Hard Times, War Times, and Good Times
TWENTIETH CENTURY EVENTS \J intah County was drawn into world events when the United States entered World War I on 2 April 1917. Three hundred eighteen young men from Uintah County served in this war, with fifteen giving their lives. County residents made many sacrifices for the war, including rationing and cutbacks, but also benefited from the conflict as the war period brought boom times to American industry and to Uintah County. The war ended on 11 November 1918. The worldwide influenza epidemic that occurred shortly after the war also had an impact on Uintah County, as will be discussed elsewhere in this book. Especially troubled economic times began in October 1929 when stock values plunged dramatically and the Great Depression began. As the troubles deepened, banks, factories, and stores closed across the country, leaving millions of Americans penniless and jobless. At the beginning of the Depression, Vernal seemed to prosper. After forty-two years of service to residents of Uintah County, the Ashley Co-operative underwent a complete remodeling, with a store addition as well as new equipment. The sheep industry brought in 174
