Editor’s note: In this current time of economic peril, it is interesting to reflect upon another time of economic crisis, and how citizens of small Depression-era communities, like Auburn, found unique ways to stimulate local business and rebuild their economy. The following article, featuring a longtime Auburn resident, describes one such charming and quite successful endeavor.

BY VICKI HANSEN MUNOZ

For the Auburn Reporter

The year was 1938 and Auburn Merchant’s Travel Tour Contest was in full swing. Open to Auburn ladies 18 years of age or over, the winner would receive the grand prize of an 11-day, all-expense paid excursion to Alaska. (Just approaching the tail end of the Great Depression, that was a hefty prize indeed.)

The contest, sponsored by the Auburn News (236 East Main) and the Northern Pacific Railway, was being held in towns throughout the Pacific Northwest. Customers of participating businesses were allocated votes toward a favorite candidate based on the amount of purchases.

Competitors were encouraged not to feel distressed if they failed to win the all-expense paid tour of Alaska, as second and third place winners would receive the very attractive cash prizes of $50 and $25. With that added incentive, competition soared and papers sold out fast as the weekly vote count was published.

A bevy of Auburn’s lovely young women entered the contest, and as competition grew, ladies were instructed to please abide by the rule that “candidates are not allowed to stand in front of business places and solicit credits from customers,” which could anger merchants.

Winners were to be announced at Auburn’s Granada Theater on Monday, May 31, 1938, “between shows of a dandy moving picture feature,” and the theater was packed. With a final count of 26,483,750 votes, a recent Auburn High School graduate, Anne Repovs, won first place, and was named “Auburn’s Most Popular Girl.”

“Miss Repovs, the Auburn News reported, “being an accomplished musician, had been requested to bring her accordion and played two pieces, which added much to the program … was presented with a gorgeous bouquet of roses, (and) a gift from Steele’s Apparel.”

For her transportation to the Alaska Steamship Company’s passenger liner Baranoff, Anne chose the new 1938 Dodge American Beauty touring sedan, compliments of Valley Motors, and was driven to the pier in Seattle by local Dodge dealer, Wilfred Hall, where she was joined by nearly 100 other contest winners from other participating Northwest towns to begin the coveted, first-place prize journey to Alaska.

Plenty of support

In all, 23 Auburn merchants participated in the exciting and successful event, some still in business today, including Cavanaugh Hardware, Massey’s Market, Kasper’s clothing, J.C. Penney, Peckenpaugh Drug, Scarff Motors, and Valley Motors. “The contest was a success from every standpoint… without a doubt the greatest business stimulator ever conducted in Auburn,” reported the Auburn News, “with a conservative estimate that firms did a total business of $160,000.” (This was in 1938 Depression era earnings when the population of Auburn was around 4,000.)

Upon Repovs’ return to Auburn, the editor of the Auburn News, Dayton Witten, wrote, “Miss Anne Repovs … returned Saturday morning from her 11-day trip to Alaska. She was so overwhelmed with the excursion and its pleasant memories, that she had to be reminded that it was her birthday.” He omitted that the day also included being met at the pier by her future husband, who presented her with a corsage and proposal of marriage. Auburn’s “Most Popular Girl’s” exciting adventure to Alaska was over, and she was beginning another.

Reported by the 1939 Auburn News several months later, “It was as Miss Anne Repovs she set sail for a tour of Alaska last year … Saturday evening she again set sail, this time on the sea of matrimony, as the bride of Howard Hansen…the newlyweds being a well known and popular young couple of Auburn.”

Humble beginnings

Anne Repovs Hansen began her life in a coal mining town in Colorado, born in 1917 to immigrant parents from Slovenia.

When just a few months old, her mother became ill during the 1918 flu epidemic, and later her father was struck with typhoid. Miraculously, both survived, and the family, including two older sisters, Mary and Frances, soon followed other immigrants to the rich coal mines of Black Diamond, where her father found work. As Anne recalled, it was a peaceful time between the two world wars, and although everyone was poor, everyone was happy.

Her biggest interests being playing ball, practicing her violin, and the small town’s winning baseball team, Anne often expressed that all children should be able to experience such happy, carefree days.

The family’s next move to Auburn on South 307th Street, later to become 22nd Street NE, was farm country just outside Auburn city limits, and Frank and Mary Repovs had a small raspberry farm alongside the farms of the Galis, Swansons, Dykstras, and Nishimuras.

Anne entered junior high school in Auburn, and recalled at that time there were only two busses for the entire district. Graduating from Auburn High School in 1935, having been a member of the school orchestra, she was delighted to be invited back for the centennial celebration by the current Auburn High orchestra members and became a featured part of the program.

After high school, Anne worked at the Ben Franklin “dime store” and could be found walking along Main Street, carrying her heavy accordion, which she finally was able to afford, to West Auburn to take her accordion lessons.

During her marriage, Anne stayed at home raising daughters, Vicki and Nikki, while husband Howard worked in Sumner as co-owner of the Signal Oil Distributorship. They became active as charter members of the Auburn Elks, and Anne participated in school and community affairs, while helping on her parents’ farm.

Following her husband’s untimely death in 1965, Anne began another series of adventures. Crediting her Auburn High businesses classes, she established a successful career as a procurement clerk with the General Services Administration, where she worked until her retirement in 1985.

Time for travel

During this time Anne also traveled extensively, to Europe, Puerto Rico, South America and Asia and continued active membership in the Auburn Slovenian lodge, working on the fundraising committee which provided scholarships to students of Auburn and nearby high schools.

In her last years, Anne maintained her sense of humor and zest for life; enjoying her flowers, puzzles, and most of all spending time with her grandsons, Lorenz and David Muñoz and their friends, who delighted in spending time with her, playing music, discussing the latest Mariner news, and listening to her recount Auburn’s “old days” when people didn’t bother locking their doors.

Anne was eternally young, known and loved by all ages, and will be missed greatly in the Auburn community. Well known even by the Auburn Police Department for the time officers willingly lassoed the goats that had wandered into her yard (in a downpour) – she would have been honored at their salute as she took her last ride through her beloved town of Auburn.

Her passing in 2008 at the age of 91 represents the ending of a simpler time, of courtesy, manners, pride in oneself, love of country, small-town gatherings, and neighbor helping neighbor. She continued these traditions throughout her life, with dignity, grace, kindness, laughter, and a smile that will be missed by many.

Giving back

At the time of her death, in lieu of flowers, Anne’s family asked that donations be made to the Auburn Food Bank, which was her favorite charity, because in her words, “everyone has to eat,” and donations are still being accepted in her name at: Auburn Food Bank, P.O. Box 464, Auburn, WA 98071.

When “Annie” became “Auburn’s Most Popular Girl” in 1938, then Mayor Gove said, “We are just as proud to have you represent Auburn as you are to win the contest,” and for the next 70 years Anne Repovs Hansen continued to do just that.