How Lodi Derived Its Name – Spring 1990. This issue with many photos describes the Pioneers’ thinking about changing the town name from Mokelumne to Lodi in 1874. The second article outlines the Big Fire of 1887, which started at a planing mill at the northeast corner of Pine and School Streets.
Early Lodi Bands and Orchestras – Summer 1990. This issue with many photos describes the successes and failures of Lodi’s early musical groups. The second article tells of a political wager in 1884 in which L.D. Green bet A. Lutz on the outcome of the presidential election. The loser had to deliver a 200-pound barrel of flour by narrow-gauge train and wheelbarrow from Woodbridge to Lodi’s Sargent House, which he did to the crowd’s great delight.
The Tokay Carnival – Fall 1990. This issue with many photos describes the excitement of Lodi’s 1907 Tokay Carnival (forerunner of today’s Lodi Grape Festival). Lodians paid one cent per ballot as they elected the beautiful Miss Bertha De Almado to be Queen Zinfandel. The famous Lodi Mission Arch was built. Tents filled the area between Sacramento Street and the current north-south train tracks. Lodi’s population swelled from 2,000 as Stockton businesses closed and visitors poured in on the new train. Events included a grape competition, a baby show, vaudeville, a Wild West show, decorated automobiles, a balloon ascension, a 1,500-foot parachute jump, band concerts, and a grand parade. In all, over 30,000 people attended the three-day extravaganza. A second article outlines the history of the Charles Oscar Ivory and Rebecca Tredway Ivory family. Mr. Ivory founded the C.O. Ivory general merchandise store at the northwest corner of Pine and Sacramento Streets and is usually spoken of as Lodi’s first merchant.
Lodi’s Pioneer-Era Hotels – Winter 1990. This issue with many photos describes Lodi’s changeover from horse-drawn carts and waterways to railways beginning in 1869. The Central California Traction Company (CCTC) used an electrified third rail and overhead power lines to connect Lodi to most large cities in the United States.
History of the Lodi Library – Spring 1991. This issue with many photos describes Lodi’s 1910 transition from small paid-subscription libraries to a free library housed in the newly built Carnegie Forum on Pine Street. Miss Amy Boynton was Lodi’s longest-serving librarian.
Lodi Hotel: End of Era – Summer 1991. This issue with many photos describes the Lodi Hotel, formerly known as the Sargent House, and its many owners and managers, especially George LeMoin. The issue includes anecdotes about guest and Lodi residents. The Hotel was located on the southwest corner of Pine and Sacramento Streets, across from the train depot. It was demolished in 1912 when the Bank of Lodi moved from the northwest corner to the southwest corner.
Lodi’s “Golden Age” of Opera – Fall 1991. This issue with many photos describes the 1905 opening of the Lodi Opera House on the southeast corner of Pine and School Streets (now the upper story of Thornton Furniture). Builder Charles Van Buskirk supported the Temperance movement and hoped the Opera House would have a civilizing influence on Lodi. Many local and traveling companies played at the Opera House between 1905 and the advent of talking movies, including the post-earthquake return of Lodi native Lillian Pleas Cunningham and her husband, Arthur Cunningham, who had been singing opera together at San Francisco’s Tivoli Theater. William Mitchells’s Old Virginia Minstrels were to perform but “the white hotel keeper refused to harbor beneath his roof the sons of Ham,” disappointing many.
A History of the Pleas & Hill Families – Winter 1991. This issue with many photos describes the genealogy of Lodi’s Pleas and Hill families. Family members of note were George Washington Hill, who owned Hill’s Jewelry at 5 N. Sacramento Street, his wife Mary Lewis Hill, opera singer Lillian Pleas Cunningham, and Daisy Pleas, who is believed to be California’s first female watchmaker. The Hill family home was moved from South School Street to its present location on South Church Street.
The Hotel Lodi – Spring 1992. This issue with many photos describes the much-delayed construction of Hotel Lodi (not to be confused with the older Lodi Hotel) and its owners and managers. The building survived several fires and today still houses residents at the southwest corner of Pine and School Streets.
The Lodi Post Office – Summer 1992. This issue with many photos describes the construction and operation of Lodi’s post office. Previously, postal service was hosted by commercial establishments such as the Hooker House hotel and the R.L. Graham drug store. Long-time employees included Charles M. Jones, Miss Pearl Hawkins, and Percy Dale Rathbun. A second article describes an early Lodi boardinghouse, The Taylor House.
The Last Years of Lodi Opera House – Fall 1992. This issue with many photos describes the Lodi Opera House in its last years before it was upstaged by talking-movie houses. Many Opera House performances were preceded by a parade, and sometimes after a performance ended the chairs were pushed aside so that dancing could begin. In 1907 the Opera House was part of the famous Tokay Carnival. A black-face minstrel shows was performed by the Lodi Woman’s Club. The Improvement Club of Lodi staged what was called a Baby Opera, featuring a hundred or more children. The Opera House also hosted school graduation ceremonies and other public affairs.
The DeForce Sisters – Winter 1992. This issue with many photos describes the lives of sisters Gertie DeForce Cluff and Laura DeForce Gordon. Gertie had the distinction of being Lodi’s first newspaper publisher, starting The Valley Review in 1878. Gertie also obtained a patent for the Cluff’s Garment Fastener. A short mention is made in this issue of sister Laura.
Nickelodeon Theaters in Lodi – Spring 1993. This issue with many photos describes Lodi’s transition from live performances at the Opera House to filmed performances at many smaller venues. Early shows included His First Long Trousers and Old and New Methods of Farming. The weekly serial The Perils of Pauline was popular. Some performances were hybrids, such as The Clansman (later known as Birth of a Nation), which was shown at the Tokay Theater in 1916 and included an orchestra and singers. In 1908 the Opera House bought a projector.
Laura DeForce Gordon – Summer 1993. This issue with many photos describes the life of Laura DeForce Gordon, who was born in Pennsylvania in 1838. By age 15 she was renowned for her spiritual trances and communication with the “other side.” Although she had only a grammar-school education, Laura DeForce Gordon wrote eloquently and spoke persuasively. After meeting Susan B. Anthony she became a passionate suffragist. She married Dr. Charles Gordon and moved with him to New Orleans for two years. They made their way west with Laura giving lectures in mining camps. They arrived in Lodi in 1871 and Laura began advocating for women’s rights. In 1871, before women had the right to vote, she unsuccessfully ran for the California State Senate. In 1878 she and her friend Mrs. Clara Shortridge Foltz were instrumental in women getting the right to practice law in California. They became California’s first two women lawyers. Laura actively practiced in Lodi and San Francisco while continuing her suffragist work. She paid taxes under protest, saying that as a nonvoter she was subject to taxation without representation. She was a leading voice in the Central Valley Chinese Exclusion movement. In 1893 she spoke at Chicago’s Columbian Exposition (World’s Fair). She did not live to see women get the right to vote, dying of pneumonia just before the 1907 Tokay Carnival.
