Chapter 28

LIFE IN HENNESSEY AND ENID,  OKLAHOMA

 Orren and Alida had their first child in Kingfisher, Oklahoma, Marjorie Ruth Anderson, a beautiful little red head, born June 18, 1926.

 In 1926, Orren and Jim Sandusky were still trying to sell Chevrolet pick-ups to the German farmers around Kingfisher.  Times were different in those days. 

 What was going on in 1926?

• Calvin Coolidge was our President
• Postage stamps cost 2 cents.
• Westinghouse and G.E. did a joint venture starting a news radio network called, N.B.C.
• SAT test were established for college entrance.
• General Motors began making Pontiacs.
• Miss America, Norma Smallwood was from Oklahoma.
• University of Alabama was the NCAA football champs (some things never change).
• A youngster living on a farm near Kingfisher, was Sam Walton. Years later he started a company named WAL MART.

 Around 1928,  Orren and Alida moved to Hennessey, OK. to open a new Chevrolet Agency.  Their second child, Jimmie Lee Anderson, was born, April 15, 1932.  There was no hospital in Hennessey, so Orren and Alida traveled nineteen miles to the Enid Baptist Hospital for their son’s delivery.

                               Marjorie Ruth, Jim Lee & Cousin Gene Caffey

 What was going on in 1932?

. .                 . Herbert Hoover lost the presidential election to Franklin Rosevelt.

                   . The great depression began all around the world.

                    . United States unemployment rate was 24%.

                    . 2500 banks fail in USA.

                    . Bread 10 cents a loaf, hamburger meat 10 cents a pound.

                    . New car cost $610., new house average cost $540.

                    . First parking meter invented in Oklahoma.

                    .  Amelia Ear hart was first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic.

                    . Wm., “Alfalfa Bill”, Murray, was Governor of Oklahoma.

Even though times were really tough, Jim Sandusky  and Orren Anderson’s dealerships managed to survive.  Both agencies were located in the nations “wheat belt” and the farmers needed trucks.  Hennessey was a friendly small town where everyone knew their neighbors.  Sunday picnics were regular social events in Hennessey.

                            Lower right, Marjorie, Orren, and Jim Lee

 Around 1936, Orren and Alida decided their children should attend a larger school.  Enid, 19 miles away, had what they were looking for.  Orren sold his interest in the agency and moved the family to Enid. 

While awaiting for General Motors approval to open Enid’s first Pontiac Agency, Orren passed the  year playing the cotton futures and traveling with his family.

Los Angeles, 1936, on the studio production lot of “Pennies from Heaven”. Left a cousin(?) , Alida, Jim Lee, Orren and Marjorie.

After the families extended vacation to Medicine Park, Yellowstone Park, Green Mountain Falls and California, they returned to Enid and opened Enid’s first Pontiac Agency.  Orren took on a partner, Paul Buthod.  They eventually expanded their business to include an automobile salvage yard.

                                Detroit meeting of Pontiac dealers.  Orren third from the left.

In those days a brand new Pontiac cost $1000. Car business was good until World War II started .  As the United States entered the war against Germany and later Japan, all the Detroit automobile manufactures stopped making cars for the private sector and started making tanks and airplanes for the war effort.  Orren had no Pontiacs to sell.  He still had the salvage yard which as it turned out, was a prosperous venture, as civilians had to keep their cars running from parts from salvage yards.

With no new cars to sell, Orren was being considered for the Enid Postmaster position. However, he decided to help in the war effort by taking an administrative position with a battle ship building firm in Oregon.

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