Yesterday morning, I attended a walking tour of some historic sites in Fullerton given by Gustavo Arellano and Elaine Lewinnek, co-authors of the book A People’s Guide to Orange County. This book focuses on telling stories of people and places that have often been overlooked in more traditional or “nostalgic” local histories–stories of immigrants, people of color, punks, the homeless, farmworkers, and more. As Elaine put it, “We are interested in the stories of people who don’t have streets named after them.”

I share their interest in these overlooked, sometimes uncomfortable, but also inspiring stories because if we truly want to learn from the past, we must face it with all its complexity.

We began our tour at an unlikely spot–the parking lot of Sonic Burger on Lemon, near the Wal-Mart. Like much of Orange County, this used to be an orange grove. It was here, Arellano explained, that in 1953 an Anaheim police officer shot an undocumented immigrant named Juan Pena Diaz in the back after a high speed chase. 

Little attention was paid to the story at the time, with the local newspaper referring to Diaz as a “wetback” and “alien.” His death was apparently accepted with little more than a shrug, and it was this lack of concern for undocumented immigrants that allowed the Eisenhower administration the following year to implement “Operation Wetback”–one of the largest mass deportations in American history. This story, like many of those in A People’s Guide, felt timely.

Our next stop was Lemon Park, where we learned about a mural painted by Chicano artist Emigdio Vasquez, who was one of Orange County’s most prolific muralists. While many of Vasquez’s murals deal with Mexican American identity, this one is called “Niños del mundo” and shows children of all races and backgrounds smiling and playing. Unfortunately, someone had recently defaced parts of the mural, with a black “X” over the face of a brown-skinned girl wearing a head covering.

We continued under the Lemon underpass to see another series of murals painted by local youth in the 1970s. Arellano told the story about how, around 2008, then City Councilman Shawn Nelson said that he wanted the murals to be painted over, saying they were gang-related. In fact, the murals (by then faded but much beloved by the community) were painted as a gang prevention program. More recently, some of these murals (including “The Town I Live In” lowrider car mural and the Girl with a Hat urging visitors to “Come Back Again Soon”) have been restored thanks to the fundraising efforts of City Councilmember Ahmad Zahra.

Our next stop was Maple Elementary School, where Lewinnek told the story of how this school became a segregated school in the 1950s, and faced legal orders to desegregate in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Rather than integrate via a voluntary two-way busing program, the school board voted to close Maple in 1972–forcing all the kids of the neighborhood to be bussed to other schools in the northern part of the city.

Community members fought back with a lawsuit alleging discrimination, but they lost. Maple would re-open in 1998 after much community involvement. I actually wrote an article about this history, which was published in Citric Acid literary journal. The story fascinates me because it shows that, contrary to popular notions, segregation existed outside of the South–even here in California.

Next we walked to a modest, nondescript house that you would have no idea was the site of a landmark civil rights case in 1943. The house at 200 E. Ash Avenue was purchased by Alex and Esther Bernal, who were Mexican American. At that time, this neighborhood (and most neighborhoods) in Orange County had racially restrictive covenants on the actual property deeds that prevented non-whites from purchasing homes there. 

Their white neighbors got a petition going and filed a lawsuit against the Bernals, trying to get them to leave. But with the help of lawyer David Marcus, the Bernals fought back, and won–thus paving the way to make racially restrictive housing covenants illegal. Again, this story shatters the myth that segregation was just a Southern thing.

We made our way north on Harbor toward downtown. We heard a bit about the early 1980s punk scene in Fullerton, about El Pachuco, Fullerton’s unique Zoot Suit store whose owner Vanessa Estrella was on the tour!

Finally, we reached the Fullerton Transportation Center, where both Lewinnek and Arellano talked about the killing of homeless man Kelly Thomas by the Fullerton police in 2011, about the protests and two cops being charged with murder (and ultimately acquitted). The murder of Kelly Thomas is a black eye on Fullerton, but it also opened up new and important conversations about police brutality and homelessness.

The spot of Thomas’ murder is now known as “Kelly’s Corner” and is decorated with flowers and food for the local homeless who still hang out at the Transportation Center.

