Thanks for the welcome
Dane Larson
I'm glad you found us Dane. Good to hear from you.
Steve Herron
I graduated in'70 but still enjoy checking in on this website to see what is going on. I live in Wyoming now so very seldom do I see or hear from the home town.
Dane Larson
I know, I sound like rice krispies when I stand up.Abuse the body early, and it abuses you later
Ray Coccia
It's not just the mind, Ray. It's the bits that creak and groan that didn't used to creak and groan. How can this be when we still feel 18 inside?! At least I think I remember 18....
Lynda Pearson
Not a problem, Ray!
Linda Browning
I'm SORRY Linda. They say the mind is the second thing to go. The first is.....ah....wait a minute....I'll get it.....
Ray Coccia
I graduated in '73, but this website really is special. Fun to see how everyone is doing.
Linda Browning
Come to think of it, our families were prob. trying to get rid of us forever, but oh well. We used to go barefoot every single summer, and played outside 'til it was dark. You could still play outside, but you had to stay in your yard. Loved that childhood.
Linda Browning
Love this site! Ray, you are obviously still hilarious, too. Even when you don't mean to be. So there. I must have left a lasting impression. Boo-hoo. Steve, you have an amazing memory! It brings back so many fun things Deb and I used to do. We went to the Arrow Theater almost every Sat., and were all 'dreamy' over Frankie Avalon in those "Beach Party Bingo" movies. Our families could drop us off, and we were just little kids. Candy was a nickel.
Linda Browning
Yep, it's Linda. I just spoke w/ Deb yesterday!!!
LINDA Browning
You want to borrow mine? Was it Linda or Laura?
Steve Herron
I don't have wrinkles,a little gray hair, and I don't wear glasses any more, so there.
Ray Coccia
That depends on whether you're counting years or wrinkles. Put your glasses on Ray.
Steve Herron
Yes I do Laura, I'm old ,but not THAT old.
Ray Coccia
Ray Coccia, Do you remember me?
Linda Browning
Doing pretty good! Living in Washington, soon to be in Virginia.
Steve Herron
How is the Herron girl doing these days?
Ray Coccia
They felt the same way about you
Ray Coccia
I love those guys!
Steve Herron
That's what the prison gang said
Ray Coccia
Oh her, but she's not as good looking as the Herron boys.
Steve Herron
I seem to rember a Herron girl also
Ray Coccia
Mike Taelour! It's been years! Catch me up on what you've been doing for the last 30 odd years! When did you join the message board?
Lynda Pearson
That reddish tint you're referring to was the reflection from the Herron boys hair.
Steve Herron
I also remember everything in the south end of town having a redish tint to it from the steel dust. Spending days playing baseball at North Tamarind until my mom would drive by and yell at us to get home,then having to remember where I'd left my shoes, or even if I had worn them that day.
Ray Coccia
HI RAY, REMEMBER WHEN WE'D SHOOT OUR TOY GUNS AT THE TRAFFIC ON MILLER AVE ? FONTANA WAS A GREAT PLACE TO GROW UP BECAUSE OF THE DIVERSITY OF PEOPLE WHO CAME TO WORK AT KAISER STEEL, THE ONLY MILL IN THE WESTERN USA. DO YOU KNOW WHY IT WAS BUILT 50 MILES FROM THE COAST ? REMEMBER JIM'S STEAK HOUSE,ITALIAN GARDENS,BURGER CHEF,TURCO'S PRODUCE STAND ON SIERRA&HIGHLAND,QUICKER LIQUER,MURPHY'S BAR,COOKIE SHARTON'S HOT BOX,PENNY UNIVERSTIY,PAT BRAYER'S STARVATION CAFE,CONCERTS AT THE SWING AUD.,(ROLLING STONES FOR $5:50 !)BUTTON BOX FESTIVAL AT MAALARKER'S,LYTLE CREEK,NEELY'S CORNER,DEEP CREEK,STATER'S PARKING LOT(5 FINGER LIDS $10),BOWLING AT THE FON-RI,GRAPEFRUIT FIGHTS AT JR./SR.WEEK.THERE WAS A WAR IN VIETNAM,RACE RIOTS AND ASSINATIONS ,YET I HAVE FOND MEMORIES OF GROWING UP IN THE SIXTIES IN FONTANA CALIFORNIA WHERE YOU WOULD SMELL EITHER SWEET ORANGE BLOSSUMS OR THAT SULFER SMELL OF KAISER,S COKE OVENS DEPENDING ON THE DIRECTION OF THE BREEZE.
m.taelour
Very profound Michael. I'm just amazed how many freaks turned into rednecks later in life. Long live Peppi's, and Major's store in our clouded memories
Ray Coccia
Well, we all have to come from somewhere. I like Oranges
ed habecker
OH FONTANA THERE'S A PLACE IN SO CALIFORNIA YOU ALL SHOULD KNOW IT WELL SOME CALL IT HEAVAN TO MOST OF US IT'S IT'S HELL THERE ARE FREAKS ON EVERY CORNER SMOG BLOTS OUT ALL THE STARS BUT TOU CAN DRIVE AROUND FOR HOURS AND NEVER COUNT ALL THE BARS OH FONTANA.... THERE WAS A TIME IN OLD FONTANA BEFORE THEY CUT DOWN THE ORANGE TREES YOU COULD SEE THEM IN THE DISTANCE YOU COULD SMELL THEM ON THE BREEZE THE TIMES THEY ARE A CHANGIN' BUT THE DISTENCE IS THERE STILL INSTEAD OF TREES WE GOT THE SIGHT AND SMELL OF GOOD OLD KAISER STEEL OH FONTANA... 25 YEARS LATER THAT OLD STEEL MILL IS GONE APARTMENT WAYS AND CIRCLE KAYS WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON ? NOW I LIKE TO TRAVEL THO I STOP FROM TIME TO TIME NO MATTER WHERE MY BODY IS IT'S FONTANA IN MY MIND OH FONTANA,YOU DID SO MUCH FOR ME RED NECKS AND HIPPIES LIVING IN PERFECT HARMONY OH FONTANA JUNK YARD OF DREAMS SWEETEST THING IN THE HALL OF SHAME FONTANA IS HER NAME LOVE YOU GUYS
MICHAEL TAELOUR
P.S. And it was SUCH a culture-shock for me, to see the raceway there,, in the early 2000's.
Miriam Appelbaum
Yes Ed, sadly History was never one of my best subjects, although the older I get, the more interested I am in certain aspects of it! We had many men-friends of our family, who worked at Kaiser. And in the 1990's my husband (ex)worked for California Steel there. It was such a huge part of Fontana's history. And a few of us were even born in the small mill hospital there!!
Miriam Appelbaum
Not me, no Kaiser for me. I was cleaning toilets at Fontana Schools.
Steve Herron
I also remember when most of the young men in Fontana were expected to work at Henry's Mill at some point in their lives. Henry J. Kaiser's Mill that is.
ed habecker
Hi, Miriam There was a time when Iron Ore came from Eagle Mountain to Fontana. Those of us who worked at Kaiser Steel, melted that ore into steel. We melted the earth into steel and then we made things with it for others to use. Back to History class with you young lady.
ed habecker
Hey Guys/Gals; do you realize the Reunion is just about 1 year from now? Steve-----?
Miriam A.
What does it mean that Fontana Melted The Earth?
Miriam Appelbaum
Fontana Melted The Earth
ed habecker
Who remembers, Mike and Kelly and the good times in their garage, and Mike's nick-name, which rhymed with their last name? I know there is more than one classmate who knows the answer. Think close to FOHI.
Ed Habecker
Days at FOHI and a lot more. Thanks Steve
Ed Habecker
Going out to Ed by request, because it reminds him of his days at Fohi.
Steve Herron
John, I really enjoy that site. It really gives you a good idea of Fontana's origins. All those groves!
Steve Herron
The website I mentioned earlier, historicaerials.com, now has Fontana coverage from 1959. You can see Fontana Square under construction, construction underway on the Citrus overpass, and the fields across from FOHI before they became houses, apartments, and the retirement home. The aerial photo coverage from 1959 is somewhat clearer and sharper then the earlier images they had from 1948.
John C. (Class of 1969)
Wish I was at that gathering at the Pizza Hut. Sounds like it was a blast. My parents would never let me out at night in my sophmore year w/o a written contract. But I remember some party in junior yr where we all had to run out of someone's house because the parents showed up or were on their way. I just remember Bruce and I rushing out fast. After all these years it's a bit fuzzy.
Sharon Mitchell Carbaugh
Yes it is. When I tell you , you'll remember, Robin may even remember this one.
Ray Coccia
"KNEE"???? I guess not. Is this one of those that can't be discussed in public?
Steve Herron
I remember it, remember the "KNEE" Steve?
Ray Coccia
Hey Ray, things are fine. A bit rushed for Christmas but that's usual. Come on guys, what's these mysterious memories that can't be discussed? Now you've got us curious. I don't remember the Pizza Hut trip but that doesn't mean I wasn't there. The old memory has 'senior moments' every now and then. What I do remember were the cast parties after the plays/operetts. I seem to remember an interesting one at Mike Tout's house. Can anyone fill in the details?
Lynda Pearson
Here's a memory that many won't be able to relate to. Maybe Lynda, Ray & Sharon will remember. It's our sophomore year and a bunch of us get together after a rehearsal, maybe a play but probably the operetta. We go to Pizza Hut in Rialto, we didn't have one in Fontana yet, we all chip in for pizza, somebody puts a quarter in the juke box and it plays Glen Campbell's Wichita Lineman and we all sing along with the song. Of course we get louder at the verse, "And I need you more than want you, and I want you for all time, and the Wichita Lineman is still on the line."
