The following is from a work-in-progress about the history of Fullerton. You can support my ongoing research and writing on Patreon.

While browsing the archives of the Fullerton Public Library Local History Room, I recently came across a brief autobiography of William L. Hale, an important early businessman and politician of Fullerton. The bio is called “This is a Sketch of My Life” and was published by Mrs. Harold Hale (his daugher-in-law) in 1976. Here’s what I learned.

William L. Hale was born in West Windsor, Vermont on a maple sugar farm in 1862. When he was a young man he and his brother Harris bought a ticket to out west, in 1884. The photo above says he came to Fullerton in 1883, but his bio says 1886.

“It was against the wishes of my mother but we wanted to go west,” Hale writes.

After arriving in Kansas City, the brothers rode in an “immigrant car” on a freight train west. “It was the first I had ever seen real live Indians,” he recalls.

They finally reached California and ended up in Santa Ana. He got a job baling hay, and took other odd jobs.

In 1885 he got the contract to build a road in Ontario, California. For the job he hired Chinese labor because “it was cheap labor.”

Having made some money from this job he moved to the Fullerton area in 1886. He purchased a flock of sheep “and grazed them on the hills which are now called Brea and Yorba Linda.”

In 1887, the year Fullerton was founded, he sold his flock of sheep and went to work for W.F. Botsford, who had a winery and vineyard in what is now Fullerton. Hale became the foreman. After Botsford moved to Chicago, Hale bought the winery and land, in 1889.

In 1893 he met and married a German girl from Anaheim named Dora Bosche. They had two boys, Harold and Lee. Dora died in 1898.

He bought 20 acres in what is now Placentia, which he later sold to his brother Harris, who planted peaches there. He then bought 10 acres in Fullerton, on which he planted grapes for his winery.

Hale tells the story of having to fire one of the workers in his winery. The man got so mad that he set fire to the winery and it burned to the ground. He lost all his equipment and eight race horses that he used to race at the McNally racetrack in Buena Park.

After this, he went to Los Angeles to buy a car, and writes that he actually met Henry Ford, who sold him a race car. He claims to have raced this car at the Ascot Speedway in Los Angeles, where he won a number of races against top drivers of the day, such as Barney Oldfield. I could not confirm the accuracy of this.

Hale also took up boxing. Here he tells another “interesting” tale of a man coming into town from Chicago “to give me a whipping…I met him on the top steps of the old Shay Hotel…He said a few smart remarks to me so I hit him on the point of the chin and sent him tumbling down 20 steps to the bottom. He left for Chicago the next day without further trouble.”

Hale claims that he became sheriff of Orange County “about the time Fullerton came into being,” although I could not find historical records to confirm this either. 

In 1906 he married Joan Nichols. They had two girls, Blanche and Gelene.

In 1907 he removed the bricks from his burned out winery and used them to build the house where he lived until he died.

Hale was extremely involved in local business, civic affairs, and politics. 

He was elected to Fullerton City Council, and served for three terms, including two as mayor. While he was mayor, he was instrumental in Fullerton joining the Metropolitan Water District.

He was elected to the Fullerton High School Board of Trustees, serving four terms. He was one of the board members who voted for the formation of Fullerton College.

He served on the board of directors of a couple local banks, the Standard Bank of Fullerton, and the Fullerton Savings and Loan Association.

He was one of the directors who helped form the Placentia Orange Growers Association.

He was a Mason, and served as president of the board for 20 years.

“I have now retired from all this activity and live happily on my ranch,” Hale concludes his biography. “I enjoy my many friends and visitors who call to see me. Most of all I enjoy listening to the radio. I am happy to be living in what I think is the greatest place on earth.”

The following is from a work-in-progress about the history of Fullerton. You can support my ongoing research and writing on Patreon.

The Local History Room of the Fullerton Public Library has microfilm from the Fullerton Tribune newspaper stretching back to 1893. I am in the process of reading over the microfilm, year by year, to get a sense of what was happening in the town over the years, and creating a mini archive. Below are some news stories from 1924.

Calvin Coolidge was president of the United States. Revelations and indictments surrounding the Teapot Dome oil scandal were making headlines. Native Americans were finally given citizen status. Congress passed the Immigration Act of 1924 (the Johnson-Reed Act), a profoundly racist law (one of its authors, Albert Johnson, was a eugenics proponent) that barred immigrants from Asia and created quotas that severely limited immigration from countries that weren’t northern European (i.e. white). This law was widely supported by many Americans at the time.

1924 was an election year, and Coolidge was running for re-election. There was a proposal for Fullerton rancher Charles C. Chapman to be Coolidge’s vice presidential running mate; however, he ultimately chose Charles G. Dawes.

