IT SEEMS LIKE ONLY YESTERDAY - Today the sirens will shriek; stores will close for a few hours; there’s going to be a jovial mood in the atmosphere. It’s an event which I alone will categorize as a momentous one - I am 70 years of age.
But, frankly the sirens will be stilled; business houses will continue the usual routines, and the mood of the people will not change.
There are a lot of men and women in Vacaville who are 70 and beyond, so why should there be any significance in the fact that I have reached that arthritic age?
One of the greatest differences between myself and some of the other people of my age, has been in the lifestyle which I have been privileged to live through — one of hectic moments, razzle-dazzle, joyous moments and times of despair and disappointment.
Having had the privilege of walking into the front door of The Vacaville Reporter 55 years ago, come this September, I want to reflect on the joyous opportunity available to come into contact with thousands of people who have in one small way or another made an impression on the past and future history of the community, county and state.
As one woman who came into The Reporter office many years ago complained to my boss: “The error in that classified ad was done by that kid in the back shop.” Yes “that kid” did make a lot of mistakes along that long and winding trail throughout those 55 years.
Today it is difficult for me to remember the ingredients of a meal enjoyed the previous day; embarrassing to need to tell someone: “Your face is familiar but your name escapes me.” But, many of the events, the human idiosyncrasies, the traits and the mannerisms of the men and women of our Yesteryear have etched a place in my brain which I cannot forget.
I can still see Barney Clark, his wagon and team of horses, as he was Vacaville’s one-man street department, wielding his broom and shovel. Then there was constable Joe Stadfeldt and Marshal Hughes as they patrolled the streets, sans conspicuous guns; the antics of Freddie Byrnes and Sinclair “Babe” Dobbins; the humor of Judge Ralph Piatt and Undertaker Matt Stewart.
And there was drayman Henry Schielke; and the erratic newspaper distributor Frank Melis; and Tony Moriel and his little red wagon; and Sam Lum and his Sing Kee Chinese restaurant;
bankers Ed Cox, Jim McCrory, “Butch” Atkinson, Marion Brazelton.
Our past would not be complete without mention of Harold Hawk, “Reco” Ream; Al Hubbard, “Bud” Peters; Jim Miller and Eli Manuel, along with Alfred Johnson, Joe Strauman, Russell Beelard and Harry Talbot.
Constantly in print were the names of George and Genevieve Gilpatric; George Linn and “Bud” Caughy, along with Constable Roy Cripps of Elmira, and Elmira school trustee Rollin Fry, ranchers Roy Hilden and Carson McCrory.
Vacaville was built around such ranchers as Howard Rogers, CM. Hartley, Frank McKevitt, the entire Buck clan, all the other Rogers families, Clarence and Charlie Burton. There were builders George Sharpe, E.L. Cripe, T.W.S. Clark, Harold Hargis and Jim Brightman.
Women are not to be overlooked. There was Mrs. F. A. Steiger, Ann Chubb Bradley, Edna Schaefer, Leila McKevitt, Rose Voodry, Helen Crystal, Mrs. A.M. Stevenson, Henrietta McLaughlin.
Doing their share were Reporter Publishers E.C. Andrews and C.L. Adsit, and Fire Chief Louis Pester, and the King brothers, Bill and Elmer. Police Chief O.E. Alley was an integral part of our passing scene, as were all the councilmen and mayors, county officials, the governors, the presidents and the garbage men, Abe Beelard and Jim Kardos.
It would take volume after volume to review “Who Was Who” in our passing parade. There were the Schaefer brothers and the clothing stores, along with grocerymen George Akerly, Rolla Gray, Fred Nay, Joe Codina, Alfred Escano, Ernest Waggoner, Manuel Ramos; and barbers Joe Lopez and Frank Deakin; not to forget jewelers Frank Deakin and T.L. Hewitt.
The sounds of the anvil resounded around Vacaville as Dominic Appelary, James Goodman and Tom McCadden pounded merrily along. Who is to forget Jack Duncan, Max Brazelton, Monte Gates, and Professor E.W. Stoddard, along with Lemoine Williams and Harold Youngblood, and Ken Glines and Eugene Padan.
There was “Dynamite” Wells and Frank Eversole, Joe Libonati, and phone operator Ruth Molseed. There were the Lyon girls, Anita and Nestora, and their pioneer mother who operated an open-air dining facility here.
I could ramble on and on with such names as Helen and “Bunny” Power of the Nut Tree; restaurateurs Bob Scalabrino and Joe Rossi, and fireman “Buster” Chandler, Lou Roulund, Johnny Pellegrini, Frank Fadley, Freddie Pyle.
Nowhere, only through memory, can such a list be compiled. I deem it a privilege of having known all these men and women, and hundreds more. That’s why my blood is saturated with Vacaville serum — which has kept me alive for these 70 years.
Link: http://articles.solanohistory.net/7118/ | Solano History Database Record
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Vacaville Heritage Council