Steve Herron
Yea Ray. I'm not sure some of those memories can be discussed in public.
Steve Herron
Yeah, I have memories. I'm just not sure the world is ready for some of them.I'm not sure if I'M ready for them, but I'll get back to you. Hey Linda, how's it going?
Ray Coccia
I've been wondering the same thing. There must be more memories out there. Come on guys!
Lynda Pearson
Hey; where is everyone?
Miriam Appelbaum
Oh Miriam, Mr. Arkin of course! I had him for individual reading. He was brilliant! We used to discuss George Bernard Shaw. He thought I was too young to take Shaw that seriously. Little did he know, I'm still an old cynic. Thanks for reminding me.
Lynda Pearson
Some of my favorite teachers were Mr. Dison, Mr. Arkin, Mrs. Rue, Mr. Jozens, Mr. Stearns, Ms. Barrick, off-hand. Can't remember more, unless I consult the yearbook.
Miriam Appelbaum
I never really got to know Mr. Shade, but did know Mr. Rowell. He was always so respectful and always greeted me when we saw each other on campus. Funny thing, I never had Mr. Rowell for a teacher, but he seemed to know me. Maybe because of my brothers before me.
Steve Herron
Okay I had several favorite teachers, Mrs Wiegmann was very kind to me. Mr. David Shade went the extra mile for me on a Saturday. I was picked to represent our school for a business competion in bookkeeping. I did not have a ride to the competion which was in Pomona and he was kind enough to come pick me up at my house, take me and bring me home. I also had a crush on Bobby Rowell, who was my English teacher in Junior High, but not in high school, bummer.
Sharon Mitchell
OK, my turn. This is a really tough one for me because so many teachers influenced me through their kindnesses. Marva is on the list because she was sweet and strong all at the same time. Jim Dunn is in the top 10 because of his guidance and understanding. Fred Whitledge because he let me sleep in class and skip classes because I was doing drama stuff. Esmael Valasquez for his confidence in me and not turning me in when I broke the rules for which I could have been expelled. But believe it or not, my favorite all time teacher is actually a junior high teacher, Eric Peavy. He is the one that got me started in drama, technical theater. He had a lot of influence on me. Mr. Peavy always marched to his own drummer and that influenced me to do the same.
Steve Herron
OK, now I really am worried... Your turn Steve, favorite teacher and why. And if you have a stranger story than mine I want to hear it!
Lynda Pearson
Wow! And I thought I was the only one he'd done that to.
Steve Herron
OK, I should probably never have started this but it was extremely weird. At least I thought so at the time, being a bit naive. I had Mr. Allen as an English teacher my senior year. He was young, mid to late twenties I would guess. I think he was pretty new at teaching. Anyway, we used to have chats about books and assignments we were working on, but only very casually. It never really registered that he liked talking to me, I talked to everyone. So here comes the end of the year, we had our last English class, I said goodbye and that was it. Off to the graduation ceremony. After that finished, and I turned in my cap and gown, I remembered I'd left something in the English classroom so back I went to get it before going home. Mr. Allen was still in the classroom. I got whatever it was that I had forgotten but before I could leave he walked up to me and said 'I've been wanting to do this all year'. He then grabbed me and kissed me. I mean kissed, not a peck on the check! I was completely dumbfounded. But my parents were waiting for me so I just walked out. Never saw him again. Don't even know if he taught at FoHi the next year. Pretty bizarre, huh? I mean, of all people to choose. Me?!?
Lynda Pearson
Alright now Lynda, you've got my attention. Finish the story. You know, I never officially had Marva as a teacher. She was my club adviser, my director and my friend, but never my teacher in the usual sense of the word. However, she did teach me many things and I will never forget her.
Steve Herron
OK...no contest, obviously Marva Weigmann. Why? Probably because I lived and breathed drama. Plus we turned out to be personal friends as well. But I did like a few English teachers too. Does anybody remember Terry Allen? I think he only taught there a year or two. Now there's an interesting story. it all happened on graduation day.....
Lynda Pearson
OK, this board has died. So to get it started... Name your favorite teacher. It doesn't have to be a high school teacher. Also tell us why they are your favorite.
Steve Herron
Linda Pearson; you live in the U.K.--how wonderful that must be! Yeah, I knew that Tony Webb and Terri Knight were together at Fohi, but wasn't aware that they'd gotten married. Speaking of Fairmont Park; I got married there in the rose garden near the lake, in 1988. It was always a favorite place for me too; I remember going there as a child, and riding the boats. Later, we took my son there for trying our luck at fishing.
Miriam Appelbaum
Hi Miriam, I remember you too! Haven't heard anything about Mike Taelour is over 20 years. I believe he got married before I moved to the UK but can't recall who told me. Could have been Tony Webb, who was married to my friend Terri Knight for awhile. They split up many years ago. Hey Steve, how's the response going for the 40 year reunion?
Lynda Pearson
Dennis; How good to hear from you! Yes, I remember you from way way back. What else is new with you? Are you married with children? Linda; I remember you well. Did you ever keep in contact with Mike Taelour?
Miriam Appelbaum
Lynda, we hear from Sharon Mitchell and occasionally from Ray Coccia, that's pretty much it. I haven't talked to Marva in years.
Steve Herron
Hi Steve, Ah yes, Thespian days. Great! I think I practically lived in the drama dept. Other classes were just a minor interruption in the school day. Do you hear from any of the other Thespians on this site? Mrs. Wiegmann? Is she still with us?
Lynda Pearson
Welcome Lynda, my old Thespian friend!
Steve Herron
Just found out about this site. I've been out of the loop so long I didn't know it existed. What lovely memories. Places I had forgotten are so nice to remember. I wouldn't even recognise Fontana now, which is sad. I also remember riding around Fontana. Jeanne Harder and I rode our horses in north Fontana around her house (which was off Arrow). Nothing but fields there then, you could ride all day without bumping into buildings! And Jerry's Drive-In for cherry cokes! And Jone's Pet Store, I loved that place. So many great memories. I left Fontana in Oct. 1971, so many things are gone now. But thanks for reminding me everyone. Keep up the chat!
Lynda Pearson
I always liked Fairmount Park, even as teens we would rent the battery powered boats. Later I would take my kids there to feed the ducks. At night I'd take my kids and hunt for crayfish. They loved that!
Steve Herron
We use to ride our bikes to Pharmount Park in Riverside during the summer and rent the paddle boats there. Those were great times.
Jack Torres
Miriam A. I remember you from when I was in the same class as you, at Jurupa Hills school, we move out to then the country and during that year and my two year at Sequoia Jr. high. I would ride with friend all over the hills my mother got me a mustang and I use to brake horses during the summer. I'm now in Sacramento CA. as a digital consultant and teacher. Dennis. dMbphoto@gmail.com
Dennis M. Brown
I remember seeing the "Human Cannonball" truck out there. Interesting history.
Steve Herron
Does anyone else remember that old derelict "Human cannonball" truck that was parked in a field on the south side of Valley Blvd (somewhere out near Fontana Avenue)? It was connected with a family by the name of Zacchini (almost like zuccinni). The story was the truck and the "cannon" on the back had travelled the world in the 1930's and 1940's as part of a circus act. My parents had met a family member connected with it back in the 1960's/1970's. Looking on the web it seems like more then one generation of that family was connected with being "Human cannonballs".
John
Yeah Steve; I can sure relate; by time Summer was over, my feet were callused on the bottom, from the hot pavement! and my feet had spread out so that none of my shoes fit!
Miriam Appelbaum
I used to walk around the streets of Fontana bare-footed in the summer. Even on the hottest days. Rarely, if ever, did I wear shoes during summer break. It must have been the hillbilly in me. Seems strange now.
Steve Herron
That's one I enjoy too.
|
LongerLonger than there've been fishes in the ocean Higher than any bird ever flew Longer than there've been stars up in the heavens I've been in love with you Stronger than any mountain cathedral Truer than any tree ever grew Deeper than any forest primeval I am in love with you I'll bring fires in the winters You'll send showers in the springs We'll fly through the falls and summers With love on our wings Through the years as the fire starts to mellow Burning lines in the book of our lives Though the binding cracks And the pages start to yellow I'll be in love with you I'll be in love with you [Instrumental Interlude] Longer than there've been fishes in the ocean Higher than any bird ever flew Longer than there've been stars up in the heavens I've been in love with you I am in love with you |
Steve Herron
Yeah I know exactly what you mean. My favorite of his songs is "Longer". It's so beautiful.
Miriam Appelbaum
I was shocked when I heard of his death. His music spoke to me and I could relate to many of his songs. He died December 16, 2007.
Dan Fogelberg
Same Old Lang Syne
Met my old lover in the grocery store The snow was falling christmas eve I stole behind her in the frozen foods And I touched her on the sleeve She didnt recognize the face at first But then her eyes flew open wide She went to hug me and she spilled her purse And we laughed until we cried. We took her groceries to the checkout stand The food was totalled up and bagged We stood there lost in our embarrassment As the conversation dragged. We went to have ourselves a drink or two But couldnt find an open bar We bought a six-pack at the liquor store And we drank it in her car. We drank a toast to innocence We drank a toast to now And tried to reach beyond the emptiness But neither one knew how. She said shed married her an architect Who kept her warm and safe and dry She would have liked to say she loved the man But she didnt like to lie. I said the years had been a friend to her And that her eyes were still as blue But in those eyes I wasnt sure if I saw Doubt or gratitude. She said she saw me in the record stores And that I must be doing well I said the audience was heavenly But the traveling was hell. We drank a toast to innocence We drank a toast to now And tried to reach beyond the emptiness But neither one knew how. We drank a toast to innocence We drank a toast to time Reliving in our eloquence Another auld lang syne... The beer was empty and our tongues were tired And running out of things to say She gave a kiss to me as I got out And I watched her drive away. Just for a moment I was back at school And felt that old familiar pain And as I turned to make my way back home The snow turned into rain --
Hear `Same Old Lang Syne` by clicking here
Steve Herron
Speaking of music, did anyone know that the singer/songwriter Dan Fogelberg had died? I didn't. How tragic....such a talent.