Local Politics

In the 1924 Fullerton City Council election, Harry Crooke, O.M. Thompson, and W.J. Carmichael were elected.

Meanwhile, in Anaheim, the Ku Klux Klan claimed a city council victory, electing E.H. Metcalf, Emory F. Knipe, A.A. Slabach and Dean W. Hasson. In 1924, the Ku Klux Klan had around 5 million members and was a major force in politics.

In Brea, Harry E. Becker and Isaac Carig were elected as city trustees. “Local gossip has it that the Ku Klux Klan played a prominent role in the election backing the successful candidates and defeating the nominees of the Brea Civic League.,” the Tribune reported.

Ku Klux Klan

As shown above, the Ku Klux Klan was very active in local politics. A cross was burned on a hill in north Fullerton on election day.

“Significant of Ku Klux Klan activity in today’s election, a huge fiery cross lighted up the heavens last night from the hill to the westward of Northgate Heights,” the Tribune reported. “That the burning of the symbol had a direct bearing on the local political situation was the general opinion today.”

According to the Tribune, “The claim was made today by a person in close touch with local Klan affairs that there is a membership of from 2500 to 3000 in this territory.”

Ku Klux Klan rallies drawing thousands took place throughout Orange County in 1924, including at least two large meetings at what is now Amerige Park, across the street from City Hall.

The Klan was so popular, in part, because it was presented as a patriotic organization. At the above advertised meeting, the speaker stressed the fact “That it is a white man’s organization, a gentile organization, a protestant organization and an American organization in which membership is restricted to native-born American citizens. That the KKK stands for white supremacy; for the enforcement of the law by the regularly constituted authorities; development of the highest standard of citizenship; rightful use of the ballot, and the worship of God.”

At another Klan meeting that drew around 5,000 attendees, the violence that lay beneath the rhetoric almost broke out.

Local businessman Dan O’Hanlon, who was Irish Catholic, was unhappy with the Klan speaker’s denunciations of catholicism, so he shouted “Liar!” during the speech. 

This led to cries of “get that guy,” “where is a tar bucket?” from different parts of the crowd. O’Hanlon was taken by police officers, for his own safety, and booked him briefly at the city jail. He was released later that night, and according to an oral history interview with O’Hanlon’s wife Margaret, a cross was burned on their lawn that night.

The Klan also made an appearance at a downtown city carnival.

“Appearing from the direction of Wilshire avenue five members of the Ku Klux Klan, robed and with raised visors, injected a little dramatic note into the street carnival last night, when they marched through the crowds of merry-makers and presented a note containing $25 in bills to E.H. Tozier, conductor of the city band,” the Tribune reported.

Meanwhile, the Fullerton Rotary Club passed a resolution condemning the Ku Klux Klan.

“The action of the Rotary club today marks the first tangible, public recognition of the fact that the Ku Klux Klan has become an issue here in Fullerton as it has in Anaheim and in other parts of the county, state and country,” the Tribune reported. “Sentiment has been greatly inflamed here of late by the secret circulation of a list of names purporting to be that of local members of the order.”

The resolution read as follows:

Whereas, a situation has developed in our fair city by virtue of the teachings and activities of the Ku Kux Klan which has set neighbor against neighbor, causing suspicion, distrust and fear to fill the hearts of many; and

Whereas such teachings and activities impede the normal development of our beautiful city, interference with the happiness and contentment of our citizens, hold us up to ridicule before the outside world, and stamp us as being a narrow, factional, intolerant, un-American people; and

Whereas the objects of Rotary International are to promote fellowship and harmony among men of all nations, to make them better business men, better professional, better fathers and in fact better citizens of the country in which they live, having as its motto, “Service above self at all times,”

Be it resolved, that the Rotary club of Fullerton, unanimously deplores the existence of such conditions and is anxious to do all in its power to restore conditions to normal so that the right to the free exercise of our constitutional rights, together with tranquility and those blessings of liberty for which our constitution was ordained and established, be guaranteed to everyone, be it further

Resolved that we hereby publicly condemn the organization known as the Ku Klux Klan, which, by its teachings and actions, tends to develop racial hatred, religious intolerance or in any way denies full constitutional rights to any of our citizens no matter what his race, religion or political affiliations may be.

Local attorney Tom McFadden spoke at the above-mentioned Rotary Club meeting, suggesting that administrators of Fullerton High School were members of the Klan.

“We must keep out all forms of intolerance in our schools,” he declared. “We must keep it out of our high school here. No one has a right to hold a position of responsibility in that institution who holds and subscribes to intolerant beliefs. There are all shades of opinion and religion in our schools and Fullerton has attained a high standing by reason of its progressiveness and efficiency. It will sink from this position if intolerant views are allowed to interfere with its operation and administration.

