Articles written by Pat Gracey
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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....
The wind
My earliest childhood memories are of my lying in bed listening to the Mojave wind hitting the house. That Mojave wind is stronger than our Tehachapi wind. Now, the Tehachapi wind is no slacker (breez...
Meeting a princess
During the past sixty years or so, driving south down Highway 395 from the Bishop area, one would have noticed a steam locomotive on the west side of the main street going through Independence,...
The Esplanade
A decade or more back, when I first saw the construction/renovation of Green St., with colorful road tiles on the intersections, newly designed street signs, and an added "first for Tehachapi," a one...
Fred and the 'Duke'
Sometimes when reliving memories of years past I think of something that is just too good to keep to myself. My husband and his friend, Sergeant Major Frederick W. Filkins, were what you would call...
Air mail, special delivery
It was a sunny day on May 19, 1938 when my eldest brother, Everett Davis, drove my sister, Evelyn, my brother Buster and myself to the local airport in my father's 1928 Hupmobile. I had asked to go...
Two Year Anniversary for Veteran's Breakfast
Laughter is the main ingredient at the monthly Honor Flight/Veterans' Breakfast at St. Malachy's Hall. It's fun to reminisce and tell experiences from Uncle Sam's military service. "I look forward to...
A castle in the mountains
I was reading a portion of an old news article the other day that sounded like an advertisement for a great place to go. A good vacation spot or perhaps a girls' college with great dorms. "Each cottag...
Weather? What kind?
I often hear people say, "It's never been this hot before!" Later, "It's never been this cold before!" Don't forget to mention, "We've never had such a dry year before!" or "We've never had this much...