Interestingly, near Kelly’s Corner, as Arellano and Lewinnek’s talk was concluding, a man was using a pressure washer to blast off several posters that had been glued to a wall. The posters read “Who Killed Alejandro Campos Rios?” and featured a drawing of a police officer. A quick Google search reveals that Rios was killed by Fullerton police in 2024 outside a McDonalds.

In all, the tour provided excellent information and food for thought. To learn more, check out the book A People’s Guide to Orange County, and follow them on social media to see when they will have more tours and other events!

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 Daily News-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 1941.

The United States Enters World War II

By far, the biggest news story of 1941 was the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, and the United States entry into World War II.

In national news, Franklin D. Roosevelt was inaugurated for an unprecedented third term.

Prior to the United States entry into World War II, there was the first “America First” movement. This was an isolationist movement that wanted the US to stay out of the war, and sometimes flirted with fascism. Charles Lindberg, once a national hero of aviation, was a prominent spokesman of the first “America First” movement, which prompted reactions like this:

War Comes Home

In 1940, the United States had instituted a draft to beef up its military in the event of entry into the war. Some young Fullertonians went off to war.

Locally, Fullerton residents did their part for the war effort by buying defense savings stamps.

Preparations for blackouts (in the event of an air raid) were made.

Japanese Internment

Although president Roosevelt would not sign Executive Order 9066 until 1942, prompting the internment/incarceration of Japanese Americans on the west coast, some Japanese Americans were taken by the FBI and sent to camps in 1941, including some living here in Orange County.

A New City Hall

In 1941, Fullerton finally completed construction of City Hall at the corner of Highland and Commonwealth. The building now serves as the police station.

The building was designed by architect by G. Stanley Wilson, and was funded by the WPA, a New Deal federal program.

In addition to housing various city government offices, the building also was home to the Chamber of Commerce, the local welfare department, the police department, and the city jail.

The City Council chambers were also used as a court room for use by the city judge or justice of the peace.

Armistice Day Parade

Fullerton hosted an Armistice Day parade that drew around 60,000 people.

Val Vita

One of Fullerton’s biggest industries in 1941 was Val Vita Foods, located on 35 acres on the west side of town. It was owned by Norton Simon, and would eventually become Hunt Foods.

“Established in 1932 with an annual output of 20,000 cases, Val Vita Food Products, Inc. has grown into the largest cannery west of the Mississippi, and now produces 2,000,000 cases of 50 different products,” the News-Tribune reported.

Val Vita canned all sorts of foods, from tomatoes to orange juice, to spinach.

It was the largest cannery in the west.

With the US entry into World War II, Val Vita got a contract to provide canned goods for the Army.

Interestingly, there were a number of industrial strikes in 1941, including at Val Vita.

As the war went on, strikes were seen as unpatriotic.

Housing

New housing subdivisions continued to be built. Although construction of new housing has slowed somewhat during the Great Depression, housing would explode after the War.

Spring Training at Amerige Park

In 1941, the baseball field at Amerige Park was a popular spot to see professional teams compete in Spring Training games.

The field was used by the Hollywood Stars, which became the San Diego Padres for two seasons, followed by the Portland Beavers, then the Sacramento Solons.

“You have a major league park here,” Solons manager Pepper Martin told the News-Tribune.

Local teams also used the field, including the Fullerton Firemen.

There is a new book out called Spring Training in Fullerton, which is all about this interesting subject.

Water

Fullerton’s two large dams (the Fullerton Dam and the Brea Dam) were completed in 1941, as part of a larger countywide flood control program.

The dams were built by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

In 1941, Fullerton (being a member of the Metropolitan Water District) began to receive water from the Colorado River, courtesy of the Colorado River Aqueduct.

Death

Pioneer Fullerton pharmacist William Starbuck passed away at age 76.

Starbuck opened the first drug store in Fullerton in November of 1888. He also built and operated the first telephone system in town, in his drug store. His Gem Pharmacy also housed Fullerton’s first library.

Starbuck helped to organize the Fullerton high school district, and served as a trustee for 15 years. He also helped organize the first community hospital. He was also allegedly a member of the Ku Klux Klan in the 1920, when the group had a sizable membership among local residents.

One of the Bastanchury sons, Joseph Francis, died.

Pioneer rancher Benjamin Franklin Porter died.

