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Orland Historical & Cultural Society

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Orland Historical & Cultural Society

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To celebrate and preserve Orland's rich history.

11/05/2026

Answer Hot Line.
Had a call this morning from Karen T. asking if I knew when the senior play ("Arsenic & Old Lace") was put on at OHS? I responded that I suspected it in the late 1970s and told her I would find out.
Arsenic & Old Lace is a classic crowd-pleasing dark comedy (farce) that takes place in the living room of the Brewster home in present day Brooklyn, NY. Joseph Otto Kesselring (1902-67) was an American playwright (12 plays) who is best remembered for "Arsenic & Old Lace." It was written in 1939 and opened on Broadway 10 Jan 1941 and played for 1,444 performances before closing. The play "revolves around the Brewster family, descended from 'Mayflower' settlers but now composed of maniacs, many of them homicidal."
Director Lori Kalvin was hired to teach English at OHS. When Jeff Patch vacated the art department for the administration, Lori took over the OHS art program. "Kalvin" was her maiden name.
Wondering what ever happened to drama classes and senior plays? If you were ever in a senior (or junior) play, tell us about it.

11/04/2026

Goose Stew Feast.
The Big Goose Stew was a massive public feast and gathering hosted by the Sacramento Gun Club on 24 Nov 1912 for sportsmen and visitors from across the West. Organized by local sportsmen, the event drew an estimated 2.2K to 2.5K men from various locations, including groups that handed out badges, buttons, and pennants. Local hunters spent weeks prior bagging geese in the region and storing them in cold storage ahead of the massive cookout.

11/03/2026

History Mystery answer.
The question was about who built the building and what was the first use of the building. Answer,...
The lot at the southeast corner of Fifth and Swift Streets was owned by Gus Utz. The Utz family home was directly east on the southwest corner of Fourth and Swift Streets (Westside Ambulance office). In early 1923, Ludwig Grant and Walter Goldstein purchased the lot and construction started on the building 13 February by local contractor Harry Conrad Hauck (1889-1947). The building was completed by around the first of June and Grant & Goldstein moved their Ford agency from the George Wright building near Fifth and Mill Streets to their new structure. The concrete 80' by 100' building would have a plate glass front for the sales rooms and offices with the remainder being equipped for shop work and storage.
"Ludy" Grant (1877-1951) and Walter Goldstein (1878-1952) were brothers from the Bay Area who purchased Orland's Ford agency from Ira Mecum in June 1921. Mecum was Orland's third Ford agent with the Mecum Garage over on Fourth Street where City Hall is presently located. Ludy was a widower while Walter was married to Agnes Blanche King (1883-1935). They were the parents of Mabel (1908-2000, OHS Class of 1925) and Walter Jr., 1911-76, OHS Class of 1931). Walter and Agnes were very active in the community with Agnes serving as president of the Orland Women's Improvement Club and Walter serving on the Orland City Council 1932-42. Grant and Goldstein sold the Ford agency on 11 May 1936 to Roy C. Ford of Tehama County.
Walter married a second time to Ida Forrest (1884-1959) of Chico in Reno in 1943. At that time Walter was working as a "machinist" in an experimental shop for Golden State company in San Francisco, try out and perfecting new pieces of equipment for use in their forty different dairy product factories. Ida would live the last nine years of her life in Orland. Ludwig, Walter, Agnes, and Ida are buried in the Orland Masonic Cemetery. Image is Walter Goldstein.

11/02/2026

History Mystery.
Another month means another query in the form of a History Mystery. What I am looking for is "Who" ordered and paid for the construction of this building and "What" was the purpose or use of the building when first built? Answer tomorrow.

11/01/2026

Have you come to sing pumpkin carols? -Linus
The porch light is on and the candy dish is full...but so far there have been no takers. Hopefully this means that the planned parade and other activities are being supported.
Several vintage clippings for viewing.
"During the day, I don't believe in ghosts. At night, I'm a little more open-minded." -Unknown

10/31/2026

The Roaring Twenties.
There seems to be a good number of interesting stories that side-track me when doing research in the 1920s. These clippings shown had nothing to do with the research that I was doing, of course, but "made me look."
Huddleston would be the owner of the store that the OHCS honors on the Heritage Trail--Orland Variety & Huddleston's--between the Wigmore & Jacob's Print Shop and the Johnson & Lambert Garage. Check it out during fair time if you have never been inside.
The Grasshopper Ranch was located about 8 miles southeast of Orland and was reported to have "some of the finest soil in the valley." The ranch was over 2,000 acres and figured in the early 1920s during the interest in growing h**p and having a processing plant in Glenn County. Investors had figured out that the Grasshopper Ranch would be an ideal site for growing h**p.

10/30/2026

Preparation.
On Monday, I have a phone appointment with two individuals involved with the Sites Project. This is the start of what I hope will be an article (or two) for the 2027 issues of "Wagon Wheels," journal of the Colusi (co-loo-see) County Historical Society. Of particular interest is the Sites Cemetery.
The cemetery rests on private property with no road access but it is visible from the townsite. Anna, an officer in the CCHS who has visited and photographed the cemetery, states that "many of the stones are broken and/or so deep under star thistle and burrs that it is difficult to find them." This oldest tombstone seems to be the Infant twin sons of John Sites (1832-1914) and Lara E. Aycoke (1851-84) who died on 14 Oct 1868. The most recent date on a tombstone is William Peter Kirkup (1876-1969).
The historic quarry is not inside Antelope Valley but is just outside on the east facing hills. Hopefully it will not be disturbed.
Photo by Anna.

10/29/2026

Ted Atlas.
As announced earlier, Ted Atlas gave a presentation at the Chico Air Museum on the evening of 24 Oct 2026. Ted is a 4th generation Californian as he great-grandfather arrived in San Francisco in 1863. He has a BA in Geography from UCLA and worked 27 years for the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Department. He is a published author ("Candlestick Park" 2010) and his most recent publications have been about the founding of the Mendocino Air Tanker Squad in "Air Attack," April 2025. He wrote the application to include the Willows Airport in the National Register of Historic Places. Ted's brother Attorney Mark Atlas (1951-2019) practiced law in Willows.
Pictures inside the Chico Air Museum courtesy of former OHCS President Laurie. Love the podium.

10/28/2026

Craft Fair.
Here is a favorite photo with Keith Baugher manning the Society's booth at the 2009 Craft Fair.

10/27/2026

Clippings from 1923.
Came across one interesting clipping while researching so thought I might as well continue to get several more to make your time somewhat worthwhile to view the OHCS page on the final Monday in October. Enjoy!

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Orland Historical & Cultural Society PO Box 183
Orland, CA
95963

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