Show Business in Lodi – Fall 1993. This issue with many photos describes Lodi’s early entertainment successes and failures, including fires breaking out and tents collapsing. Early shows included “Old Honesty,” “Sarah Winnamucca, Piute Indian Princess,” and the “World Renowned Colored Minstrels and Uniformed Brass Band,” the last being preceded by a parade. The Swiss Bell Ringers were well received, especially the second half of their performance, a musical burlesque entitled “Private Tutors.” The Cucumis Club performed dueling black-face minstrel shows, Lodi’s men versus Lodi’s women. The Salvation Army depicted “A Drunkard’s Demonstration.” These last shows were performed in venues such as Barnhart’s Hall, Smith’s Hall, and Hill’s Hall (above the jewelry store).
Early Lodi Area Churches & Methodists – Winter 1994. This issue with many photos describes the development of Christian churches in Greater Lodi. The Christian Church of Liberty Township was built between 1855 and 1857, with John O. White as pastor. The Methodist Old Grove Church was built on Armstrong Road in 1860 with Henry B. Sheldon as Circuit Rider. The Harmony Grove Church was completed in 1861. The Calaveras Baptist Church was built on Cherokee Lane the same year. Lockeford built a Congregational Church in 1867 and Woodbridge completed the United Brethren Church eleven years later. A church was built on the northwest corner of School and Oak Streets, held three services and burned to the ground. It was rebuilt as the Lodi Methodist Church.
Lodi During the War Against Germany – Spring 1994. This issue with many photos describes Lodi’s involvement in World War I. Because many original Pioneer families were descended from Germans who left Germany to avoid military service, some Lodi citizens were initially resistant to U.S. involvement in WWI. Four Lodi boys were jailed as anti-war “draft agitators” and 20 more boys and a German minister were indicted. Pro-war citizens prevailed. A 20-foot-long sign with electric lights saying “FOR 100% AMERICANS” was suspended from the Lodi Arch. On November 9, 1918, an effigy of the German Kaiser was hung from the Lodi Arch (see photo). An effigy of a town father was hung because some Lodians believed he had not contributed enough to the war fund. The W.C.T.U. held a rag and rubber drive and the Red Cross collected peach pits for the army to use as a filtering element in gas masks. With the arrival of the influenza pandemic in 1918, Lodi’s sanitariums were overwhelmed and Lodians were ordered to wear masks or go to jail for 10 days. On June 4, 1919, Lodi held a Welcome Home Jubilee for its returning soldiers. Twenty-seven Lodians had died in the war. The extravaganza began with a parade of prancing horses, marching bands, Boy Scouts, local students, Red Cross workers, and returning veterans. The Lodi Japanese Association carried a 50’x75′ American flag through the streets. Great quantities of food were served in Municipal Park (now Hale Park). The afternoon featured a ballgame, dancing to jazz music, a jui-jitso wrestling demonstration, prize swimming at the Municipal Baths, a pie-eating contest, and a prize fight between Sacramento and Woodland. The day ended with fireworks, another parade, and the Big Dance.
Methodist Church – Summer 1994. This issue with many photos describes the development of Lodi’s First Methodist Episcopal Church, beginning in 1882.
San Joaquin & Sierra Nevada Railroad – Fall 1994. This issue with many photos describes Lodi’s dislike of the Big Four railroad monopoly and the Central Valley decision to build a narrow-gauge railroad from Brack’s Landing, which connected Lodi by water to San Francisco, to Valley Springs in the east. The San Joaquin & Sierra Nevada railroad was completed in 1885. By 1904 the need to connect with the Big Four’s standard-gauge tracks in central Lodi was obvious and the narrow-gauge bed was replaced with standard-gauge. The line is unused today and the railbed dismantled in segments.
In the News – Spring 1995. This issue with many photos describes Greater Lodi’s early newspapers, including Shekells and Spencer’s Woodbridge Messenger, Gertie DeForce Cluff’s Valley Review, and The Lodi Sentinel with Wilson R. Ellis and J.W. McQuaid co-editors. The Lodi News was started in 1916 and merged with the Sentinel in 1935. The Lodi Times debuted the same year. Other smaller publications are also described in this issue.
The Jules Perrin Family – Spring 1995. This issue with many photos describes the genealogy of the Jules Perrin family. Notable members included brothers Jules and Henry, founders of Perrin Brothers Cement Contractors. This became Perrin Brothers, Concrete Block Manufacturers. The Perrin Brothers poured concrete for many of Lodi’s existing sidewalks and worked with the Carey Brothers to construct many of Lodi’s historical buildings. A secondary article describes the construction of Lodi’s Jail.
Salem District & School – Fall 1995. This issue with many photos describes the 1859 formation of the Salem School District, its early buildings, administrators, teachers, and students.
Early Lodi Fire Department – Winter 1995. This issue with many photos describes Lodi’s early firefighting efforts. Following the Big Fire of 1887 citizens saw great need for protection. When Lodi incorporated in 1906, the citizens quickly formed a fire department. Through the years the mostly volunteer firefighters had successes and failures. When in 1921 a fire started in the Earl Fruit packing shed east of the railroad tracks at Pine and Main Streets, and burned two blocks southward, local merchants demanded that packing-shed owners not be allowed to rebuild wood-frame sheds. In 1938 Lodi’s volunteer firefighters saved the town of Victor when the Pacific Fruit Company shed caught fire.
Lodi Banking – Spring 1996. This issue with many photos describes the development of Lodi’s many banks. After the Big Fire of 1887, the Bank of Lodi was built on the northwest corner of Pine and Sacramento Streets. Before that, merchants used gold and credit for transactions. The issue also describes Lodi’s efforts to survive the Great Depression of the 1930s.
Early Lodi Druggists – Summer 1996. This issue with many photos describes Lodi’s early druggists and pharmacies. Byron De La Beckwith opened the first apothecary in 1870 on the northeast corner of Pine and Sacramento. Robert L. Graham trained with Beckwith and in 1881 bought the business. In 1886 the Oddfellows Lodge built a two-story brick building on the northwest corner of Pine and Sacramento, and R.L. Graham moved his store to the downstairs portion. Graham serviced nearby train passengers by becoming Postmaster, telegraph operator, installing Lodi’s first telephone, and building an elaborate soda fountain. In the early years leeches, morphine, and cocaine were available at Lodi’s drug stores, along with unregulated patent medicines that promised to cure many diseases. With Lodi’s doctors having uncertain credentials, the pharmacists often stepped in to offer cures.