“A community cannot grow and prosper when its citizenry is divided by mutual distrust and suspicion,” McFadden continued. “We must restore harmony and try to re-establish friendly relations. The Rotary Clubs of Anaheim and Fullerton can do much to foster the right spirit between the two cities and in their respective communities.

“A house divided against itself can accomplish nothing,” he said in closing.

The Tribune stated, “Although no direct mention of the KKK was made by name in McFadden;s talk, and no particular individuals were designated, he clearly indicated by innuendo that he was concentrating his attack on members of the local high school administration whose names are declared to be on the lists which are being circulated in this city.”

Although he didn’t name him by name, McFadden was likely referring to high school superintendent Louis E. Plummer. A 1979 UCLA doctoral dissertation entitled The Invisible Government and the Viable Community: The Ku Klux Klan in Orange County, California During the 1920s by Christopher Cocoltchos states, “Councilman W.A. Moore, Judge French, and Superintendent of Schools Plummer joined the Klan in the latter part of 1923…Civic leaders were especially eager to join. Seven of the eighteen councilmen who served on the council between 1918 and 1930 were Klansmen.”

The Rotary Club was not the only local group opposed to the Ku Klux Klan.

“Anti-Klan forces in Anaheim are going to make a determined effort to change the entire city administration. Recall petitions are to be circulated at once, it was announced at a mass meeting held under the auspices of the USA Club…last night,” the Tribune reported.

To read more about the Ku Klux Klan in Orange County, check out my brief history HERE.

Prohibition

Prohibition was in full effect in 1924 and local officials struggled to prevent bootlegging.

One way the Ku Klux Klan gained popularity was by adopting popular positions on hot-button issues. In addition to being opposed to racial minorities, Catholics, and Jews, they were also in favor of restricted immigration and prohibition.

According to a 2012 OC Weekly article on the 1920s Klan by Gustavo Arellano, in 1924 the Klan and their supporters worked with local and federal law enforcement to conduct a massive arrest of bootleggers.

The headquarters of the massive raid was the ranch of Fullerton pharmacist William Starbuck.

In what proved to be a dumb move, these anti-bootleggers then presented a bill to Fullerton city council for $2,800 to cover the costs of the raids (they hadn’t bothered to inform city council of the raid in advance). City Council refused to pay, as did other local city councils who received similar bills.

Growth

Prior to the 1920s, Fullerton’s two main industries were oranges and oil. Starting in the 20s, the city created a 400-acre industrial zone where factories could locate.

These early factories included: Western Glass Company, Balboa Motor Corporation, Newton Process Company, Los Angeles Paving Company, Citrus Fruit Juice Company, and Orange County Brick and Tile Company.

In 1924, Fullerton had over 17 miles of paved roads. New housing subdivisions were being built with racially restrictive housing covenants that prevented non-whites from purchasing homes there.

Education

In 1924, to satisfy increasing enrollment, Maple School opened on the southside of Fullerton.

Lottie Morse was elected to the School Board, one of the first women to hold elected office in Fullerton.

Here’s a panoramic photo of Fullerton Union High School in 1924:

In high school news, a policy was adopted in which girls (but not boys) had to wear uniforms. This was likely a reaction to popular new clothing styles.

There was serious consideration of establishing a new University of California campus in Fullerton on land that was mostly owned by the Bastanchury family. Ultimately, these plans did not pan out.

The Foot and Mouth Disease Epidemic

In agriculture news, an outbreak of foot and mouth disease in California led to restrictions on some California crops and even restrictions on human gatherings and travel.

“Motor touring outside the county is to be further restricted, according to announcement made at the Rotary Club luncheon here this afternoon by A.A. Brock, county horticuturalist,” the Tribune reported. “Coupled with an urgent plea to the public to stay home and in this way help the authorities to cope with the menace of hoof and mouth disease. Mr. Brock made the statement that a general tightening up of the present quarantine regulations is to be put in effect at once.”

Culture and Entertainment

For culture and entertainment, Fullertonians went to see movies at the Rialto Theater downtown.

The Chapman Theater (later called the Fox Theater) was under construction, and would open in 1925.

Local theatrical and musical productions also drew crowds to the High School Auditorium.

Fashion

The 1920s were an interesting time for fashion. Here are a few clippings that show popular styles of 1924, which Fullertonians could get by shopping at stores in the growing downtown:

Sports

By far, the biggest local sporting event was a fundraising game featuring baseball legends Walter Johnson (who went to Fullerton High School), Babe Ruth, and other big-league players which drew around 15,000 spectators.

Local athlete Glenn Hartnraft placed second in the shot put at the 1924 Summer Olympics in Paris.

Miscellaneous

And here are some miscellaneous news items from 1924:

Deaths

Prominent local businessman E.K. Benchley passed away. Click HERE to read more about the Benchley family.

