From "Cities & Towns of San Joaquin County": Cultural, social and sports activities have been varied and ambitious. In the late nineteenth century, there were two bands, the Farmington Independent Cornet Band, with fifteen musicians, and a five piece string band under the direction of Professor James Martin.
A great sensation for the sports minded came when a skating rink was opened in an old blacksmith shop during 1885. It was so successful that the building was expanded and refreshment booths installed. Skaters were attracted from Linden and other localities. The rink, operated for years, was so popular that the saloon keepers were complaining that their young customers had been lost.
The first organized fire department was the result of efforts by the J.F. Goodwin Company, a cattle ranch. Much of the organizational effort and funds bringing the service were contributed by Goodwin. The first piece of equipment was a new Chevrolet truck. Six years later, the Farmington Fire District was established through tax funds. There was a paid chief and a one and a half ton Diamond "T" fire truck was especially built for Farmington. It was equipped to fight grain fires. Floods, like fires, were also anticipated, as nearby Little John, Rock and Duck creeks posed a constant threat of flooding until a federally financed project, the Farmington Dam, was completed in 1955.
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Happy Birthday to Joey Kroon on Monday, June 11th.
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Congratulations Graduates! Shayne Chiono, Shawn Lozano and Ethan Turner, class of 2012. Also, to all the Graduating Seniors in the Farmington area. May you succeed and triumph in all of your adventures and may all of your dreams come true.
I want to also congratulate Will Turner, who graduated from the 8th grade.
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School is out for the summer. Please watch out for the children that will be out playing in your area. They are precious gifts. Let's keep them safe.
*****
Please contact me if you have items for the Farmington News column. E-mail me at farmingtonnews@gmail.com or phone 896-6697.
A great sensation for the sports minded came when a skating rink was opened in an old blacksmith shop during 1885. It was so successful that the building was expanded and refreshment booths installed. Skaters were attracted from Linden and other localities. The rink, operated for years, was so popular that the saloon keepers were complaining that their young customers had been lost.
The first organized fire department was the result of efforts by the J.F. Goodwin Company, a cattle ranch. Much of the organizational effort and funds bringing the service were contributed by Goodwin. The first piece of equipment was a new Chevrolet truck. Six years later, the Farmington Fire District was established through tax funds. There was a paid chief and a one and a half ton Diamond "T" fire truck was especially built for Farmington. It was equipped to fight grain fires. Floods, like fires, were also anticipated, as nearby Little John, Rock and Duck creeks posed a constant threat of flooding until a federally financed project, the Farmington Dam, was completed in 1955.
*****
Happy Birthday to Joey Kroon on Monday, June 11th.
*****
Congratulations Graduates! Shayne Chiono, Shawn Lozano and Ethan Turner, class of 2012. Also, to all the Graduating Seniors in the Farmington area. May you succeed and triumph in all of your adventures and may all of your dreams come true.
I want to also congratulate Will Turner, who graduated from the 8th grade.
*****
School is out for the summer. Please watch out for the children that will be out playing in your area. They are precious gifts. Let's keep them safe.
*****
Please contact me if you have items for the Farmington News column. E-mail me at farmingtonnews@gmail.com or phone 896-6697.
