1930-1945: Depression to Jets

1930-37 - These were the years of Lancaster's most famous athletic team. Whitford Carter had formed the Lancaster All Stars Basketball Team, which in one of these years defeated the Pasadena Majors, who were the pacific Coast A.A.U. Champions in 1935 and '36, the All Stars were in the major Southern California A.A.U. League. The winners of this league, Universal Pictures, not only won the United States Championship, but went on to Berlin and won the first World Basketball Championship at the Olympic Games.

Charity games were organized and played with outstanding teams brought in from Los Angeles metropolitan area to play the local teams. The proceeds were given to needy and out-of-work families.

1931 - The Edison Company installed lights at the high school field and night ball started.

1932 - The Fernando Milling and Supply built their alfalfa mill here and provided employment to many people.

1933-34 - Farming and alfalfa were the Valley's major industries. When the price of alfalfa dropped during the Depression years, many Lancaster and Valley residents turned to working in the gold mines around Rosamond and Mojave. Gold mining really began booming in 1934 when the price of gold was raised from $20.67 to $35 per ounce and provided many jobs, which in turn helped support Lancaster businesses. Utilities, the railroad and Fernando Milling also provided steady employment.

1935 - The most serious fire in the history of Lancaster occurred this year. Five store fronts were burned to the ground, another completely ruined and two others damaged. This fire was on Tenth Street and Antelope Avenue.

1937 - Mrs. Jane Reynolds donated the block square of land at Elm Avenue and 13th Street for a Lancaster park, named for her.

1939 - In October of this year, on a cold, windy day, the Lancaster BPO Elks was organized at the Antelope Valley Fairgrounds.

1941 - War Eagle Field (now Mira Loma) was completed and the Royal Air Force from England started their training here. It seemed strange to see so many RAF boys on the streets of Lancaster.

Word was received that Ivan Westerfield from Lancaster lost his life at Pearl Harbor, our first WW II casualty.