Local pioneer Stella Yaeger, mother of Fullerton auto dealer Lillian Yaeger, passed away. Yaeger was born in Anaheim in 1861. Her parents were German immigrants who joined the Anaheim colony. Her father, a Mr. Kuelp, started the first school in Anaheim and was the first justice of the peace there. Stella married to Jacob Yaeger of Anaheim in 1883. Later they moved to Fullerton and lived in a house on the present site of the California Hotel (now the Villa Del Sol).

Stay tuned for news stories from 1925!

The following is from a work-in-progress about the history of Fullerton. You can support my ongoing research and writing on Patreon.

The Local History Room of the Fullerton Public Library has microfilm from the Fullerton Tribune newspaper stretching back to 1893. I am in the process of reading over the microfilm, year by year, to get a sense of what was happening in the town over the years, and creating a mini archive. Below are some news stories from 1923.

President Warren G. Harding died unexpectedly and was succeeded by Calvin Coolidge. Republican Friend Richardson was inaugurated governor of California. Also, in 1923, Mae Nolan, California’s first female congressmember was elected.

Growth

Fullerton continued to experience a building and population boom in the 1920s, with an estimated population of 11,156.

Some of downtown Fullerton’s largest and most iconic buildings were built in 1923, including the California Hotel (now the Villa del Sol) and the Chapman Building.

The City Hall That Was Not (Yet) to Be

Even though Fullerton had been a town since 1887, there was still no City Hall in 1923. City business was conducted out of the fire station and a business building downtown. To remedy this, plans were drawn up and a site chosen for a large new City Hall building, to be built on an open lot next to the newly-built California Hotel (now the Villa del Sol) downtown. However, when a bond issue was put before voters to fund construction of City Hall, the voters voted it down. Fullerton’s City Hall would not be built until 1942.

Zoning

In 1923, Fullerton first adopted zoning–a city planning tool that establishes what can and can’t be built in certain areas. The idea is to create orderly development, with clearly-defined business, residential, and industrial areas.

Although the main exports of Fullerton in the 1920s remained oranges and oil, zoning for industry allowed the first factories to be built in designated areas.

New Housing Subdivisions

Throughout the 1920s, many new housing subdivisions were built, as the City grew. Spreading outward from the downtown area, orange and walnut groves were cleared for these new houses. Unfortunately, most of the subdivisions built in the 1920s had racially-restrictive housing covenants that prevented non-whites from purchasing these new houses. Virtually every issue of the Tribune had advertisements and articles about these new developments.

In a recent post on this topic, Fullerton Heritage wrote: 

“By the 1920s, they [racial covenants] were quite common, particularly in what is now the historic areas of the city…Fullerton newspaper advertisements for new housing subdivisions often signaled whether a tract was limited to whites only. A few advertisements were direct, but most used a coded language that potential homebuyers would understand. Words or phrases, such as ‘rigidly restricted’, ‘exclusive tract’, ‘reserved for the finest’ indicated that minorities were excluded from a subdivision.”

Below is a sampling of some ads for the new housing subdivisions:

Ku Klux Klan

The Ku Klux Klan was on the rise both nationally and locally. The 1920s Ku Klux Klan, at the height of its popularity had around 5 million members all over the United States. The Tribune contains numerous articles about Klan activities around the country, in places like Atlanta, San Francisco, Portland, Oklahoma, Eureka (CA), and elsewhere.

And then, the Klan made themselves known in Anaheim.

“The first public appearance in Orange county of members of the Invisible Empire, Knights of the Ku Klux Klan, in the First Christian church tabernacle, Anaheim, last night was marked by lusty cheers of the congregation, and unlike popular beliefs was not featured by bloodshed or riot,” the Tribune states. “While scores sat emotionless in their seats, petrified by mingled fear and amazement, what is estimated to have been more than a dozen of the white-robed and hooded figures silently entered the edifice, presented the partor, the Rev. C.L. Vawter, with a parcel and as silently departed.”

Fraternal Organizations

The 1920s Klan arose at a time when fraternal organizations were very popular throughout the United States. Not all of them were explicitly white supremacist, like the KKK. Others were fairly “normal” like the Masons and the Odd Fellows. An article in the Tribune gives a bit of history of Fullerton’s Masonic lodge.

Fullerton’s Masonic lodge was formed in 1900 and held its first meeting at the home of Edward K. Benchley, president of the Farmers and Merchants bank. Early meetings were then held on the top floor of the old grammar school. They built their first temple (now the Parker Building), and then they built an even larger temple in 1920, which still stands today–it is the Springfield Banquet Center.

The leader of a lodge is called a “worshipful master” and this title was held by a number of prominent local men over the years, including William McFadden, Dr. G.C. Clark, Arthur Staley, C. George Porter, Charles E. Ruddock, J.R. Gardiner, and C. Stanley Chapman.

