June 2010
NEWSLETTER Web edition, JUNE 2010 Vol.2.No.1
The end of the first decade of the 2000's ended, if anyone cares to remember The decade plunged into record‑setting depths with Enron, Madoff, greedy Wall Street financial people, many losing their life's savings & homes in foreclosure, natural diasasters, floods & earthquakes & wildfires. You Tube, Facebook, Twitter, IPod, IPhone & the Dish, all new to our generation. So here we are 2010, I wonder what we will be writing about in this next decade? Since we survived the meltdown of 2000, the Millennium, remember .... computers crashing, no power, no air travel, I think it is full speed ahead. Just think, most of us will be 80 years old this decade. Did / actually say that???? So bring it on.
50TH WEDDING ANNIVERSARIES
Jane Beck & husband Ron Bauldry, February 13, 1960
Clarice Giberson & husband Richard Wiggins, June 3, 1960
Betty Sue Henry & husband Allen Bjur June 11, 1960
CATZ DYNASTY
Watsonville High School boys soccer team has a rich history according to the Pajaroian.' The Wildcatz has eight Central Coast Section championships, have missed the section playoffs only once & have been ranked No. 1 in the nation. Coach Roland Hedgepath, brother to our Ed Hedgepath, figured out that, including its Monterey Bay League title this year, Watsonville has 38 combined soccer titles. That makes the Wildcatz are the area's top high school sports dynasty.
WATSONVILLE IN THE SMITHSONIAN
If you aren't heading for DC this year, check out the Internet at the National Museum of American History, "America On The Move".
1. Type in Smithsonian in the search engine.
2. Scroll & click Smithsonian Museums.
3. Scroll to the American History Museum.
4. Type in "America On The Move,"in search & click on go.
5. Scroll to America On The MovelThemes & click
6 Under the Theme Column, click on Making the Exhitition & then click on Creating an Orchard, just down to the right of it.
OUR CLASS WEBSITE ADDRESS
http://sites. google.com/site/whsclassof1957. Check our the stores on Main St. in the 1950's
Bob Osborn named the most stores on Main St. For someone born in Dallas, TX, & didn't come to Watsonville until Jr. High, he receives an A+.
Nancy Wynn writes that her father owned Rasco's & she put in many hours there including "open until 9 on Thursdays" . One of the most remarkable selling experiences at Rasco's was waiting on the Braceros from Mexico who came here to work for nine months each year. Upon receiving their first pay, in cash, they would come into the store & purchase, on lay away, a large metal trunk Every week they would return & pick out items to put into the truck. Nancy didn't speak Spanish, & they didn't speak English which began her first experience in TPR known to
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those who later taught English as a second language as "Total Physical Response." Not unlike the game of Charades, the participants actually did pretty well. At the end of the Braceros work stay they would come in & purchase any last minute items, pay off the balance owed, & carry away the heavily laden trunk, bound for Mexico. The pantomine of determining the sizes was always worth a few laughs. One of the biggest requests was for the obsolete pattem books as their wives at home could sew anything just by looking at the pictures in the books.
Joann Flores added her Uncle Tom Rosewall owned Rosewall Construction on Main St. Several mentioned their father's businesses, not all on Main St., but important: The Pelich Brothers, Janet's father's car dealership, Marilyn Miller's father's Harold's Waffle Shop, Joan Mezger's father managed the DMV at the Town & Country Shopping Center where we all got our drivers license. Betsy Wong's parents, Star Cafe. Thanks to all who took parl in our Main St. quiz.
Another quiz...
What major problem happened 1955 in Watsonville? What year did Loma Linda Restaurant burn down?
Who was the Student Body president our freshman year?
If you were married in the First Christian Church in Watsonville, please let me know
New’s from the Class of '57
Marilyn Miller & her husband Joe Freeman are heading to Scotland for a month. They live in Nebraska.
Don Armstrong writes: With more than 40 photo albums loaded with pictures of my own family & several boxes of loose photos from my mother, / have embarked on organizing them into my Windows Photo Gallery program. I have just begun, so too soon to declare, "Mission Accomplished".
Don Beukers & Mary Ellen are off to a three month trip to Alaska with a group of 25 Beaver Motor homes. This is their thrid time driving to Alaska.
