From "Doc Alders, Farmington's Lone Eagle" A Reminiscence. In the fall of 1939 the war started in Europe. Countries fell to the blitzkrieg ... and France was occupied by the Nazis. Hitler deferred his invasion of England while he attempted to conquer Russia. The German bombers went from strategic bombing to terrorizing civilians with the London Blitz of 1940. The battle of Britain was fought by young men flying Spitfires and Hawker Hurricanes. They flew like demons. The British started regular bombing of Germany using their large Lancaster bombers. The news was disturbing but life went on as usual in Farmington.
Trains ran through Farmington in 1940. The Southern Pacific train station and the grain warehouse stood along the tracks as significant albeit less used part of the small town. Passenger trains were discontinued in 1932 and not as much wheat was shipped. The IOOF building dominated the town intersection with its Toda Bros' Store sign. Lewis and Jefferson Toda (Bud and Jeff) were the proprietors and Bill Toda had the butcher shop. Cater-corner to Todas' store stood the Alders Union 76 station. The train station could be viewed from the intersection and just across the tracks was a grain warehouse. Up the street eastward at First street the small white Post Office stood. Bertha Groves ran the Post Office and the old phone switchboard. Hagar built his bar between the store and Post Office. Bill Russell had the Soda Fountain and sundries store behind Toda's. The town wasn't booming but neither was the nation, still in the grip of the great recession. Farmington was a diminutive farm town. Its school accommodated farm children from miles around. The town wasn't completely backward. Averel's (Doc) Aeronca brought it into the twentieth century.
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Happy Birthday to Will Turner, Tuesday, May 15th.
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Happy Anniversary to our dear friends Ray and Nancy Frymire, Wednesday, May 16th.
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Happy Mother's Day to all on Sunday May 13th.
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Mark your calendar for Sunday, May 20th. The Farmington Fire Department will be hosting their annual Pancake Breakfast. All you can eat, 7 a.m. to 12 noon.
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Please contact me if you have items for the Farmington News column. E-mail me at farmingtonnews@gmail.com or phone 896-6697.
Trains ran through Farmington in 1940. The Southern Pacific train station and the grain warehouse stood along the tracks as significant albeit less used part of the small town. Passenger trains were discontinued in 1932 and not as much wheat was shipped. The IOOF building dominated the town intersection with its Toda Bros' Store sign. Lewis and Jefferson Toda (Bud and Jeff) were the proprietors and Bill Toda had the butcher shop. Cater-corner to Todas' store stood the Alders Union 76 station. The train station could be viewed from the intersection and just across the tracks was a grain warehouse. Up the street eastward at First street the small white Post Office stood. Bertha Groves ran the Post Office and the old phone switchboard. Hagar built his bar between the store and Post Office. Bill Russell had the Soda Fountain and sundries store behind Toda's. The town wasn't booming but neither was the nation, still in the grip of the great recession. Farmington was a diminutive farm town. Its school accommodated farm children from miles around. The town wasn't completely backward. Averel's (Doc) Aeronca brought it into the twentieth century.
*****
Happy Birthday to Will Turner, Tuesday, May 15th.
*****
Happy Anniversary to our dear friends Ray and Nancy Frymire, Wednesday, May 16th.
*****
Happy Mother's Day to all on Sunday May 13th.
*****
Mark your calendar for Sunday, May 20th. The Farmington Fire Department will be hosting their annual Pancake Breakfast. All you can eat, 7 a.m. to 12 noon.
*****
Please contact me if you have items for the Farmington News column. E-mail me at farmingtonnews@gmail.com or phone 896-6697.
