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Newspaper
Shafter Press
Location
Shafter, California, United States of America
Date
May 20, 1949
Page
2
Looking Ahead describes Shafter hosting a weekend potato festival drawing crowds from Kern County and beyond. Organizers polished a two day rodeo parade barbecue aquacade glider meet and dance to showcase Shafter's growth potential and hospitality as California's budding potato capital.
In January 1927 Shafter residents discussed a monument to General William Rufus Shafter after whom the city was named. He was born in Michigan in 1853 and served in the Civil War and Spanish American War before retiring in 1901. He later settled in Kern County and died there in 1906.
On November 15, 1941 the Lerdo Air Corps Basic Flying School listed 2500 personnel with 380 graduates and 357 cadets in training. The base, graded and leveled starting March 10, 1940, had expanded in seven months.
In February 1927, thirty four Shafter students joined Kern County Union High School and Bakersfield Junior College. Shafter high school total enrollment stood at four seniors, five juniors, nine sophomores and nine freshmen.
In January 1927 Kern County held $2 250 000 cash on hand and, seeking higher yields, bought $24 000 of Shafter public utility bonds raising the return from 3 2 percent to 5 percent. The move was deemed a good investment.
The Shafter Potato Festival Parade at Richland Primary School starts Saturday at 10 30 AM. Parking limits include no parking on Wall Street and curbside options only between Nickel and Central on Lerdo. Central Avenue, West Ash, West Orange, and Sunset streets are closed for the event.
On January 27 1927 a group from Shafter traveled to Bakersfield to hear Commander Richard E Byrd recount his North Pole flight Attendees from Shafter included Mr and Mrs Frank Lossing Mr and Mrs George Jack Mr E O Eckman Mr A W Eckman Mr and Mrs W L Hetz and Mr Felix Fraga.
On February 10 1927 the Tatapochon Campfire girls met to plan an Arbor Day program at the Richland School auditorium. Members present included Sarah Scott president Eileen Foster secretary Betty Wiedman treasurer Rose M Miller guardian Jean Maurer Olive Sly Evelyn Jumper and guest Miss Dorothy Burleson.
The Cozy Theatre reopened under John Isaac on January 21 1927 in Shafter with over 100 autos on Central Avenue. The 370 seat venue was nearly full, showing films The Goose Woman The Haunted House and Johnny Get Your Haircut starring Jackie Coogan.
On February 9 1927 the motion picture Faust by Goethe was shown at the Shafter Theatre it marked the third presentation of the film in that venue. Filmed in Germany the cast included Emil Jannings Camilla Horn Gostz Ekman and Yvette Guilbert.
The Kern County vote approved Shafter's incorporation on January 11 1938. The first council selected Norval Fair as mayor with A P Ohanneson as City Attorney and F E Manuel as City Judge. Over subsequent years growth included annexations, rising valuations, new schools and churches, and a surge in housing and business construction.
Bill Stoller thanks Shafter Festival Committee chairs and members including Orvin Mettler Clarence Neuman Earl Johnson Jack Hare Joe Frizzell Harlin Wilson Herb Schirmer Roy Farrell Vernon Pierce and community groups for their cooperation in the 1949 Shafter Potato Festival.
An old Shafter Press advertisement lists grocery bargains including bacon 11 cents per pound frying chickens 29 cents per pound crystal white soap 5 for 14 cents one pound coffee 14 cents bananas 3 pounds for 17 cents apples pippin 10 pounds for 25 cents canned tuna 12 cents per can canned peaches 2 cans for 23 cents and shortening 9 cents per pound.
A February 26 1927 report from the Anderson Clayton gin notes 47 bales shipped from Shafter marking the first cotton export of the year.
The project totals include 5,119,030 feet involved with two districts. In 1940, Assessment District No 2 added 602,334 square feet to be improved. After installing sidewalks curbs and gutters the districts bond for ten years, District No 1 in 1940 and District No 2 in 1941.
The final weekend of a large motor-less glider show begins Saturday at Shafter airport with 35 pilots, prize money, and records at stake. Featured flyers include Johnny Robinson, Paul McCreary, and Dick Lyons. events promise high speeds, trophies, and a possible world record for loops.
Shafter residents filed applications at the Visalia land office on February 21, 1927 to prospect for oil and lease Kern County tracts. The entries, drawn from a box of filings, include F. M. Jackson Margaret Thiesen Mr and Mrs Sam Lachenmaier Mrs H Midgley Adolph Kirschenmann Emil Kirschenmann and D W Steele.
In January 1927 a San Francisco woman asked the Shafter Progress if a beauty parlor would operate with pay in Shafter and where local ladies go for mar rowselling manicuring and similar services.
Shafter supporters traveled to Bakersfield to watch local hero Tiger Parks box Dave Mustaffo, the sole Turkish fighter in American rings, in a four round match at Abe Chain arena.
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