Articles written by Pat Gracey
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A new look
While the City of Tehachapi was watching the country attempting to pull itself from the Great Depression, which had begun with the 1930s, there was a new look appearing in the downtown section. Green...
The Stradivarius
People tell me that they like to hear some of my husband's old Marine Corps tales. I always enjoyed this one. My husband's MOS (Military Occupational Specialty) was LVTs. Those letters stand for...
Swappin' stories
It's been three-and-one-half years since Pam and Tom Stenson initiated the Veterans Breakfast here in Tehachapi. The gathering is also known as the Veterans/Honor Flight Breakfast. Pam and Tom...
Only a bootlegger's daughter
A few weeks ago I wrote of the Mojave Gold Rush and the discovery of the Golden Queen Mine that caused people from far an near to come to Mojave and hope to find such a bonanza as George Holmes. The...
Forever Joan
Way back in 2011, the latest news was the BeeKay Theatre mural taking place in the form of a line of Tehachapi citizens, in an earlier day, waiting to buy a ticket to the show. In the 1930s and '40s...
Gold fever
Mt. Soledad, a mauve colored sentinel, whose pock marked sides show the effects of many years of gold mining, stands regally observing the great Mojave Desert; the site of gold discoveries...
Beth and Tony Anthony
Sometimes when writing about people I find myself including little vignettes from their past; interesting little pieces that give a glimpse into a person's life as they lived it. Beth and Tony...
Sally Lange Errecart – Born here, raised here, still here
I used to see Sally Lange in her father's shop on Green Street. It was called Lange's Radio and Electric where he stocked electrical supplies and sold and repaired televisions, stoves and refrigerator...
Travelin' days
In 1950, when I began living in the Southland, it was, and still is, 200-miles from Oceanside, Calif. to Tehachapi and if I had a dollar for every time I have made the trip I would have a comfortable...
Margie and Kelcy
Taking another look at the BeeKay Mural one may see Margie and Kelcy Owens, two citizens who managed to carve out a legend for themselves and for local citizens by simply opening a café on Main...
A dog's best friend is those who love them
Everyone has a dog story. Those animals whose main concern is the person who owns them. Their love is unconditional and they would die for us. They are funny, affectionate and protective. They die...
Those darned bubble lights
In 1950, when my husband and I were newlyweds, we decorated our first Christmas tree. Since his Marine Corps salary, in those days, didn't cover too many extras, we relied on a charge account with goo...
A family affair
A group on the BeeKay Theatre mural shows us three generations looking quite happy as they stand in line waiting to see the movie. The painting portrays Lena Hayes and her two daughters, Sody and GayL...
The story of Mildred and Bud Cummings
Standing fourth in line in the BeeKay Theatre Mural one will see two more "old timers," Mildred and Bud Cummings. It would take volumes to include the history of the Cummings family, but I will...
A wartime love story
Continuing a look at the BeeKay Theatre Mural, we skip down several folk to a U.S. Marine and his pretty, young date waiting in line to see a movie. The time frame being early 1944. World War II chang...
Baumgart, Kanstein and The Beekay Mural
The year was 1936. Green Street had just been paved for the first time. We had 15.68 inches of rain that year. Franklin Roosevelt had defeated Alf Landon and was serving his second term as president....
The Golden State
Each Sept. 9, I often remind people that it is the anniversary of the State of California's Admission to the Union. Usually, the answer I receive is, "Really, I didn't know that!" It happened in...
'Dead Man's Curve'
Years ago when one traveled to Bakersfield over U.S. Highway 466, it involved going down what is known as the "Old Road" which, at one time was the only way one could travel to Bakersfield. To...
Because it's there
I have heard or maybe read that when asking folk who climb mountains why they do it, they sometimes reply, "Because it's there!" There are people who consider mountains a personal challenge. They say...
If you've never lived in a Quonset hut
My first experience living in a Quonset hut was, as a bride, in 1950. The tunnel-like buildings were one of hundreds-of-thousands that had been constructed to house military personnel and families on...
It's hard to be a 'good deed doer'
A few days ago I drove up our Golden Hills street to our mailbox. I had quite a bit of mail and was putting it into a bag when I noticed a Package Box key on the ground. Thinking I had dropped it as...
Rodeo days – A moment in time
I have read the pros and cons about rodeos in the news lately, but the following event happened (it's hard to realize) some 71 years ago. It's an article from my husband, Doyle Gracey's writings. No...
An old time railroad engineer
I knew one of the steam locomotive engineers whose usual run brought him from Bakersfield up and over the Loop, through the Tehachapis and down to the desert area. They called him "Olie" (O-lee) but h...
Lest we forget – Memorial Day
It was brought to my attention that the monument in Philip Marx Central Park has been, once again, defaced by unknown parties. Those attending the Memorial Day Service will be able to see the damage...
Mothers I have known
They come in all shapes, sizes and dispositions. Mothers, of course. I had half-a-dozen children and each one has always managed to make me glad, sad, proud, amazed and completely baffled at times....