Miriam Appelbaum
What a Difference 40 years Make
Get Back - The Beatles - June 1969
Jojo was a man who thought he was a loner
But he knew it couldn't last
Jojo left his home in Tucson, Arizona
For some California grass
Get back, get back
Get back to where you once belonged
Get back, get back
Get back to where you once belonged
Get back, Jojo
Go home
Get back, get back
Back to where you once belonged
Get back, get back
Back to where you once belonged
Get back, Jo
Sweet Loretta Martin thought she was a woman
But she was another man
All the girls around her say she's got it coming
But she gets it while she can
Get back, get back
Get back to where you once belonged
Get back, get back
Get back to where you once belonged
Get back, Loretta
Go home
Get back, get back
Get back to where you once belonged
Get back, get back
Get back to where you once belonged
Oooh...
Get back, Loretta
Your mama's waiting for you
Wearing her high-heel shoes
And her low-neck sweater
Get back home, Loretta
Get back, get back
Get back to where you once belonged
Get back, get back
Get back
Oh, yeah
Boom Boom Pow - Black Eyed Peas - June 2009
Gotta get-get, gotta get-get Gotta get-get, gotta g-g-g-get-get-get, get-get
Boom boom boom, gotta get-get
Boom boom boom, gotta get-get
Boom boom boom, gotta get-get
Boom boom boom, gotta get-get
Boom boom boom, now
Boom boom boom, now
Boom boom pow
Boom boom
Yo, I got that hit that beat the block
You can get that bass overload
I got the that rock and roll
That future flow
That digital spit
Next level visual shit
I got that boom boom pow
How the beat bang, boom boom pow
I like that boom boom pow
Them chickens jackin' my style
They try copy my swagger
I'm on that next shit now
I'm so 3008
You so 2000 and late
I got that boom, boom, boom
That future boom, boom, boom
Let me get it now
Boom boom boom, gotta get-get
Boom boom boom, gotta get-get
Boom boom boom, gotta get-get
Boom boom boom, gotta get-get
Boom boom boom, now
Boom boom boom, now
Boom boom pow
Boom boom pow
I'm on the supersonic boom
Y'all hear the spaceship zoom
When, when I step inside the room
Them girls go ape-shit, uh
Y'all stuck on Super 8 shit
That low-fi stupid 8 bit
I'm on that HD flat
This beat go boom boom bap
I'm a beast when you turn me on
Into the future cybertron
Harder, faster, better, stronger
Sexy ladies extra longer
'Cause we got the beat that bounce
We got the beat that pound
We got the beat that 808
That the boom, boom in your town
People in the place
If you wanna get down
Put your hands in the air
Will.i.am drop the beat now
Yup, yup
I be rockin' them beats, yup, yup
I be rockin' them beats, y-y-yup, yup
Here we go, here we go, satellite radio
Y'all gettin' hit with boom boom
Beats so big I'm steppin' on leprechauns
Shittin' on y'all with the boom boom
Shittin' on y'all you with the boom boom
Shittin' on y'all you with the
This beat be bumpin', bumpin'
This beat go boom, boom
Let the beat rock
Let the beat rock
Let the beat rock
This beat be bumpin', bumpin'
This beat go boom, boom
I like that boom boom pow
Them chickens jackin' my style
They try copy my swagger
I'm on that next shit now
I'm so 3008
You so 2000 and late
I got that boom boom boom
That future boom boom boom
Let me get it now
Boom boom boom, gotta get-get
Boom boom boom, gotta get-get
Boom boom boom, gotta get-get
Boom boom boom, gotta get-get
Boom boom boom, now
Boom boom boom, now
Boom boom pow
Boom boom pow
Let the beat rock
(Let the beat rock)
Let the beat rock
(Let the beat)
Let the beat
(Let the beat rock, rock, rock, rock
Steve Herron
Good deal, Steve! Spammers have no business on our Fohi site! Caroline; I meant to say that-- do I use the same PASSword to register on the facebook thing? Haven't gotten your email add. yet.
Miriam Appelbaum
Miriam, just ignore that stuff when it shows up. It's just spammers with nothing better to do. I try to delete it as soon as I see it.
Steve Herron
What is all of that infor.?
Miriam Appelbaum
Just heard from a local that the new pizza parlor in town has pretty good pizza. I hope to find out soon! I don't think I have met too many people that don't like pizza! Caroline; how do I get onto Facebook? I'm tech. challenged.
Miriam Appelbaum
Hi Guys/Gals; Hope ya'll had a happy and safe Easter. Did ya stuff yourselves? Yeah; Mazzulli's was the best pizza in town. This town of Gold Beach is soooo small we just now got in a pizza joint. Used to be one here. It remains to be seen, just how good it is!!
Miriam Appelbaum
Steve: Me Too!! I love pizza
Caroline
Mazzulli's pizza was the best. I remember the double layer family size pizza....yummy! It was a long drive for many of us to get down to that corner of town, but worth it. OK, now I'm hungry.
Steve Herron
I must have a mental block, I don't remember that at Sequoia Miriam.... Hi Jody Welcome!! Mazzulli's pizza was excellent. I worked there for about 3 months.. A&B is still there. Not owned by A and B though..Were you between Valley and the Freeway or the Freeway and Slover? How long has it been since you've been back? Just wondering! Take Care all
Caroline Carpenter Rigsby
Hi Guys! HAPPY SPRING!!
Miriam Appelbaum
Hi Jody!
Steve Herron
I went to Jurupa Hills and remember my tracher Mrs tate and Mr.Runyan.He would throw erasers at me and my friend for talking in class.I miss home and the way it was.Mazzulies pizza was the best and A&B market,even the old arcade that was near valley and cherry.It's always home for me.Now i live in Tasmania Australia and i can't believe the changes there..well i'll be back on this site soon and glad to hear that ppl loved Fontana as much as me..cheers mates.
jody H
i remember fontana from 1975-1992.i lived on redwood near the freeway and see the police chases at least twice a week and cheering them on..Fontana was our familys roots i remember my brother at the Porky's disco and telling me i couldn't go i was to small.
jody H
I used to get Corn-nuts out of the vending machines. Don't think I ever had the pleasure of tasting a pizza burrito, though. Brought my lunch. Anyone remember snow-cone days at Sequoia?
Miriam Appelbaum
I can remember how difficult it was to eat a hot dog in jr. high. About the time you'd get ready to take a bite some jerk would make some nasty comment.
Steve Herron
Oh Steve! You just brought back a forgotten memory!! I used to get those pizza burritos too (that was breakfast) Ha! Wonder if they even HAVE vending machines there anymore?
Ginny Buse
What was really good at Fontana Jr. High was the bar-b-que beef sandwiches and the great big peanut butter cookies.
Steve Herron
My favorite lunch was a Mrs. Redd's (packaged) berry pie. At Fontana Junior High I was in heaven when they had turkey sandwiches at the snack bar. Real turkey meat in a bun, not from a turkey "loaf", and they were 15 or 25 cents. I don't recall any lettuce or tomatoes to interfere with that great turkey taste...
John
My favorite lunch at Fohi was a pizza burrito and a Coke, out of the vending machines.
Steve Herron
With the snow and whatever was going on in my life that December, it was a magical time for me.
Steve Herron
Hi Steve, Oh yes, I remember the heavy snowfall in 1967. My brother, sister, and I made a few snowmen in our back yard. It was so much fun! Doesn't happen very often! I'm happy that I was with my family and enjoyed that time. Have you heard anything about planning a reunion yet? I am so excited that I have re-connected with so many wonderful friends from high school. Marie Polasky and I both live in Palm Springs and get together often. It's really nice!
Becky Peterson
Welcome Chuck. I moved to Fontana in '59. We'd always hear about the heavy snowfall in '49. Does anyone remember the snow of December '67?
Steve Herron
I went to Slover-Boyle from '48-54 when the hog farm was still there. We had 6" of snow in Jan of 49.
Chuck Lemme
Ditto; on the fond memories of Fontana!
Miriam Appelbaum
Proud City Employee, Thanks for the updates. It's great to hear that Charlie's will be back. Although most of us here no longer live there, it's obvious we have some very fond memories of old Fontana. Glad you've enjoyed the comments here.
Fohi71.Com
I have completely enjoyed reading the messages that you have all posted. I thought I would give you 2 updates since you have enlightened me so much on old Fontana. Charley's is getting a well deserved face lift. It will be re-opened complete with parking area at the end of this summer. Also, the location where the Pizza Hut once stood is now the new location for the next phase of our Senior Housing Project. Thank you for the history lesson. I not only enjoy working here, but I am a proud resident of the city as well.
Proud City Employee
That is very cool! Thanks!
Steve Herron
The guys may be more interested in this...If you go to www.books.google.com you can now browse all the issues of Popular Mechanics and Popular Science from the their early years up until fairly recently. It's a great to look at the issues from the 1950's and 1960's and see how things really were back then. The page images are complete with all the ads etc. You can waste hours of time very easily..
John
Nelson's is gone forever. They finally put something very nice there. That intersection doesn't even look the same
Steve Herron
The lumber yard was Nelson's. It was owned by Lisa Radfords uncle. The old library is the school at Ressurection Catholic Church on Tamarind and Miller. It was moved to the land my grandfasther gave to the church. And , hello Dam Sicky,remember THAT one Sam?