Early Woodbridge – Fall 1996. This issue with many photos describes the early Pioneer settlement of Woodbridge, near Lodi. French Canadian fur trappers from the Hudson Bay Company first worked the Mokelumne River. In 1849 brothers, J.P. Sargent and Roswell Sargent, arrived and started farming. Two more Sargent brothers joined them along with other Pioneers. Woodbridge gets its name from Jeremiah Woods who built a cabin for his family in 1852. Woods created ferry service across the river and urged San Joaquin County to bring a road from San Jose to Sacramento through his property, which was then called Woods Ferry. This road was named Lower Sacramento Road. Woods replaced his ferry service with a toll bridge. A big flood carried off the bridge in 1861. Woods died at age 43 in a dispute over his dog. The town’s growth continued until it was bypassed in 1869 by the Central Pacific Railroad, who chose Lodi’s generous offer over Woodbridge’s. The issue also describes the Woodbridge Fig Tree, which was planted in 1857 and grew to a 309-foot circumference, spreading 95 feet north to south. It was cut down to make Woodbridge’s River Meadow subdivision.
The Early Days of Victor – Spring 1997. This issue with many photos describes the early Pioneer settlement of Victor, near Lodi. The Lodi-Valley Springs narrow-gauge rail line built a depot in Victor, and in 1897 German immigrant families began moving to the area, expecting to work hard as farmers. Albert Edgar Morden built the first house and named the rail depot Victor after his eldest son. Most of Victor’s historic buildings are gone now, but this issue tells the story of the Schaeffer and Nies Red and White Store and how when the “gypsies” who lived off the land would attempt to enter the store, perhaps to lure the cashier away from the register, staff would lock the door. The issue also describes the Victor Service Station, started by Sam Schenkenberger in 1925, the Salem Evangelical Church, the ice house, and the many packing sheds.
Early Grapes in Lodi – Summer 1997. This issue with many photos describes the introduction of grape farming to Greater Lodi. In 1861 George Perley and George West planted 30 varieties of grapes near Woodbridge. In 1864 George J. Leffler planted six acres of Tokay grapes, which are native to Algeria. From that point grape farming grew quickly along with packing sheds, ice houses, and railway tracks to transport Lodi grapes to market. German-American immigrants worked the fields and sheds. For Lodi’s 1907 Tokay Carnival, packers including J.D. Anderson, Buck, California Exchange, Earl Fruit, Mason Brothers, Pioneer, Producers Fruit, Ralls and Valley donated grapes to help with Carnival expenses. This story is continued in the Fall 1998 issue.
Early Lodi City Government – Fall 1997. This issue with many photos describes early Lodi city government. Before Lodi incorporated in 1906, it was administered by five San Joaquin County supervisors. Lodi’s citizens had their own water wells, windmills, and septic tanks while the business area had six underground brick storage areas for sewerage that was hauled away at night. With a rudimentary jail and fire cart. Although the county had appointed a Pound master, at night citizens opened their gates to let livestock roam around eating grass. In 1904 citizens began discussing the pros and cons of incorporating. When in 1906 a Board of Trustees was formed, the first order of business was to establish fees for business owners. Only four saloons would be allowed until the population reached 2,500, when a fifth might be added. Disposal of filth, rubbish, offal, and slops was determined. Five paid city jobs were created. Animals on the streets, vulgar language, whistling in a public hall or singing in a saloon, driving a car faster than eight miles per hour, and leaving a horse unhitched were all prohibited. As time went by, Lodi’s public utilities were developed. A water and light plant was built on the southeast corner of Locust and Main Streets. In 1912 a City Hall and Fire Department was built at 114 N. Main Street.
Early Lodi Undertakers – Winter 1997. This issue with many photos describes early Lodi undertakers and the funeral business. In 1854 Andrew Thomas Rutledge became the area’s first undertaker. As a wheelwright familiar with woodwork, he also built and varnished coffins. Frank O. Hale came to Lodi in 1895 as an orchardist but changed to undertaking. Thomas Bawden and Susan Jahant Bawden also entered the business. They bought half of Hale’s business at 18-20 West Pine Street, which still stands today. The Bawdens divorced, with Susan continuing in the business. In time Thomas came back as her employee. The issue also describes the Wells Funeral Home and the Salas Funeral Home.
Grants and Railroads – Spring 1998. This issue with many photos describes the grants and railroads that established Lodi as a railroad town. In 1869 the Big Four’s Western Pacific Railroad (became the Central Pacific Railroad) accepted the local farmers’ offer of 12 acres for a railroad reservation along with title to every odd lot in the 166 acres then called Mokelumne. On August 11, 1869, the first passenger train from Sacramento to Stockton was delayed because 2,500 people jumped off the train at Mokelumne believing it was Stockton. The issue describes the El Campo del Los Francess grant and Los Moquelemos Rancho grant and the clashes between the railroads and local farmers over ownership of the land. On May 19, 1876, a grand jubilee was held in Lodi’s Wardrobe Grove (now Hale Park) to celebrate favorable judgments. More than 10,000 people attended, the largest crowd to gather in San Joaquin County at the time.
Early Lodi Law & Order – Summer 1998. This issue with many photos describes early Lodi law enforcement. Before Lodi incorporated in 1906, it was known as Mokelumne or Mokelumne Station and was part of the Elkhorn Township. It was administered by the San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors, two constables, and two justices of the peace. After incorporating, Lodi had its own marshal. Officials of note include Sherriff Thomas Cunningham, Poundmaster Herman Schultz, who tackled the problem of Lodi’s livestock being allowed to roam freely at night, and Deputy William Oscar Wall, who in the 1880s single-handedly captured a man who had dragged a woman from her buggy, then prevented the suspect’s lynching, and later successfully chased and caught a criminal who was attempting to swim away in the river. The issue also describes the horrible condition of Lodi’s old jail and the building of a new one on North Main Street, along with several colorful anecdotes about early Lodi’s criminal events. The story continues in the Summer 1999 issue.
The Lodi Grape Story, Part II – Fall 1998. This issue with many photos continues the story published in Summer 1997. Lodi’s reaction to Prohibition and the effects of weather on each year’s crop caused the profitability of grape-growing to rise and fall. Photos illustrate the growing Japanese presence in packing sheds. In 1933 union organizes encouraged packing shed workers to not work for less than 40 cents per hour. A strike followed, which ended with strikers being firehosed in Municipal Park (now Hale Park), a shooting, and the arrest of 44 men, most of whom were released on bond. The first Lodi Grape Festival was held the following year.
The Cucumis Club – Winter 1998. This issue with many photos describes the short-lived social group founded in 1896 under the name of The Study Club. Members held lectures and discussions and for a while took over the Lodi Free Library. In 1896 the group became The Cucumis Club after the Latin word for watermelon, Lodi’s dominant crop at the time. Members staged comical mock trials, hosted traveling poets and debates, gave musical performances, and performed a large black-face minstrel show at Smith’s Hall in 1897 (see photos). In 1898 the Club forbade dancing and a “spirit of inharmony” began.
