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The schools now are often criticized for their lack of physical exercise programs. There was no shortage of such programs in the 50’s. Not only were there sports and classroom athletics, but also twice per month, every class from the Haven Drive Elementary School made the...
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Comments [4] - Views [81]
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As children in the 1950’s, we never understood the true meaning of the term “Trick-or-Treat”. There was no vandalism, very little mischief and even fewer bullies. No one had store-bought costumes and most Trick-or-Treater’s either had a hand-painted bag over our...
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Comments [1] - Views [48]
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Growing up in Arvin, California in the 50’s was fun. Twenty-one miles from Bakersfield and only seven miles from the famous Weedpatch, Ca. mentioned in the John Steinbeck’s book “The Grapes of Wrath”. We considered ourselves the town located south-of-the-tracks...
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Comments [6] - Views [67]
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In 1957, at the tender age of 11, Capitalism had hit me hard. I learned that people would pay you to mow their lawns. I loved this task so much, that I would have paid them for the privilege. I was outside and got to handle heavy equipment. Well, at least the equipment was...
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Comments [3] - Views [34]
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In the 1950’s, Arvin was a very nice place to live. Everyone knew and trusted each other. By keeping a simple ear out, you could hear clear across town. You could tell where your friends were playing, whose parents were having a fight, or measure the progress if someone was...
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Comments [4] - Views [96]
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Arvin’s first community center did not have a roof. As a matter of a fact, it did not have any walls either. It had trees. I am referring to the DiGiorgio Community Park. In the 1950’s, the park was many things to everyone in the community. It was a place for...
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Comments [5] - Views [62]
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If you have ever lived in a small town such as Arvin, California, you know the value of advanced planning. With a single hardware store so poorly stocked that you had as good a chance finding what you needed next door at the Sprouse Riese five and dime cent...
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Comments [7] - Views [108]
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They say confession is good for the soul. Back in Junior High School at Haven Drive, then finally at Arvin High School in 1960, my friend, Gary D. Smith and I were members of “The Untouchables”. This was Arvin’s very own, model airplane club, where we met once a week...
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Comments [6] - Views [189]
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Several years ago, someone mentioned the term “Latch Key Kid” and I said “What is that?” They explained “OH! That is a kid who gets home after school while both parents are still at work, so they wear a door latch key around their neck, tied to a shoestring so...
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Comments [11] - Views [142]
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In 1954, when I was eight years old, I became a chicken rancher. My parents allowed me to have a small pen of chickens south of our garage at 301 Grove Street, where I grew up. We had bought a dozen mixed hen chicks and one red rooster chick from Canterbury’s Feed store on...
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Comments [9] - Views [89]
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The Ghost in My Garage
In the winter of 1952 when I was only 6 years old, our garage at 301 Grove Street, caught fire destroying the garage. It also destroyed our family 1946 Plymouth car and my brother, Leo’s Servic-Cycle, which was a cross between a motorcycle and scooter that had...
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Comments [4] - Views [67]
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