Ray Coccia
I have many fond memories of the A&W. I used to go there by myself in the winter, when we were about 14 years old, and just chill and listen to the juke box. That was a treat and a growing up period.
Steve Herron
Use to stop by the A&W Root beer and the car hops would rollerskate out to the car. Just like in Happy Days
Curits
I know you all remember Ryn's Dairy. Also; the original library that was Spanish-style, with the tower.Remember the Lumber yard over the tracks from Pizza Hut? I remember going there with my dad. It seems so long ago, yet not so.
Miriam Appelbaum
It's so funny, we used to have to drive to Rialto to go to their Pizza Hut and then when they built one in Fontana we thought that was the greatest thing. And now it's gone. Things don't last very long do they? It's kind of like the Fontana Square. We saw it constructed and torn down. What other things have come and gone from Fontana in our lifetime?
Steve Herron
OH NO: another Fontana landmark downed? I worked there at Pizza Hut, for a short time, just before I was 21. (I think I've worked at almost all the food joints in Fontana,) HA!!
Miriam Appelbaum
Anyone remember the Pizza Hut on Sierra near the tracks. It has been torn down. I dont go up that way very often so I dont know what is going in its place.
Caroline
What are they going to build, in the place of Charlie's hamburger stand? Does anyone know?
Miriam Appelbaum
Miriam - That be the place!
Steve Herron
Was that the little place across Arrow, from the Bank of America? I loved going there, too. Hi Caroline; I'm good. Alive and well(?) and living in Oregon-- at the Coast. It's beautiful here. Been in OR since 1997. Moved back to CA about 2003;; and hated it. Then,I moved back up here in a hot hurry. I do occasionally get homesick, however. My son and sister are still in CA. she's in Rialto; he's in Upland.
Miriam Appelbaum
Charleys was a Fontana icon. Back in the 60s you could get chili-Fritos there. They just cut open the side of the back and poured the chili in. Also they made a great hamburger on wheat bread. I can smell the grilled onions now!
Steve Herron
Charleys Tastee Shop, that little walk-up hamburger stand at 16867 Arrow (SE corner of Nuevo), has been demolished. New construction is underway as of November 2008. I only ate there once or twice in the 1960's. Perhaps I should have gone back more.
John
Steve; you've got to be kidding! I wouldn't touch that stuff with a 10-ft. pole, HA!
Miriam Appelbaum
Oh, the email thing. OK. I thought maybe you had been smoking some of that Oregon Coast home grown funny grass :) I always liked Marcus Welby, M.D.
Steve Herron
Steve; On the "Old Shows" thing, I clicked on it and couldn't get to the site, to add my shows.That's why I put them on here.
Miriam Appelbaum
Huh?
Steve Herron
Don't know how to get onto that link for the Old Shows but what about The Jack Paar Show; and Marcus Welby, M.D.?
Miriam Appelbaum
I missed that one!
Steve Herron
Comet Ikeya-Seki in the fall of 1965. I set my alarm for something like 4 a.m. and walked outside into our backyard in South Fontana. There were no street lights and our few neighbors didn't have "security lights" back then. The comet tail was easy to see in night sky that had been cleared by the Santa Ana winds.
John
Yeah; I do remember the Baskins and Robbins now; and going there. I just didn't remember when it came to be.
Miriam Appelbaum
I think there was a Baskin Robbins in Rialto in the 1960's. It was on the south side of Foothill a couple of blocks east of Riverside Dr. We didn't even have a McDonalds in Fontana until the early 1970's. We had to go to Rialto to get a Slurpee from 7-11 in 1967. Progress took awhile to get to Fontana in those ancient times...
John
Welcome Lisa!
Fohi71.Com
I was looking for a Jurupa Hills elem. yearbook from 1985-1990. That is when I moved to Fontana in 1985. I lived at 11295 Banana Ave. right on the corner, I remember Rosta trash company (his son was Gary Rosta) who was my first boyfriend. I'd say those were my best memories and my dad started his own trucking company there in 1986. It was called Lucky Trucking. I was best friends with the owner's brother of "Pancho villa's" and I can remember Casey and Timothy Roach and basically Fontana was my best memory. I wish we never had to move. --Lisa
Lisa (Rink)
On to cheerier stuff; yeah; Thrifty's ice cream was the best around. Was Baskin and Robbins in existence yet?
Miriam A.
Lots of cool memories, Steve and John..... except for the bad stuff at Kaiser Steel, of course. Yeah, the MIll certainly had it's share of horrible stuff happen to guys. Later when it became California Steel my ex worked there for about 3 years; and he was in 2 serious accidents in that short time; either of which he could have been killed from. Even the great money he made back then(late 80's-early 90's) surely wasn't worth the risks. He quit shortly thereafter.
Miriam Appelbaum
The drive was a lot more fun in those days. Now you drive through there and it's kind of scary. Almost like a race and drivers have no idea what they're doing!
Steve Herron
In the 1960's you could drive from Fontana to Newport Beach (Balboa Pier) in 1 hour on weekends. Seems we got there faster before that monster freeway through Santa Ana Canyon got built.
John
Soft drinks that came in glass bottles from those old style gas station vending machines where they were immersed in icy water were always colder and tasted better/fresher then when they were in cans.
John
we were young we would: buy root beer at A&W for a nickel, buy ice cream at Thrifty's for a nickel a scoop, buy pixie sticks, red & black licorice, bubble gum, candy dots on paper by the foot, for a penny each, buy Coke out of the machine for a dime, ride our Stringray bikes until it got dark, make skateboards from old roller skates, buy lunch in the school cafeteria for a quarter, wore patches on our worn-out pants, played in the sprinklers, got up early on Saturdays to watch cartoons, ate creepy crawlers, wore Saint Christophers to show we were going steady, made fuzzballs from everyone's Angora sweaters, made gum wrapper chains, made paper airplanes, played house with our brother or sister, made forts in the backyard, made rubberband guns, to be continued...
Steve Herron
Caroline, Didn't receive it
Steve Herron
Steve: E-mail info was sent.
Caroline
Caroline, please email me at fohi1971@aol.com, so I may have your email address for the database. Thanks
Steve Herron
Caroline, that is an awful memory. I just remember rumors of guys being hurt or killed out at the mill. Stories of guys being crushed, even one of a guy falling in the molten steel. We always said that if Kaiser went out of business Fontana would dry up and blow away. I guess not. When I moved to Fontana the population was about 19,000. Now it is almost 200,000. Yikes!
Steve Herron
First off, I haven't typed Carpenter in a long time. Not used to using my maiden name LOL...Guess that makes it a remember when huh? lol Yeah Steve I'm still kicking thanks! Now as far as the hog farm and chicken ranch and the mill smells. I don't remember that. What I do remember is at Valley and Cherry there was only a 4 way stop sign... not a light Yet. The traffic was horrible in those days. Especially when it was time for the shift changes. I also remember hearing ambulances coming from the mill to the freeway or going down Valley to Kaiser Hospital. Awful memory huh?
Caroline Carpenter
Probably don't remember the Hog farm Steve, because it was below the freeway. You ain't kiddin' about the smell of the coke from Kaiser; we used to get all of that too because we were directly downwind of Kaiser Steel, (south end); as you know!
Miriam A.
Hi Caroline, Glad to see you're still alive and kinking!
Steve Herron
LOL I worked at Mazzulli's in the summer of 72 I remember trying to get home quickly so I could watch the Olympics with Mark Spitz swimming...I worked there with Irene Serrano and a few others I forgot now who.
Caroline Carpenter
I don't remember the hog farm nor the smell. The worst smell I can remember in Fontana was when they would cool the coke out at Kaiser Steel. We lived miles away and yet that odor permeated the air.
Steve Herron
Does anyone remember the Hog Ranch, I believe it was down around Live Oak below the freeway. I remember the smell from that, YUK!!
Miriam Appelbaum
Yes, and the flies. I remember working for Fontana Schools in the 80s. Those poor people at Jurupa Elementary School were inundated with flies. Students were sucking them in while walking the sidewalks. We had to use special spray to lessen the problem. It's not so bad now days.
Steve Herron
Don't forget all the flys from the chicken ranches, was one on cherry ave. across from Kaiser steel mill.
Tom Williams
Yeah, Mazzulli's was the best pizza in town, hands-down. It smelled so wonderful in there as soon as you hit the door!
Miriam Appelbaum
Frank, from what I gather from another message board I found, Mazzulli's is no longer in operation. What a loss. What a treat it was. It was worth the long drive down Valley Blvd to get the best pizza in town. And the best dinner rolls. My stomach's growling. Frank, are you a Fohi grad?
Steve Herron
I used to visit my grandmother and Aunt, Filomena and Celeste Tomassi, and Frances Mazzulli used to drop by with her pizza. Ahhh...the memories of home-cooked Neapolitan cooking, and that pizza! I wonder if Mazzulli's is still in operation. It's been so many years.
Frank Moran
Marline, are you a Fohi grad?
Steve Herron
Thanks for the compliments folks. I was hoping Ray would chime-in here somewhere and answer the question. Marline, I'm glad you visited us. The Ray Coccia on this site is the son of Albert Coccia. As for Martin's Yardage, I have no information on them.
Steve Herron
Ms. Adams; The one who designed this website is Steve Herron; VP of our class of 1971. He does a bang-up job, doesn't he? As to Ray, Steve knows him and could probably help you there.
Miriam Appelbaum
Does anyone have any information on what happened to Martin's Yardage and also exactly how the store began on Sierra? Is any of the Martin Family in or around Fontana? Also, who began this web area...very nice. Is Ray Coccia on this site -- Ray Sr. or Ray Jr.? Thanks
Marline (Volkart) Adams
Oh that's so sad about Jolly Farms. I don't know anything about Mark and Co. but as I'm sure I mentioned prior, we were friends with the original(I think)owners who named the place after their daughter Jolly. They had this really cool triple-story house in Riverside. Yes, they had great food there.
