REMINDER: Only 174 days until the Taft Diamond Jubilee -- The Taft Oildorado, Inc., celebrating Taft's 100th birthday, October 15-24 and the dedication of the Oil Worker's monument with Huell Howser present to videotape his program called, "California Gold" for public television broadcast on the West Coast. The year 2010 is also the anniversary of the world famous Lakeview Gusher -- the granddaddy of all gushers -- that spewed 9,000,000 barrels of oil over a year and a half before it stopped flowing. A historical marker is located at the crater of the gusher between Maricopa and Taft.
The Taft Oildorado website is oildoradodays.com.
Good News
To Eric Cooper - President, Taft Oildorado
Just want to let you know we have secured the B-25 planes for Oildorado. The biggest problem we have will be motel rooms. None will book right now. I will keep working with them.
Thanks, Paul Linder
(Oildorado chaiman of the Fly By)
Taft Decorations
Driving around town nowadays, one will notice the Taft Oildorado symbol in the form of a sign hanging from the light poles around the city. Yes, the city is preparing for its Diamond Jubilee 100th birthday celebration, and what a celebration it will be. The Taft Oildorado Board of Directors is working urgently on all the plans for a gigantic celebration. During that 10-day period there must be something like 80 events being planned. Remember the dates -- October 15 through the 24th.
Such a large undertaking could not be done without the help of so many community volunteers doing their best to plan interesting activities that will be enjoyable to the young and old alike all, and working diligently under the direction of the president of Taft Oildorado, Eric Peterson.
A huge crowd is anticipated from all over the United States to be present at sometime during the 10-day period. Clarence Williams, former mayor and twice president of Taft Oildorado, used to tell us that the Oildorado celebration is a time to have fun and enjoy ourselves. That's what it is all about!
Significant Events in History of Taft,
the Greater West Side & Oildorado
(Note: The article for the next few issues will be taken from the 1985 Taft Oildorado souvenir book. The historic events from this book were compiled by Pete Gianopulos.)
1965: The City of Taft's new $90,000 fire station was completed at 801 Center Street, and Bob Colston was the M. C. at the dedication. Mayor Pete Gianopulos introduced the architect and former Taft High graduate, Bob Wood, and former fire chief, Billy Wilson. The 11.1 acre West Side Shopping Center was constructed north of Lincoln School by developer Don Rook and Les "Bill" Causey.
The city council approved a plan for the Civic Center Park drawn by Lance Hooper on 1 1/2 acres east of the Civic Center. Girl Scouts and Brownie Troop 182 are scheduled to plant part of the landscaping incorporated in the plans, through Vic Borreco who was in charge of community participation.
The Oildorado celebration planned a groundbreaking ceremony for the $26.2 million Buena Vista Pumping Plant east of Taft in the Buena Vista Hills. Mayor Pete Gianopulos was chairman of the event with participants William Warne, Director of the Department of Water Resources, John Williamson, Assemblyman, and Vance Webb, 4th District Supervisor, as jets from Edwards Air Force Base flew over in salute. The Department of Water Resources Field Office was dedicated by William Warne and Mayor Pete Gianopulos (now the Continental Telephone). Clarence Williams was the president of Taft Oildorado, Inc.
1968: In a ceremony headed by Supervisor Vance Webb, Feather River Water enters Kern County through the aqueduct. Floyd Cooley Director Division Four, Kern County Water Agency and Pete Gianopulos, former director, participate.
Reader's Responses
From Helen (Agee) Larson, Class of 1942, from San Louis Obispo, CA.
Hi Pete: Your articles about your father’s violin is interesting. My brother and sister both started violin at an early age, but I don't believe they lasted very long. haha. I don't remember them playing. When I went through my folks house, after their deaths, I came across both violins. I remember my mother would throw them away and my dad would go and get them. I brought them home with me. My sons oldest daughter started piano and then violin. My son asked if I still had the violins. He took them and had them checked out and said one of them was worth fixing; so she ended up playing that one and has it today. Her younger sister plays now and is a good musician. The older sister doesn't play much anymore, she is leaving for medical school this coming august. Helen agee larson
From Thelma (Beck) Green, Class of 1942, from Reno, NV.
Hello Again, Pete;
How timely is this? This was just sent to me from a friend. How Wally got on that plane 50 times is beyond my imagination. I don't think that it will be for you though as you were involved in many traumatic experiences yourself during your WW11 service in the Pacific Theater. As Wally would say, "We were young and Gung Ho." I guess some of us will never forget our young men's sacrifices.
I do think all of you young men in our class of ’42 were especially affected by being the right ages for military service at the time of graduation. I will always honor and never forget those classmates who did not return home.
Thanks again Pete for your outstanding service to our country.
Thelma Green
(NOTE: Wally, Thelma's husband was flying in B-24's overseas during WWII.)
From George Gianopulos, Class of 1945, from Fresno, CA
Pete: I read Thelma (Beck) Green's note on the father of Bill Manders, the radio talk show host in Reno. We had him here in Fresno for a number of years; enjoyed him much. What I'd like to know is the name of his father, the crew member of that B-24 that was lost out of Italy during WWII. I have a friend here in Fresno, a member of a B-24 crew, who survived being shot down - out of Italy - ending up as a POW until the end of the war. Just curious! gng
From Wena (Waldner '45) Dows, Class of 1945, from Culver City, CA
Hi Pete,
When I lived in Taft, I lived on the Honolulu Oil lease, Section 8 (not the main camp). In 1956 we moved to Los Angeles and in 1969 to Culver City, where we live now. Our address is 10681 Ranch Road, Culver City, CA 90230.
My husband, Dave, taught Chemistry at USC for 52 years, retiring a couple of years ago. I'm still working - have my own firm doing residential architecture.
wena
(Secrion 8 was located near the top of 36-Hill going north on Airport Road.)
From Linda Talbert, Class of 1957, from Princeville, Kunai, Hawaii
Dear Pete: I am in Paris and have been for over a week! My daughter and granddaughters are with me here having fun in the sun. April in Paris! (Music) The volcano blew last Thursday and my daughter was due to leave Friday. We waited all day to hear that the plane would leave, but the Air France information was incomplete and absolutely false in areas. Finally her plane left, but without any passingers! I was to stay for another six weeks traveling around Germany and outlying plarts of France. We are all still here waiting for the clearance of the ash. And there is now another additive to the ash plume. I fell while climbing on the Eifel tower and broke my leg. After a wonderfull experience at the American hospital, I found out that I have to have an emergency operation and the doctor gave me immediate prescription to exit Paris for the United States. Madrid is open for flights to Mexico City but there are no available trains to Madrid that don't have under four transfers to other trains and the planes are not leaving Paris. Everybody is trying to exit, with little success. So we are now looking at boats!
There are six of us, two are small children, with all our luggage and me with a broken leg, hobbling on crutches with a temporary velcro brace stuck here in Paris under the volcanic plume. What an adventure! Love, Linda Talbert
From Trice Harvey, Class of 1955, from Bakersfield, CA.
Big Brain: As a member of the State Assembly, I had a couple of good hunting trips with Col. Chuck Yeager. He was a lot of fun with so many funny stories!! The best ones were from his days around Pancho Barnes and and her girls! Mojave had a lot friendly women??
Little Brain
