

Grab a bite at the Las Vegas, Oasis or White Spot Cafés but my money would be on the Overland Cafe - Owned by Woo, Woo, Wing, Chee and Gon or the Silver Cafe - “Big operation owned by Sue Fong and her brother.”

The Green Shack stood the test of time though – The owner, Frank McCormick, was born in Indiana in 1905, moved here from San Francisco with his wife Elaine shortly after 1935, I figure, since their son James was born here and was four at the time he was enumerated.

Here're the URL's so have a blast: http://tinyurl.com/7r2vtgmSearch the 1940 Census - 1940 Censushttp://tinyurl.com/74k45uxhttp://tinyurl.com/6wq5y4s
http://tinyurl.com/7r2vtgm

[Buzz123]

Interesting stuff, Vegaschips. Thanks for posting that.

Were there old hotels downtown called "Desert Inn" and "Dunes" in 1940 prior to the ones on the Strip? The ones on the Strip began in 1950 and 1955 respectively, but I doubt those names were newly thought up being that we're in the desert.

[dynimagelv]

[quote=Vegaschips;24590445]
Grab a bite at the Las Vegas, Oasis or White Spot Cafés but my money would be on the Overland Cafe - Owned by Woo, Woo, Wing, Chee and Gon or the Silver Cafe - “Big operation owned by Sue Fong and her brother.”

QUOTE]

Sue Fong went on to open FONGS GARDENS and 17th and charlestin.....OUTSTANDING Chinese

[ElleTea]

Very interesting!

[Buzz123]

[quote=dynimagelv;24599743]

Originally Posted by Vegaschips

Grab a bite at the Las Vegas, Oasis or White Spot Cafés but my money would be on the Overland Cafe - Owned by Woo, Woo, Wing, Chee and Gon or the Silver Cafe - “Big operation owned by Sue Fong and her brother.”

QUOTE]

Sue Fong went on to open FONGS GARDENS and 17th and charlestin.....OUTSTANDING Chinese

Yeah but two Fongs didn't make it wite.

[PinkString]

[quote=Buzz123;24601315]

Originally Posted by dynimagelv

Yeah but two Fongs didn't make it wite.

Terrible...lol. 20 lashes with a wet noodle for you.

[yellowsnow]

Thank you! This is quite wonderful!