Miriam A.
Mark & Co. sold Jolly Farms several years ago. I don't think it was the same since. They had the best ribs, chicken and potato salad.
Steve Herron
I can't belive that about Jolly Farms. I used to drive from Covina to get chicken there. My wife said I was crazy, but oh well.... It was the BEST !!! I wish Mark the best in the future
Ray Coccia
The end for a Fontana icon. The Daily Bulletin reported that Jolly Farms Bar-B-Que will close on July 31, 2008 after being in business for 51 years. It has been at its location at 9511 Sierra since 1988. High gas prices, the poor economy, rising costs, and its older customers moving away or passing on were identified as contributing factors.
John
In the 50's and 60's our family went to the All States Picnic held on the 4th of July. Each state had it's own picnic area in the median down Euclid in Ontario. There was also a parade.
John
Hi again, Lois; Yes, I'm in between your sisters; I'll be 55, this coming October.
Miriam Appelbaum
How could I ever forget? My Mom reminds me about that incident too. Remember, our parents received phone calls from the school. That was just one of many antics you and I pulled. But we did get away with most, not that one though.
Steve Herron
Steve, Sorry to take so long in my reply to your question about who my friend was that helped with the fire alarm. I think you remember, 'cause it was you! You held the book to the alarm and I hit it. Remember?
Rick Wilminko
The dragstrip was on East ave and foothill,1/2 mile from Cherry ave. Remember run what you brung nights? I'm sure Greg Orr , Shelly Reeves, and Randy Morruzzi do
Ray Coccia
Lois, I got your pics. thanks. So, new pics on the Old Fontana page including, so far, A & W and the drag strip. Enjoy! Lois, we could hear the drag strip all the way down at my house on Juniper just north of San Bernardino Ave.
Steve Herron
Thanks for the information Steve. The photos are on their way. By the way, I saw a reference on this site to the old Fontana Drag Strip that was on Foothill. I believe Cherry was the lead in street and dead-ended at the Drag Strip. I remember the place well. Not only was it a common date night destination for a lot of couples, but in 1961 I lived in a very small duplex about 1/4 mile away. It could get very noisy on a Saturday night, but it was cheap rent for a newly married couple. I remember the rent being $50 a month.
Lois Tibben
Lois, no you won't be able to post a picture here. That's reserved for me since I have the inner workings. But, you can email it to me at fohi1971@aol.com and I will post it for you.
Steve Herron
Hi Steve, I'm not totally computer ignorant, but I haven't been able to figure out how to attach a photo to a posting. I know it can be done because you popped a photo of me up there. I have a couple of old Fontana photos to show everyone, but I'm not sure how to do it.
Lois Tibben
Miriam, I may have seen you when you were a little girl, when your family visited my family. You must have been between my sisters' ages. Joell is 57 now and Vicki is 53. I'll be sure to tell them that we "ran into each other" on this website.
Lois Tibben
Hi Lois; My goodness, what a small, small world! It seems that I remember my parents talking about when your dad died. I was so sorry to hear it; and I didn't know about your mom in '2004'; (I've lived in Oregon since 1997, and what's left of our family, is scattered.) I'm so sorry to hear about your mom, as well. I liked your parents very much; and always enjoyed going over to their house for visits. My parents both died at the end of 1989; three months apart. They had lived in their same home in south Fontana, for about 45 years. I don't know if I'd ever met you; given our age difference, but my oldest sis Debbie graduated in 1965, and Marsha in 1967. I was 1971. Anyway; it is awfully good to hear from you, on the Fohi line!
Miriam Appelbaum
Michael, it's in the mail, email that is.
Steve Herron
Thanks Steve. You can send the picture to me at MGMboy@aol.com
Michael Smith
Welcome Michael! I think I found your mother in the Fohi 1959 yearbook, but they used Mrs. Smith and not her first name. If you'd like to see the photo, go to the contact us page, send me your email address and I'll send you the photo.
Steve Herron
My mother Ellen Smith (Ellen Bay now) worked in the office at Fontana High in the late 1950's. Some time around 1960 or so she moved to the Unified School District where she was the secretary to the school wide psychologist Dr. Blood. I went to Slover-Boyle Elementary School, then to Jurupa Hills elementary, and on to West Randal. Spent two years at Sequoia Jr. High and then when Mom divorced Dad and married a professor from University of Californi at Riverside off we moved to Riverside in 1964. I remember swimming in the summers at Fontana High swiming pool, going to see wonderful muscials at the auditorium. Seeing a production of Madame Butterfly there and also going to a carnival there. But since I moved away I never got to attend the school, but my Mother has many fond memmories of working there. I wonder if her picture is in that year book of yours. Michael Smith Class of 68' John W. North High
Michael Smith
 Lois Lessin | Lois, I found you. I never noticed the missorted pages before. Naive, maybe, but pretty non-the-less. |
Steve Herron
Steve, I am in the 59 Fohi yearbook as Lois Lessin. One of the "L" pages is missorted and "my page" is one page before where it should be. Look for the most naive looking 16 year old ever at the bottom of the page....that's me! Now then, Wow, Miriam, of course I remember my parents talking about the Appelbaums. I remember that they were quite good friends. Lou died in 1985 and Verna died in 2004. Both Vicki and Joell are fine. Joell lives on a boat with her second husband. They have sailed all around the Caribbean and lived in Panama for a couple of years. They are back in California now. Vicki, her husband and two almost grown sons also live in California. I'm married, 2nd time around. First time was to Fontana boy, Richard French and we had one daughter. Now, my husband and I live on a hill in Northern California and are grandparents to 2 boys and a 9 year old girl. Time sure jets (faster than flying) by.
Lois Tibben
To Lois Lessin Tibben; Are you related to Vicki, Joel, or Lou Lessin? Knew them well, way way back.
Miriam Appelbaum
| 1959 is the year I moved to Fontana. You must have been camera shy. I can't find you in the yearbook. |  |
Steve Herron
I just sort of happened on this website while I was looking to see if there was any information on the Fon-Ri Lanes. It's fun to see that there are some folks who are looking back on growing up Fontanan. I lived there from 1958 (graduated from Fohi in 1959..Yikes!)through 1968. My parents were there until 1985. Both my younger sisters went to West Randall Elementary.
Lois Tibben
I think I remember that bank deal. It was a big thing back then.
Steve Herron
I had almost forgotten about the embezzlement at Security Pacific Bank. I was working there as a teller when it happened. It must have been around 1964 or 1965. The guy who did it was named Roger ? (his last name eludes me). He was a supervisor at the bank. We came to work one Monday morning and the place was swarming with bank inspectors and FBI agents. They had to break into the vault and all the money was GONE! It was a real scandal, because he took off with his two little girls and didn't return them for months. A Fontana man saw him in Las Vegas about a year after the robbery and turned him in. He went to jail of course. The last thing I heard about 30 years ago was that he was working at a convenience store, I think in Bloomington.
Lois Lessin Tibben
Hi John; Yes, road that winds around Mt. Rubidoux does go to the top. I'd driven it over the years, although it's a little precarious in spots. I don't know if they repaired it or even let people drive up there any more. And they did use to have Easter Sunrise Services up there, and people trekked up there on foot.
Miriam A.
There's a website that has historical aerial photos of much of Southern California, including Fontana, from around 1948 and 2005. Check out HistoricAerials.com (historic aerials dot com). It's like Google earth with a time machine. You can compare aerial photos from different years. It's harder to use then Google Earth but the results are pretty cool. You can see that there was probably as much dramatic change to Fontana in the 10 years after 1948 (i.e. by 1958 when many of us remember it) then in the 50 years since then. Maybe it was us that spoiled Fontana and not those that came later...
John
I remember there was a road that went around Mt Rubidoux but I don't recall if it went all the way to the top. I always have thought it would be a great place to be for an Easter Sunrise Service but sunrise just seems to always come so so early in the morning...
John
Did anyone ever climb up to the top of Mt.Rubidoux? It was pretty neat; back in early 70's. The side next to the riverbed.
Miriam Appelbaum
John; I walked all the way down Slover, home. No, nobody rescued me. It took me forever. That's why my parents were frantic, when I didn't get off of the school bus as usual. If I remember, it was Santa Ana that stopped at the tracks, but then continued on the other side. I remember that Steel place too. There was part of a movie filmed there, at one time. Wasn't it called Whitman Steel or something? Even though I grew up there, my memory isn't what it used to be.
Miriam A.
Miriam, hiking from Jurupa Hills School to your neighborhood was easily a 3 or 4 mile trek. Did you make it all the way or were you rescued or intercepted? Did you go on Slover or did you try the Jurupa route? In those days Jurupa was just a just a dirt/gravel road between Live Oak and Beech. A citrus grove was on the north and vineyards to the south. There was a mild rise or hill in that section of Jurupa. Back then the small steel factory at Jurupa and Live Oak always struck me as dark and forboding.
John
I remember I decided to walk home from Jurupa Hills School once; That was an adventure all of it's own; That was probably a several-mile walk for a little kid!! Needless to say, my parents were frantic!!
Miriam A.
Yeah, John; I had many adventures like that, in the fields; between Mulberry(including the Wash) to Banana, and Slover to the Jurupa Hills; and everything in between! Many fond memories made there!
Miriam A.
Hi Miriam, my work only uses about 3 of my 120 volts so my mind wanders at times. The pixels (incidents) of our lives are part of a much bigger picture that only becomes clear to us over time. When I was about six I remember a weekend adventure in the empty field at Citrus and Slover where some neighborhood kids and I decided to explore some narrow paths into the wilderness. The wild grasses and weeds were above our heads so the unknown intrigued us. The wild grasses in that field were never again as tall in later years as they were that spring. It took me years to realize that I was just shorter then.
