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    Santa Paula:: 1930-1960
    Santa Paula:: 1930-1960
    Santa Paula:: 1930-1960
    Ebook219 pages51 minutes

    Santa Paula:: 1930-1960

    By Mary Alice Orcutt Henderson

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    About this ebook

    This visual history of the 20th century's middle decades in Santa Paula illustrates how a rural city settled into its middle age. As a sequel to Images of America: Santa Paula, which covered the pioneering and settlement years of 1870 to 1930, it continues this Ventura County city's story through the Depression decade and the World War II and Korean War home front years that led up to the sixties. The time from 1930 to 1960 was prosperous for the two main industries in Santa Paula and its environs: citrus cultivation and oil production. The population increases reflected the job opportunities that these industries presented, bringing other families, businesses, and opportunities to the growing city.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherArcadia Publishing
    Release dateSep 18, 2012
    ISBN9781439638347
    Santa Paula:: 1930-1960
    Author

    Mary Alice Orcutt Henderson

    Author Mary Alice Orcutt Henderson has local family roots dating to 1872. Her family still owns and farms part of its initial 640-acre homestead. The founding president of the Santa Paula Historical Society, Henderson�s link to the city�s past, along with her ancestors� reminiscences of early times, have sparked her passion to share hometown history. Most of the photographs came from generous local families, and the Santa Paula Chronicle was the primary research source.

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      Book preview

      Santa Paula: - Mary Alice Orcutt Henderson

      experience.

      INTRODUCTION

      This is the sequel to the book that spanned Santa Paula’s first 50 years—a formative, yet tentative, period when the pioneering settlers experimented with various produce to find the ideal cash crop and searched for the illusive sources of petroleum to develop a field. Eventually their efforts led to a telling discovery. Citrus cultivation became their orange ore; oil production their black gold. These are the two industries upon which the town built its foundation and which guaranteed its cityhood.

      The first book focused more on the development of those industries; the impact the coming of the railroad had on fast-tracking the town to a promising future; the evolution of its Main Street from temporary buildings to permanent structures. It also showed the transition of individual families into a collective community of schools, churches, and neighborhoods.

      Reflecting upon the local and national events that affected the city over the ensuing 30 years, the author chose this time to concentrate more on the people and how they lived. It must be remembered that the history told is limited to the variety of photographs shared for the project. Understandably, there are no images of how families managed or struggled during the Depression years. Why memorialize hard times? The exceptions were their weddings.

      The largest chapter is devoted to their military service. Again, considering by 1942 over 400 men and women from Santa Paula were serving in the armed services, the number of photographs given was small but extremely important and valued. The second-largest chapter focuses on how they spent their leisure times and celebrated their good times. Incorporated in this section are a few pictures hinting of Santa Paula’s historic association with well-known artists.

      One

      MAIN STREET 1930S

      SANTA PAULA. The population was 7,395 exactly (according to the 1930 census). There were 11 churches of various denominations, one day nursery, three grammar schools, one junior high, and one Union High School. Industries included seven fruit and nut packinghouses, one lima bean warehouse, several automobile agencies, Union Oil of California, plus a half-dozen independent petroleum companies and one small oil refinery. Main Street’s central business core ran from Eighth to Eleventh Streets and offered everything from antimacassars to zippers. Among the prominent public buildings were city hall, County Agricultural Commissioner’s Office, Ebell Clubhouse, Glen Tavern Hotel, the library, and the Southern Pacific Depot. Though no longer on the main line, both freight and passenger trains were as regular as clockwork. This photograph was taken from McKevett Heights Hill. (Photograph courtesy of John Nichols Gallery.)

      MAIN AND EIGHTH STREETS INTERSECTION. Were one able to climb to the same height today and look eastward, too, there would be no significant difference in the buildings themselves. Just built is the two-story structure on the right known as the H. I. Q. Brown Building. A Roy Wilson design, the first floor housed a grocery, with the primary occupant of the second floor being Dr. Brown and his dental offices.

      CITIZENS STATE BANK. In 1937, the Main Street landmark received its first and only face-lift. While the original building materials were masked, local architect Bob Raymond fortunately preserved this original arched entryway of locally quarried Sespe brownstone, which was complemented by the slender columns of green Catalina Serpentine. Also preserved was the institution’s public statement: Community owned, community minded.

      BANK OF AMERICA. Located on the opposite corner of Citizens State Bank, this institution’s name reflected the recent merger of the Bank of America of California with the Bank of Italy. The new bank assumed building, employees, and customers of the previous occupant.

      THE FINAL PIECE. Sited on the primary intersection of Main and Tenth Streets, the completion of this building marked the removal of the last wooden structure along the main thoroughfare. The original occupant was C. C. Rupert’s place of business, which offered stationery, office supplies, pictures, paintings, framing, and once-a-week art lessons. (Photograph courtesy of John Nichols Gallery.)

      MAJOR RESTORATION. In the mid-1930s, the old Fulwieler’s Garage on Main Street was transformed into an up-to-date grocery. The term super on the sign meant that various departments were consolidated into one store so that the lady of the house need only to stop and shop here for all her cooking requirements. Owner George Pezold was an avid promoter of his grocery and his city.

      WARREN KING BUILDING. A Main Street fire destroyed four businesses, one of which belonged to fire chief Warren King and which was one of the first to be reopened, refurbished, and restocked. In appreciation of his volunteer fire department, he held a special Firemen’s Ball with a 12-piece orchestra and a hardwood floor for dancing. The motto "Where

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