1976: Griffith Quarry becomes State Historical Landmark

25 years ago May 3, 2001 Funeral services were held for Cecil Marion Trapp, 76, a native of Oklahoma City. A veteran of the Army Air Corps during WWII, he also served in the Korean War and as a civilian in Vietnam. He was a member of VFW Post #1942 and active with Boy Scouts as a scoutmaster for many years. Cecil retired as a mechanical engineer after 33 years. Cobra Patrol Cub Scouts of Pack 12 earning the Webelos rank were Daniel Outlaw, Kyle Burriesci, Eric Thomas, Tyler Spangler, Dillon Rath, Kirk Middleton, Jon Medley, Ryan Johnston, Robbie Enos, Bobby Gallagher and Taylor Carrington. Fruit orchards were first planted in Placer County during the Gold Rush by a few enterprising farmers who sold fresh fruit to miners on the American River at places such as Horseshoe Bar and Whiskey Bar. The semi-tropical climate and well-drained soil here were ideal for fruit trees. Beginning about 1874, fruit was marketed to the booming Nevada territories of Carson City and Virginia City. By the early 1880s, the fruit industry was the anchor of Placer County's economy. With the advent of the refrigerated railroad car in the 1890s, fruit could be shipped throughout the U.S. Placer Elementary School eighth-grader Valerie Middleton was named a U.S. National Awards Winner in Mathematics by the U.S. Achievement Academy. Valerie was nominated by her teacher, Summer Reader. Recollections of fruit shed workers: Lorene Larsen Owens started her employment with the Loomis Fruit Growers Association in 1945, but her family had a history with the organization. Her grandparents, Chris and Kirsten Larsen, joined the association in 1901. Their ranch was named Valley Vista. Grandma Larsen's sister and her husband, Karen and Neils Jensen, came to Loomis in 1886 and were charter members of the LFGA. Lorene's earliest memory of the fruit sheds was going with her dad, Al Larsen, to take fruit to the shed with her brother, Ed. Before going home, they were treated to a nickel ice cream cone at the drug store. When Ed was 12 years old, he got a driver's license so he could haul the fruit to town. After the fruit was delivered, Mr. Williams permitted the local kids to swim in Williams Pond. After working the summer of 1945, Lorene returned years later to work full time at LFGA from 1957 to 1990, when she retired. Barbara Leak then took over as office manager. 50 years ago April 29, 1976 Services were held for Seiji Joya, 89, a native of Japan who made his home in Rocklin for 30 years. He was a retired fruit rancher. Funeral services were conducted for William Herbert Varley, 69, a native of Pweawkie, Wisconsin, and a resident of Loomis for 29 years. He was a retired sheet metal worker for the Southern Pacific Company. Boarding a bus for Washington, D.C., were Del Oro students Cheryl Gee, Carolyn Helm, Kris Jackel and Peter Oakes. Del Oro Principal Rod Hamilton was in charge of the group of 200 students in a visit to the nation's capital. Airman Brian Howard, a 1975 Del Oro graduate, completed basic training at Lackland, AFB, Texas. The Griffith Quarry, founded Oct. 12, 1864, by a Welsh mason named Griffith Griffith, will be dedicated as a State Historical Landmark on May 7, 1976. Roy Ruhkala of Rocklin will be the keynote speaker for the program. Penryn Boy Scout Troop 9 will present the colors, and the Penryn Elementary School choir and band will also participate. A memorial tribute would be paid to Enid Griffith, recently deceased, who donated the quarry site to the county. Horseback riders Debbie Jones and Jacque Rowe of Loomis scored well during the Open Schooling Show at the Folsom Lake Horse Center. Dedication of the William M. Winstead Memorial Library at Sierra College will be on May 2. The late Dr. Winstead served as superintendent-president of the Sierra Community College District. Yesteryear, by Vivian Rasmussen: Citrus fruit, primarily the orange, was in its prime years between 1900 and 1918 in our area. From 1914 to to 1918, the oranges from the Joel Parker Whitney property were packed at the Loomis Fruit Growers Association shed. Among those working in the sheds were Vincent Horton, Jessie Bankhead, Markey Rasmussen, Fern Stone, Dwight Brown, Charles Day, Albert Fieser, Gorman Taylor, Lena Dias and Nellie Boller. (continued) 75 years ago November 1949 Washington Manes, 19, of Newcastle, was injured in an automobile accident at the foot of Penryn Hill and taken to Highland Hospital in Auburn. Dorothy Oakes, president of the Placer County TB and Health Association, said there was an urgent necessity of finding tuberculosis cases and of closer follow up. Shells from all parts of the world were exhibited at the Greg Luken's Memorial Showcase at the Placer County Museum in Auburn. The shells included fossil clam shells from Nevada and cat eye shells from the South Pacific. Playing in theaters was Johnny Weissmuller in "Tarzan Triumphs." Arlene Slocum, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Slocum of the Loomis Bakery, exhibited her original paintings during the Loomis Woman's Club meeting. The club was making a drive for clothing, toys and games for the children of Bavaria, who were in desperate need. Joe Frietas and Bill Sheehan of the local Richfield Service Station were among the employees of the Northern Division who met for a dinner at the El Rancho in West Sacramento. Ethel Law reported the activities of the Ladies Aid of the Loomis Congregational Church located at Oak and Magnolia Streets. Ola Beckett and Flora Evans served delicious cakes at a recent meeting Mrs. Belle Ferguson gave a graphic account of her trip to Kansas City. Standing guard - oral histories: James Makimoto's family was sent to the Tule Lake Relocation Center in June 1942. They stored some of their furniture at the Methodist Church in Loomis. In camp, James had a job as an orderly in the hospital before a call from farmers in Idaho that they wanted help harvesting. After returning to Tule Lake, the family answered yes-yes to the controversial loyalty questions and were then sent to the Amache Camp in Colorado. (continued)