In 1923, membership in the Masons was 425.

Another popular fraternal organization at this time was the Independent Order of Odd Fellows (or just Odd Fellows). Another article in the Tribune gives a bit of this group’s history.

The Fullerton Lodge of Odd the Fellows was organized in 1901. Like the Masons, a number of prominent residents joined, including William Schumacher, August Hiltscher, George H. Amerige, R.H. Gilman, Joseph Hiltscher, D.S. Linebarger, and E.R. Amerige, Edgar Johnson, Bert Annin, and Angus McAulay.

The Odd Fellows met above two different banks downtown before building their own massive hall in 1928. This building still stands today.

In 1923, the Odd Fellows membership was 162.

Another popular local group was the Kiwanis. At a meeting of the state Kiwanis clubs, a poem was printed in the Tribune, honoring the Fullerton club.

Prohibition

In 1923, Prohibition was in full effect, and local law enforcement struggled to keep up with all the bootlegging. Nearly every issue of the Tribune has a story about people being fined of arrested over illegal booze.

Although they had achieved their goal of national Prohibition, the Women’s Christian Temperance Union (WCTU) was still active, presumably because lots of people were still drinking.

Other Crime News

Here are some other notable crimes in 1923:

Education

In education news, plans were being made to build a new grammar school on the south side of Fullerton. Maple School would open in 1924.

Culture and Entertainment

For entertainment, Fullertonians went to the Rialto Theater downtown to see movies.

Here are a few ads for movies showing in 1923:

And here are a few other cultural/entertainment events advertised in the Tribune:

Oil!

In 1923, oil was a major export of Fullerton.

Fullerton College began to offer an oil production course.

Religion

In religion news, new buildings were built for the Catholic, Methodist, and Episcopalian congregations. I apologize for not having pictures of these structures. I will work on that for a future post.

Hundreds gathered atop Hillcrest Park for an Easter church service.

Automobiles

With the increasing prominence of automobiles, Fullerton had a few notable car dealerships. On Commonwealth, William Wickersheim constructed a large building for his Ford car dealership. Unfortunately, it burned down in the 1950s and was eventually replaced with the Ace Hardware.

Other dealerships included O.L. Smith’s Oakland dealership on West Amerige, Albert Sitton’s Willys-Knight dealership on West Commonwealth, Lillian Yeager’s Dodge dealership in Spadra (Harbor) and Chapman, and William Goodrum’s Buick dealership.

Miscellaneous

Here are a few miscellaneous news items:

Deaths

Local pioneer William Crowther passed away.

Crowther was a rancher and was active in local civic life, serving for many years as president of the Anaheim Union Water Company. He was a musician and organized the first municipal band in Fullerton.

Stay tuned for more news stories from 1924!

The following is from a work-in-progress about the history of Fullerton. You can support my ongoing research and writing on Patreon.

For this series, I compare a historic photo of Fullerton with a contemporary one from approximately the same angle. Below are two photographs looking southeast from the far west end of the train station platform (near the bridge that crosses Harbor). The first shows a passenger train passing the Concoran Paper Company in 1923, with the Consolidated Ice Company (new brick building under construction) in the background. The second shows the view today of a freight train passing what is now Metrolink parking, and Cornerstone Church (the Ice Company building) in the background.

The following is from a work-in-progress about the history of Fullerton. You can support my ongoing research and writing on Patreon.

For this series, I compare a historic photo of Fullerton with a contemporary one from approximately the same angle. Below are two photographs of the northwest corner of Wilshire and Lawrence Avenues–the first is of Fullerton’s second Grammar School, which opened in 1913, but was badly damaged in the 1933 earthquake and eventually torn down. It is now a Fullerton College parking lot, as shown in the second photo.

Here is the school from another angle, with a photo today from (approximately) the same angle.

And, just for fun, here’s another photo of the school.

The following is from a work-in-progress about the history of Fullerton. You can support my ongoing research and writing on Patreon.

For this series, I compare a historic photo of Fullerton with a contemporary one from approximately the same angle. Below are two photographs of the northwest corner of Wilshire and Pomona Avenues–one of the Carnegie Library, which opened in 1907 and one of the Fullerton Museum Center, built in 1942.

The following is from a work-in-progress about the history of Fullerton. You can support my ongoing research and writing on Patreon.

For this series, I compare a historic photo of Fullerton with a contemporary one from approximately the same angle. Below are two photographs of the southeast corner of Wilshire and Pomona Avenues–one of the Baptist Church, built in 1912, and one of the Wilshire Avenue Community Church today, which was built in 1968.

The following is from a work-in-progress about the history of Fullerton. You can support my ongoing research and writing on Patreon.

