Whit's Whittlin` Part 8

by Whit Cromwell,
Between Times January 2007 page 4   

Donated by Awandi Cromwell

Last week I told you a little about my visit with Fay and Fanny Young and their several café adventures on Main Street in Yorba Linda. I've just reviewed my notes and listened to my tape recording again, which made me decide to share some more things we talked about.

I'm amazed at the number of names and facts that came out of a short "whittling" session with old friends. This visit with you may have the flavor of Fanny's hash because it will be a mixture of a lot of goodies.

For instance, George Kellogg was one of the first people from Yorba Linda that Fay met when he came to California. I never knew that George worked for Union Oil Co. at one time. I remember George for his efforts to bring Imperial Highway through to Yorba Linda (and eventually he lived to see it completed to Imperial, CA); his many years as secretary of the Yorba Linda Chamber of Commerce; his strong leadership in American Legion work throughout the State of California; his stirring talks on the Constitution of the U.S.; his many years of labor on Kellogg Hill overlooking the gravel pit on Kellogg Drive, and his strong religious faith.

Yes, George was a typical hard working early settler in Yorba Linda.

Roy Gauldin was another early settler mentioned, Fay drove a team of horses for Roy and he thinks the first grove he cultivated was the Van Patten Ranch on Golden Avenue.

Harold Van Patten still lives on a portion of his dad's ranch at the corner of Golden and Rose Drive. I whittle with Harold quite often around town.

Other names mentioned were Mr. Gilman who managed the M.O.D. Packing House; Cuba hill who taught Fanny to pack lemons; Dora, Glen and Robert Perkins, Pat and Nettie Ledbetter, and Harry Johnson who all lived in the Holloway Apartments, where Fay and Fanny first rented an apartment for $18 a month; Dick McFadden, who used to set trays out for the lemon packers in the packing house; Grandpa Nicholson, who built many of the new mechanical devices for processing lemons and oranges in his garage off of Valencia Street; Mr. Janeway, who had a grocery store on Olinda Street and later on Main Street where there is an antique store now.

Fay also remembers there was a café on Olinda Street, but couldn't remember who operated it. Hmmm Fanny served me to a big helping of hash. I am not going to manage to finish it today.

I've got a lot of things to do, getting ready for our Community Health Fair Saturday, Sept. 8. There will be activity from 7 a.m. until 5 p.m. I hope all of you will come join in thy fun, and get your screening and testing for your health's sake. I'll see you there!

Oh yes, the Fun Run starting point and Health Fair will be held on the grounds and in the Esperanza Hospital at the corner of Rose Drive and Bastanchury right here in Yorba Linda. Keep Whittlin.'

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