Anaheim Community History Project
Anderson, Lucy J. (1894 – 1976)
“Early Anaheim and Placentia.”
OH46*, 1 hr. 15 minutes, May 7, 1968.
44 pages with extra ephemeral material.
Interviewed by Kathleen B. Heil.
Completed 1974.
Anaheim Community History Project, Volume One, and individual volume.
Lucy Ziegler Anderson – Moved from New Jersey to Anaheim, CA in 1905 – Father owned two hotels, Commercial Hotel and Hotel Valencia – Hotel life, including African American staff and guests William Jennings Bryant and former California Governor Bell – Anaheim’s development, bars and effect of prohibition, and German residents, including the German Mudgutter Band – Childhood memories of seeing Madame Modjeska in Los Angeles, picnics at Orange County Park, and school activities – Marriage to Frank Anderson at the Mission Inn, WWI (Air Corps) and influenza outbreak in Sacramento, CA – Ranching and building of apartment complexes, working with the Placentia Round Table – Children, daughter in Newport Beach, CA and son in Escondido, CA.
Keywords -- Amusements -- Anaheim, California -- Local History -- Transportation -- Urban Development
Biela, Josef P. (1923 - )
“German Prisoner of War Experiences.”
OH1129, 1 hr. 30 minutes, May 4, 1972.
33 pages, index.
Interviewed by Donna C. Barasch.
Completed 1976.
Anaheim Community History Project, Volume One, and individual volume.
Second interview, OH1129B completed in 1991.
Josef P. Biela – Born in Wilhelmshaven, Germany – Joined Hitler youth group, Reichsarbeitsdienst – During World War II fought in Poland, Russia (wounded), Africa (re-routed), Italy, and France (wounded) – Sent to Reading, England – Discusses injuries, surrendering, American GI helpfulness – Prisoner of War experiences, including “sneaking” on to a boat going to the United States – Camps in Oklahoma (Camp Gruber), Texas (Camp Mclean), Arizona (Marana and Camp Florence), California (Camp Pomona and Anaheim), and New York (Camp Shanks?) – Experiences include working as a tailor, picking cotton and oranges – Discusses American air power versus German air power – Writing letter to the War Department after deciding to stay in America, citing freedom of the press and democracy; response explains how to return after repatriation – Sent back to Germany, spends 18 months in England first – Application to Consul in Breman, Germany and trouble remembering his POW serial number – Work in astronomy and employment at the University of California, Irvine.
Keywords -- Agriculture -- Anaheim, California -- Local History -- Oranges -- World War II
Bonney, Wilbert H. (1910 – 1981)
“Experiences in Anaheim, CA.”
OH1386, 2 hrs, March 21, 1974.
35 pages, index.
Interviewed by Karen I. Speers.
Completed 1974.
Anaheim Community History Project, Volume One, and individual volume.
Wilbert Bonney – Born in Fairmont, Minnesota, 1901 – Parents were teachers – Move to Anaheim in 1909, ranching, orange co-ops (Sunkist, Mutual Orange Distributors[MOD]) – Attend Loara elementary school, Central School, Fremont School, Anaheim High School – Graduated in June 1920, post graduate course at Anaheim High School, then Fullerton Junior College – Work with a drafting company, designed plans for Lincoln School building – Encouraged by Charles C. Smith, superintendent of Anaheim schools to take LA County teacher exam – Work at Central School, then Fremont School – Meet and marry Celia Carr, a teacher – Attended University of California Berkeley education classes during intercession – Hired by Melbourne Gauer as principle of Central School, then Fremont School (22 years) – 1933 earthquake impact on school, new school building with help of WPA or PWA – 1951 change in school system, moved to Benjamin Franklin School – 1962 retire – Discuss membership in local groups, Rotary Club, YMCA (Camp Osceola), Methodist Church, California Retired Teachers Association, Meals on Wheels – Halloween, the Rotary Club pancake breakfast and the kiddie parade – Anaheim history, including road conditions, alcohol and saloons, ranching and then industry (Kwikset Locks and Disneyland) – Disneyland – Amusements, including bicycle, Chautauquas (vaudeville-type shows), the Red Car – Anaheim floods – Discussion of World War I and military ROTC classes – Adoption of son, doctor at University of Iowa – Ku-Klux Klan in Anaheim during the 1920s, reason Gauer was hired – Depression impact on school wages, dropping school enrollment, and New Deal programs – School growth, impact of Disneyland and new construction – Impact of World War II – State of education – School athletics.
