75 years ago: Aquacade opens at McBean Pool

50 Years Ago Population 3,179 (U.S. Census 1960 and 1970) Drought Because of severe drought conditions in Placer County, the board of directors of the Tahoe Cattlemen's Association is requesting the Placer County Board of Supervisors to declare Placer County an agricultural disaster area. In a letter directed to the supervisors, Stanley Nader, TCA president, states "We feel the cattlemen in our county are facing a very serious feed situation due to the very low rainfall this past winter season. Hay is in short supply and the price is high because of this. This places a real hardship upon cattlemen in our county to stay in business. "We, therefore, would like your board to act favorably upon our request." The California Farm Bureau already has estimated California farmers will lose more than $500,000,000 this year and without substantial early fall rains the loss could go as high as a billion dollars. Statewide, beef and dairy ranchers have the highest losses due to the drought. Estimated losses through July 1, 1976 are $300,000,000 with projected losses of $500,000,000 if relief is not forthcoming. The Farm Bureau figures include grazing loss, cattle weight losses, added feeding costs due to scarcity, and losses due to forced sale at depressed prices. Said Fred Heringer, president of the California Farm Bureau, "No one seems to fully understand the tremendous hardships the farmers are enduring. Cattle herds are dwindling because there is nothing for them to eat in many areas. Our barley and wheat crop has been severely damaged. "Add to this the staggering extra expense of drilling new wells, deepening others and the enormous electrical bills for added pumping – then you begin to realize the scope of this thing," Heringer stated. 75 Years Ago Population 2,410 (U.S. Census 1940 and 1950) Schools Public hearing dates have been set for annual budgets of local school districts, with the first one coming Wednesday, August 1. Budgets of the three districts, Sheridan Elementary, Lincoln Union Elementary, and Lincoln Union High, are being published this week. The high school will hold its meeting next Wednesday at 8 p.m. On the following Monday, August 6, the Lincoln Elementary School will hold its budget hearing and the Sheridan District has set its date as Tuesday, August 7. According to the budgets, the Lincoln Elementary District will require $65,097.13 in taxes during the coming fiscal year; the High School will need $98,181.19; and Sheridan is budgeted for $14,849.68. The largest item of expense listed for each of the schools is salaries for teachers. They are: Lincoln HS, $58,565; Lincoln Elementary, $81,600; Sheridan, $10,500. Both of the Lincoln schools expect increases in their state Average Daily Attendance apportionments over that of last year, with the high school's being substantially larger. The increase at that school is from $28,720 to $59,110. The Lincoln grammar school's has been boosted from last year's $83,716.46 to $85,312. The Sheridan school's A.D.A. apportionment dropped to $8,249 from the 1950-51 figure of $9,297.14. The following reserves were on hand at the beginning of the new year; Sheridan, $1,959.73; Lincoln Elementary, $36,214.40; Lincoln HS, $24,046.03. Aquacade A large group of more than 100 participants began group rehearsal last Monday night for the 1951 Aquacade to be presented at the McBean Memorial Pool on Monday night, August 6. The show is slated to open at 8 p.m. Participants have prepared individual and special events during the past month. Planning for the show started at the season opening. Bill Knapp, Aquacade director, stated the assistance and cooperation and the enthusiastic preparation by all concerned did so outstanding that the show should be an epic example of what can be done through community effort. Directors assisting Mr. Knapp are Dolores Killiam and Edwin Watts. Besides being co-director, Miss Killiam has full charge of the water ballet. Mr. Watts is directing the folk dancing. Lois Wyatt is in charge of the youngster's parade. Laverne Livingston is in charge of the tumblers. Specialist committees include clown diving, diving and special features; special dancing and sound effects; costumes and decorations. 100 Years Ago Population 1,324 (U.S. Census 1900, 1910, and 1920) Swim Exhibition The Olympic Club swimming team, composed of swimming and diving stars of international fame, has confirmed the date of August 1st for their appearance at McBean Memorial Pool. The team has a gallery of talent which rates as one of the strongest in the United States. Al White, world's champion diver; Gaxon, sprint marvel; Leo Purcell, Golden Gate swim winner, form the nucleus of a well-balanced team. The Trustees desire to stimulate interest in such events and have decided to charge no admission. A large attendance should welcome this announcement and it shows the progressiveness of the Trustees. Train Do you know that Lincoln ships more cars of local products than any station north of Sacramento to the Oregon line? In fact, the shipping is so heavy that a special train is sent here every night to do the switching that is necessary to get the cars out of the yards and into the trains. Note: The train station was at 5th Street and Lincoln Boulevard, where the Dollar Tree now stands. To see photos as well as a model of the depot, please visit the Lincoln Area Archives Museum in Beermann Plaza, 640 5th Street, Thurs-Sat 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Lincoln was founded in 1859 by Charles Lincoln Wilson of the Central California Railroad. Please visit for more information, including photos and maps. Streets Much favorable comment has been heard regarding the condition of our streets. Since the town trustees bought the motor grader and scarifier, operators have been busy grading, scarifying and rolling the streets on which has been placed considerable oil which seems to give a hard and compact surface. Good streets are the making of a high-class town, so let the good work go on. California Estimates made by State Controller Ray L. Riley in his report on financial transactions of cities and counties of California reveals the population of the state as of June 30th, 1925, was 5,066,288. The estimates for the three largest cities given by Riley are as follows: Los Angeles, 1,260,315; San Francisco, 622,603, and Oakland, 280,663. More Lincoln History The California Central Railroad was designed to connect Sacramento and Marysville via Folsom. The Sacramento-Folsom stretch, providing a route to the mines on the American River, was completed (as the Sacramento Valley Railroad) in 1856. But to get out of Folsom and continue north toward Marysville the railroad had to double back and then cross the American river-all very expensive. The money available would take the line to Auburn Ravine but not all the way to Marysville, not even as far as Sheridan. So, Auburn Ravine became the end of the line for several years. Stagecoaches, wagon freight rains, and individual travelers from points north, east, and west came to this new spot to connect with the railroad. Train passengers from south of this locale disembarked here to travel by other means to the north and east to the gold mines. Many had to wait overnight to make connections. A town with hotels, stores, livery stables, saloons, restaurants, and a population to operate these facilities was necessary. President of the California Central, Charles Lincoln Wilson, had bought the site on Auburn Ravine from Theodore Judah for $600. He had a map for a town here drawn up in 1859, and began selling lots. The rails didn't reach Lincoln until October of 1861, but then the town began to boom. Four hotels lined G Street (Lincoln Blvd.) that year. By 1865, boom was turning to bust. The transcontinental line was not coming through Lincoln as expected, but rather through Newcastle and Auburn. Travelers coming from, or going to, points east of Lincoln now met the train at Auburn or Newcastle or other towns that sprung up along the advancing rails. Source: "Lincoln Area History, Tales from the Archives, A Scrapbook" by Jerry Logan and available for purchase at the museum. Thank you for reading! MBO