Back When... Life Was Simpler, and So Were the Prices

In June of 1970, the pages of The Waldron News captured a portrait of small-town life—grocery specials, early summer sales, and cherished milestones. One of those moments was the engagement of Miss Sherry Churchill, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. E.B. Churchill of Waldron, to Butch Johnston, son of Mr. and Mrs. R.E. (Bink) Johnston, also of Waldron. Sherry was set to graduate that year from Waldron High School, while her fiancé, a 1967 graduate of WHS, had recently completed training at Arkansas Vo-Tech School. The couple planned to make their home in Waldron, and a blanket invitation was extended to the community for their May 29 wedding at Waldron United Methodist Church.

Announcements like this were more than just news—they were reflections of a town where names were familiar, celebrations were shared, and lives were intertwined through generations.

That same issue offered a snapshot of daily living through the lens of local ads. At Davis Grocery & Market, cube steak was 99 cents a pound. Coffee sold for $1.59, sugar was 49 cents, and you could pick up eight cans of tomato sauce for a dollar. Girls’ swimsuits ranged from $1.98 to $4.98. A full white uniform? Five dollars even.

Those prices, while stunning to today’s eye, were simply normal back then. Fast-forward 55 years, and cube steak now averages close to $8 per pound. A single bag of sugar or flour today might cost $4 to $6—about the same amount families once spent on an entire grocery trip in 1970. The comparison isn’t just about rising prices—it’s about how dramatically the value of a dollar has changed.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the cumulative rate of inflation from 1970 to 2025 is over 700%. That means what cost $1 in 1970 now costs over $8. While wages and lifestyles have changed, the cost of living has grown far more rapidly—and with it, the dependency on larger, less personal supply chains.

But the shift wasn’t just economic—it was cultural. Back then, most families in Waldron had gardens in their yards. They canned vegetables, shared eggs, butchered locally, and relied on one another. Grocery stores were supplemental, not the sole source of food.

Today, with rising prices and uncertain supply chains, the wisdom of the past is reemerging. Growing our own food, shopping local, and supporting farmers’ markets isn’t just nostalgic—it’s necessary. Local agriculture strengthens community ties and offers greater food security and freshness than distant corporate chains can provide.

As we reflect on that June issue—from engagement photos to grocery prices—it becomes clear that some of the most valuable things haven’t changed. Love, resilience, and local pride still define who we are. And the more we hold on to what made us strong then, the better prepared we’ll be for tomorrow.