Bob, thanks for the great memories - love your columns. Small town Davis was truly a special, friendly, caring, and wonderful place for families to spend their lives.
We arrived to Davis in 1950, having lived in Woodland. My Papa worked at Woodland Spreckles sugar company. My Mamá wanted to attend UCD and become a teacher. So my Papá bought a duplex for $12,000.We lived in one unit and rented the other in East Davis on J street. They had 5 kids,too. We also crammed into small quarters until my parents added another bedroom. I remember all the places you mentioned, plus the Spudnut Cafe and the Blue and Gold. Maybe they came later in that decade. Thanks for describing our sweet cozy Davis.
What a great vision of small town life you pained Bob! My memories do not go back that far… primarily because I was not living here then. However, clearly the time to stop all that growing of Davis was the day after I moved here in 78.
Great memories, Bob. We may not have had In 'N Out, etc. but we did have Foster's Freeze and A&W (and A&W had carhops) which were quite tasty back in the day. Growing up on the east side, it's surprising any houses were ever built east of the tracks or west of Anderson Rd. In the current climate, none of those houses would have ever been built.
We lived in Mayberry but had no idea. Houses were not locked. Cars had keys still in the ignition. We were surrounded by agriculture ( we still are). On rare occasions a siren from a fire truck or police car would empty the homes with curious people. Now there are more cars than ever. I still love this town.
I did not get to Davis until Davis and UCD was a little bigger- around 6000 people. I could not afford to live in Davis s as a student, but found old houses (not up to code) on farms in the area where I could live and keep my farm animals. I could and did bicycle to campus, and shopped at the stores you mention. I did not venture to Woodland for quite awhile, and never went to Sacramento until years later. I really liked the small towns and the lifestyles of this area. I saved money and later moved to a ranch near Woodland. Woodland s was still focused on a rural agricultural lifestyle for many years after Davis changed it’s orientation.
I realized as the years went by that people who live in the country cannot control what goes on in their area- even though they occupy a geographically much larger area then the cities they border on- because there will always be so many fewer of us.
It’s nice to have big box stores but I miss the family owned stores which tailored their products to the begs of the people who lived in the area and where everyone knew you. Kids who grow up in this areas now do not enjoy the freedoms and lifestyles that we did, and the adults don’t either. I became a law enforcement officer because I wanted to help protect the people who were affected by the rise of gangs, drugs, theft and criminal activity which are also unfortunately a part of “growth”.
Because of the fact that the majority of the population lives in cities and that city governments are always looking for ways to increase their incomes, I know that what I enjoyed about living here is a thing of the past. I accept that and I still enjoy living near Davis and Woodland. With growth inevitably come some positive things and some negative things, and even what is positive and negative depends on your perspective. People who live here now for the most part do not even know what it was like back then, and you don’t miss what you never had.
We didn't get here until 1970, but the memories you described were still here: Quessenberry's, the only drugstore in town; State Market, with Diane, the best checker in town; Howard the mailman; Davis Lumber, back when it was a serious hardware store and Hibbert's only competition; A&W Root Beer; Honorable G's, possibly the worst Chinese restaurant on the planet. Still, the kids could ride their bikes to school, and traffic was minimal, with only one traffic light in town. As Archie said, those were the days.
I still remember taking the bus into campus, passing through open fields along Cowell Blvd and then crossing a narrow two lane bridge over the interstate. Yeah, I'm the young guy in town.
Thanks Bob. I remember that Davis too. I remember camping out in the living room of Auntie Dorothy and Uncle Jim's home on North Campus Way with the excitement of a fabulous Christmas or Thanksgiving dinner being prepared by our mothers. Also the joy of waking up in the morning to a thick layer of frost on the backyard that made it look like a fresh snowfall. There was a "handmade" frost sled built by my cousins that would be pulled around the large yard (no snow covered hills to slide down in West Davis) until everyone's fingers and toes were numb.
I loved this, Bob, but I'm a sucker for small towns. I came to Davis for college in 1960, and the town population was a few more than 2,000. The UCD student count then was smaller than my LA high school enrollment!. And on my first day as an Aggie I was invited to go on a hay ride -- absolute heaven!
Very sweet story, Bob. We've only lived here 24 years and, sadly, the timing was off for our kids to receive the benefit of Davis schools. I am happy to say though that one of those kids moved here last year so our grandson will!
Bob, thanks for the great memories - love your columns. Small town Davis was truly a special, friendly, caring, and wonderful place for families to spend their lives.
Indeed, how lucky were we to grow up surrounded by so many caring and loving people.
We arrived to Davis in 1950, having lived in Woodland. My Papa worked at Woodland Spreckles sugar company. My Mamá wanted to attend UCD and become a teacher. So my Papá bought a duplex for $12,000.We lived in one unit and rented the other in East Davis on J street. They had 5 kids,too. We also crammed into small quarters until my parents added another bedroom. I remember all the places you mentioned, plus the Spudnut Cafe and the Blue and Gold. Maybe they came later in that decade. Thanks for describing our sweet cozy Davis.
Remember your folks and your lovely family so well, Lydia.
Don't get me started on Spudnut and the Blue and Gold, both treasures along G Street.
