Kingsburg Historical Society

Back in the Olson-Ball House. This 19th century copper teapot is a recent donation to the Kingsburg Historical Park. When curator Ron Bergman handed it to me, my first thought was, "gotta shine this baby up!" Well I tried all of the online suggestions; white vinegar, salt and four paste. Well that cleaned some of the dirt but it was still badly tarnished. So, I consulted my son (Casey Dunn) who handed me a cool streamlined buffing tool and some Flitz automotive polish. I guess the old man can learn from the young pup.

The Evolution of the Washing Machine.

I've been reading old editions of the Kingsburg Recorder to get an Idea about how Christmas has been celebrated in Kingsburg over the last 100 years. In doing ...so, some of the letters to Santa were thought provoking and amusing. I hope you enjoy them as much as I have. Update: something isn't adding up about those posted in the Dec. 25, 1980 edition of the Kingsburg Recorder. In an effort to learn more about the young writers, I ran a name search in the Recorder archives. I discovered Karin Rocker would have been about 11 years old in 1980. Maybe the Recorder posted letters from their archives.

Tired of being couped up inside. I have an activity you will love. The backstory: The Valley Lumber company operated in Kingsburg from February 1905 until Au...gust 1954. In order to encourage customers to order lumber and fixtures necessary to build a new home, Valley Lumber offered a wide selection of house plans and construction blue prints for free. Several of the offerings are attached. See how many you can spot as you cruise the neighborhoods, and then post a photo in response. I will get you started. Plan nr. 401 was the most popular and most frequently advertised in the Kingsburg Recorder. Example: 1540 Union Street. On May 22, 1922 Robert Scott was traveling East on Sierra near Simpson Street when he lost control of the model T as he crossed the tracks and crashed into a tree. Anna Scott’s life changed forever that day as she became a widow with three small children and a fourth due in just two months; Gordon "Scotty" Scott. In Anna’s mind, she would always be married to the love of her life and would never marry again. Instead, she devoted her life to raising her children as best she could. After Scotty was born, Anna sold the farm and purchased a small one-bedroom home at 1540 Union Street, where she would raise her growing family. Scotty said he and Robert slept on the screened in back porch while his mother and sister slept in the bedroom. "It wasn’t much, but it was home." observed Scotty.

Kingsburg 100 Years Ago: 1920 vs 2020 Economics This is the second post in a series where I look back at Kingsburg a century ago. In this retrospective we see ...an image of Kingsburg where much has changed but much remains the same. The topics will include politics (non-partisan), religion / church life, public health and Thanksgiving. Today's topic is "Economics". Previously I have posted longer stories like this as a "note" with photos inserted at the most appropriate point in the story. Unfortunately Facebook has removed that option. The Economy: Although the United States emerged from WWI as a new superpower, it cost over $20 billion to fight the War to End All Wars. As a result cash reserves and the ability to borrow money were nearly depleted. In a plea posted in the December 3, 1920 edition of the Kingsburg Recorder, residents were encouraged to aggressively engage in building personal wealth and savings as an act of patriotism. In 1920 the national debt had risen to an astonishing $21 billion. Indeed, the federal surplus would continue each year until the Great Depression in 1930. However, only a portion of the surplus was used to retire the national debt. In 1920 the economy was roaring; thus that decade became known as The Roaring 20s. The patriotic call in 1920 was for every family of five to save $1,000 in 1921 the deficit would be made up. That was a tall order considering the average household income was $3,260 per year in 1920; equivalent to $42,845 today. However, being a realist, the writer suggested if only half of the households in a county the size of Fresno County would save $200 in 1921 ($2,629 today), there would be an abundance of funds available for infrastructure projects. In 1920 thriftiness was considered a virtue. The number of households with a personal savings account reached 25%. It was inconceivable that Americans would become so addicted to living on credit that it would take another worldwide pandemic to cause a dramatic uptick in personal savings in America. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, only 12.9% of American households had a personal savings account. By April 2020 that number increased to 33.6% as Americans braced for a sustained economic shutdown. Because of the long-term economic impact of the pandemic, that number has since dropped to 14.1%; still higher than that in 1920. We can only hope it doesn’t further slide down to the 4.1% recorded during the Great Depression (1929-1938).

Kingsburg 100 Years Ago: 1920 vs 2020 This is the first post in a series where I look back at Kingsburg a century ago. In this retrospective we see an image of Kingsburg where much has changed but much remains the same. The topics will include politics (non-partisan), religion / church life, public health and Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving in 1920: The tradition of celebrating the holiday on Thursday dates back to the early history of the Plymouth and Massachusetts Bay colonies, ...Continue reading

Great news! You can now get your 2021 Calendar at Kady's Kitchen! Visit Kady's for a nice breakfast or lunch and buy a Kingsburg Historical Society 2021 Calendar while you wait for your meal. It's a win-win! You can also order your calendar(s) using the attached form.

The Kingsburg Historical Society's 2021 Calendars have arrived and this edition may be the best yet! It is our first all color edition with historic photos originally produced in color plus many "colorized" black and white photos. The price is still only $10 each plus postage. If anyone wants to order a calendar, or multiple calendars, mail the attached form, along with your payment to: Kingsburg Historical Society... P.O. Box 282, Kingsburg CA 93631. They make great stocking stuffers! Here is a sneak peak.

On October 9, 2020 Kingsburg lost another hometown hero; Gordon Eugene Scotty Scott. I first met Scotty in 2017 when I interviewed him regarding his WWII ex...periences. Scotty was small in stature but a giant in character. Gordon Eugene Scott was raised in Kingsburg during the Great Depression by his widowed mother; a Swedish immigrant, who lost her husband two months before Gordon was born. On his 18th birthday, Gordon enlisted in the U.S. Navy where he served as a Machinist Mate for six years, advancing in rank from Seaman to Chief Petty Officer. His story of endurance and bravery aboard the U.S.S. Arizona, Lexington and Suwanee are legendary in Kingsburg. Gordon participated in 15 major sea battles against the Japanese Imperial Navy throughout the Pacific and the German Wolfpack off the shores of North Africa. After the war, he became a prominent businessman in Kingsburg and a legend at the Kings River Golf and Country Club. Today, 98 year old Gordon Eugene Scott is known to his many friends and family as Scotty. In 2019 Scotty rode alongside of his son-in-law (David Meyer) in the Swedish Festival parade. They rode in a WWII era Willys Jeep adorned with flags and representing Kingsburg's Greatest Generation. So, today - whether you have served or not - let's give a final salute to Gordon Eugene "Scotty" Scott (5/24/1922 - 10/9/2020).

Busy looking at old photographs and post cards at the Historical Park today. My goodness how some things have changed and others have not. Here are a few examples.