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1920 to World War II
At the beginning of the Roaring Twenties, it had been just over ten years since incorporation, and the village continued to grow, change, and improve. By 1921, the population had grown to 287 in the village and 2,144 in the RM. The growth and change the community experienced during this period was especially evident in the business community with many stores on Grand Avenue (known as Central Avenue today) and Railway Street (known as First Street today) opening, moving or expanding. With the community expanding, a housing shortage was experienced.

Access to the rest of the world began to improve in the 20s as well. In 1922, Saskatchewan got its first radio station- CKCK Regina. In November, a radio was installed in the village hall to allow people to listen to concerts. Soon after, people started installing radios in their homes. Improvements to the village water supply were carried out in this period. They drilled a well, built a reservoir, and installed an engine and pump, and then people would transport their water home themselves. In 1923, 1,200 lineal feet of cement walk was also built that took the place of the run-down boardwalks. Electrical lighting came to the village as well. Street lights, rink lights, businesses and homes were supplied with electrical light. Articles from The Morning Leader in 1923 indicate that there were good rains and that there was “every sign of a bumper crop.” 1928 was the best year for crops of the century up to that time. This prosperity allowed people to spend money on improving the community, and improving their farming operations with equipment. During the years of good crops of the 20s, land was being taken up at a brisk rate and this caused the land to go up by $2 per acre.

This prosperous era of improvement and change came to a halt with the Great Depression. The price of a bushel of wheat went from $1.15 in 1929 to 30 cents in 1933.

Along with the stock market crash, crops failed due to rust and drought. In 1930, over 1,000 acres of wheat in the district were not worth cutting due to rust. In most years, whatever crops did emerge were often damaged from wind. Fallow practices were implemented to mitigate the damage, but these factors combined to create severe dust storms. In 1938, the crop yield was only two bushels per acre, and only rose to four bushels per acre the following year.

The Saskatchewan Relief Commission helped people survive these years of hardship. Province-wide, the Commission spent $31.5 million, and a committee was formed to manage relief efforts in each municipality. People survived through helping one another as well. Those in areas getting by would help those more in need. Neighbouring towns provided food and clothing to one another when in need, and aid came from eastern Canada on the railway. There was one incident reported in the Leader Post on March 13, 1939 where two tons of relief hay were stolen. Although incidents like this did happen, this period helped the citizens realize the importance of community and cooperation in order to survive difficult times.

Out of the need for cooperation and community came the organization of cooperatives. The Montmartre Co-op began in 1938 with 40 members, and grew to 104 members by 1941. In the beginning it sold gasoline and kerosene, but by 1942 the co-op purchased the local food store as well. By 1941, conditions finally improved drastically. The price of wheat increased to 21 bushels/acre from 5 bushels/acre in 1940. Throughout the rest of the 40s, this stayed fairly steady.

World War II
Many young men and a few young women enlisted and went on to serve Canada in Europe. The first man to enlist from Montmartre was Eugene Breton in May 1938. Committees were established to provide support to troops. For example, the Rehabilitation Committee was made up of businessmen who aimed to help returning soldiers financially. The Victory Bond Committee went through villages and the RM selling war bonds. The Red Cross Committee was established to raise funds and create care packages to send to troops overseas. Rations were instituted in Montmartre, including sugar, butter, meat, gasoline, and farm implements. With the men gone, this left the women, children and seniors to take on their duties, which was particularly difficult on farms. The war was over on May 8, 1945. The May 16, 1945 edition of the Wolseley News reported Victory Day in Montmartre began with mass led by Father Leon Savoie, and at 2pm there was a parade through every street in the village ending at Paul’s Hall. 1200 people participated, led by a car bearing the flags of all Allied Nations. Picture shows were shown throughout the day, and a mock trial was carried out in which indictments against a life-size effigy of Hitler were read. After the mock trial, the effigy was carried to the CNR grounds and hoisted on top of a huge bonfire. This was followed by fireworks and a dance in the hall. A parade also followed Victory Day in Japan on August 15th, 1945. The afternoon program saw a train carrying 1,500 returning soldiers from overseas, who were given 2,400 cigarettes from the young people of the village.