Recently, while going through the 1921 Fullerton Tribune newspaper microfilm archives, I came across an article entitled “Early Days in Fullerton are Depicted by Real Pioneers,” which featured the recollections of Anna Grace Ford, daughter of Alex McDermont, whose family were very important early settlers of Fullerton.

The McDermonts came from the midwest to the area that would become Fullerton in a covered wagon in 1882, five years before the actual town was founded. 

Anna describes first seeing the property: “When we reached the brow of the hill, just north of what is now City Airport, my father told us that now we could see our new home. I was 8 years old but I will never forget the feeling of bewilderment that came over me as I saw this vast field of dry mustard, outlined now and then by a few gum trees and a rough house on Orangethorpe.”

The only roads were the unpaved Orangethorpe and Spadra (now Harbor). McDermont purchased a sixty-acre tract of land from J.M. Guinn. The McDermont property was bounded by what is now Euclid Street on the west, Brea Creek channel on the north, Woods Avenue on the east and the Santa Fe Tracks on the south. 

Anna remembers the famous Polish singer Madam Modjeska and her husband (who had settled elsewhere in Orange County) visited their home.

The only local schools at this time were in Placentia, Anaheim, and a one-room building on Orangethorpe avenue, which the McDermont children attended. In 1887, a school was opened in Fullerton “in the building used for a blacksmith shop on S. Pomona avenue between Commonwealth and Santa Fe avenues. Seats were provided by nailing planks to the walls of the building…and among the pupils for the first few days was a large gopher snake that insisted on maintaining its position under the seat until it was driven out and denied further school privileges,” according to the Tribune.

A bit later, a larger brick school house was built in town at Wilshire and Lemon, which was later torn down. Young Anna constituted the first graduating class in 1890.

Alex McDermont became a successful rancher, and was helpful in getting the Santa Fe Railroad to pass through Fullerton, donating the right-of-way through his ranch. The railroad was crucial for the early success of the town of Fullerton, which was officially founded by George and Edward Amerige in 1887.

As Fullerton developed, “McDermont became prominent in Fullerton civic circles,” Bob Ziebell writes in Fullerton: a Pictorial History, “being among those who brought a newspaper to town and among the first subscribers to capital stock in the community’s first bank [The Fruit Growers Bank]. He also ‘used his influence’ to help create the Fullerton Union High School…served as a director of the Placentia Orange Growers Association and of the water company; and was manager of the Walnut Growers Association.” He was also Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce and among the first library trustees. 

The McDermonts built a home on what became Euclid Avenue, and then lived in a home on what later became 311 West Commonwealth Avenue, which was eventually demolished to make way for today’s Fullerton Public Library.

“McDermont built a large business building at the southwest corner of Spadra (Harbor) and Amerige in 1893, which, when it burned to the ground in a major fire in 1908, spurred formation of the Fullerton Fire Department,” Ziebell writes.

Another influential member of the McDermont family was Anna McDermont (not to be confused with her niece Anna), who was a member of the park commission “and contributed intelligent advice and much active work to the plans which were made and carried out for the development and beautifying of the town,” according to the Tribune. “Her work was an important factor in the establishment of the public library and she been called the mother of the Fullerton Women’s Club.”

Both Alex and his sister Anna passed away in 1921, but the family remained important local citizens.

The following is from a work-in-progress about the history of Fullerton. You can support my ongoing research and writing on Patreon.

The Local History Room of the Fullerton Public Library has microfilm from the Fullerton Tribune newspaper stretching back to 1893. I am in the process of reading over the microfilm, year by year, to get a sense of what was happening in the town over the years, and creating a mini archive. Below are some news stories from 1921.

In 1921, Warren G. Harding was inaugurated as president. The governor of California was William Dennison Stephens, Fullerton was represented in congress by Rep. Phil D. Swing, and Fullerton’s mayor was William F. Coulter.

In 1921, Fullerton was growing quite rapidly. The population was 6,600, a big increase over the past two years.

An article entitled “Building Boom On” states, “With five new business buildings under way in the downtown section, a new grammar school and scores of dwellings being erected in the outlying districts the activity in this direction has been most marked, and is entirely gratifying to all who are interested in the city’s progress…In addition to the above the new public work on sewers and lights have given employment to many men, and the water extension construction to begin in the near future, will swell the total to many more.”

Below are advertisements for some of the new housing subdivisions. In those days, people would often buy a lot and then either build their own house or hire a contractor to build it for them. This was the “Builder Generation” of which my grandpa Glenn (in Wisconsin) was a member. He built most of the houses that his family lived in himself, with a little help from his friends. This Do-It-Yourself ethos is also why many of the older subdivisions have such an interesting and charming variety of homes. The idea of a “master-planned” community in which a single company built all the houses virtually identically would not really take off until after World War II.