Joihn
John; it impresses me; the take you have on such a myriad of things, and your memory as well......
Miriam A.
I remember those times too; running off stuff on the mimeo, with the papers you had to peel off; and the ink; looking back now, it seems so primitive, yet quaint; it must have felt similiar to those who saw the Model T, and jet airplanes come to be. My dad was born in 1906, and saw such things.........
Miriam Appelbaum
And lets not forget the arrival of electric typewritters. Only the best typists got to have an electric model!
John
How about the technology of the 1960's? We had typewriters, ditto/mimeograph machines, intercoms and dictation machines. Women could make a career out of doing shorthand. Let's not forget film and slide projectors in the classroom. The TV dinners of those days came in aluminum trays but we only had regular ovens to heat them. Aluminum cans for soft drinks and beer were an innovation, even though they had those annoying pop-off tabs that had to be pulled off.
John
I'm with you Steve; I was sad to see the Rose Room go, too; I passed by it frequently, going into town.
Miriam A.
Miriam - Yes it is strange and amazing to drive around Fontana these days. You want to see something weird though, you should see the Fohi campus. Remember the girls softball field between the shops and the boys gym? Gone. Huge new Science Building there now. Its been there several years now.
Steve Herron
That's right! When I was up there a couple of summers ago I started pumping gas in my car and the attendant came up to me and said, "Do you know you're breaking the law?" He was nice about it and explained the law. How was I supposed to know. The Rose Room was owned by Val Toland's parents, class of 1972. I remember how said I was to see it turned into an adult book store.
Steve Herron
It's also weird that while so many stores that have gone by the wayside in Calif., are alive and well here in Oregon; such as Safeway, Grocery Outlet, etc. Also; up here, when you go to buy gas, there are service attendants that help you; just like the old days! It gives people jobs.
Miriam Appelbaum
I remember working at the old Safeway on Juniper and Arrow; when it had become Phillip's Draperies; it was always SPOOKY going down into that long basement, to use the restroom. We'd try to go in pairs!
Miriam A.
There also was an old restaurant on Valley Blvd. just east of Cherry--south side; that became a tire store, then an adult book store. There was also one on the corner of where Valley and Fontana Ave. and (I think Hemlock) meet; which had been a bar called the Rose Room, for the longest time. Steve, I bet it feels weird to drive around Fontana, with all the drastic changes that have occurred!!
Miriam A.
Besides blue and green stamps there were "Wise Owl" stamps. I think it might have only been Sage's that gave "Wise Owl" stamps.
John
Included with the great service, sometimes you'd get something for free, like a glass or a cup. You even got blue or green stamps on top of the deal.
Steve Herron
During a Mother's day dinner with my wife my 13 year-old son he was incredulous when I started talking about gas stations when they were service stations. He was amazed that you could get restaurant-style service at a gas station without even getting out of your car. He was shocked when he heard that they would put the gas in for you, wash the windshield and the outside mirrors as well as check under the hood and check/adjust the tire pressue. His only experience has been seeing the man in the booth at stations and his dad doing the self-service thing with the credit card in the slot. Service stations often did a lot for 33 cents a gallon in the 1960's...
John
The Safeway on Arrow & Juniper and the Western Auto on Sierra, both had basements. Although they were not used for retail purposes, they were designated as official "fall-out shelters"/"bomb shelters"
Steve Herron
As I remember both the original JC Penney (which later became Bill Logue's when Penney moved to Fontana Square) on SE corner of Valencia and Nuevo and the Coronet/King Coronet, which was right across the street, both had basements. Were they the only basements in town? Does anyone know of any others?
John
Does anyone remember the long mostly empty stretch of Sierra between Foothill and Neeley's corner? Going to Lytle Creek there were 4-way stops at Baseline and Highland, which also had a large blinking red light hanging over the center of the intersection. On the northeast side of that intersection there was a large produce stand. For some period it was run by the Lindsay family who at some time had one on Valley on the way to Bloomington. Another produce stand at Cedar and Slover in Bloomington is still there. The Colton "Auction" on Thursdays and Saturdays also sold a lot of produce, cheaper and fresher then grocery stores.
John
I never knew there was an adult bookstore there. They likely make a strategic error in locating only a couple of blocks away from City Hall and the Police. The city could have discouraged customers by just parking a police patrol car near it. I don't think Fontana has ever had anything that could pass as real bookstore of any kind as far as I can recall.
John
Do you remember when the adult bookstore came into the building just north of C&Js Auto Parts? That really shocked some people. It didn't last very long.
Steve Herron
Fontana also had some earlier history in the 1960's that was on the sleazy side. From what I remember there was a bar somewhere on Foothill that tried to get around a rule prohibiting topless entertainment by using some mirrors so that the dancers were not in the bar but could be seen from the bar. Alas, I was too young to do the field research for this intriguing legal issue.
John
The Pussycat sign on the Arrow Theater didn't seem a step forward for the downtown area but I do remember that it was there for probably a few years in the 1970's. The same thing happened to the Crest or the Ritz theaters on "E" Street in San Bernardino about the same time. I doubt there were many customers browsing in the religous supplies store while they were waiting for showtime at the Pussycat...
John
The Arrow is currently a church and has been for a long time. Do you remember when it was the Pussycat Theater?
Steve Herron
In the 1960's there was a small store just west of the Arrow Theater entrance that was a religious supplies store with a name like "Ava Maria.."
John
Robert Kennedy was in Fontana maybe a week before the June 1968 California primary. His campaign parade went south on Sierra through downtown Fontana in the late afternoon. I was standing in the crowd at the corner of Sierra and Valencia when he went by.
John
Growing up in S. Fontana below Slover, we didn't have the white lines on the road; it was hotter than a b----; I always walked barefoot too; and by summer's end, our feet were calloused-over on the bottoms!
Miriam A.
What year DID Robert Kennedy come to town?
Miriam A.
Wow; I had forgotten about Jone's Pet Store but I can remember it vividly! How bittersweet it is to remember that far back....
Miriam Appelbaum
Rick, who was the friend?
Steve Herron
I remeber when Robert Kennedy came to town.
Rick Wilminko
I remember hot summer day's and walking bare foot around town. You would walk on the white lines because the black top would burn your feet.
Rick Wilminko
I remember the monkey at Jone's Pet Store and the sounds it made at night.
Rick Wilminko
I remember when a friend of mine dared me to hit a book he was holding against the school building wall. I told him "you think I'm stupid, I'll go and hit it and you'll move it and I'll hit the wall with my fist", he said, "No I won't". So it hit the book and the fire alarm was behind it. It took forever to go off. Oh yea, we were caught.
Rick Wilminko
I used to take the family to Casa Cardenas quite a bit when we lived in Fontana. I don't think they are there anymore. I'll have to check next time I'm down there.
Steve Herron
I don't know if it still exists, but the restaurant next to the Arrow Theater(wasn't it called Casa Cardenas) was pretty good, in the 80's.
Miriam Appelbaum
I also remember(occasionally) going to the Arrow Theater, but we mostly went to the Bel-Air Drive-In, the Foothill Drive in, and the one in Rubidoux, on Mission Blvd. Remember you could get a car-load in, for about $2.50?
Miriam Appelbaum
The people that ran the Arrow Theater knew their business. There were some limits to the chaos and mayhem they would tolerate. They would stop a movie until the kids quieted down if it got too noisy and there were ushers who kinda kept kids in order. They'd watch activity down near the screen so kids didn't open the fire exit doors to let others in for free.
John
The first movie I remember my family going out to see was Disney's Perri (1957?) at the Arrow Theater. It was about a squirrel. By the time I was 6th grade I was going there by myself or with a friend on weekend afternoons to see the Vincent Price horror movies that came out in the 1960's. When they showed Fred McMurray's Absent-Minded Professor I remember going to a 10 a.m. show, I don't remember anything else ever started that early. My favorite candy was the sharp hot cinnamon taste of FireStix. Admission was 35 cents going up to maybe 75 cents if you were over 12 (?). Since they'd get our money at the snack bar anyway I guess it didn't matter that they'd continue to sell you a "child" ticket for awhile without much of a fuss.
John
I was just thinking about the Saturdays I would go to the Arrow Theater. I can remember seeing The Long Ships, Ride The Wild Surf and First Men In the Moon there. My son and I still watch the later on DVD, as a matter of fact we've watched it a million times. One of our favorites. I can remember sitting there one time and somebody through gum in my hair, a big wad of it. I had to go home and cut it out. Yuck. I remember when we were in 7th grade I was there one Saturday and Ray Trujillo asked me if I wanted to make-out with his sister Cordy there at the show. His sister was a 9th grader and I had never kissed a girl in my life. He hadn't even talked to her yet. So I was like, oh no Ray it's OK, but he runs over to ask her anyway. Now I'm like scared to death. Anyway he came back and told me that his sister was going steady with someone and couldn't. Thank God! I eventually made it to the make-out area there at the Arrow, in 9th grade. Don't ask me who it was, I won't tell you, but it was definitely someone I'm not ashamed of.
Steve Herron
Youtube.com has a Fontana video called "The Mayor of Fontana - Mark Nuaimi" which is a Sopranos take-off. I don't necessarily agree with it but it is entertaining...
John
I remember when anything related to "trucking" was something that pretty-much came out of L.A. or north. I also remember hearing people say that Fontana was "the sticks". Well, to us it was HOME, and had that very special feeling about it. Most of us will attest to that!!
Miriam A.