Keywords -- Anaheim, California -- Local History -- Schools/Education -- Urban Development
Fischle, Richard W. (1912 – 1981)
“Anaheim and the Anaheim Bulletin, 1929-1968.”
OH56, 30 minutes, May 21, 1968.
11 pages, index.
Interviewed by Karol Keith Richard.
Completed 1974.
Anaheim Community History Project, Volume One.
Richard Fischle – Born in Anaheim, 1912 – Attended Anaheim public schools – Began working at Anaheim Bulletin in 1929 while still high school – Worked permanently beginning in 1931 – Depression, Anaheim insulated for a time from effects – 1934 work as business manager for paper, impact of Depression and hard times – During Depression the paper issued scrip (fake money) for SQR Store and other businesses, paid bills at the end of the month after they had collected for advertising – Discussed government programs such as the WPA and NRA, reduction of hours – Depression forcing paper to run “nip and tuck”, no trouble finding people to hire but difficulty in keeping things going – New building for Anaheim Bulletin in 1946 – Anaheim’s boom following Disneyland – Discusses “Governor” Loudon, publisher of the Anaheim Bulletin – Paper as part of Freedom Press Chain – Growth of newspaper, Anaheim (West Anaheim), Anaheim Stadium, Anaheim Convention Center – Possibilities of rapid transit between Orange County and Los Angeles.
Keywords -- Anaheim, California -- Depression -- Local History -- Newspapers -- Urban Development
Gauer, Melbourne A. (1894 - )
“Anaheim Area since 1925.”
OH1425*, 5 hrs., March 16, 17, 19, 1974.
68 pages, index, photos.
Interviewed by Kathy Landis.
Completed 1974.
Anaheim Community History Project, Volume One, and individual volume.
Melbourne Gauer – Born in 1894, farm outside Kinsley, Kansas – Memories of growing up, including going to the St. Louis Worlds Fair in 1904 – Teach following graduation in Kansas – Move to California in 1913 to follow parents – Attending Los Angeles Normal (University of California Southern Branch, University of California, Los Angeles [UCLA]), graduating in 1916 – Teaching in Ontario, CA in 1917, working in shipyards during World War I, then returning to teaching – Received Master’s Degree from Claremont College – Become Superintendent of schools in Anaheim – Work with local clubs, Boy Scouts, YMCA, Red Cross, Rotary Club, church work, religious education, Orange County Teachers Association – Old Anaheim stories/history – Disasters, including 1933 earthquake, 1938 flood – World War II activities – Desegregation of Anaheim schools – Anaheim schools during the Depression, changes in school system – Sex education – Member of Anaheim Planning Commission since 1934, representing schools – Development of Anaheim’s Master Plan following growth, including subdivisions and dealing with increased traffic - School development – Work with the Southern California Planning Congress – Building of Disneyland, then the Anaheim Stadium – Teaching a Graduate course at Chapman College – Changes in Gauer’s lifetime.
Keywords -- Anaheim, California -- Local Government - Local History --Schools/Education -- Urban Development
Haskett, Elva L. (1899 – 1980)
“Experiences as a Children’s Librarian of Anaheim Library.”
OH55*, 1 hr., May 13, 1968.
33 pages, photos, index.
Interviewed by Annette Moon.
Completed in 1974.
Anaheim Community History Project, Volume One, and individual volume.
Elva L. Haskett – Born in London, Ontario, Canada, in 1899 – Attended college and library training in Toronto – Family moved to Los Angeles – Worked in a bookstore in Los Angeles – Offered a position at the Anaheim Public Library in 1925, new children’s department – Worked as acting librarian for a time – Pinocchio puppet was acquired by the library in 1929, along with the book – Discusses 1933 earthquake and 1938 flood, impact on library – Program to bring authors to library – Evolution of storytelling in library – Creation of the teen-age room in the library – Children’s reading, choosing books – Storytelling, themes and choices – Selection of books by American Library Association recommendations (ALA) – Newberry award winning books needing explanations because of more adult subjects – Parents complaining about books, banning themes such as war and German books – Summer reading – growth of library in correlation of children using library – Children’s participation – Anaheim history, 1920s, the Ku-Klux Klan, bootlegging and clubs – Depression’s impact on the library, more people using facilities and poor book quality – The homeless and the library – Mexican American segregation and diversity in Anaheim.
