Brothers find Gold Rush fortune in merchandise

25 years ago March 8, 2001 Funeral services were held for Pamela Jean Allen Pond. She completed a college degree after bringing up her children. Pamela spent her final years as a volunteer, educating patients to manage their health issues. Matthew Koh, an eighth-grade student at Cavitt School in Granite Bay, took first place in the 2001 Placer County Spelling Bee Oral Competition. He correctly spelled "ensemble" and "garrisons" in the final round. Penryn School seventh-grader Thea Chesney was the fifth-place finisher. Mary Ann Quong stood near a rock outcropping at Loomis Park South where the Loomis Basin Historical Society will place a plaque to recognize the local Chinese families. Mary Ann was the widow of Suey Quong, a decedent of a family that lived in Loomis Chinatown. Boy Scouts of Troop 12 and 29 celebrated Boy Scout Sunday. Among the scouts participating were Colin Naake, Ian McPherson, Eric Thomas, Robert Martin, Kellen West, Alex, Colin and Joel Nitta. New members of the Loomis Lions Club were Russ Kelley, John DuPriest and Henry Schneider. To celebrate "Read Across America," kindergarten teacher Carlene Foley at Placer Elementary School saluted Dr. Seuss by wearing her favorite hat and reading "The Cat In The Hat." Among her students were Aaron Astle (dressed as Wesley from the book "Westlandia," Sarah Dietz (as Cinderella) and Jarrod Lumley (as the butterfly from "The Hungry Caterpillar." David Outlaw placed first in the Loomis Union School District Geography Bee. Softball players from last year's Del Oro championship team now playing in college included Andi Sherman (Tennessee) and Sarah Thomson (Iowa). The Green Tree Children's Ballet Company in Penryn will perform an original ballet "Peter Pan" choreographed by the company director Pauline Von Thaden. Peter Pan dancers included Eliese Rulifson, Gracie Kayimura, Chelsea Elia, Kristen Rulifson, Celia Crain and Tatiana Susoef. 50 years ago March 4, 1976 Funeral services were held for Kiku Uyemura, 80, a native of Japan. She was a 50-year resident of the Loomis Basin. Memorial services were planned for active community supporter Ray Rowe, 79, a native of Grass Valley. He moved to Roseville in 1931 and then to Loomis in 1950. Ray retired as vice president of Citizens Bank of Roseville. Wearing their kimonos, Mary Omachi, Moneta Woodhead, Maureen Otani and Sumi Miyata prepared for the Loomis Methodist Church's Oriental Food Bazaar. Oakmont High School senior Jan Haag won the Rocklin Lions Club Student Speakers Contest. Her classmates Susan Hagadorn and Virginia Schillianskey also fared well in the contest. Mrs. Aki Matsuda demonstrated the tea ceremony performed by women in Japan to children in Mrs. Marlene Winger's class at Loomis School. Local boys graduating from recruit training were Brian Howard at Lackland AFB, Texas, John Scherer and Dirk Lutzweiler from Naval Training Center, San Diego. Karen Takayama was the Loomis School District Spelling Bee winner. Runners-up were Mike Willert and Kelly Potter. Yesteryear by Vivian Rasmussen: Joel Parker Whitney was responsible for planning and financing Citrus Colony. The son of a merchant in Boston, he worked in his father's store and saved every penny he could. In 1852, he followed his three brothers to San Francisco, where the brothers were doing well as shopkeepers after having no luck in the gold fields. Joel decided to try his luck seeking gold in Auburn (formerly North Fork Dry Diggings). He soon realized the easy mining stories one heard back east were not true. Instead, Joel saw supplies were worth their weight in gold. A shovel sold for $100, sugar $3 a pound and flour up to $800 a barrel. He eventually left for Boston to buy merchandise he knew would sell at high prices. In 1860, Joel invested in mining corporations in California, Colorado and New Mexico. Amassing a large fortune, Joel, along with his brothers, had about 25,000 acres by 1870 in Spring Valley (located just over the SW end of Boulder Ridge from the current Loomis Basin). The Spring Valley Ranch consisted of 25 buildings, where some 200 men and their families were employed. 75 years ago October 1949 Francis Lowell Gates, son of Mr. and Mrs. Earl Gates of Loomis, recently returned home from overseas duty with the U.S. Army. Teachers from Penryn, Rocklin, Dry Creek and Loomis Schools met in the new Loomis School cafeteria to discuss eye testing, first aid and the crippled children clinic. Mrs. Frances Morgan and Miss Faye Adams served refreshments for the group. Frank Doring of Loomis got his deer while hunting near Pilot Hill. His son Walter was not so lucky. Playing in theaters was Esther Williams and Red Skelton in "Neptune's Daughter." Kindergarten teacher Mrs. Breeze Newcomer invited the mothers to a tea at Loomis School. She was assisted by her room mother, Mrs. Leeds Sullivan. Taken-Up - a white-faced red steer on the Ryder Ranch, 1/2 mile north of Loomis. See Angelo Far. Mrs. Al Broyer of Roseville was in charge of the Sister Kenny Foundation's fight against polio by raising funds. New officers installed for the John A. Stacker Post No. 775, American Legion were Ed Larsen, Vic Mar, Frank Fujita, Bruce Barnes, William Tudsbury, Ed Leak and Cosma Sakamoto. The "Super Inch" steel 1,600-mile steel pipeline will bring natural gas from fields in Texas and New Mexico to Northern California. The system was a joint effort of the El Paso Natural Gas Company and P.G.&E. The project was made necessary by the increased population. "We now have nearly one million gas customers," explained W.G.B. Euler of P.G.&E. Standing Guard - oral histories: Joe Kageta grew up in Fair Oaks until 1941, when his family operated an orchard in Penryn. He was drafted into the U.S. Army and began training as a medic. The training was over on Dec. 8, 1941. After a coupe of years in a segregated camp, the government formed the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, an all-Japanese American unit. At the time, Joe's family was in Tule Lake, then Heart Mountain Internment Camp in Wyoming. (continued)