What a great vision of small town life you pained Bob! My memories do not go back that far… primarily because I was not living here then. However, clearly the time to stop all that growing of Davis was the day after I moved here in 78.
Bingo, Frank. That's exactly the date I had in mind.
Great memories, Bob. We may not have had In 'N Out, etc. but we did have Foster's Freeze and A&W (and A&W had carhops) which were quite tasty back in the day. Growing up on the east side, it's surprising any houses were ever built east of the tracks or west of Anderson Rd. In the current climate, none of those houses would have ever been built.
True, true, Jerry
nostalgia ... oh Bob, we are both growing older and hopefully wiser!
Definitely wiser, Drew. Like not looking in the mirror anymore.
or reading the news! whatever that is today.
I miss Walter Cronkite Dan Rather
We lived in Mayberry but had no idea. Houses were not locked. Cars had keys still in the ignition. We were surrounded by agriculture ( we still are). On rare occasions a siren from a fire truck or police car would empty the homes with curious people. Now there are more cars than ever. I still love this town.
The town has changed. My love for it hasn't.
I did not get to Davis until Davis and UCD was a little bigger- around 6000 people. I could not afford to live in Davis s as a student, but found old houses (not up to code) on farms in the area where I could live and keep my farm animals. I could and did bicycle to campus, and shopped at the stores you mention. I did not venture to Woodland for quite awhile, and never went to Sacramento until years later. I really liked the small towns and the lifestyles of this area. I saved money and later moved to a ranch near Woodland. Woodland s was still focused on a rural agricultural lifestyle for many years after Davis changed it’s orientation.
I realized as the years went by that people who live in the country cannot control what goes on in their area- even though they occupy a geographically much larger area then the cities they border on- because there will always be so many fewer of us.
It’s nice to have big box stores but I miss the family owned stores which tailored their products to the begs of the people who lived in the area and where everyone knew you. Kids who grow up in this areas now do not enjoy the freedoms and lifestyles that we did, and the adults don’t either. I became a law enforcement officer because I wanted to help protect the people who were affected by the rise of gangs, drugs, theft and criminal activity which are also unfortunately a part of “growth”.
Because of the fact that the majority of the population lives in cities and that city governments are always looking for ways to increase their incomes, I know that what I enjoyed about living here is a thing of the past. I accept that and I still enjoy living near Davis and Woodland. With growth inevitably come some positive things and some negative things, and even what is positive and negative depends on your perspective. People who live here now for the most part do not even know what it was like back then, and you don’t miss what you never had.
Interesting perspective, Ilsa. Thanks so much for being a part of this community for so long.
We didn't get here until 1970, but the memories you described were still here: Quessenberry's, the only drugstore in town; State Market, with Diane, the best checker in town; Howard the mailman; Davis Lumber, back when it was a serious hardware store and Hibbert's only competition; A&W Root Beer; Honorable G's, possibly the worst Chinese restaurant on the planet. Still, the kids could ride their bikes to school, and traffic was minimal, with only one traffic light in town. As Archie said, those were the days.
Archie Moore, who wrote five columns a week about businesses in town and who was visiting from North Dakota. The Wendy Weitzel of her day.
I remember all these delightful spots too. Fun column Bob, thanks!
What a town to grow up in.
Could I have another glazed Spudnut, Mr. Whitehouse?
I still remember taking the bus into campus, passing through open fields along Cowell Blvd and then crossing a narrow two lane bridge over the interstate. Yeah, I'm the young guy in town.
A bus in Davis? Surely you jest.
And milkshakes at Quessie's.
And at Foster's Freeze.
Luv, luv, luv your memories…makes me feel like I missed the good old days having only come in 1975 to the “little valley town”
You are clearly a newcomer, Cynthia, but we welcome you with Davis love.
Thanks Bob. I remember that Davis too. I remember camping out in the living room of Auntie Dorothy and Uncle Jim's home on North Campus Way with the excitement of a fabulous Christmas or Thanksgiving dinner being prepared by our mothers. Also the joy of waking up in the morning to a thick layer of frost on the backyard that made it look like a fresh snowfall. There was a "handmade" frost sled built by my cousins that would be pulled around the large yard (no snow covered hills to slide down in West Davis) until everyone's fingers and toes were numb.
Yes, backyard and rooftop frost was a nearly nightly occurence during the winter. Still happens now and then, but nowhere near as thick or frequent.
I loved this, Bob, but I'm a sucker for small towns. I came to Davis for college in 1960, and the town population was a few more than 2,000. The UCD student count then was smaller than my LA high school enrollment!. And on my first day as an Aggie I was invited to go on a hay ride -- absolute heaven!
Very sweet story, Bob. We've only lived here 24 years and, sadly, the timing was off for our kids to receive the benefit of Davis schools. I am happy to say though that one of those kids moved here last year so our grandson will!
All six of our kids and a grandkid went through Davis schools. Another grandchild is a 7th grader at Holmes
Four more grandkids are in Redwood City where the schools are pretty good too
Three daughters have graduated from UC Davis and a son has graduated from Cal
We feel very lucky they got their education in Davis schools