Keywords -- Anaheim, California -- Books -- Children -- Library -- Local History
Kohlenberger, George F. (1904 - )
“Life in Anaheim, California 1904 – 1920.”
OH1422, 2hrs., March 19 and May 1, 1974.
Interviewed by Vivian Allen.
Completed 1974.
Anaheim Community History Project, Volume One, and individual volume.
George Kohlenberger – Anaheim’s population 5200 in 1914 and 1915 – Went to Broadway School – Early roads dirt – 1913, two car dealership’s Taggert Chevrolet and Ingram Ford – Mowed lawns as a child to earn money for shoes – Clapboard houses, gardens, and livestock – Anaheim Opera House: Governor Hiram Johnson and Madame Modjeska – Children activities: “hunting”, roller-skates, bikes, kites, hot-air balloon, scooters, tops, marbles, dominoes, crokinole – Fourth of July fireworks – hay rides, Orange Country (Irvine), and YMCA swimming pool – Small-town, family interaction – Walnuts, vineyards, and orange trees – World War I German tension, impact of war on Germany, buying Liberty Bonds, and Armistice Day – 1916 and 1938 floods – Flu epidemic, La Grippe – Chautauqua Programs, Harry Houdini – Balloon rides, circuses, and Buffalo Bill show – Saloons, Anaheim Beer, and Fisher Winery – Public transportation – Anaheim’s Chinatown – Curfew and Halloween pranks – Fourth of July road racing: Teddy Tetzleff, Pat Seale, and Barney Oldfield – Indian Mission schools – Valjean home – Local stores – Radio and phonographs – Anaheim before Disneyland – Anaheim newspapers – Local population – Original redwood water pipes – Ku-Klux Klan in Anaheim – Glenn Martin, flyer and plane builder – Disneyland and Knotts Berry Farm – Agriculture and packing houses – Kohlengerger Engineering.
Keywords -- Amusements -- Anaheim, California -- Local History -- World War I
Loudon, Howard (1915 - )
“The Anaheim Bulletin: Its Struggle with the Ku-Klux Klan.”
OH22, 1 hr. 30 minutes, May 13, 1968.
41 pages, index, photos
Interviewed by Karol Keith Richard.
Completed 1974.
Anaheim Community History Project, Volume One, and individual volume.
Howard Loudon – Born in Santa Fe Springs, 1915 – Raised in Anaheim – Attended Fullerton Junior College, then Stanford University in 1937, studying journalism – After graduation entered Navy as career, 8 years – Before the Navy worked for West Holiday Company in San Francisco – Father starts the Anaheim Bulletin – Discussion of Los Angeles papers versus local papers – Paper merged with the Los Angeles Express – News received through Associated Press – Early Anaheim – Explanation of getting baseball scores before the AP does – The Ernst family, The Anaheim Plain Dealer – The Ku-Klux Klan in Anaheim, father prints list of members in paper and the influence of Reverend Myers – World War I and World War II, impact on German and Japanese populations – Anaheim’s unique power structure, keeping older members involved in community – Anaheim’s city government, the city manager position – Role in industrializing Anaheim – Citrus and juice industries – Depression, paper paying in scrip – Growth of the paper – Part of Newspaper Publishers Association – Photography, cartoons, and local elections – Paper now owned by Freedom Newspapers, less local community involvement – Anaheim’s early tie to alcohol – Prohibition and bootlegging – State college (now CSUF) and community.
Keywords -- Anaheim, California -- Local Government -- Local History -- Newspapers
Martenet, Morris W. Jr. (1895 – 1981)
“Discussions of Anaheim Urban Renewal.”
OH30, 2 hrs. 45 minutes, April 11 and 19, 1968.
48 pages, index, photos.
Interviewed by Richard D. Curtiss.
Completed 1974.
Anaheim Community History Project, Volume Two, and individual volume.
Morris Martenet – Born in Fresno, 1985 – Moved to Anaheim in 1910, father acquired Miller (at the time, the current Mayor of Anaheim) hardware store – Discusses local stores and saloons – 1916 Flood and flooding problems – 1933 Earthquake – 1938 Flood and community spirit – Anaheim many stores, serving the not just Anaheim but also the other parts of the county – The Ku-Klux Klan and Reverend Myers – Martent’s role on the Anaheim City Council – Depression and WPA projects – Early Anaheim – Industrialization of Anaheim 1920s to 1950s, role of the City Council – Anaheim’s Industrial Development Corporation – Anaheim’s wineries – Agriculture: grapes, walnuts, citrus – Local stores in Downtown area – Shopping centers and Disneyland – World War II, Japanese Americans feelings and relocation – First City Council member to lose an election, in 1942 – Martenet Hardware, old fashioned business – Member of Anaheim’s Urban Renewal Committee – Downtown Anaheim, stores and redevelopment – Growth, including Disneyland and the Angels.