Born in Tennessee in 1849, he came to the area that would become Fullerton before the town was founded, settling in what became known as the Orangethorpe district.

In addition to ranching, he served for many years as a road engineer, having surveyed and built many of the main roads in the county.

He helped organize the California Walnut Growers Association, serving as a charter member of the board of directors for 25 years. He also served as president of the local walnut association.

He also helped to organize the Anaheim Union Water company, a precursor to the Orange County Water District, serving for many years as a director.

He too was instrumental in forming the Fullerton union high school district, serving on the board. He was also a director of the Security First national Trust and Savings Bank, Fullerton branch.

He and his wife Mary had 12 children, 19 grandchildren and 16 great grandchildren.

He is buried in Loma Vista cemetery.

Long recognized as Fullerton’s oldest resident, “Uncle WIllie” Addams died at the ripe old age of 103.

He lived in a little shack on W. Santa Fe ave, 

According to the News-Tribune, “Little is known of Uncle Willie’s past, except that which he chose to tell.” And he told a lot of tales.

He said he was born on a sailing vessel owned and operated by his parents out of New York while it was anchored in the West Indies. 

“In his earlier days he followed the sea and in 1852 made a trip by sailing vessel around Cape Horn to San Francisco…On this trip he made a journey by horseback through much of California…While in New Orleans as а young man, with his ship stranded, he was persuaded to join the Confederate army during the civil war and was wounded by a rifle ball in the Battle of Lookout Mountain. After the war, he came out west and joined Indian scouts. He spoke in familiar terms of Jim Bridger, famous Indian scout, of Wild Bill Hickok, Wyatt Earp and other famous characters of the early west, but his favorite of all was the notorious Billy the Kid…Uncle Willie told often the story of being with the scouts and troops who arrived too late Ito aid General Custer and found only massacre left by the Siouх at Little Big Horn.

Whether any of this is true or not, who knows, but what a story!

Funeral director Angus McAulay passed away at age 55.

He came to Fullerton in 1914 to establish a funeral business–which still exists today–McAulay & Wallace.

Stay tuned for top news stories from 1942.

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 Daily News-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 1940.

World War II

World War II raged in Europe as England and France battled Germany, Italy entered the war, and the United States felt increasing pressure to join the fight.

The Draft

Although the United States would not officially enter the war until December 1941, following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, the country began to prepare for what seemed like the inevitable. President Roosevelt signed a law instituting a draft to build up the US armed forces, and the US continued to beef up its air and naval power.

National News

1940 was an election year, and president Roosevelt ran (and won) a third term, defeating Republican Wendell Wilkie. This was the first time a US president ran for a third term. In 1947, Congress approved the 22nd Amendment, which bars presidents from serving more than two terms.

During the election, Republican candidate Wilkie made a brief train stop in Fullerton, where he greeted a large crowd.

In 1940, a right-wing plot to overthrow the government, organized by a group called the Christian Front,  was thwarted. This fascinating story is told in Rachel Maddow’s excellent podcast Ultra.

Local Politics

The 1940 City Council race was a contentious one, with large ads run in the News-Tribune claiming that Val-Vita foods, a large Fullerton corporation, was trying to gain undue influence by running one of its executives, Stroller White.

There were essentially two “tickets” of three candidates each running against each other. On one ticket was William Carmichael, Harry Maxwell, and Stroller White. They attacked their opponents by claiming that the police chief would be fired if they were not elected.

The other ticket was William Montague, Walter Muckenthaler, and Hans Kohlenberger. Ultimately, this ticket was elected.

Businessman Hans Kohlenberger was selected as Mayor.

Education

In a major shake-up, long-time Fullerton High School and Junior College Superintendent Louis Plummer decided leave the position.

Plummer first came to Fullerton Union High School in 1909. He helped organize Fullerton Junior College in 1913, and served as superintendent since 1919. Though no specifics were given, it seems clear that there was tension between Plummer and the Board of Trustees.

“My chief concern through the years of my service here has been, and it must continue to be, the welfare of the school,” Plummer wrote in a letter to the Board. “It is probably that the members of the board will unite harmoniously in support of another, elected to take the duties of this office, than they would in carrying out any program I might propose.”

