Fair Oaks Historical Society Newsletter Volume 68 April 2004 QUARTERLY POTLUCK GENERAL MEETING Fair Oaks Community Clubhouse 7997 California Avenue Please remember to bring a casserole, salad, or dessert to share with others. Editors: Marilyn Pearce & Susan Burmaster

President's Message:

Greetings Fair Oaks Historical Society Members! DID IT RAIN the first meeting of the year!?!?!?! We had a great turn out. Marguerite Goddard brought those beautiful camellias for the table decorations. RoseAnne Crandell, our Immediate Past President, was off to Peru but had the meeting all set up in advance. Steve Abbott took charge of installing the new officers. I thought we would raise our right hand and

say "I Will", however, Steve would have none of that - He gave us two "aba daba do's" and we were dully installed! Bob Massey spoke about the ladies of his day. We could see Beryl Massey's eyes roll to the top of her head. We cannot do without Bob's insight of the past. We need to do the potpourri meeting again. A good time was had by all. See you at our next meeting April 27th. Bring a neighbor!

The Installation of Officers

Russ, Ione (standing in for Sherry), Diana, Meg, June, & Steve

Vice-President's Message:

For those of you who do not know me, I am Sherry Lynn Wood, your new Vice-President. I have been a member of the community since birth in 1949. My parents Robert Lee Wood Sr. and Margaret (Jimmi) Wood moved to Fair Oaks in 1947. They purchased the property (Tamara Acres) now known as Bob Lane which is off of Fair Oaks Blvd. Our first home was a small shack located at 7740 Fair Oaks Blvd. across the street from Palm Avenue which is now Campoy. We shared a party line with our neighbors and good friends the Jacks, who lived across Fair Oaks Blvd. As our family grew our home grew. Every time my mother had a baby, my father would add a new room or two. With six children, our small shack became a new large home.

I grew up with my three brothers and two sisters; Tamara Lee lives in Oakland, Ritchie Scott still lives in Fair Oaks, Robert Lee Jr. lives in Florida, Debra Ann lives in Hawaii, and Michael John who passed away in 1960. My grandparents Tamara A. Wood and Eva K. Wood lived up the hill on the corner of Fair Oaks and New York. My Uncle Vince and Aunt Ione Radonich built a home there also. My Aunt Ione still lives and owns some of the original Wood homestead. My family has had five generations living on the property or in Fair Oaks; my grandparents, my parents, myself and my siblings, my son and niece, and two great nephews.

In 1959 when Fair Oaks Blvd. was widened to make way for expansion of the community, our home was taken away by this development and we moved into one of the 8 small houses that my father built on Bob Lane. As children the saddest part of losing our home was that they also cut down our beloved climbing tree. It was a large apple tree with three different kinds of apples. The tree grew over two stories tall. When we climbed the tree we were able to climb onto the second story of our home. Needless to say the six of us kept our mother jumping.

Our April Program: April 27, 2004

Catherine Kripta (Auntie Em)
"How Quilts Tell History"

The program for the April 2004 meeting will be on "How Quilts Tell History". Our guest speaker will be Catherine Kripta (Auntie Em). Ms. Kripta is a long-time local quilt enthusiast specializing in antique quilting and a quilt historian. She is a member of the Quilters Restoration Society and will help us to understand how quilts tell our history. Quilts are not only functional items or a piece of art work, they are also our history.

A number of Fair Oaks residents will also share a quilt from their family history.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank my Aunt Ione Radonich for standing in my place for the swearing in of officers and William Kaggerud for standing in for me during the January meeting introducing all the speakers for the Potpourri of stories about memories of Fair Oaks. Thank you for the great job and support.

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank our members that participated in the wonderful Potpourri of stories at our January 2004 meeting. The stories were about the; "Most," "Best," "Longest," "Biggest," and "Life in Fair Oaks". The following is a list of our speakers and their topics:

• 1.     Russ Monroe and his family have been in the community since 1951. Russ spoke about James Briscoe from the Cemetery District who received the "Most" support from Fair Oaks residents during a budget crisis regarding his pay.

• 2.     Hugh Gorman has been in the community since 1945. Hugh spoke about the "Best" home grown musicians from Fair Oaks.

• 3.     Bill Hinsey's family has been in the community since 1902. Bill has been in the community since 1936. Bill spoke about the "Most" amazing mechanic in Fair Oaks, Faggie Campoy.

• 4.     Peter White has been in the community since 1941. Peter spoke about "The Many Orchards" in Fair Oaks and what growing up in Fair Oaks was like.

• 5.     Meg Smart has been in the community since 1955. Meg spoke about the person who has lived the "Longest" on Toyon Avenue in Fair Oaks, Diane Davidson.

• 6.     Marilyn Kendrick has been in the community since 1955. Marilyn spoke about the "Biggest" feet she ever saw when she was young, Les Hannibal.

Thank you everyone. I am looking forward to bringing more programs with guest speakers to the Historical Society meetings and getting to know each of you better and your history in Fair Oaks.

Hugh Gorman

Bill Hinsey

Pete White

Marilyn Kendrick

Meg Smart

& Russ....... THANKS for the MEMORIES!