Pat Blair is in Sedona, AZI for a late birthdaylMother's Day celebration with her 2 daughters . Its been 8 years since they have done a "girl's get away". Pat's granddaughter, Annallese is finishing her freshman year at CO State in the prevet program. Bill & Pat visited there in Oct., taking their granddaughter with them to Mt.Rushmore, Crazy Horse, Badlands & Deadwood. Granddaughter Alison is finishing her Junior year in High School in Flagstaff, AZ, & Savannah will be in third grade in Navota next schoolyear.
Clarice Giberson writes that they got married on Friday night, June 3, 1960 & flew red eye to Atlanta, GA, rode the Greyhound Bus to Columbus & Rich reported for duty on June 6th. Their honeymoon was in GA, & after Officers' Basic was over they got in their Volkswagen bug & drove to Redlands so Clarice could finish her last semester of college. Rich then reported to Ft. Dix, NJ & they got back together at Christmas in Watsonville. They had won a trip to Vegas as a result of many wedding
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gifts purchased at Central Electric (does anyone remember that great store?). When Christmas was over they headed to Vegas for a 3 day vacation. Clarice finished college at the University of Redlands & was off to Ft. Dix to begin a great adventure in the Army.
David McDaniels said that he went to Mills College to hear & see Nancy Pelosi deliver the commencement speech. He said that she was a good public speaker & has a compelling past in that she didn I even start politics until 4 of her children were in college & her youngest a senior in high school, She now has become a powerful woman in the US. He was also privileged to listen to a 94 year old graduate, smart, quick wit & still walks with a spring in her step. David got a free cupcake from the college news staff
Bev Sampson has happy news. A grandson in July & her first great granddaughter in Sept.
Ed & Adrienne Fagalde said that it was a long winter at Lake Almanor this year. They spent two months snowbirding in AZ & S. Cal but came home to snow & storms well into May. Finally the golf course opened which made them both happy. Ed especially is making up for lost time & is playing several days a week. Adrienne is in the planning stages for a trip to Newfoundland in June. Her mother was bom there & Adrienne traveled with her & her aunt 40 years ago to meet the relatives. Now after all this time she is retuming with her Monterey cousins to visit the relatives again.
Edna Reimer is still working part‑time for a company in Connecticut that makes ' Mammography machines. She travels to different sites & trains the Technologist on how to use their new machines. She also speaks at Seminars. Her oldest daughter Dayna lives in Redwood City with her husband. They have 2 dress shops. The other daughter Lisa, lives near Edna in Portland, She has 2 boys, 12 & 15.
Pat Button's daughter is getting married in Aug. to a wonderful guy, then moving to Germany. Pats husband Gene, finished his novel"Mystical Path to Mystique" & is on Amazon. A new book is in progress. They are enjoying life.
Yoshie Yoshida & husband John spent a month in Oahu. They really enjoyed the people there, the slow pace, very community minded, & senior friendly. Yoshi is doing line dancing at the Senior Center She loves the Country Music & it is great exercise.
Jim Ludden enjoyed a week retreat in the Green Mountains of Vermont. Really pretty this time of the year.
Colleen Connor & Gene just got home from a cruise to Sweden, Finland, St. Petersburg, Estonia, Poland & Norway. It was 44 degrees when they landed in Copenhagen. They had a great trip with Gene's cousins. After the cruise Colleen & Gene flew to London, then to Scotland & saw the Edinburgh Castle. They rented a car & drove back into Northem England & down the Coast to the Village of Beadnell. It is a very quaint little town right on the Coast. They also visited Wales. Colleen met some of her cousins there. They took them all around Swansea, So. Wales. It was
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very exciting finding out that she has more cousins & seeing the place where her grandpa was raised.
Janice Rowe writes that she had open heart surgery in Jan. & is finally getting around slowly & feels better. Janice has 12 great grandchildren living in Nebraska & others in the Tracy area.
Betsy Wong continues to enjoy their retirement, surrounded by their children & grandchildren. Their travel plans will be a family trip to Maui, a week in New Orleans, a week in Williamsburg & a week at Capistrano Beach. She is active in the South Valley Fleurs Garden club & In the American Assoc. of University Women & volunteers at the Junior High School in the tutoring program.
IN MEMORY OF MICHAEL O'CONNELL & MAYNARD POTTER
Michael Thomas O'Connell died unexpectedly Feb. 10 at his home. A longtime resident of Watsonville, he wore many hats in his career as salesman & flower broker. He was a die‑hard 49er fan. He was known for his sharp wit & stubborn streak & for being a straight shooter. Michael is survived by his son, Timothy; sister Moira Scurich; granddaughter & 2 nephews.