As further evidence that there was tension between the Board and the administration, fifteen teachers were also released.

Plummer’s replacement was F.T. Chemberlen.

In other news, FUHS’s old auditorium was condemned.

With the rise in international tensions, a military training was begun at the High School.

New Deal Projects

Fullerton continued to benefit from various New Deal programs, including construction of a new library on the site of the original Carnegie Library (built in 1907). The Library built in 1940 is now the Fullerton Museum Center.

Other public works projects underway in 1940 included flood control measures like construction of the Brea and Fullerton dams and paving of barrancas.

In addition to public works projects, the WPA also sponsored things like archeological digs, including one in Orange County that uncovered Native American artifacts.

Downtown Fire

A massive fire destroyed much of the McMahan furniture store near the corner of Wilshire and Spadra (Harbor).

Culture and Social Life

In 1940, social clubs were popular in Fullerton, including Rotary, Kiwanis, Lions, Business and Professional Women’s Club, Fullerton Junior Chamber of Commerce, American Legion, 20-30 club, Ebell Club, YMCA, YWCA, Masons, Odd Fellows, and more.

For entertainment, Fullertonians went to see movies at the Fox Theater.

Housing

The sprawling Sunny Hills Ranch, formerly part of the Bastanchury Ranch, was partly subdivided into residential housing. Unfortunately, the properties had racially restrictive housing covenants.

Agriculture

Fullerton celebrated Valencia Orange Week and urged people to drink more orange juice.

Slow Population Growth

The 1940 US census found that population growth in Fullerton had slowed significantly during the Great Depression, with a population of about 11,200.

“Discussion of population changes brought out the fact that elementary school registration is nearly 600 below the total of 1930,” the News-Tribune reported. “It also was pointed out that two large Mexican colonies which once flourished on the former Bastanchury ranch, no longer exist and that occupants do not live in Fullerton.”

Sports

In sports news, famous baseball manager Connie Mack came to Fullerton, as the Philadelphia Althletics played the Portland Beavers at Amerige Park.

A new bowling alley opened downtown.

Like baseball, local football games were quite popular.

Belle Benchley, Famous Zookeeper

Belle Benchley, who was the first woman elected to the Fullerton School Board, went on to become a famous zookeeper and author in San Diego.

Deaths

Former Fullerton city marshal and justice of the peace William French died at his home 533 W. Commonwealth Ave, at age 79.

Born in 1861 in Indiana, French came to Fullerton in 1901. He was employed as city marshal in 1912, succeeding Rod Stone, and held that office until 1918, when he was made city judge and justice of the peace. He served in this capacity until he retired in 1926.

Dr. Danforth C. Cowles died suddenly. He had recently lost a race for State Assembly.

Stay tuned for top news stories from 1941!

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 Daily News-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 1939.

New Publisher for the News-Tribune

A new owner/publisher took over the Fullerton News-Tribune, Edgar F. Elfstrom. He was the third owner/publisher of the local paper.

International News

In international news, war had broken out in Europe as Hitler invaded Czechoslovakia and Poland, prompting England to declare war on Germany.

Fascism had taken hold in Germany (under Hitler), Italy (under Mussolini), and Spain (under Franco).

Meanwhile, here in Fullerton, German prince Kurt B. Lippe spoke at a community meeting defending Naziism and Hitler.

Prince Lippe gave a fairly succinct description of fascism:

“In Germany today the aim of national socialism is the welfare of the commonwealth and to this end all must be subordinated. Our leader is supreme and is answerable only to the German people. Our government makes no room for impeachment of our leader,” he said. “We have never believed in a rule by a majority or by a parliamentary system. We believe that nothing can replace personality; that all the great achievements are the result of the individual’s brain–the result of the man.”

And then he made two astonishingly false claims about the aims of Nazi Gemany: “It is one of the main principles of National Socialism to keep our hands out of the internal affairs of other nations,” and “The speaker prophesied that it will be Hitler and Mussolini who will finally give to the Jewish people a home of their own.”

National News

Despite what was happening in Europe, the United States government, under the leadership of Franklin D. Roosevelt, remained neutral.

