This is just the beginning! Our collection holds over 300 years of history, including rare newspapers, obituaries, marriage records, birth records, and so much more—most of which you won’t find anywhere else!
This newspaper page contains 18 articles. Subscribers can read the full text of each article.
Newspaper
Shafter Press
Location
Shafter, California, United States of America
Date
Sep 28, 1939
Page
1
After a week of activity ginned cotton in the Shafter district reached 327 bales. At the D Moore gin in Camp West-Lowe 120 bales were ginned yesterday, while the Shafter-Wasco gin reported 57 bales in the yard. Rain slowed picking but no major crop damage was reported.
Paul McCoy of Shafter survived two days in the Mule Mountain mountains north of California Hot Springs after camping Saturday night. He and his companions Tim McCoy and Ray Permann lost their way Sunday morning and endured rain and rough terrain. He found food with two Indians and reached Tule River Indian Reservation before marching back to civilization. He walked over 50 miles and arrived Monday evening. Tim McCoy was the only successful hunter in the party, taking a buck Sunday morning. Sullivan No 1 well drilling near Shafter and Greeley oil fields reached 10 221 feet, potentially opening a new district if completed.
Shafter High reports a steady enrollment rise in Kern County. A record 332 students attended yesterday with 115 freshmen 84 sophomores 62 juniors 49 seniors and two special students. Enrollment grew from 236 at opening to 292 before the first weekend and 323 last week as activities expand.
There is still no activity at Wilshire Oil Company Campen No. 1 north of Sullivan No. 1 between the Shafter and Greeley fields. A derrick has stood on the location for several weeks.
Superior Oil moves to spud Weber No 1 in Section 27 28-25 Shafter field north of Burner No 1. The new well could extend field northward with potential 15000 to 20000 barrels per day. Burner No 1 remains the highest well. Production tests are limited as field activity concentrates in the north district.
A fishing job at Union Oil companys 41-34 well in the Shafter field has delayed drilling for a week. Company officials expect completion in a day or two. The well depth is 8 777 feet and a drill collar was dropped in the hole to cause the trouble.
Due to rising enrollment a new classroom was opened at Richland School. Mrs Hazel Haag leads the sixth seventh and eighth grade group in the new room.
The article notes registration closes tonight for the November 7 pension election. It lists eligibility: age, American citizenship, California residency a year, Kern county 90 days, and precinct residency 40 days. Registration is at Mrs. Dean H Potter’s home in Shafter.
Extensive remodeling will enlarge the Shafter postoffice by 30 feet at the rear and install double doors at the front. The rear garage was moved this week as preparations begin for interior work, with new lighting and refinished walls. An extra 30 feet will be added to Bob Zenk’s store next to the post office. A private postmaster office will be built and interior changes made. All work to be completed before Christmas rush. F. W. Handel, owner of the post office and store buildings, oversees construction.
A Kern County committee proposes forming a non profit Kern County Potato Growers Inc. to sponsor activities benefiting growers. The plan includes a nine member board, dues of 15 cents per acre, ability to withdraw, and a proposed constitution with officers and meetings. Members named include A P Chanenson, Milton Lohr, Phil Ohanne son, and others. No date set for a grower meeting to approve recommendations.
University of California researchers report ring rot seeds the way for soft rot in potatoes. Using disease free seed could prevent soft rot, now a problem in about twenty states with severe impact in Kern and Riverside counties. Trials in Davis and Shafter test seed purification methods.
Captain J B Burton, a former member of the Canadian Royal Mounted Police for 37 years, addressed Richland school pupils and teachers Wednesday morning. He spoke to third through fifth graders and then to upper grade students, recounting life in the Mounted Police.
Joe Frizzell, appointed to fill Norval Fair’s unexpired term, is sworn in by City Clerk Frank Shaw at the city hall. His term runs to April 1940 after unanimous council approval. Ordinance No 31 proposes annexation of the Sierra Vista tract, to take effect 30 days after adoption and state filing.
Bill White, Shafter high school coach and faculty member, was elected president of the local Kiwanis at a noon luncheon at Cafe Neuman. He will succeed Joe Prizzel, with Herb Schirmer named vice president and Harry Wilkinson, Dr. Jack A Lighthill, Herb Midgley, Harlow Johnson, Wray Phillips, Al Anderson, and Laurence Baughman as directors.
Orvin Mettler returned from a 10 day hunting trip in Plumas County with a four point buck. He was joined by Tee Mettler of Bakersfield who also harvested a four pointer.
At a Shafter meeting potato men named W. B. Camp chairman and Kurt Kecker secretary to form a Kern County seed grower and distributor organization. The committee will draft by laws and seek help from federal agriculture and the UC, while examining 1940 seed potato inspection plans and disease issues such as ring rot.
Rain totals in the Shafter district reached .71 inches over the past week with spotty showers during the latest storm. Temperatures ranged from a high of 104 to a low of 60, and vineyards suffered wind and water damage while cotton picking slowed amid the wet spell. Strong storms in southern California caused floods and several boats wrecked with about 50 lives lost.
A San Francisco meeting of fruit and vegetable growers and rail shippers heard a call for drastic rail rate reductions on potatoes onions and other root vegetables from producing areas in Colorado Wyoming and Nebraska to Missouri river points and consuming markets nationwide The Kern county potato growers represented by W B Camp and Milton Lohr urged maintaining existing rate relationships while pushing for a 30 000 pound minimum car weight and broader mixing privileges for related produce The action references a March 20 1939 Kern county request for a 75 cent rate to Chicago and further reductions elsewhere
We want people to find what they are looking for at NewspaperArchive. We are confident that we have the newspapers that will increase the value of your family history or other historical research. With our 7-day free trial, you can view the documents you find for free.
People find the most success using advanced search. Try plugging in keywords, names, dates, and locations, and get matched with results from the entire collection of newspapers at NewspaperArchive!
You can also successfully find newspapers by these browse options. Explore our archives on your own!
Browse by location and discover newspapers from all across the world.
Browse by date and find publications for a specific day or era.
Browse old newspaper publications to find specific newspapers.