2000: Penryn palm trees designated as 'landmarks'

25 years ago July 13, 2000 A memorial service was held for William T. (Bill) Onga, 63. He enjoyed traveling to Germany to attend the Octoberfest and the local Breakfast Club. Bill was a member of the Dirt Digger North Motorcycle Club. The Loomis Basin Heritage Foundation engaged the services of the architectural firm of Williams & Paddon of Roseville to do necessary documentation for the remodeling and restoration of its two historic packing sheds in Loomis. Russ Kelley was project manager for the Heritage Foundation. The century-old palm trees which line several county roads in Penryn were designated as "landmark trees" by the County Board of Supervisors. In the late 1800s, a group of men founded the Citrus Colony Company. Their object was to grow citrus fruit trees in the area of what is now Citrus Colony, Del Mar, English Colony and Penryn Roads. Mr. J.P. Whitney and the Penryn Fruit Company ordered a railroad carload of 500-plus young palm trees. They were planted by Chinese workers in 1893. Boy Scouts of Troop 12 selected to attend a Junior Leadership Training Course in Fort Bragg were Keith Anderson, Thomas Hall, J.P. Newsom, Nick Ernst and Erich Grunder. Old schoolhouses of the Loomis Basin: The Smithville School closed for a while when the town moved west at the request of the Central Pacific Railroad to be near the tracks. George Turner, who lived less than a half-mile from the school, had to ride a mule cross country to the Monte Rio School located near Rattlesnake Road on the American River. It was unknown when the school reopened, but it was known that 24 students attended Smithville School in 1872. Miss L.W. Colton taught 31 pupils in 1882. Miss Mary Neuebaumer taught there in 1886-87 in the school named Pino school, the same name as the town. When the town's name was changed from Pino to Loomis on May 28, 1890, the school became Loomis School. 50 years ago July 10, 1975 Funeral services were held for Minerva Alice Lawson, 84, a resident of Loomis and Rocklin for 50 years. She was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Susan Diehl of Hidden Valley had an Akita pup to donate to a 4-H Club member agreeing to be part of the Dog Care project. An Akita is a Japanese dog historically bred by royalty to fight bears but were also loving toward people. Developing a history book for the First United Methodist Church of Loomis included Jim Makimoto, Garvin Jabusch and Siechi Otow. The book "A History, 1903-1973" was written by Rusty Uratsu. Some Penryn School parents were concerned about the policy of inter-district attendance. Trustee George Anderson explained that the overcrowding was not a result of out-of-district children attending. Appointed to the Placer County Grand Jury included local residents Patrick Burke, Sharon Mason and Leta Vorheis. A group of Cambodian refugees were expected to join the Vietnamese exiles in Weimar following a request by President Ford's refugee location task force. County Supervisor Jim Henry was seeking an extension on the Hope Village lease. Todd Anderson, 12, of Loomis played the role of Kurt Von Trapp in "The Sound of Music" at the Music Circus. Yesteryear by Vivian Rasmussen: The members of the Loomis Reds baseball team in 1938 had local boys Charley Perry, Red Pilliard, Irvin Smyth, Henry Triano, Al Pilliard and Barton Smyth. Boys from different towns who were working in the fruit industry during the week would also play with the Reds on Sundays, including John Noyes of Lincoln. Fenn Laird was the manager, Tom Stevenson of Lincoln the scorekeeper and Ina Vance using the loud speaker, the first one in the area. 75 years ago May 1949 Ranchers and fruit growers could find workers, fruit thinners and pickers by contacting John Kesler. Leave word with Dick, Esther or Al at the Wayside Inn in Loomis. Roseville police reported a man suffered the loss of his right foot as he attempted to board a northbound Southern Pacific freight train. He was given first aid in the rail line emergency hospital. Important dates: May 25, 1940 - Golden Gate International Exposition opened for the second year. May 27, 1937 - Golden Gate Bridge opened. Bill Breech of Bill's Trading Post on Hiway 40 in Rocklin offered used washing machines for $39.95. Fred Boyd Jr. of Loomis received the Jewett Adams Scholarship at the University of Nevada. The local fire department responded to 13 grass fires by June. Two fires were extinguished one day, two the following day in the local jungles, and one more the next day near Angelo Dolce's place. Leo Marin and his 12-piece orchestra will supply the music for the Rocklin Firemen's big dance at Pleasure Hall. Standing huard - oral histories: Roy Uyeda, as a member of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team in 1944, first saw action in Anzio. Then the unit was sent to France to rescue the "Lost Battalion," part of the Texas 36th Division. Casualties were over 800 to save some 200 soldiers. "That's why Texas made us honorary citizens of Texas."