Isn't it ironic the way schools in Fontana have changed? Also, my dad predicted that south of Slover and west of Mulberry would become industrial; he was right, in spades! And it's sad to see that most of south Fontana below the freeway is all trucking now.
Miriam Appelbaum
Slover-Boyle Elementary School later became Slover Special School for educationally handicapped students and then later renamed after its principal, Virginia Primrose. A new Virginia Primrose School, with indoor therapeutic swimming pool, was built on the S/E corner of Miller and Maple(technically Rialto) in the late 70s. In the late 80s, EH kids were mainstreamed into regular schools and Virginia Primrose became an elementary school. Slover-Boyle School was sold to a trucking company.
Steve Herron
Actually Slover-Boyle Elementary School was in South Fontana first, Jurupa Hills Elementary School was a replacemnt for it. Time marches on...
John
Attention Jurupa Hills Elementary School alumni - recent press release from FUSD (new school under construction across the street from JHES): At their April 16, 2008 meeting, the FUSD Board of Education approved the name for Fontana's newest school, formerly known as High School No. 5: Jurupa Hills High School. It was fifty years ago this September (1958) that Jurupa Hills Elementary School first opened its doors to students. It was the first school south of the fledgling San Bernardino Freeway, as the 10 was known back in 1954. After 50 years of continuous and faithful service to the children in this area of Fontana, Jurupa Hills will be no more, and this site will become the Fontana Adult Education Center in the 2008-09 school year. Members of the Board of Education, honoring those fifty years and looking to the future, have chosen to name High School No. 5 Jurupa Hills High School.
John
Thanks for the Peppi's picture.That place btings back a lot of memories.Also,remember when Mexico Lindo was next to the tire place just below the RR tracks?
Ray Coccia
I added a photo of Peppi's on the "Old Fontana" page.
Steve Herron
I did a lot of things in high school, but I don't recall ever mooning anyone.
Steve Herron
Steve; did you guys really "moon" people? you naughty boys!!
Miriam A.
Yes, Mazzulli's was the best pizza.....
Miriam A.
Ah yes,I remember the full moon in Fontana. What about my favorite place to eat,Peppi's. The best sausage grinders in town. Also,the best pizza,Mazulli's
Ray Coccia
Ray, you got it. You win the prize!
Steve Herron
Hey Ray; Remember me--we worked on the 20-Year reunion committee together. How the heck have you been? I remember the grapefruit fights; and they sent a lot of us home. I remember people having knives, etc.
Miriam Appelbaum
I think it Jr/Sr week,grapefruit fights? on the roof of the auditorium? ring a bell?
Ray Coccia
Next trivia question - What traditional Fohi event was banned our senior year and why?
Steve Herron
Actually, it was the Fire Service Club started by Paul Jamerson. A reaction to the recent fires north of Fontana and into Lytle Creek. Several students went into the hills to help fight the fires, me included. I was late to my first class meeting, as an officer, because of it.
Steve Herron
Was it the Ecology Club? Related to Earth Day and cleaning up the school, the city, .........???
Miriam Appelbaum
Wow. I don't remember that at all!! You have quite a memory, Steve.
Ginny (Dianasic) Buse
Next trivia question - In 1970, early in our senior year a new FOHI service club was sanctioned by the ASB. What was the name of the club, who started it and why?
Steve Herron
OK - I guess you've suffered enough. All the grads were given a dollar while we were in the buses waiting to leave that night. The ladies from the PTA handed them out.
Steve Herron
Come on Steve - what's the answer???
Ginny (Dianasic) Buse
Thanks John!! I may just try that!! And--well, Steve? what's the answer? was I close?
Miriam A.
Miriam, You mentioned that you had been away from Fontana for awhile. I just checked with maps.google.com and it looks like they have their "Street View" feature now covering Fontana. You put an address in and after the map locates it you just click on the little picture and voila you're there. The new Home Depot in South Fontana is there so I assume that photo coverage was done within the last year. With a little practice you can navigate up and down the streets and around town. Fontana has multiple zip codes now so you may want to leave zip codes off of addresses.Bon Virtual Voyage!
John
Would that be our entrance passes? I went, but I couldn't remember that, if my life depended on it!! Did Doug Barnes or you give them out, if that's the answer?
Miriam A.
I was depending on you people having good memory. Some much for that. That morning it was so foggy during rehearsal we were actually dripping wet. It was miserable. Now, next question for those that went to grad night at Disneyland. Or did I already put this question out there? What were given on the buses while they were sitting on the track getting ready to go to Disneyland? And who gave it to us?
Steve Herron
Steve; Well,looking back nigh unto 37 years ago June, I would venture to say it was either warmish or hot!! Yes, I'm being a s/a!! I don't know where you could check into that; do you think that the Herald News would keep weather records in their archives?
Miriam Appelbaum
No kidding, does anybody remember?
Steve Herron
Steve; Surely, you jest?
Miriam Appelbaum
Do you remember what the weather was like the morning of our high school graduation when we rehearsed in the stadium?
Steve Herron
Last weekend was warm and beautiful. Now we are a little chilly and breezy, but still nice. We hardly ever have over-cast skies here. Sun most of the time.
Steve Herron
Hi Steve; how's the weather; having snow? We had hail, on and off, yesterday.
Miriam Appelbaum
Speaking of things; isn't it weird, to see a raceway, where Kaiser Steel used to be?
Miriam A.
Very funny, Steve! Actually, I had to pull my weight as far as chores went, around the farm; but I think my parents just were way easier on me.......
Miriam A.
Miriam - Is that another way of saying that you were spoiled rotten?
Steve Herron
Actually, being 2-months premature, and being the youngest, I was probably given much more slack than my two older siblings, anyway!
Miriam A.
Me too!
Miriam Appelbaum
I must have been a "normal" kid then. I sure got away with my share.
Steve Herron
Miriam, I wasn't in any plays and I wasn't involved in any performance things. I was just a "normal" kid. Some folks are more "normal" then others. My definition of a normal kid is a kid who probably does everything the other kids do, he just doesn't get caught...
John
Oh yeah, John; I remember you'd mentioned the driveway with the rocks. I remember it. I happened to have a newspaper with all of the Class of 69's Senior pix; and your picture was in there. I knew quite a lot of people in that year, but I don't remember knowing you, exactly. Were you in any plays?
Miriam Appelbaum
As a kid I rode my bike all over town. I always liked Fontana Avenue because of the endless line of big shady Pepper trees on both sides of the street. It seemed like they almost met above the middle of the road. Along the streets and roads in Fontana the eucayptus tree wind breaks were usually strategically on the south side of the streets so fallen trees and limbs wouldn't block the streets. They also made the streets shady. I used to love heading for home from downtown Fontana on my bike because it looked like it was downhill all the way.
John
Miriam, I lived on the south side of Slover between Citrus and Oleander (closer to Oleander). Our place had a half-circle driveway bordered by white rocks. I am FOHI '69. I'm surprised that I don't have any memory of crossing the highway before the freeway and the overpasses came because we moved there in time for me to start kindergarden at Slover-Boyle in 1956.
John
My family went to Lou's Market every day when my Dad came home from work. Before the freeway, we had to cross the highway and I remember it wasn't very easy -- lots of traffic! There were stop signs in the center divider.
Nancy Price
It's so great to reminisce about old Fontana, isn't it? the special feeling we had, and the feeling that the town had.....
M.S.A.
also John; do you remember before the freeway was put in, and you would take Live Oak up to Valley Blvd, and go up "the diagonal"(Fontana Ave.)to get to town. I lived on Santa Ana and Calabash. Where-abouts did you live?
Miriam A.
I remember that market well! used to stop in there off and on. Remember Quellar's market on Valley, just east of Cherry; on the north side? I remember those RC Colas too; used to get them often! I remember paying .17c for them, at Water's store.
Miriam A.
Aways over from the NW corner of Citrus and Valley was Lou's market. We would ride our bikes over the Citrus overpass from South Fontana. Hardly any traffic. There were stop signs on Citrus, I'm not sure if there were stop signs on Valley there in the 60's. Had a telephone booth right outside the door. Newspaper racks on the sidewalk. Cashier and candy rack was right next to the door. Meat case and soft drink/milk/beer cold case was along the north wall. Had a full selection of all the necessities Coke, Pepsi, RC Cola, 7-Up, Bubble Up and Orange Soda. I usually got RC Cola because the bottle was bigger for the same 10 or 12 cent price. Bottle deposits increased from 2 to 3 cents in the early 60's. If we found an empty bottle on the side of the road we treated it like found cash. It wasn't unusally for me to trade a bunch of returned bottles for a fresh one. I don't remember every buying more then 2 at a time and usually it was only 1. Maybe as kids we didn't plan very far ahead...
John
Across from the bread store on Citrus there was a single family home that had been converted to a retirement home(50's/60's). It had a couple of nice trees on its green lawn. On one of the concrete block walls it had a sign with its name, which I can't remember. It said "Such and such Rest Home for ladies". It always struck me as a very dignified place.
John
Just south of Valley on the east side of Citrus there was a discount/day-old bread/bakery outlet in the 1960's. The name was something like DiCarlo's(?). We bought all our bread there. The retail store part wasn't very big and it was often packed. The customer parking lot in front wasn't very big. There was a parking lot behind a chain link fence (south side) where the bread trucks parked. Later on the building became a automobile smog test business.
John
Maybe it's time to chill out. Did anyone else ever chill at the Snowden Frozen Food Locker place on the south side of Valley and east of Citrus (1960's)? We must have bought a lot of meat because our family had a locker there for a time. Every week or two we'd go there, put on one of the arctic fur coats that were hung on the wall, and go to our locker. As you opened the door to enter the freezer part your breath turned frosty. There was a coin ice dispenser on the outside of the building. After you put the coins in you would eventually hear the clunk of the ice as it was released and then it slid out the chute.