Meanwhile, Jews attempting to flee Nazi terrorism were encountering difficulties entering the United States because of our restrictive immigration laws, as shown by the tragic situation of the ship MS St. Louis, carrying Jewish refugees fleeing Nazi Germany, which was turned away from Cuba, the United States, and Canada, and forced to return to Europe. Many of the passengers later perished in the Holocaust.

California News

In California news, Democratic governor Culbert Olson finally pardoned labor leader/activist Tom Mooney, who was convicted of a bombing in 1916 that was likely based on falsified evidence and perjured testimony.

A tragic fire in Los Angeles destroyed a large part of the newly-constructed Chinatown, which had been built to replace the original Chinatown, which was torn down to build Union Station.

Voters turned down the so-called “Ham and Eggs” proposal, a state old age pension plan.

Local Politics

Businessman Hans Kohlenberger was chosen as Mayor for 1939.

Snow in Fullerton!

There was a rare snowfall in Fullerton.

Housing

Part of Roosevelt’s New Deal was the creation of the Federal Housing Administration, with the aim of providing government-insured low-cost loans to make housing more affordable to more Americans.

The process of transforming some of the former Bastanchury Ranch, the Sunny Hills ranch into housing, began.

New Deal Projects

Fullerton benefited tremendously from Roosevelt’s New Deal in the form of federally-funded projects including: flood control dams and paving of barrancas, construction of a post office, City Hall, improvements to Hillcrest Park, and more. To learn more about how the New Deal benefited Fullerton, read my article HERE.

The City Hall project was controversial, with several petitioners opposing the construction of the building, however ultimately the issue went to voters, who approved it. The original City Hall is now the Fullerton Police Station.

The Tragic Whitewashing of the Pastoral California Mural

In a tragedy of local history the high school Board of Trustees voted to paint over the 75-foot long fresco mural “Pastoral California,” a WPA-funded art project on the western wall of the high school auditorium. For more about this, read my article on the topic HERE.

Agriculture

In an effort to boost the local citrus industry, local growers sponsored a drive to get people to drink more orange juice.

Sports

In the 1930s, baseball games at Amerige Park were hugely popular local events. The Portland Beavers came down to play spring training games here.

Local baseball star Willard Hershberger came to town to play a game.

Culture and Entertainment

For culture and entertainment, locals went to see the latest movies at the Fox Theater.

Young artist Stanley Porter, of the pioneering Porter family, opened an art studio on his family’s ranch. He had studied under famous ceramicist Glen Lukens, who taught at Fullerton College.

Porter, 21, studied ceramics at the Chouinard Art school in Los Angeles and with Glen Lukens when the latter was ceramics instructor at Fullerton Junior College. Illustrations and other artwork were on display. He plans to hold classes.

In related news, Stanley’s grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. B.F. Porter celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary.

The Porters were pioneers of the Orangethorpe district, having settled in the area in 1869, 20 years before the town of Fullerton was founded. They came west from Texas on a wagon train.

Deaths

Fullerton banker Fred Krause died.

Born in Iowa, Krause became a Congregational minister and remained in the ministry until 1903. He then went into banking in Alaska and Washington state. He came to California and from 1912 to 1917 was president and cashier of the Anaheim National bank. 

In 1918 he became president of the First National bank of Fullerton, originally established in 1895 as the Fruit Growers bank, and later a branch of the Security First National bank of Los Angeles, of which he became a vicе president.

He was a Mason and served as president of the Fullerton Chamber of Commerce and the Rotary Club.

Stay tuned for top stories from 1940!

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 Daily News-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 1938.

Fascism Abroad, and at Home

Fascist dictator Adolf Hitler had firmly consolidated power in Germany, and he was starting to embark on a campaign of military conquest that would soon engulf all of Europe. He began by invading and then annexing the neighboring country of Austria, and then part of Czechoslovakia.

The Nazis brought their vicious brand of antisemitism and persecution of Jews to the countries they invaded.

Here at home, there were American fascists who sympathized with Nazi Germany. They were called the German American Bund.

Some Jews who managed to escape Nazi Germany took refuge in other countries, including the United States. However, U.S. immigration law made it difficult for many Jews to come to America.

The Flood of 1938

By far, the most significant local event of 1938 was a massive flood. Following severe rainstorms, the Santa Ana river overflowed its banks and caused widespread damage, killing over 50 people.