Woock Bros. – Superior Mfg. Co. – Atlas Iron Works – Super Mold – Spring 1999. This issue with many photos describes the rise and fall of the Woock Brothers’ Superior Manufacturing Company, Atlas Iron Works, the world-famous Super Mold Company. The last two companies partnered to provide car dealers a way to retread tires.
Lodi Law and Order, Part 2 – Summer 1999. This issue with many photos continues the story begun in the Summer 1998 issue. Starting in 1912, the issue describes Lodi’s attempted enforcement of no “rag dancing” to jazz music at the July 4th celebration and other new regulations in the growing town. As the United States entered WWI, Lodi residents, many of German descent, were split on whether to support the war efforts. Two men were arrested for refusing to sign the draft form, a German reverend was indicted as a draft agitator, and several Lodi men who refused to fight were sent to Alcatraz. Several years later two Lodi brothers defaced a picture of President Wilson, were found guilty of a “most serious” breach of patriotism, and given 30 days to leave town. In 1921 four armed bandits robbed the Central California Traction train just north of Lodi. Lodi officers regularly raided the Chinese gambling dens around Main Street and collected fines for the men’s release.
Thompsons Crockers and Their Sierra Resort – Fall 1999. This issue with many photos describes Lodi’s Thompson and Crocker families and the historic Crocker Station Resort that was on Big Oak Flat Road (Groveland) leading to the Yosemite Valley. Crocker Station provided meals and accommodations for Yosemite visitors, supplied Chinese railroad workers, and was a camp for the U.S. Cavalry. Local Miwoks interacted with the Crockers, trading food and gathering herbs. Celia May Crocker was born in 1874 at the Station and encouraged to pursue photography by Yosemite photographer George Fiske. She documented 62 years of California history, including Yosemite visitors such as John Muir and daily life in Lodi after her marriage to prominent Lodi merchant W. Henry Thompson. Mr. Thompson was a partner in the Beckman, Welch and Thompson store across from the train depot and in 1910 was a founder of the Pacific Fruit Exchange. The Thompsons were active in Lodi causes and served many years in the public library.
City Transfer Company – Winter 1999. This issue with many photos describes the family of Frank F. Irey, who founded a long-time Lodi business, The City Transfer Company. City Transfer was an integral part of early Lodi’s growth. As the North Sacramento Street grew into a business district, City Transfer disassembled, transported, and reassembled residences on new lots farther away. Some residences moved only a few blocks and one went seven miles. City Transfer also dug basements for the new businesses. The issue’s secondary article describes the development of Acampo, a small town immediately north of Lodi.
Lodi Legion and Their Picnic – Spring 2000. This issue with many photos describes the 1919 founding of Lodi Post #22 of the American Legion and its many good works (clearing and developing Micke Grove and Legion Park for community events, hosting a Boy Scout troop) and fun activities (the annual picnic, Easter egg roll).
Bing Taylor: The Early Years – Summer 2000. This issue with many photos describes the M.E. “Bing” Taylor family, who came to Lodi in 1903 or 1904 to raise beautiful Tokay grapes. Bing recounts many anecdotes about his childhood.
Early Lodi Telephone – Summer 2000. This issue with many photos describes the introduction of telephones to Lodi. The first phone was installed in R.L. Graham’s drug store at the northwest corner of Elm and Sacramento. When a long-distance call came in from a fruit buyer, someone from the store would have to hand-deliver the message. Soon the Henderson Brothers hardware store and Dr. J.M. Blodgett, dentist, also installed phones and found customers would stop in just to see how it felt to talk over the telephone line. Mary Sollars Ralls came to Lodi in 1894 and became Lodi’s first telephone operator, transferring incoming calls through to the intended listener. She was a seamstress at Lillie’s Tailor Shop, which shared space with Hill’s Jewelry at 5 North Sacramento Street, and set down her sewing as needed to do the telephone work. By 1913 Lodi had more than 1,000 telephones. In 1952 the Lodi phone company offered step-by-step dial demonstrations to teach people how to use the new dial phones. More than 5,000 Lodians attended.
Early Lodi Academy – Winter 2000. This issue with many photos issue describes the founding of The Lodi Academy and Normal School in 1908 by Lodi’s Seventh-Day Adventists. Its express purpose was to prepare young people to take an active part in the missionary activities of that religion. “In for Training and Out for Service.” It was located on twenty acres on the north side of Kettleman Lane and Central Avenue. The co-ed students slept in segregated dorms and wore uniforms. The Academy continues educating today, still on Central Avenue.
Murder of Charles Sollars by Sam Axtell – Spring 2001. This issue with many photos describes the murder of one Lodian by another. Charles Sollars was an auto mechanic and the owner of Sollars and Company, the Lodi Soda Works, Ice, Hay & Coal. Samuel Axtell was the editor of the Lodi Sentinel. The dispute concerned Charles Sollars and his wife, Anna, witnessing a motoring mishap at which two young ladies, Emerson School teachers, were thrown into a canal but not hurt. The ladies were driving Axtell’s car, though he was not present. The teachers asked the Sollars to keep the secret about the accident, but the Sollars or someone else spoke to the Stockton Record, which attempted to smear their competitor at the Lodi Sentinel. Sam Axtell shot Charles Sollars three times inside the Lodi Garage, as witnessed by many neighbors. The issue describes the trail in detail.
Millinery & Dressmaking in Early Lodi– Spring 2001. This issue with many photos describes women’s clothing and fashions in early Lodi. Many women who never married or who were widowed turned to dressmaking or millinery to support themselves. The issue contains many photos of the workers and their customers modelling the fashions.
Woodbridge Irrigation & Dams– Summer 2001. This issue with many photos describes early efforts to harness the Mokelumne River to irrigate Greater Lodi’s crops. In 1889 the Woodbridge Canal & Irrigation company was incorporated. That company dug canals and in 1891 completed a wooden dam across the Mokelumne. The dam directed water into the canals to irrigate crops. Floodwaters washed the dam away in 1895 and the enterprise was sold to the Stockton & Mokelumne Canal Company. They built a wooden dam that lasted longer. In 1910 Lodi’s new public utility bult a concrete dam. With Californians upstream planning to build the Pardee Dam, Lodians worried that they would divert all the water. In 1924 Greater Lodi formed the Woodbridge Irrigation District to safeguard their share of water.
Hill, Lewis, and Pleas Families – Fall 2001. This issue with many photos describes the genealogy of the families closely related to George Washington Hill, the owner of Hill’s Jewelry Store at 5 North Sacramento and owner of Hill House, today located on South Church Street. Other family members of note are Mary Lewis Hill, Daisy Pleas, and Lillian Pleas Cunningham.
