In January of 1940, the NYA had established sixty workshops throughout Texas to provide work experience and income to unemployed youth. By January 22nd, heavy snow had blanketed most of Texas, including Gonzales, which received four inches. Two days later, on January 24th, the second floor of the Episcopal Rectory located in Block 46 burned down.
On February 5th, a quarter of North Avenue students were absent from school due to measles or the flu. A month later, on March 11th, the NYA residence for girls opened at 327 St. Joseph Street. The following day, the roof was being placed on the rock building known as the Boy Scout Hut, which was being constructed by the NYA. It had a kitchenette, a fireplace, a rest room, and a 24’x36’ assembly room.
On March 13th, it was announced that Gonzales High School would change from eleven to twelve grades. Recruitment of boys aged seventeen to twenty-three for the CCC began the following day. On March 23rd, Robert Van Beveren left for Berkeley, CA, where he would attend the Cincinnati Reds’ training camp. A month later, on April 22nd, it was reported that Fred Scheske would be working with the training team for the St. Louis Browns in Mayfield, Kansas.
On May 3rd, the Lions Club of Gonzales was formed at noon. Nine days later, baccalaureate services were held at the Memorial Museum amphitheater for seventy-six graduating seniors. On June 13th, the Stahl Brothers plant processed over 4,000 chickens daily, employing 300 people. On June 19th, two hundred scouts gathered for the dedication of the Boy Scout Hut, built by the NYA and partially funded by Mrs. J.M. Murphey.
During June, John Marriott was employed to prepare plans for the shop building to be constructed on the high school campus on St. Louis Street, which was an NYA project. Additionally, the Eastside Baptist Church opened on the corner of Seydler and St. Andrew Streets, and the Lutheran Church building was constructed at 1206 St. Joseph Street. The population of the county during this time was 26,075, with a town population of 4,722.
