1942 Austin Texas – Blast from the Past
ByIt’s not too often I get to read the Statesman paper from January 1942 but I had the opportunity to do so with my mom a few weeks back. We were searching for some information on our family history and the best place to start was at the Austin History Center, in the micro film department looking at slide after slide after slide.
We sure didn’t find what we were looking for but we had fun laughing at all the ads. Here’s one of the real estate ads that caught our eye.
1942 ad: HYDE PARK BARGAIN $2000 will purchase a big 5 room cottage, located near Baker school. Good street, beautiful lot, near transportation. This property needs some repairs but with a little improvement would be worth $3250. Terms are available. Call us to see this bargain.
Now: Hyde Park homes are for sale between mid $250-750,000 with updates that range from refurbished wood floors, updated kitchens, additions –Some of the homes currently for sale are beauties.
I sometimes wondered why my grandpa would get so amazed at the prices of things in general – everything from a haircut to milk to living expenses to the cost of Bush’s Chicken. After reading these 1942 ads and comparing the prices to today’s market, it puts a lot in perspective.
Houses aren’t selling for 1942 prices but there are some good priced homes to be purchased. Give me a call or email if you want to find out about what’s for sale.
fun information! Austin has changed so much, especially in the last 20 years. Even with all the changes its a great place to live and Hyde Park is an adorable neighborhood!
Touche, Shelley! The transformation that’s taken place in the last 20 years has been amazing and shocking. Anyone know what the price range was in Hyde Park 20 years ago?
How funny – my mom was born in ’42, lots happening that year. Hyde Park is a favorite neighborhood of mine and has such a fantastic history – its funny to think that in ’42 that was considered a suburb of Austin!