By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.
Farmington News
Placeholder Image
From "Doc Alders, Farmington's Lone Eagle" Reminiscence: Averel (Doc) Alders learned to swim in an Olympic sized pool that was part of Neptune Beach in Alameda. Neptune Beach had a roller coaster and other "thrill" rides. It was considered the "Coney Island of the West." It became a maritime training facility during WWII and is now the Crown Memorial State Beach. The Alders kids used to spend the summers with their Aunt Clara, their mother's sister, in Alameda. They would go over to the Neptune Beach pool to swim. Aunt Clara's husband worked at the Saint Francis Hotel in San Francisco. He commuted from Alameda to San Francisco. He used to take the red cars down to the Alameda Mall and take the ferry boat across the bay.

Doc's dad passed away in March of 1927 leaving a young widow with three children. He was almost 49 years old when he died and she was 38. Mr. Alders died from TB. Mom Alders kept on with the farm with the help of teenage Doc and his younger brother Arlen "Pete" Alders. The boys helped their uncle, John Heward, a carpenter, tear down the old hotel building and build their mom a new home at that location. Berde Alders outlived her husband by fifty three years, passing away in 1980.

*****

No school at the Farmington Elementary February 18 - 22 in observance of Presidents week.

*****

Enroll in Take Charge of Education: By simply enrolling in the Take Charge of Education program you can help our school earn money every time you shop at Target. A percentage of the amount of each purchase you make using your REDcard is donated back to our school. If you are not already taking part, please do so. To participate or to see how much has been contributed towards our next check, please visit target.com/tcoe or call 1-800-316-6142.

*****

Please contact me if you have items for the Farmington News column. E-Mail me at farmingtonnews@gmail.com or phone 896-6697.