25 years ago on June 11, 1996
The Agricultural History Project’s Farm Implement Shed was completed and ready for dedication. Located just inside the fairgrounds’ main entrance, it is now used mainly for exhibits, but will eventually display large, antique farm implements. They will include an old apple wagon once used to carry apples into town to be shipped to San Francisco and other markets. There will also be a grain thresher, antique berry crates, hand tools, blacksmith and dairy equipment. The opening celebration will include a special thank you to Bernice Porter who donated $100,000 to construct the shed. The Porter family has been in agriculture for five generations, and has donated land for organizations focused on the preservation of nature. Porter was named 1995 Woman of the Year by the PV Chamber of Commerce. Ag History Project charter member Jane Borg says her group has been in such preservation efforts for ten years.
50 years ago on June 9, 1971
The Pajaro Valley Unified School District board unanimously agreed to approve a lease-purchase agreement with the Monterey Diocese of the Roman Catholic Church to buy Mora High School. The agreement provides for the purchase of the school over six years. The school, formerly a Catholic high school, will cost the district $400,000. Added interest will raise the amount to $600,000, but it’s still a bargain for the now closed high school campus, its ten class rooms, gymnasium, playing fields and other facilities. The Diocese will charge no interest the first two years the district “rents” the buildings, and pay 6% on the balance the last four years. The district will buy the school with a 10% tax the school is permitted to levy by the state to support a “continuation” high school in the district, which the state says the district must have. Continuation students must be 16 years of age or older and seeking a diploma.
75 years ago on June 11, 1946
A $16,000 loss was surveyed as authorities investigated fires which broke out simultaneously in the Allan Rider and Forest Christiansen apple packing sheds in Eureka Canyon near Corralitos and completely destroyed both plants, equipment and 44,000 apple boxes. Of undetermined origin, the fires also destroyed an acre of forest growth and only intense efforts of volunteer workers prevented the spread of flames to the Burglund packing shed adjoining Christiansen’s. Discovered by the State Forestry Service lookout on Loma Prieta, the fires weren’t controlled for many hours. Answering calls were trucks from the Corralitos and Soquel stations and a pumper from Felton. The sheds were located in what is known as Rider’s Gulch, a tributary to Eureka Canyon. Constable Glenn Spencer and forestry officials are investigating the fires. No clues as to the origin of the fires have been discovered.
100 years ago on June 8, 1921
School District Superintendent Thomas S. Macquiddy today received a dispatch from Adjutant General J. J. Borree in Sacramento, announcing that a checkup of the scores made at the two recent shooting competitions by the state high school cadets at Leona Heights in Oakland and at Eagle Rock in southern California, showed that the Watsonville Union High School Cadets were the champion cadet shots of the state. The shooting tournament in Oakland included cadets from the Northern part of the state, where Watsonville was tops with a score of 626. Fresno came in second with 612. Southern state cadets held their shoot at Eagle Rock. It was feared by Watsonville cadets that Dinuba, who beat them last year, would beat them again this year, but Dinuba only scored 573. Quite a triumph for our boys, and we extend our heartiest congratulations.
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