The Chautauqua System – Spring 2002. This issue with many photos describes Lodi’s enthusiastic welcome of the New York Chautauqua system. In 1913 Lodi was accepted as a member and allowed to bring the entertainment, enrichment, and cultural activities that were sweeping the rural United States. In fact, Chautauqua representatives were so impressed with Lodi’s civic amenities they chose Lodi as the western headquarters for the system. The issue describes the musicians, lecturers, and actors who brightened Lodi for several years. Bronte, “the smartest dog in the world,” also came. Interest in the Chautauqua System lessened once radio became available.
Beckman, Welch and Thompson Store – Spring 2002. This issue with many photos describes the founding and evolution of the Beckman, Welch & Thompson store, one of Lodi’s earliest institutions. The partners were Frank W. Beckman, Hilliard E. Welch, and Wilson H. Thompson. When Beckman died, his widow, Addine LeMoin Beckman, became a partner. The store was located directly across from the train depot on South Sacramento Street.
Early Clements – Summer 2002. This issue with many photos describes the founding and development of Clements, near Lodi. The first pioneers arrived in 1852 and soon built a stage stop, hotel, and flour mill. The town was named after early settler Thomas Clements. In 1882 the new narrow-gauge railroad from Brack’s Landing to Woodbridge, Lodi, Lockeford, and Camanche added Clements as a stop. The issue describes several of the early businesses and community events.
Early Lodi Hospitals – Fall 2002. This issue with many photos describes healthcare in early Lodi. The Buchanan Hospital, was constructed in 1910 at 408 East Pine Street, where the building still stands. After Dr. Robert Buchanan died his wife, nurse Edith Barbee Buchanan, operated the hospital for many years. Dr. Wilton Mason began construction of the Mason Hospital in 1915 but didn’t live to see it open. The building, still standing, was named in his honor and a succession of Lodi women including Martha Rinn, Therza Cole, and Nellie Yates, were administrators. The Lodi Memorial Hospital opened in 1952 after much public fundraising. Some Lodians believed its location near the intersection of Ham and Vine Streets was so far out of town that doctors and patients wouldn’t be willing to travel to it.
Early Lockeford – Winter 2003. This issue with many photos describes the founding and development of Lockeford, near Lodi. The first pioneers, brothers Dean and Elmer Locke, arrived in 1850 and purchased 320 acres of the Andres Pico Mexican Grant. When their father and Delia Hammond, Dean’s wife, arrived, they helped start a farm with a ford that made crossing the Mokelumne River possible. Soon a store, the White House, appeared, followed by a hotel. Chinese workers molded and fired bricks for the new structures. The growing town had strict temperance views and was thought to be free of alcohol. In 1882 the new narrow-gauge railroad from Brack’s Landing added Lockeford as a stop. Many of Lockeford’s original structures are still visible today.
Early St. Anne’s Catholic Church & School – Spring 2003. This issue, mostly photos, describes the founding and development of the Catholic presence in Greater Lodi. The Catholic Church of St. Anne was organized in Woodbridge in 1876 to benefit local Irish Catholics. At first meeting in homes, the congregation raised enough money to buy and remodel a schoolhouse. In 1891 they built a new east-facing wooden church on the northwest corner of Church and Walnut Streets in Lodi. When a storm blew it off its foundation, they moved it across Walnut Street, facing north. In 1904 the congregation built a rectory so that the priest could live in Lodi. In 1913 a new brick church was built and the old church used for a hall until it was bought by the Seventh Day Adventists in 1920 and moved to Hillborn and Central Avenue, where it still stands today. Nancy “Nannie” Haller Carr bequeathed the funds that opened the St. Anne’s School in 1922. A convent was added. In 1963 the St. Anne’s congregation built a larger brick church with belltowers. Much of the construction work for these buildings was donated by parishioners.
Germans from Russia Came to Lodi – Summer 2003. This issue with many photos describes the journey German families took to arrive in Lodi and their activities after arrival. In the 1600s and 1700s Germany was plagued with military infighting and foreign invaders. In 1762 Catherine the Great of Russia, who was born in Germany, wanted to settle her vast territories and invited all foreigners to come settle it. She offered money for travel expenses and free land, no taxation, self-government, freedom of religion, and exclusion from military service. Many Germans accepted her offer and settled around the Black Sea. All was good until Catherine’s descendants began making demands of the German-speakers. In 1855 Alexander II placed all German communities under Russian rule and in 1870 required them to perform military service. With the United States Homestead Act of 1862 beckoning, many ethnic Germans moved from Russia to the U.S. Midwest including the Dakotas. They raised wheat there but the harsh winters caused too much hardship and too many children’s deaths from disease. In 1896 the Dakota German communities sent scouts to California to see if the Los Angeles or Central Valley areas would be appropriate for farmers. They chose the area around the Mokelumne River as perfect for the community’s needs. One of the scouts, William Hieb, bought land and brought his family to what would become the east side of Lodi. William and Charlotta opened their home to incoming Dakotans and helped them find land to buy. By the early 1900s at least ten German churches had been built for the various religious sects. Lodi’s Germans worked hard and helped Lodi to transition from grain and watermelon farming to grape growing.
Early Lodi Lake – Fall 2003. This issue with many photos describes the natural state and development of Lodi Lake and the families who lived nearby. When Plains Miwoks lived in this area, what would become Lodi Lake was simply bottomland that flooded during Spring rains and dried up completely the rest of the year. In 1844 John Fremont and Kit Carson camped on the Mokelumne River between today’s Lodi and Lockeford, pronouncing it beautiful with bountiful food sources. This brought the first pioneer settlers including Charles Smith and Isabelle Robertson who arrived in 1875. They married and bought the bottomland to raise onions and flax. They moved away for seven years, then in 1885 returned and rebought the land to create a vineyard. Soon the Woodbridge dam was built, the Lake filled and was informally named “Smith’s Lake,” and water levels stabilized on the Smith property on the southwest side. When Charles and Isabelle died, their unmarried daughter Estella Smith worked the vineyard independently for many years, tamed horses, and was known to hitch up a team “just right quick.” She was a generous host, inviting Lodians to swim and boat in the Lake. “Gypsies” camped on the west side of the Lake. In 1911-1915 land on the north and east sides of the Lake was bought by Louis Mason of the Mason Fruit Company. He built a family retreat home and built a dance hall, hosted regattas, and allowed private citizens to enjoy the Lake. In 1934 Mason sold his Lake land to the City of Lodi on the condition the land would be preserved as a municipal recreational park. Estella Smith followed suit in 1937. In 1955 the Lodi City Council tried to deed Lodi Lake Park into the state park system but state officials refused it.
San Joaquin Valley College – Winter 2004. This issue with many photos describes the founding and demise of the San Joaquin Valley College in Woodbridge. With financial support form the United Brethren Church of Woodbridge, it was founded in 1879 as a college-preparatory high school, but enrollment was high and existing colleges far away so the curriculum expanded to include classes leading to a four-year degree. By the late 1890s church support for the school was faltering and when free high schools began opening in the Greater Lodi area the Valley College couldn’t compete. It closed in 1897 and the Woods Grammar School started using the building until it was torn down in 1922.