Unfortunately, many of the neighborhoods built in Fullerton in the 1920s included racially-restrictive housing covenants that prevented non-whites from purchasing homes there.

And here are descriptions of some of the new business blocks that were built downtown, along with some photos courtesy of the Fullerton Public Library Local History Room.

A business block on North Spadra just north of the Christian Church, known as the Benchley building:

A business block on the southwest corner of Santa Fe and Spadra (now Harbor) where the parking structure is now. This was before the grade separation on Harbor that allowed the trains to pass over, when the street was flat.

The photo below is of a car dealership on this lot in the early 1960s.

A business block at 136 West Commonwealth that now houses a few bars, including Garcia’s Mexican restaurant.

In 1921, Fullerton business owners and residents began raising money for what would become the California Hotel (now called Villa del Sol), which would open in 1923.

Infrastructure

To accommodate all these new homes, businesses, and people, new infrastructure projects were undertaken to expand sewers, water lines, lighting, and more.

Some of this was paid for with regular local taxes, and some was financed by bonds, which were approved by a vote of the people.

Crime

A notable criminal case involved two Black men (E.G. Brooks and Eddie Woods) who allegedly assaulted a bus driver (Darwin O. Grimes) in Fullerton, after he tried to make them sit at the back of the bus.

“The altercation which culminated in the attack on the stage driver is said to have arisen when the negroes started to enter the second seat against the wishes of the other passenger and the driver. When the passengers objected to the negroes sitting beside them, it is said that Grimes requested that the negroes sit in the back seat, in which there was ample seating space,” the above article states. “They refused and stated forcibly that unless the driver allowed them to sit where they chose that they would not allow the stage to depart on the trip to Los Angeles.”

After allegedly attacking Grimes, the two men fled and were later arrested. Both men pled not guilty, arguing that they acted in self-defense.

Before the case went to trial, the bus driver Grimes was arrested over a charge that, when he was an immigration official, he abused his power by appropriating liquor seized from an automobile (this was during Prohibition times). He had since been fired.

During the trial, Brooks and Woods said that Grimes “took a belligerent attitude which they interpreted as something of a prediction of physical force in keeping them from occupying a seat in the stage other than the rear one.”

Character witnesses were introduced for both men, among whom were S.E. Reed, Santa Fe Agent in Fullerton, F.C. Johnson, special officer for the Santa Fe, and Joe Murillo, Fullerton officer for the Santa Fe, all of whom were well-acquainted with Brooks through his period of employment as a Santa Fe porter.

This was also one of the first cases in Fullerton in which women served on the jury, having recently been granted that right.

Ultimately, the charges against Brooks and Woods were reduced to simple assault and they each paid a $100 fine.

Another crime that went unsolved was the attempted hanging/lynching of a young man in Brea.

A Syrian grocer named John Khoury was shot and killed in a holdup by a “bandit gang.” Khoury’s uncle Isaac Matouk was seriously wounded in the crime. The men charged with the crime in the Delhi grocery were M. Carillo, Jean Garcia, Julian Castro, and E. Hinajos.

Fullerton’s First Gang

A group of local young men (sons of prominent families) formed a gang (Fullerton’s first gang) called the Hill Rovers. They made much mischief and committed crimes such as petty larceny, breaking and entering, and theft. OC District Attorney Alex Nelson investigated the group.

Because the boys were sons of prominent local families, the DA faced pushback about prosecuting them, or releasing their names.

Ultimately, four of the gang members were arrested, and two got five years for their crimes.

Around this time, town Marshal E.W. Thwing resigned and was replaced by “Monty” Jackson.

In celebrity crime news, movie star Roscoe “Fatty” Arbuckle was charged with the rape and manslaughter of actress Virginia Rappe. He was ultimately acquitted.

Prohibition

In 1919, Congress passed the 18th amendment to the U.S. Constitution (and the subsequent Volstead Act), banning alcohol. Locally, city council passed ordinances to help with enforcement of the Volstead Act and curb violations of the law.

One way that people sought to get around prohibition was to have doctors prescribe them liquor for “medical” reasons. On more than one occasion, police rounded up and arrested such violators, as seen below.

Bootlegging was also fairly widespread, so raids and arrests were not uncommon.

The noted Bastanchury family had made their own wine for years. They were raided and some charged with violating the dry law.

Education

As Fullerton grew, so did the need for new schools. Ford School was built in 1921. There were also additions to Fullerton Union High School throughout the 1920s.

King Citrus

Despite the fact that housing and commercial development was increasing, Fullerton was still a major farming area, with citrus being king of the local crops. Many of the wealthiest local people were Orange ranchers, like Charles C. Chapman. Orange growers large and small often pooled their interests and influence with politicians to get favorable laws, such as tariffs on foreign oranges and lower freight rates.