Keywords -- Anaheim, California -- Business -- Local Government -- Local History --Urban Development
Nyboe, Rudy (1884 – 1978)
“Experiences of the First Full-Time Fire Chief, Anaheim, California.”
OH1426, 4 hrs., March 18, 1974.
60 pages, index, photos.
Interviewed by Cyndi Denton.
Completed 1976.
Anaheim Community History Project, Volume Two, and individual volume.
Rudy Nyboe – Born in Omaha, Nebraska, 1894 – Left home at 13, moved to North Nebraska and then to Leadville, Colorado – Moved to Anaheim in 1914 because of wife’s health – After leaving home, worked as an apprentice with a plasterer, then for the railroad for 6 years – Returned home, work at father’s drugstore – Married Mary Catherine (Molly) – Wife’s illness, moving to Anaheim – Buys interest in saloon – Goes into oil, loses money – 1915, job with the Anaheim Fire Department as Chief – Volunteer Department, weeding out Klan – World War I and meeting government men – Discussion of Fire Department: water pipes, trucks, stations, “two for two” work schedule, fire history – Pacific Board of Underwriters and the Atlantic Board of Underwriters – Discussion of Ku-Klux Klan, green sheets and the City Council – Molly’s illnesses, first a goiter on the heart and then cancer – Depression – Anaheim City Fire Department’s resuscitation unit.
Keywords -- Anaheim, California -- Fire Department -- Local History
Pearson, Charles A. (1898 – 1972)
“Politics, Growth, and the Development of Anaheim, California.”
OH29*, 5hrs., April 10, 18, 26, and May 7, 1968.
100 pages, index, photos.
Interviewed by Richard D. Curtiss.
Completed 1974.
Anaheim Community History Project, Volume Two, and individual volume.
Charles Pearson – Born in Ashland, Nebraska, 1898 – Moved to Anaheim in 1906, family buys ranch – Attended Broadway School, Central School, Anaheim High School – Discusses the Southern Pacific and Pacific Electric – Anaheim’s wineries and breweries – Local agriculture – 1916 Flood impact – Early automobiles in Anaheim – the Anaheim Police Department – 1938 Flood and impact – Building of La Palma Park with the pond reservoir – Anaheim Union Water Company and Edison Company – 1933 Earthquake – Married Sarah Fay – First Secretary of the Planning Commission – Discusses Chamber of Commerce securing land for future industrialization, separately under the Community Industrial Land Company – Industrial development – Prohibition – Ku-Klux Klan – Baseball as counter to Klan, bring people together – Anaheim Truck and Transfer, transporting circuses and oranges, part of Allied Van Lines – Water, Metropolitan Water District and William Mullholand – Orange County Water District – Water pipes – Anaheim Union Water Company being sold – Sewage plant, recycling – Political life, City Council in 1935 – President of California Valencia Orange Show – Luring industry to Anaheim, along with Chamber of Commerce – Disneyland’s development – Elected Mayor of Anaheim in 1940 – World War II – Industrialization, Earne Moeller and Keith Murdoch – City administrator, new position – Anaheim part of California League of Cities – Downtown Anaheim blight and revitalization – Land annexation, Peralta Hills.
Keywords -- Anaheim, California -- Business -- Local Government -- Local History -- Politics -- Urban Development
Rea, E. Kate. (1876 – 1972)
“Early Anaheim.”
OH13, 2hrs., June 13, 17, and 22, 1966.
32 pages, index, photos.
Interviewed by Richard D. Curtiss.
Completed 1974.
Anaheim Community History Project, Volume Two, and individual volume.
E. Kate Rea – Born in San Diego, 1876 – Family originally from Ontario, Canada, and they owned a bee ranch in San Diego – Father opened a country store and was an assessor for San Diego County – Family bought land in Anaheim, moved to go to high school – Ranch named Katella after two daughters, Kate and Ella – Anaheim history – Graduated from University of California Berkley in 1901 with a degree in education – Teach at Anaheim Union High School, then at junior college (Fullerton?) – 1916 and 1938 Floods – 1933 Earthquake – Help found Parent-Teachers Association in Orange County, 1909 – Also part of Crippled Children’s Relief Association and the Girl Scout Council (1926) – Ku-Klux-Klan and the impact on schools – Help found Anaheim Public Library, 1902-1903 – Other club work (Ebell).
