Historical Articles of Solano County

Friday, January 02, 1981

1980 - A Year of Demoralizing Frustration

John Rico

1980 - A YEAR TO FORGET - In this year of 1980, ringing out the old and ushering in the new simply does not have the gusto of years gone by. There seems to be a definite malaise disturbing too many people.

We can look back in Vacaville and offer our condolences to the many family who saw their loved ones depart. This is a trend which has been in progress ever since earth was created.

But we can all look back to conditions which prevailed on the economic and political scene which have disturbed far too many people. We have exchanged our abilities to innovate and produce, for one of slip-shod performances; a declining effort to make available those essentials for a happier life; and have compounded trivial circumstances into immovable mountains.

Christmas gift buying may have lessened our reverence for Him, and occupied our holiday spirits with selections of radar ovens, computerized games for the children, and has gone as far as to disregard the simple chore of mailing a greeting card to people we should have remembered at least once in the 12-month period.

At this holiday season, blaming the high cost of energy was the noticeable lack of twinkling lights.

Let’s write off 1980 as one of those unfortunate periods in our long history. Here at home our monetary problems have compounded to alarming proportions; the price of our imported oil is skyrocketing; the hostages remain confined in Iran; President Jimmy Carter was deposed for having been the accused architect of all the ills of the world; Russia is on a conquering rampage; Central America is in turmoil; and the Japanese are flooding the good old USA with fuel efficient compact cars.

It was not too many years ago when members of the Vacaville Volunteer Fire Department would collect used toys, spend many long evenings in rebuilding these trinkets, and then going out the day before Christmas and making hundreds of deserving youngsters split their faces with smiles from ear to ear. What fun it was for the firemen to fill small gaily colored boxes with peanuts and candy, and pass out the “goodies to hundreds of youngsters.”

It was an annual event when a huge Christmas tree was erected at the intersection of Main, Merchant and Bernard Streets. The tree proved an obstacle for motorists traveling Highway 40 through downtown Vacaville, yet the hundreds who had to curve their vehicles around that huge illuminated tree, took ample time to get a glimpse of the display.

We all will admit that changing times have brought about a new definition in the observance of Christmas. Disregarding what we did in our gift-giving endeavors, paramount in our expressions should be the continuing remembrance that a baby was born in a manger nearly 2,000 years ago in Bethlehem.

By the time we observe Christmas on that last Friday in December 1981, a new array of gifts will be available to be gaily wrapped and placed under the tree, but these gifts are significant when we truly put into perspective just what Christmas should mean to all of us.

With 1981 in the offing, and a new president scheduled to occupy the White House on January 20, there is in the air a signal for increased confidence in our potentials. This is not to say President Ronald Reagan is blessed with a magic wand and superhuman powers. What I am attempting to convey is the fact that perhaps the people will again discover a new spirit of willingness to move forward, unshackling themselves from the doldrums of the past few years.

While there are indications President Reagan will attempt to unshackle the nation from the grip of pregnant bureaucracy, there remain ominous signs around the world that all is not well. There also seems to be a lessening fear throughout the world that military power can be the dominant approach in solving disputes among men.

Here in Vacaville there is a new trend toward progress by lessening many of the edicts which have had a strangulation effect on initiative. We now find the age-old combination of supply and demand occupying the driver’s seat.

There’s talk about redeveloping Main Street and other sections of the community which are deteriorating. This initiative is commendable, but before any concrete results can be achieved, there needs to be a changing mood, and a closer spirit of cooperation. If you are a wagering man do not put your money on the success of this latest proposal to revamp old Vacaville.

Let’s admit Vacaville has changed radically, but it has taken nearly 130 years for the transition to take place. Sitting in the Davis House, Vacaville’s best hotel back in 1888, many a pioneer of that era would gather before the open hearthstone and swap stories of their trip around the horn, fighting Indians and bears, crossing the plains from old Mo. All of these old gents were unanimous in expressing favoritism for the dry climate of Vacaville and how the sun would help bleach away those aches and pains. Perhaps not a single soul hovering around that hotel fire gave any thought that the day would come when Vacaville would blossom into a small city, with stop lights, supermarkets, running water and a modern system for treating sewage.

Isn’t it strange? Back in 1888 those whiskered gents talked about the Vacaville climate as the area’s greatest asset. Come to think of it, that same climate is here today.

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