From "Doc Alders, Farmington's Lone Eagle" A Reminiscence. Doc had accumulated enough credits of Escalon High to graduate in just three years. He graduated in June of 1930. Through those high school years, Doc had developed quite an interest in aviation. Upon graduation, he attempted to join the Air Corps but could not get in. He was only 17 years old. Therefore, he went to work for a relative, Roy Sparks, who was a Studebaker dealer in San Bernardino. Doc bought a Chevy Roadster from the dealership. The job did not last long. Business was bad in 1930. The depression was setting in.
Doc returned to Farmington to do farm work for Grant Campbell. Mr. Campbell was in the business of providing baled wheat straw to the Antioch paper mill. The mill manufactured cardboard for paper cartons and boxes. The straw they used had to be wheat straw. Mr. Campbell's crew worked as far north as Franklin up towards Sacramento and down through the San Joaquin Valley. The harvesters left the wheat fields with stubble eight to twelve inches tall. Doc's job was to mow the stubble with a horse-drawn mover and then rake it. The straw was buck-raked to the stationary baler to be put into bales. They eventually switched from horses to tractors.
Doc drove a gas Sixty for George Sanguinetti. The Sixty needed an overhaul. Doc also drove an RD6 cat for Sanguinetti. He worked for George Sanguinetti for several years farming, harvesting, and plowing. He had the ranch there that joined the Peters School. (That was Everett School on Milton Road near Peters). Mr. Sanguinetti and his brother farmed together and eventually broke up and George took over. George Sanguinetti bought the old Patterson ranch up on Sonora Road. He owned the piece on the left, right at the corner where Sonora turns and he owned everything from that corner to Rock Creek on both sides of the road.
*****
The Farmington Elementary School PTC will be presenting a Spaghetti Dinner and Talent Show on Friday, March 30th. Dinner will start at 5:00 pm to 6:30 pm, with the talent show beginning at 6:45 pm. The dinner and show tickets are $10.00 for adults and $5.00 for children 10 and under. The evening will also include raffle and a silent auction. For tickets and more information, call Dena Daluz at 209-607-3650.
*****
Happy Birthday to Jim Boone, Sunday, March 11th.
*****
Spring forward. Daylight Savings Time is on Sunday, March 11th.
*****
Please contact me if you have items for the Farmington News column. E-mail me at farmingtonnews@gmail.com or phone 896-6697.
Doc returned to Farmington to do farm work for Grant Campbell. Mr. Campbell was in the business of providing baled wheat straw to the Antioch paper mill. The mill manufactured cardboard for paper cartons and boxes. The straw they used had to be wheat straw. Mr. Campbell's crew worked as far north as Franklin up towards Sacramento and down through the San Joaquin Valley. The harvesters left the wheat fields with stubble eight to twelve inches tall. Doc's job was to mow the stubble with a horse-drawn mover and then rake it. The straw was buck-raked to the stationary baler to be put into bales. They eventually switched from horses to tractors.
Doc drove a gas Sixty for George Sanguinetti. The Sixty needed an overhaul. Doc also drove an RD6 cat for Sanguinetti. He worked for George Sanguinetti for several years farming, harvesting, and plowing. He had the ranch there that joined the Peters School. (That was Everett School on Milton Road near Peters). Mr. Sanguinetti and his brother farmed together and eventually broke up and George took over. George Sanguinetti bought the old Patterson ranch up on Sonora Road. He owned the piece on the left, right at the corner where Sonora turns and he owned everything from that corner to Rock Creek on both sides of the road.
*****
The Farmington Elementary School PTC will be presenting a Spaghetti Dinner and Talent Show on Friday, March 30th. Dinner will start at 5:00 pm to 6:30 pm, with the talent show beginning at 6:45 pm. The dinner and show tickets are $10.00 for adults and $5.00 for children 10 and under. The evening will also include raffle and a silent auction. For tickets and more information, call Dena Daluz at 209-607-3650.
*****
Happy Birthday to Jim Boone, Sunday, March 11th.
*****
Spring forward. Daylight Savings Time is on Sunday, March 11th.
*****
Please contact me if you have items for the Farmington News column. E-mail me at farmingtonnews@gmail.com or phone 896-6697.