Keywords -- Anaheim, California -- Community Groups -- Education -- Local History
Starr, Audrey (1896 - )
“Family History and Early Anaheim.”
OH1433, 1 hr. 30 minutes, April 9 and May 22, 1975.
42 pages, index, photos.
Interviewed by Sandra Semones.
Completed ?
Anaheim Community History Project, Volume Two, and individual volume.
Audrey Waidler Starr – Born in Iowa, 1896 – Family farm – Moved to Anaheim in 1907 – Mother dies in 1907 – Family buys 40 acre ranch/farm: oranges, walnuts, etc. – Starr is burned in 1910 by an electrical wire – family life, school life – visiting Los Angeles by train and car – Working with L. Frank Baum’s son, as Mary Pickford’s assistant/secretary, the Edison Company, and then American Sugar Beet – Visit Hawaii, meet husband (Carleton Starr) – after marriage, move back to Anaheim and find tough economic situation – Never graduated from high school, went to work in Los Angeles – Pacific Electric Red Car and Southern Pacific – Anaheim Landing – Depression, impact on raising a family – World War II, rationing at the Starr’s health food store – Member of the American Legion – 1916 and 1938 Floods – 1933 Earthquake impact – Children, Jim, Hartley, and Nadine – Travels with Carleton – Religious affiliations, personal and Anaheim – Senior activities – Recalling marriage.
Keywords -- Anaheim, California -- Local History -- Los Angeles, California
Stringer, Edward J. Jr. (1907 - )
“The Growth of the Anaheim Fire Department.”
OH28*, 1hr. 30 minutes, April 9 and 16, 1968.
56 pages, index, photos.
Interviewed by Richard D. Curtiss.
Anaheim Community History Project, Volume Two, and individual volume.
Edward Stringer – Moved to Anaheim from Colorado with wife Margaret in 1935 – Anaheim was a small community – Job with Anaheim Fire Department as relief fireman in 1938 – Description of working in Molybdenum mine in Colorado – Working as a fireman in Anaheim: early trucks, servicing surrounding communities, communications, training – Fire Department reaction to floods and earthquake – Department’s rescue efforts, including resuscitators and fire prevention – Invalid Aid program, stickers signifying homes with elderly or bed-ridden residents - Innovations in department: personnel, equipment, inspections, junior fire program - 1950, new Fire Chief, take fire administration courses at USC (University of Southern California) – Pacific Fire Underwriters Board, insurance ratings – Training and community familiarization program – Impact of industrialization and Disneyland – Prevention efforts, including Anaheim Stadium, motels, and Anaheim Convention Center – Building of more stations, foothill fires – Downtown blight, fire hazard.
Keywords -- Anaheim, California -- Fire Department -- Local Government -- Local History -- Urban Development
Sutherland, Carrie Lou. (1899 – 1971)
“People and Newspapers of Anaheim.”
OH57, 1hr. 30 minutes, May 21, 1968.
25 pages, index, photos.
Interviewed by Karol Keith Richard.
Completed 1976.
Anaheim Community History Project, Volume Two.
Carrie Lou Sutherland – Born in 1899 in Anaheim area – Family had a ranch – Worked for Anaheim Plain-Dealer, feeding the press – Worked for Anaheim Herald, then go to USC (University of Southern California) – Illness at school, return to Anaheim and finish school in night school, return to Herald – Married James F. Sutherland, moved to Anaheim Landing, ranched – James died, go back to work at newspapers, Valley Times and Los Angeles Times – Ku-Klux Klan in Anaheim – Ernst Family (Plain Dealer) and Howard Loudon – Anaheim newspapers – Early baseball scores – Impact of Prohibition – Depression impact on paper, payroll problems – WPA programs – Anaheim Methodist Church and Reverend Geissinger – Reverend Myers and the KKK – Discusses Mayor Metcalf – Herald sold to chain, changed: less local – Work on City Council meetings and trials, including the I.M.Darrow trial.
Keywords -- Anaheim, California -- Local Government -- Local History -- Newspapers
Anaheim Community History Project Abstracts by Mercedes Anderson/MA, 2001