In 1921, local growers held a massive Valencia Orange Show in Anaheim, which featured elaborate exhibits of oranges. Heading up the proceedings was Charles C. Chapman. President Harding even phoned in to praise the Orange Show.

Oil!

Along with oranges, oil was Fullerton’s other main export in the 1920s, with very active fields in the hills north of town that regularly brought in gushers.

While it may be hard to imagine today, Orange County was second in the state of California for oil production.

However, in 1921, all was not well in the local oil fields. Unhappy with wages and working conditions, Brea oil workers (who had recently unionized) voted to strike.

More Labor Strikes

Speaking of strikes, lots of those happened across the United States in the 1920s. Rail workers, coal miners, meat packers, and other workers sought to improve their lot through collective action.

In Kansas, women took active part in the coal miners’ strike. They were called Amazons and Militant Petticoats. With the aid of federal agents and local militia, some were arrested, and some even deported.

Japanese Exclusion

Another major issue in 1921 was Japanese exclusion. In 1913 and 1920, Califonia (along with several other states) passed its Alien Land Laws, which prevented Japanese people from owning or leasing property. Using the familiar mantra “they’re taking our jobs” the American Federal of Labor asked for federal Japanese exclusion.

Sports

In sports news, baseball was quite popular locally. The Indians mentioned below do not refer to the Fullerton High School Indians, but rather the Indians of the Sherman Indian School in Riverside, which still exists today.

In addition to high school baseball, teams would play at the field on what is now Amerige Park.

Culture and Entertainment

In 1921, the Fox Theater had not yet been built. Locals would go see movies and Vaudeville shows at the Rialto Theater downtown.

On March 5, Fullerton held an “aviation day.”

In 1921, Fullerton’s new Masonic Temple (now the Springfield Banquet Center) was formally inaugurated and its first officers chosen. In the early 20th century, fraternal organizations like the Masons and Odd Fellows were very popular.

The local post of the American Legion held its annual Minstrel Show, which featured white performers in blackface. About a thousand people attended.

Another popular form of entertainment in the 1920s was the traveling Chautaqua show, which featured musical performances, speeches, and more. The show came through Fullerton every year.

In 1921, a popular gathering place for men was the Houser Bible class, which brought in hundreds of members.

Medicine and Health

In medical news, local chiropractor Vanetta Henderson faced charges for violating the Medical Practices Act. At this time, chiropractors were viewed with skepticism. I guess not much has changed.

Ku Klux Klan

In the early 1920s, the Ku Klux Klan saw a massive resurgence, with a peak membership of around 5-6 million, with many in states outside the south. The Klan achieved real social and political power. It would ultimately make its way to Anaheim and Fullerton. Stay tuned for more on this.

Miscellaneous

Below are some miscellaneous stories that I could not fit into a category:

Inventor Thomas Edison made the crazy claim that he could use a machine to commune with the dead.

Speaking of communing with the dead, local ministers successfully blocked the use of Anaheim High School for a seance.

In 1921, Henry Ford was not just a successful car manufacturer. He was also a notorious anti-semite, regularly publishing such propaganda in his local newspaper and a series of pamphlets called “The International Jew: The World’s Problem.”

Walter L. Thales, leader of a vegetarian cult in Placentia, passed away.

A midnight fire broke out in the city jail.

And a small tornado (very rare for these parts) hit Placentia.

National News

1921 was the year of the horrific Tulsa race massacre, a two-day-long white supremacist terrorist massacre that took place between May 31 and June 1, during which, according to Wikipedia, “mobs of white residents, some of whom had been appointed as deputies and armed by city government officials, attacked black residents and destroyed homes and businesses of the Greenwood District in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The event is considered one of the worst incidents of racial violence in American history. The attackers burned and destroyed more than 35 square blocks of the neighborhood—at the time one of the wealthiest black communities in the United States, colloquially known as Black Wall Street.”

International News

In an effort to prevent another World War, several nations signed a treaty to limit construction of warships. This became known as the Four-Power Treaty. Unfortunately, their efforts did not prevent another World War.

It was alleged that over 9,000 Haitians died in prison camps when that country was under U.S. rule.

With Russia facing famine, the U.S. agreed to send food relief. This despite the two countries’ political differences.

Deaths

Fullerton pioneer Alex McDermont passed away, and shortly thereafter his sister Anna McDermont died as well. I plan to write more on this interesting and influential family in a future post.

A Brea man named Samuel Tassamaneck committed suicide by dousing himself with gasoline and lighting himself on fire.

“Life with me has been just one continual struggle, an up-hill climb, with no success and no progress,” he said on his deathbed.

Stay tuned for more news stories from 1922!