“Water extended over an area of 30,000 square miles in Southern California’s rich agricultural districts today after the worst rainstorm and flood in a quarter of a century,” the News-Tribune reported.

Property damage was estimated at $10,000,000, and thousands were marooned by flood waters.

“Tragedy and desolation followed in the wake of an eight foot wall of water which swept through the banks of the Santa Ana river at the Yorba bridge to submerge Atwood [Placentia], La Jolla Camp, Anaheim and the south side of Fullerton,” the News-Tribune reported. “Water which swept houses, oil tanks and all obstructions aside swept down on Atwood and down Orangethorpe ave. forcing residents in many sections to take to their rooftops in a cold early morning rain while rescuers fought to save them from their dangerous quarters.”

The flood waters extended all the way to downtown Fullerton.

Local relief efforts were spearheaded by the Red Cross, local police and firefighters, and the American Legion. Shelters were set up in Hillcrest Park and St. Mary’s church for flood refugees.

Tragically, many of the victims of the flood were Mexican Americans living in citrus camps of south Fullerton, north Anaheim, and Placentia.

“Seven bodies were reported recovered at Atwood this morning. according to Chief of Police Gus Barnes at Placentia,” the News-Tribune reported. “Rescue workers with motorboats, rowboats and lifelines attempted to cross the river to the shattered cottages in which several hundred Mexican agricultural workers made their homes.”

The floods damaged or destroyed hundreds of homes, bridges, barrancas, and other infrastructure.

Flood Control

The 1938 flood was particularly tragic because county residents had twice voted down flood control bonds that might have minimized the damage. In 1937, following a smaller flood, voters approved the bond, but it was too late. 

“Last year’s floods undoubtedly were a strong factor in the large vote given fro the Orange county flood control bonds. If there were any doubts as to the wisdom of the verdict, the floods of the past few days would resolve it,” the News-Tribune editorialized.

State and Local Politics

Olie Cole and Carl Bowen were elected to Fullerton City Council.

Thomas Gowen was named Fullerton’s mayor for 1938.

In state politics, Democrat Colbert Olson was elected governor. This was significant because he was the first Democrat governor of California in decades. He rode the wave of Roosevelt New Deal politics, which were increasingly popular during the Great Depression.

Sports

Hometown hero Arky Vaughn, a professional baseball player, played a special benefit game at Amerige Park. He hit a home run!

New Deal Projects

The Great Depression was still in full effect, and the federal Works Progress Administration continued to provide funding for public works projects in Fullerton (built by local unemployed men), including a new building at Fullerton College and a new library, to replace the old Carnegie Library (now the Fullerton Museum Center).

Building an official City Hall was a contentious issue, with plans made and then scrapped to build it next to the California Hotel (now Villa Del Sol), and at Amerige Park.

However, the project got renewed energy with WPA funding, and a new plan to build it on the northeast corner of Highland and Commonwealth avenues (the Fullerton Police Station today).

Some local residents still sought to block the project, even circulating a petition to prevent it.

However, ultimately, the petition failed to gather enough signatures.

The City Hall project was finally moving forward.

Deaths

Paul J. Nicolas, son of pioneer rancher Pierre Nicolas, died.

Former mayor Bert Annin died.

In addition to his activities as a veteran citrus grower of Fullerton, Annin was a director of the First National Trust and Savings bank, a director of the Anaheim Union Water Company, and had served as a city councilman and for two years as mayor of the city of Fullerton. He was an active member of Fullerton Odd Fellows lodge and of Fullerton Rebekah lodge.

Miscellaneous

And here are a couple of fun miscellaneous articles from 1938:

Stay tuned for more stories from 1939!

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 Daily News-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 1937.

National and International News

Fascism continued to gain strength in Europe, mostly in Germany (under Adolf Hitler) and Italy (under Benito Mussolini), threatening democratic countries.

In the midst of the Great Depression, a major wave of labor strikes occurred throughout the country.

The US Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of the Social Security Act.

Depression Relief Efforts

The Great Depression was still in effect. Federal relief programs like the Works Progress Administration (WPA) gave public works jobs to unemployed locals. One such project in 1937 was construction of the famous underground tunnels connecting Fullerton High School and Fullerton College. To learn more about all the WPA projects that benefited Fullerton, check out my article HERE.