Maynard Lee Potter died March 19th. He was born in Watsonville &
grew up on his parents' ranch in Larken Valley & raised sheep. He
graduated from Hartnell College in business & animal husbandry, he
attended San Jose State University. Maynard served in the Army &
National Guard for 12 years & graduated from Officer Candidate School
in GA. He was the manager of the San Luis Obispo County Fair. After
retiring he & his wife moved to Emmett, Idaho. Maynard is survived by his
wife of 36 years, Becky; four children, Monica, Todd, Scott & Kevin;
by his sister, Martha; six grandchildren. He was preceded in death by a son, Kristian.
Barbara Beard's mother, Norma Beard died Jan 2, she was 92, Mrs. Beard was bom in Michigan. On April 3, 1935 she married her husband of 73 years, Harry Beard. Norma enjoyed cooking, sewing & traveling. She leaves her daughter Barbara & son in law, Don Stracener; two granddaughters, Christine & Cathy; three great grandhildren & one great great grandchild.
Bud Rowland's wife, Ann Rowland died Feb. 4th. She was 103 years old. She graduated from Moreland Notre Dame School, Watsonville High School & San Jose State. She began her teaching career at the Railroad School, then to Mintie White School. She ended her teaching career at Pajaro School in 1968. Mrs. Rowland was preceded in death by her beloved husband Bud in 1995. She is survived by son Tom & daughter Mary, grandson Paul & great‑granddaughter Yvonne.
Gayle McCullough Miller died Feb. 21. Gayle was in the class of 1958., She was a loving mother & grandmother Gayle is survived by four children, Brett, Jill Wendy, . Shane; 12 grandchildren & five greatgrandchildren; sister, Barbara; brother, Richard.
Betty Sue & her husband Allen sent their 50th anniversary with their family of 17 in Las Vegas. It was only 108 degrees. They celebrated for,5
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days including Circus Soleil KA, INDOOR miniature golf & fun times at the buffet. A first for the grandchildren. They couldn't understand the concept of going back & getting more food. Allen & Betty met in college in S. Cal. & were married after their Junior year They graduated together & taught school, Betty at MacQuiddy in Watsonville & Allen at Aptos High.
WHS HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES
Lane Borg, class of 1977, Dr. Janet Nagamine, class of 1980, Sam Sugidono, class of 1942, Diane Porter, class of 1946 were inducted into the Hall of Fame.
E.A.Hall School
E.A. Hall Middle School, built in 1928, was the first school in Watsonville specifically designed for the middle school student. The California Mission-style building retains many of its original achitectural features and was recently honored ‑as one of the Santa Cruz County Historic Landmarks. Seven decades later, the school is still serving its purpose. Asa Well Story, a Watsonville contractor & architect, designed the building. He also designed the Veterans Memorial Building. The school will be getting a new gymnasium this year. If you attended E.A. Hall, let me know.
.Picture of E.A.Hall in the original Newsletter but lost in the scan process/transfering to web site. 5.
Georgeann Cowles Eiskamp
Georgeann is a fifth‑generation Cowles family farmer in our Valley, & her son John is the sixth. She also has two daughters, Lisa & Christine. Georgeann's background & progression into farming was a natural event., as reported in the Pajaronian. She grew up on the farm picking berries, irrigating with wooden strawberry flumes & then cultivating & disking the fields in her teenage years. In 1960 she left Watsonville. During those years, her 3 children were born, schooled, married & had children of their own. She returned to Watsonville in 1997 & began to rekindle the love of the land. Needless to say she had to convince her father that she was capable & could fulfill the job requirement of being a farmer. In May of 1999 with his gift of a new tractor, she climbed onto that shiny green John Deere. She remembers saying, "this is the first day of the rest of my life:. Eleven years later, she still feels the same. Georgeann just completed her year as president of Rotary Club. Great accomplishments for a person that describes herself as an introvert. "You will find me in the corner just watching at a social gathering." Her bucket list includes, Travel to Africa on a camera safari; trip down to Antarctica on an educational boat; learn to play the piano; take flying lessons. Congratulations to Georgeann for making Watsonville a better place.
Always love receiving your news. Have a wonderful summer. Betty Sue
Picture of Georgeann on original newsletter, but lost in the scan process/transfering to web site.
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