Chief Askew's Diary: March 6, 1930

Drunk driver forfeits bond; the cost of a dozen eggs, then and now

The drunken driver who had wrecked on Monday night didn’t show up for Mayor’s Court this morning, forfeiting his $25 bond. That was $475 in constant dollars — a fair piece of change.

Incidentally, the mayor of Newnan who presided over the court was James E. Brown, who was also the former editor and publisher of the Newnan Herald and Advertiser, where he was known for his “insightful editorials.” He retired in 1928 after some 40 years of helming Newnan newspapers and was elected mayor, serving for another 10 years. Brown died in 1939 at age 85.

A dozen eggs for 27 cents? Oh, how we wish. But what did that mean in constant dollars? You might be surprised. Paid subscribers can read on.

The A&P ad above was clipped from the March 7, 1930 Atlanta Journal via newspapers.com.