The Central California Traction Company – Spring 2004. This issue with many photos describes the development of an electric-powered streetcar rail line that connected Lodi to Stockton and Sacramento. In 1906-07 Stockton’s Central California Traction Company laid standard-gauge tracks around the streets of Stockton, turning north along Cherokee Road, west at what’s now known as Lodi Avenue, then north at Sacramento Street past Lockeford Street almost to Turner Road. The electricity came from overhead power lines in some areas and an electrified third rail in other areas. On August 31, 1907, a golden spike was driven at Lodi’s Pine and Sacramento Streets to commemorate the completion of the electric streetcar line and a bottle of Lodi wine was broken on the new rail. A few weeks later thousands of Stocktonians used the electric line to commute to the 1907 Tokay Carnival. In 1908 new spur tracks were added in Lodi including an interchange track permitting freight transfer to the Big Four’s Southern Pacific Railroad line. A freight depot was constructed north of Lodi Avenue just east of SP’s main line and the voltage raised from 550V to 1,200V. The power source for Lodi was the Ampere Station just north of where the electric cars passed Harney Lane. By 1910 the line had been extended to Sacramento. In 1927 the Big Four bought CCTC as passenger traffic was declining due to improved road surfaces and the growing popularity of automobiles. The electric lines were converted to diesel and the track gained commercial business. It wasn’t until the 1950s that the Lodi tracks began to be abandoned section by section.
Christian Colony & Bruella School – Summer 2004. This issue with many photos describes the founding and development of a Christian-only colony northeast of Lodi in Acampo. In 1906 the Christian Colony built a church on the northwest corner of Bruella and Acampo Roads and then they built the LuVella School, later known as the Bruella School, nearby. The Colony benefitted greatly from the Central California Traction Company’s electrified train tracks that were laid in 1910, connecting the Colony with Stockton and Sacramento. The Colony’s population dwindled in the 1930s. The school building was demolished following California’s 1975 condemnation of non-earthquake-ready schools. The church, minus its bell towers, still stands today.
Early Lodi Merchants – Winter 2004. This issue with many photos describes Lodi’s early merchants and stores, including C.O. Ivory’s general merchandise, the Hooker House hotel, James Ellison’s livery stable and stage line, Dr. C.V. Williamson’s medical practice, various black smitheries, William Elger’s brewery, and Henry Lamont’s butcher shop. In 1876 Ralph Ellis and George Locke built the Lodi Mill and Warehouse on Main Street at Locust.
The Lawrence Family – Spring 2005. This issue with many photos describes the genealogy and many contributions of the Ezekial Lawrence family, who arrived in Lodi in 1858. Other notable members included his wife, Mary Hutchings Lawrence, and their children William, George, and Nettie. George Lawrence grew up to found Lodi’s first musical band and then in 1906 led the way for Lodi to incorporate and have its own utilities, city hall, and fire department.
The Haystack Murder Alexander A Kels – Summer 2005. This issue with many photos describes the 1923 murder of one Lodian by another. Alexander Kels was a popular butcher who staged his own death, killing a hired handyman and burning the body beyond recognition. Kels then disappeared down the road. Three thousand people attended the funeral of the person they thought was Kels. Kels returned to the area and was recognized by several people. Police talked with Lodians who remembered seeing Kels around town on the day of the murder, and one person saw him driving in the company of a woman. A manhunt ensued and Kels was caught in Eureka preparing to commit suicide. He confessed trying to trick his insurance company into paying $100,000 to his wife and was sentenced to hang in Folsom Prison. That sentence was carried out on January 5th, 1924.
John Marion Posey – Summer 2005. This issue with many photos describes the experiences of the Posey family, who arrived in California in 1858 and settled near Woodbridge. When both parents soon died, their seven young children were split up among neighbors. They recalled hearing about the Great Flood of 1862, when many homes west of Woodbridge washed away, and personally witnessed the development of canals and the dam across the Mokelumne.
John Marion Posey – Autumn 2005. This issue with many photos carries the same title as the preceding issue and continues the story of John Posey, who witnessed the development of canals and a dam across the Mokelumne River, worked to deepen the slough system, laid narrow-gauge track for the San Joaquin & Sierra Nevada Railroad, and farmed watermelons and grapes.
Mokelumne – Winter 2006. This issue with many photos describes early Pioneer settlers including R.C. Sargent, David Kettleman, Jeremiah Woods, Charles McLaughlin, Reuben Wardrobe, John Magley, Ezekiel Lawrence, and their wives, and their dealings with the railroads.
Lodi Women & the Woman’s Club of Lodi – Spring 2006. This issue with many photos describes Lodi’s socially prominent women and the founding of the Woman’s Club of Lodi. The women include Laura DeForce Gordon, journalist and lawyer; seamstresses and milliners such as Myrtle Hollis, Eva Dougherty Perriman, Mrs. J.O. Perkins, Mrs. M.E. Tindle, Mrs. F.M. Copeland, and Mrs. Auda Zeigenfelder; merchant wives such as Rebecca Tredway Ivory; Daisy Pleas, watchmaker; and Susan Jahant Bawden, funeral director. They and other women created the Lodi Improvement Club, which in 1913 became the Woman’s Club of Lodi. Their 1923 building still stands today on West Pine Street.
Lodi Recreation – Summer 2006. This issue with many photos describes Lodi’s youth recreational activities, starting with football using an inflated pig’s bladder in the 1870s through activities coordinated by the Lodi Recreation Commission in the 1950s. Of note is Lodi’s 1916 purchase of part of Wardrobe’s Grove (now Hale Park) to building a 40×300 foot swimming pool so that children wouldn’t swim in the dangerous Mokelumne River.
Jacob “Jake” Ernest Handel Family – Fall 2006. This issue with many photos describes the genealogy and contributions of the Jacob “Jake” Ernest Handel family. The family arrived from South Dakota in 1899. The issue includes happy photos of the family growing grapes and also photos of the unmasked men blowing clouds of pesticide on the vines.
Early Stockton Merchants – Winter 2007. This issue with many photos describes early Stockton merchants including H.T. Dorrange, saddler; William Millier, carriage manufacturer; H.S. Sargent, paint supplier; Jacob Wagner, tanner; George West, brewer and vintner; E.S. Holden, pharmacist; Frank Hale, produce vendor; Rufus Lane, flour miller; Louis Hansel, grocer; and H.C. Shaw, farm implement provider.
Lodi High School – Spring 2007. This issue with many photos describes the evolution of Lodi’s high school program, from false starts in the 1880s, through the 1896 classes held on the upper floor of the Salem School, and the 1900 construction of a dedicated high school at the northwest corner of Lodi Avenue and Church Street. The story continues in the next issue.
