The Green Hotel

Fabulous Birthday PARTY !

Soon after the San Francisco and San Joaquin Valley RR completed its tracks into Bakersfield in 1898, the Kern County Land Company, seeing a way to profit in la...nd sales to ranchers and farmers, built cattle pens and a loading chute next to the tracks at what is now Central Ave. in Shafter. Soon after, farmers began buying the rich land in the area. The first settler to build a home in the area was N.E. Vandem at what is now Burbank and Scaroni in 1907. By 1912 other early settlers were the Scaroni, Mannel, Haig and Dequine families. In 1909 a colony of 109 Mennonite and Adventist families was established and became known as Martensdale near what is now Minter Field. After one year the colony, beset by financial difficulties, was enticed by Kern Land to resettle near the railroad six miles to the west. In 1911, Henry Jastro named the new townsite in honor of his friend, Gen. William R. Shafter. In 1912-13 the townsite was surveyed by Hugh Allen, for whom Allen Road is named. At that time the only building in town was the railroad foreman's house near the current depot and Allen lived there while doing the survey. In 1913 the land company built a hotel to accommodate potential land buyers. Called the Green Hotel, it was at Central and James Streets and was managed by a Mrs. Harriet McManus. A water well was drilled by the land company who also erected a tower and tank. The subdivision of the town was done in 1914 and 7,100 acres went on sale. KCL also eventually sold 27,000 acres of farmland surrounding Shafter. The same year, Charles Shomate moved from Whiskey Flat, purchased a lot and built the town's first store from which he sold everything from groceries and clothing to farm equipment and also operated the town's first post office until a dedicated one was built in 1920. The first schoolhouse was moved onsite by KCL in October 1914 when the Richland School District was formed. Oil was discovered in the surrounding area in 1920 and greatly increased the fortunes of the town and farmers. The town has done very well through the years with many more ups than downs with agriculture continuing its mainstay. The accompanying photo shows Shafter in the late 20s. See more

Thank You Nancy Lawson Mandoky for the four sack quilt that you and your grandmother made. It is beautiful

Fabulous event with CASA last night

Paranormal group here to find friendly ghosts. More later.