Fullerton also established a new Welfare Center to assist the poor and unemployed.

Local Politics

Disputes over the location of a new Fullerton City Hall led to Council dropping the proposal (for now).

The first woman, Sidney Chapman, was elected to the High School Board of Trustees.

Arts & Culture

African American Fullerton author Ruby Berkley Goodwin published a book of dramatic sketches based upon Negro spirituals, in collaboration with composer William Grant Still, whose “Afro-American Symphony” was the first to be published by an African American.

70,000 visitors came to see a massive Armistice Day parade through downtown Fullerton.

Agriculture

A cold spell led to frost that damaged the city’s citrus crop.

Maria Bastanchury, widow of pioneer rancher Domingo Bastanchury, was in a legal battle with the Times Mirror Company, over a mortgage on the sprawling ranch, which had gone into receivership and possible bankruptcy.

Flood Control

Another flood led to yet another attempt to pass a countywide flood control bond, which voters hard turned down at least twice.

This time the bond issue finally did pass. Plans were drawn to erect dams and channelize flood control channels, including Brea and Fullerton Creeks. But was it too late? The 1938 flood was coming. Would the dams be built in time? Would they be enough? Stay tuned!

Labor Strikes

Workers in the Mississippie Glass Plant in Fullerton went on strike, demanding better pay and working conditions.

Eventually an agreement was reached with management, ending the strike.

Sports

Baseball games at Commonwealth (now Amerige) Park were hugely popular. The Portland Beavers did their spring training there.

City Celebrates 50 Years

Fullerton celebrated its 50-year anniversary with a huge three-day program, including “a colorful historical pageant including a cast of approximately 1,000 residents” which took place in the FUHS stadium and auditorium.

In addition to the pageant and baseball games, there was a coronation ball for the Golden Jubilee queen and “Miss Columbia,” Pearl McAulay Phillips and Mary Catherine Morgan.

The pageant, called “Conquest of the Years” featured scenes from local history, from Native Americans to the expedition of Don Gaspar de Portola, Spanish/Mexican hacienda days, Basque sheepherders, the appearance of town founders the Amerige brothers, to the first buildings, schools, and churches built.

“Conquest” feels like an appropriate sentiment for how Americans at this time saw their place in history. They were the latest proud beneficiaries of a series of conquests. Today, some Americans view this aspect of our history with ambivalence, perhaps not wanting to highlight the “conquest” part. But that is, unfortunately, the best way to describe how we came into possession of so much land, which had other owners before us.

A special 60-page issue of the News-Tribune featured several in-depth articles about the City’s history.

Deaths

Dallison “Dolly” Linebarger, a resident of Fullerton for nearly 40 years, died at his home at 333 E. Amerige ave.

Linebarger came to Fullerton in 1898 from Ventura county and opened a livery stable. He was the first county supervisor from Fullerton, a position he held for 10 years. He was a founding member of Fullerton Odd Fellows lodge.

Joseph P. Des Granges died at age 80 from suicide.

Joseph’s father Otto des Granges, a native of Prussia, came to Fullerton in 1873, before the town was founded, and purchased 80 acres of land bounded by what is now State College and Acacia Avenue on the east and west and by Chapman Avenue and Commonwealth Avenue on the north and south. The property was devoted first to general farming and later to walnut and orange production.

Joseph was instrumental in setting up Anaheim’s modern electric light system, and setting up a grist mill in that town. He was considered an authority on weather conditions.

George W. Sherwood, pioneer Fullerton engineer and citrus grower, died.

Born in New York in 1862, Sherwood embarked on a storied career after graduating from college–as a railroad engineer in Oregon, teacher in Hawaii, engineer for the Nicaragua Canal Construction company, among other interesting posts.

He moved to California in 1891, by way of Panama, and acquired citrus and walnut properties in Fullerton, where he lived until his death.

Sherwood was a director and engineer of the Anaheim Union Water company for 20 years before resigning in 1920. He was a member of several societies, including the American Society of Civil Engineers, the Tri-counties Reforestation committee, and was a charter member of the prestigious Jonathan club of Los Angeles.

Stay tuned for more news from 1938!