Lodi High School, Part II– Summer 2007. This issue with many photos continues from the previous and describes the 1913 laying of a cornerstone on Hutchins Street followed by the construction of the Lodi Union High School, now Hutchins Street Square. The student body was greatly affected by the 1918 Influenza and the recruitment of 108 male students during World War I, of whom five died in combat.
Early Wineries in Lodi– Autumn 2007. This issue with many photos describes Lodi’s grape growers’ changeover from relying on Stockton’s El Pinal Winery for winemaking to creating their own winemaking industry at home in Lodi starting around 1900. Lodi’s earliest wineries included the San Joaquin Winery, the Woodbridge Vineyard Association, the Farmers Mutual Winery, the Mokelumne Winery, the Roma Wine Company, Bear Creek Winery, Victor Winery, and Shewan-Jones, Inc.
General Mills – Winter 2008. This issue with many photos describes the 1928 merger of Sperry Mills and General Mills, followed by the 1946 decision that a new General Mills manufacturing plant would be built in Lodi. The original plant site consisted of 20 acres of Ray Gerard’s cherry orchard. The nearby portion of the historic Smith property (Estella Smith was the owner of Smith’s Lake, later called Lodi Lake) was later added to the General Mills site and several houses were built along Mills Avenue. The plant consisted of a one-story warehouse 480 feet long and a four-story manufacturing unit. In 1948 the Lodi General Mills plant shipped its first carload of Cheerios to market. In time the expanded plant’s 950 employees produced Bisquick, Wheaties, Kix, Cheerios, Lucky Charms, Golden Grahams, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, and various Betty Crocker products. (The plant closed in 2015.)
Henderson Brothers – Spring 2008. This issue with many photos describes the Henderson Brothers hardware enterprise. Originally opened under another name by John Collins in 1870 at 9 North Sacramento Street, Collins survived the Big Fire of 1887 and another fire in 1896, rebuilding both times. He sold to brothers Samuel “Thomas” Henderson and William “Woods” Henderson later in 1896. The business was successful, supplying the construction of many of Lodi’s buildings, despite Lodi’s 1909 labor concession that clerks should work no more than 11 hours per day, meaning that shops had to close at 6 p.m. The brothers decided to sell the business that year to W.A. Spooner, who kept the Henderson Brothers name. In 1940 the enterprise moved to the empty Beckman, Welch & Thompson store at 21 South Sacramento. In 2000 most of the enterprise was sold to Fyffe but the HVAC, plumbing, and sheet-metal business proudly continues today at 217 South Sacramento Street.
Lodi Rural Schools – Summer 2008. This issue with many photos describes Greater Lodi’s founding of Henderson School, Woods School, Salem School, Lockeford School, Houston School, Lafayette School, Harmony Grove School, Live Oak School, Alpine School, and Victor School.
Lodi Area Grammar Schools, Part 2 – Fall 2008. This issue with many photos describes Greater Lodi’s founding of Athearn School, Grant School, Brandt School, Brunswick School, Lavella School, Bruella Union School, New Hope School, Justice School, Clements School, Telegraph School, Elliott School, Ray Union School, Tokay Colony School, Terminous School, and Turner School.
Lodi Grammar Schools – Winter 2009. This issue, mostly photos, describes Greater Lodi’s Salem School, Emerson School, Garfield School, George Washington School, Leroy Nichols School, Lakewood School, Erma B. Reese School, Lodi Senior Elementary School, Lawrence School, Vinewood School, Heritage School, Joe Serna Charter School, Beckman School, Lois Borchardt School, Millswood School, and Ellerth Larson Elementary School.
Pardee Dam Despite Legal Tangles – Spring 2009. This issue, mostly photos, describes the 1924 decision to divert part of the Mokelumne River toward residents in Oakland by building the Pardee Dam. Lodi residents were concerned that not enough water would fill their water table and wells, but their fight against the East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD) failed and the dam was built in 1928.
The Hill House Museum – Summer 2009. This issue, mostly photos, describes Lodi’s Hill family and their historic house, built by Lodi’s Carey brothers in 1900. In 1948 it was moved from 115 North School Street to 826 South Church Street. Family members of note include George Washington Hill, Mary Lewis Hill, Nellie Hill, and Maurice Hill.
Growing Up in Lodi – Fall 2009. This issue, mostly photos, describes the many playful activities experienced by Lodi children since the 1880s.
Woodbridge Golf & Country Club – Winter 2010. This issue, mostly photos, describes the founding and slow development of the Woodbridge Golf and Country Club. The idea started with a 1924 bet between three residents on who among them was the best golfer. Since there was no golf course in the area, they settled their bet on a lawn that had been “trimmed” by horses and started planning a real golf course. Land was donated and two years passed before nine “pretty rough” holes were in place. By 1952 work began on another 12 holes. In 1973 the count was up to 27 holes. Today the club has tennis courts and other amenities.
Victor School – This issue, mostly photos, goes into depth about the 1911 founding of Victor School and includes several anecdotes about the daily life of teachers and mischievous students. The school closed in 1967.
Something Old, Something New – Summer 2011. This issue, mostly photos, tells the wedding stories of Lodi couples Mary Lewis and George Washington Hill, Nell Hurd and Harry Bessac, Arvilla Bringham and Clarence Stonewall Jackson, Mary Bradbury and Alfred Mason Tunnell, Ethel Hatsuko Cho and Roy Kaneichi Koyama (includes their time spent in the Rohwer, Arkansas, Internment Camp during World War II), Bertha Knoll and Jacob Kammerer, Vesta Pinkerton and Herschel Mason, Gladys Handel and Carl Mettler, and Hedy Olvera and Joseph Serna, and Evelyn Cary and Ernest “Bud” Hassbaum.
William George Micke – Fall 2013. This issue, mostly photos, tells the story of William “Bill” Micke. He was born in Missouri, arrived in Lodi in 1902, married Julia Harrison, and spent a lifetime building his successful agricultural enterprise. He generously donated land use to Lodi’s American Legion for the purpose of public events. After Julia’s sudden death at a Lodi parade in 1952, he used his land to create buildings and a small zoo in honor of his wife, and that’s the large park Lodi knows as Micke’s Grove today.
Come Josephine in My Flying Machine – Spring 2012. This issue, mostly photos, describes Lodi’s first airport, which was 70 acres of George Jahant’s property five miles north of town. The first flights were in 1925. By 1927 Jahant had plowed and leveled the runways and built two hangars. Twenty-year-old James Lind started Lind’s Flying Service. The airport, by then known as Lind’s Airport, closed during World War II and James’s younger brother, Albie, re-opened it after the war. The airport was bought by Robert E. Kupka in 1977 and is today called Lodi Airport. Other nearby airports were Kingdon Airpark and Precissi Airpark. The issue also displays Celia Crocker Thompson’s photos of the Goodyear blimp that landed at Orange Field in 1931.
