From "Doc Alders, Farmington's Lone Eagle": The New Millennium brought Farmington into the 21st century with cell phones, dish antennas and a brand new Post Office to the left on the road to Stockton just across where the railroad tracks once were. The depot, tracks and warehouses are all gone. The Souza's sold the property and it has been graded off. The old IOOF building still stands like a sentinel on the main intersection with the General Store still occupying the ground floor. The other vestige of Farmington of the 1940's is where the Alder's Service Station once stood, which has been replaced with the 'Circle K' and Shell Service Station. A modern fire house is prominent on the depot corner. The surrounding agriculture is mostly walnut groves and vineyards. A few row crops are grown close by. Very little wheat is grown in the vicinity of the town which once had wheat as it main purpose. Wheat is now handled in bulk instead of burlap sacks. Penitentiaries no longer run jute mills. Hemp is now grown surreptitiously for other purposes.
As the last decade of the millennium drew to a close, Doc wound down his wheelwright and stagecoach building activities. At ninety years of age, he was fully retired. At the time the building was still on the corner with high on the front, the faded lettering proclaiming Alders Service. A fruit stand was seasonally set up out front to catch the traffic coming out of the Sierra's. Doc would sit out there sometimes under the shade tree and passed the time talking to people. He sometimes would use his electric scooter to get around. People invariably would connect Doc Alders to the Service Station and many knew him from his "wagon building" and "carriage trade." Doc is gone now, but he will be remembered and missed.
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I have heard from several readers in regards to not receiving their 'Escalon Times' in a timely manner. You may e-mail Joe.C.Tualla@usps.gov. Do not expect a return e-mail. This is for him to monitor the issue of how the mailing of the paper is being handled.
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Happy Anniversary to John and Gayle Kroon on Thursday, November 1st.
I would like to wish my daughter Debbie a very Happy Birthday, Saturday, November 3rd.
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I would still like to hear from you. Please contact me if you have items for the Farmington News column. E-Mail me at farmingtonnews@gmail.com or phone 896-6697.
As the last decade of the millennium drew to a close, Doc wound down his wheelwright and stagecoach building activities. At ninety years of age, he was fully retired. At the time the building was still on the corner with high on the front, the faded lettering proclaiming Alders Service. A fruit stand was seasonally set up out front to catch the traffic coming out of the Sierra's. Doc would sit out there sometimes under the shade tree and passed the time talking to people. He sometimes would use his electric scooter to get around. People invariably would connect Doc Alders to the Service Station and many knew him from his "wagon building" and "carriage trade." Doc is gone now, but he will be remembered and missed.
*****
I have heard from several readers in regards to not receiving their 'Escalon Times' in a timely manner. You may e-mail Joe.C.Tualla@usps.gov. Do not expect a return e-mail. This is for him to monitor the issue of how the mailing of the paper is being handled.
*****
Happy Anniversary to John and Gayle Kroon on Thursday, November 1st.
I would like to wish my daughter Debbie a very Happy Birthday, Saturday, November 3rd.
*****
I would still like to hear from you. Please contact me if you have items for the Farmington News column. E-Mail me at farmingtonnews@gmail.com or phone 896-6697.