The “Idol City” of Lodi– Spring 2013. This issue, mostly vintage advertisements and photos, republishes a 1908 article named “The ‘Idol City’ of Lodi, San Joaquin County, California,” from a periodical called Out West. The editor wanted to share how “outsiders” perceived the Lodi area in the early 1900s.
Italian Immigration in San Joaquin County – Summer 2013. This issue, mostly photos, describes the migration of future Lodians from the Ligurian part of Italy, a homeland torn by civil war, toward California’s gold rush. Unlike most immigrants to California, the Ligurians quickly felt at home with the Central Valley’s dry, hot summers, wet, mild winters, and fertile soil. By the end of the 1800s Italian immigrants had successfully established themselves in all sectors of the Central Valley economy. The most prominent Italian leaders, including chocolate-maker Domenico Ghirardelli, were known as the Prominenti. The Italian influence was felt most strongly in their truck gardens. San Joaquin’s Italian immigrants pursued American citizenship passionately, even as they founded Italian language schools and cultural classes to keep the old country memories alive.
Preszler House Moving – Fall 2013. This issue, mostly photos, describes the three generations of the Adam A. Preszler family that made their living moving houses and commercial buildings in Lodi, Acampo, and Victor. Projects included a 20-ton glass greenhouse (not a single glass panel cracked), the Lodi Funeral Home, an elementary school, the “huge” two-story Pickering Apartment building, Tamarack Lodge, and a lighthouse.
Halloween Fun at Hill House – Fall 2014. This issue, mostly photos, describes a 1915 Halloween party hosted by Maurice Hill at Lodi’s historic Hill House on South Church Street.
Keeping Lodi’s Grand Old House Grand – Spring 2015. This issue, mostly photos, describes Lodi’s historic Hill House on South Church Street and the many volunteers who made its 2014 renovation a success.
The Cary Brothers – Fall 2015. This issue, mostly photos, is taken from a 1990 speech given by Evelyn Hassbaum about Lodi’s Cary Brothers Construction. Area structures that Fred and Ed Cary created included the Lodi Arch, the Friedberger & Blodgett building, Burton’s Shoe Store, Needham School, Lodi High School, and the Hill House and many other residences. The brothers also owned the Lodi Water, Gas & Electric Company and were responsible for many civic improvements. The issue also describes the Carys’ social connections and their disappointment in feeling forced to sell their utility company to the city.
— After 2015, the Lodi Historical Society’s newsletter had a hiatus until 2021 —
Lodi’s Social History of Bicycles – Autumn 2021. This issue with many photos describes Lodi’s old bicycle shops and the effect bikes had on daily life. A second article describes the unfortunate burning down and demolition of Lodi’s old commercial buildings on North Sacramento Street.
Lodi Barbers: Get Your Ears Lowered & a Spit Shine at the Hotel Lodi– Winter 2022. This issue with many photographs describes the barber shop that has occupied the same space in the Hotel Lodi since the hotel was constructed in 1915. A second article shows the Hassan Warehouse building at the southwest corner of North Sacramento Street and Elm. This building was built by the Grange in 1876 and had meeting rooms upstairs. Luckily, this historic brick building survived both the 1887 fire and the 2020 fire.
Acampo Road – Spring 2022. This issue with many photos tells the story of William Henry Adams, and the palm trees on Acampo Road in San Joaquin County, California. The issue also includes information on Lodi’s Cycles of Suffrage mural on the northwest corner of Pine and Sacramento Streets.
Hotel Lodi and Housh Hotel – Summer 2022. This issue with many photos shows memoribilia from the Hotel Lodi and tells the story of Mrs. Sabra Hopper Housh, who ran the Housh Hotel at 21 West Oak Street (where Minerva’s Furniture is now).
Wright’s Garage – Autumn 2022. This issue with many photos tells the story of one of Lodi’s oldest businesses, Wright’s Garage (now Wright Motors Marine) at 214 North Sacramento Street. The business was founded in 1921. The spur traintrack behind Herman Wright’s shop allowed the Southern Pacific to unload crates of Ford motorcar pieces so that he could assemble them into working automobiles for local dealers to sell.
Lodi’s Japantown – Winter 2023. This issue with photos and maps details the buildings and events along Lodi’s Japantown, once a thriving community centered on Main Street.
General Mills and Mosher House – Spring 2023. This issue with many photos displays memoribilia from the General Mills cereal manufactuing plant that provided employment for generations of Lodians between 1946 and 2015. The Mosher house was built in 1886 and stood for 68 years.
The Boyce Family – Summer 2023. This issue with many photos tells the story of John and Emma Boyce and their elegant Woodbridge house, which was purchased and restored by the Michael David Winery in 2007.
Lodi During World War II, Part One – Winter 2024. This issue describes daily life in Lodi, California, during a stressful time: Chinese and Japanese tension along Main Street related to Japan having invaded Chinese Manchuria; Lodians who were present at Pearl Harbor and at the shelling of Santa Barbara’s Ellwood Oil Field; fears that the Pardee Dam would be sabotaged; total nighttime blackouts called by the loud new air horn installed at the Lodi Fire House; 24/7 monitoring of the skies from posts all around Lodi; agricultural labor and supply shortages. The second article is Scott Hamilton’s exciting update on construction at our 1912 Fire House/Museum building.
The Woman’s Syndicate Addition to Lodi – Spring 2024. This issue is especially created for Women’s History Month. It describes legal limitations for California’s married women in the mid- and late-1800s and how Lodi residents such as Laura DeForce Gordon and Susie Moreing Burr found workarounds that turned them into real estate magnates. The second story lists four interesting items displayed by LHS members at the recent Show and Tell program. The issue concludes with an interview with the new Editor and Webmaster.
Lodi During World War II, Part Two – Summer 2024. This issue describes the effects of rationing and inflation, the overwheming demands for time and money from Lodi residents, and the rare entertainments in town. The California State Guard is showcased. The departure of Lodi’s residents of Japanese descent is detailed and contrasted with residents of German and Italian descent. The second story is a collection of members’ memories of Lodi Lake.
The Word on the Streets – Autumn 2024. Lodi’s Turner Road, Kettleman Lane, Ham Lane, and Hutchins Street memorialize School Superintendent Frank Turner, Cattleman David Kettelman, Judge William Ham, and real estate magnates John, Edward, and Ada Hutchins. This issue also contains a Walking Tour of Woodbridge with maps of historic Woodbridge and the Woodbridge Masonic Cemetery.
The Building at 47 N Sacramento Street– Winter 2025. Lodi’s oldest building has survived stampeding dancers, fires, labor unrest, and uncountable thousands of shoppers’ footsteps. In this issue we review its history and get an exciting peek into its renovated interior. The second story reviews a current Lodi Arts Commission exhibit on Lodi’s Female Pioneers.