John
....Steve is such a funny guy, that one!!
Miriam A.
I know what you mean Miriam. The schools were having an awful time with crack!
Steve Herron
Who can figure style out; remember when the kids in the 1990's, were wearing pants down to/almost showing their behinds? My own kid was in that era; but I drew the line there...he had to wear a belt.
Miriam A.
My parents had a hard time understanding why I bought jeans (501s) that were oversized and didn't fit at the time of purchase. They wanted me to take them back. It took them awhile to get used to the shrink-to-fit business and I don't think they ever were that comfortable with it. From their perspective why would anyone buy clothes that didn't fit?
John
I remember buying corduroy pants(cords)at that Miller's, in San B. and girls T's with fake diamonds on them.
Miriam A.
John - I was going to mention that. I used to buy pocketed t-shirts at Penney's for $1.50 each. Then we would go out to San Bernardino and buy 501s at Miller Outpost on 'E' Street next to Standard Brands. They were just under $8.00.
Steve Herron
I had forgotton all about the women's wear stores and the fabric shops... Perhaps they were more for the Fontana fashionistas...My high school wardroble was pretty much limited to Levi 501's and white t-shirts with pockets from JC Penney. We didn't have uniforms but the most of the guys mostly wore the same thing.
John
remember when there used to be Martin's Yardage, on Sierra? Later, came T.G.& Y., .....
Miriam A.
Don't forget Remar's and Hartfield's . . .
Nancy Price
I remember that I actually got my ears pierced, at the Goodman's Jewelers, in the Square; back when we were cave-dwellers, HA!
Miriam A.
Wasn't Anita's at the square?
Steve Herron
also Goodman's Jewelers was there.
Miriam A.
...also in the little area by Food Giant, was the 1-hour Martinizing cleaners; and wasn't there also a clothes store called Mode O'Day? and a Chess King for men?
Miriam A.
Let's not forget The Gift Bazaar, Thom McCann's and there was a men's store. Was it Black's for Men? Weaver's TV was in the arcade. Do you remember the wooden bridges that were in front of the sidewalks because that area used to flood during the rains. In high school we used to borrow one of the bridges and use it for the front entry to the girls' gym for the Luau Dances. We would use palm frongs on the bridge to create a tunnel as you entered the dance. Very cool!
Steve Herron
There was also a Singer Sewing Center at Fontana Square but maybe it didn't arrive until the late 1960's.
John
Can we name all the original stores that Fontana Square had? There was Thrifty Drug, Sears Catalog (delivery storefront), Bank of America, W.T. Grant, J.C. Penney, Woolworths, Winchell's Doughnuts, Lyle's Records, John's Barber Shop, Food Giant, and a cocktail lounge. The arcade part had a number of other small stores but I don't think they were ever all occuppied at the same time. I think there was also a McFarlane's(?) candy store down near the BofA branch, I think it might have relocated from Downtown Fontana. I think McFarlane's was just a local business, I don't recall seeing the name anywhere else.
John
Bowling Alleys. Back in the 60's there were two nearby. There was Fon-Ri (?) Lanes, south side of Foothill, east of Cedar (now). Cedar didn't go through to Foothill back then. The alternative was Orange Bowl in Rialto on the north side of Foothill, east of Pepper. The Fon-Ri building was later used as a church. It wasn't until the 80's that the Brunswick Bowling Center was built a ways back from Foothill at Foothill and Palmetto (Accross from the WalMart).
John
By Golly, you're right!!
Miriam
On the "Old Fontana" page you can see the old B of A in the color photo marked "Downtown Fontana 1960s?"
Steve Herron
I was going to mention about the old B.of A. being a Spanish building. I remember it so well! Just loved the strong Spanish-style influence in the buildings, back then. Downtown Fontana was so cool!
Miriam A.
Hemet Federal Savings and Loan came to Fontana with a new branch building at the NE corner of Sierra and Marygold in 1974. Some years later they were acquired by Redlands Federal. In recent years that branch, and the Redlands Federal building at Arrow and Sierra, have been Citibank branches.
john
The downtown Fontana Security Pacific Bank had an embezzlement case in the 1960's. A bank employee removed a significant amount of cash and then didn't come to work anymore. His picture was in the newspaper and he was "Wanted". If I remember right it was someone from Fontana that eventually recognized him gambling in Las Vegas and identified him to the police there who arrested him.
John
The orignal BofA was a Spanish/Mission style building right out at the NW corner of Sierra and Arrow. They also had a branch in Fontana Square in the 1960's. The other "Big Bank" was Security Pacific Bank. Their Fontana branch on the north side of Arrow near Wheeler was not far from the Fontana Fire Station. They later opened a branch in the South Sierra Stater Bros shopping center. It became a BofA when the banks merged in the 1980's. Redlands Federal Savings was an S&L located on the SE corner of Wheeler and Valencia (accross from the 1950's post office) before they built a new building on the SE corner of Sierra and Arrow, maybe around 1990.
John
remember the original Bank of America on Arrow and Sierra, before they moved it back?
Miriam A.
I remember Ryn's dairy; wasn't it on Fontana Ave. just above Valley Blvd? I vaguely remember the Carnation building; now that's taking us back a loooong time ago!! What wonderful memories.....
Miriam A.
Anyone remember the drive-through dairies of Fontana? There was the Brown Swiss Dairy (?) on the north side of Valley maybe near Palmetto (they had real cows). There was Ryan Dairy just a block east of Fontana Junior High on Arrow. Were there any others? There was also a big Carnation building with a lot of milk trucks around it a long distance back from Sierra on the SE corner of Sierra and Valley. We also knew a family on Boyle that had a cow and sometimes we would buy milk from them.
John
I remember a restaurant/bakery located just shortly after you enter into Oregon on I-5; it's called Heaven on Earth; it smells like Heaven! and you want to talk about cinnamon rolls; thick and as big as a dinner plate, and OMG delicious.....
Miriam A.
....darn; I never got to partake of those cinnamon rolls in the cafeteria...
M.S.A.
I can sure relate, Steve! My brain functions much the same way. My short-term memory is as long as my eye-teeth, which is pretty darn short, since I no longer have my eye-teeth! (They removed them when I got my braces in.)
Miriam A.
Nobody getting pissed off here, just hard to follow the conversation. I only function on minimal brain power anyway. Oh ya, Helms Bakery trucks. Sssmmmeeeelll... those fresh cinnamon rolls and doughnuts. Remember the great cinnamon rolls we used to get fresh out of the high school cafeteria. I think it was the only thing people really appreciated from our on-campus kitchen.
Steve Herron
remember when the Moose Lodge used to have their Friday Fish Fries? You could smell the hot oil for blocks!
Miriam A.
O.K. everyone; I've gotten back on the right page. Do we all have our glasses on, now? Let's get with the program, so we don't piss Steve off, har. (Steve, you know I'm still the president of your fan club!)
Miriam A.
one of my fondest memories, was when the Helms Bakery used to come around to the houses, in their yellow panel trucks; delivering fresh bread,doughnuts, etc. etc.
Miriam A.
Yes Steve; I'm the guilty party;I may have started it; but everyone else continued it, so I guess we'd ALL better put our glasses on, right? HA.
Miriam A.
Fairmont Park had a beautiful Merry-Go-Round. We used to cruise Fairmont in high school.
Steve Herron
Fairmont Park in Riverside had a small amusement area with a few paid rides. It had a very small roller coaster and maybe a Tilt-A-Whirl and a Merry-go-round (?). Fairmont Park also had a boat house where you could rent boats to go around Lake Evans. I seem to remember that the boats were electric but maybe they had paddle boats and canoes too. Kids also did some fishing in the lake. At the far end of the lake there was some type of private club house that I think had it's own dock.
John
.....remember riding on the double ferris-wheel at the Orange Show? I rode on it once, and the girl I was with, proceeded to rock the carriage. I wanted to kill her! That cured it for me, riding on it!
Miriam A.
While at FOHI I remember going to the auto junkyards on Valley to get parts sometimes. In those days you brought your own tools and removed whatever you wanted yourself from the junker of your choice and paid for it on the way out. I remember having favorite junkers that were close matches. If messed up a part taking it off I just went to another junker and tried again.
John
The Coronet Store building included the local Social Security office for awhile. The first SSA Fontana office was on the east side of Sierra, a short distance south of Quicker Liquor. It opened there in a new building in 1974. The office moved a couple of times, including the Coronet building, until it located to the current site on the west side of Sierra, between Slover and Santa Ana.
John
The Fontana Library had an earliar location on the East side of Nuevo between Spring and Arrow before the then "New" building on Emerald Ave was completed. The Emerald library must have opened before 1963 because I remember walking there after school while I was at Fontana Junior High. In my very early Fontana memories I remember the library being on one end of very Spanish looking building which also had other city offices. I don't know if the existing Fontana City Hall was built on the same site an earliar city/county building that included the "original" library at the time.
John
The ride on the hammer was in 1964. I haven't been on one since. Barf!
Steve Herron
I would have never ridden on the hammer. I don't like being upside-down, up high. Is it a "guy" thing?
Miriam A.
I didn't know that the library was in the old King Coroner building, either, Steve. In the late 80's, the Coronet building was a medical clinic. Prior to that wasn't it being used for county or state offices? I do remember the library when it was on Nuevo; in a Spanish-style building? Wasn't also Western Union, as well as insurance, in there too? And when the library was on Nuevo, wasn't that before it was in the area of the Herald News? Then later moved to where it remained, behind the City Hall?
Miriam Appelbaum
I didn't know the library was in the old Coronets building. Does anybody remember the library being on Nuevo originally?
Steve Herron
I also remember the Fontana Days Carnival being held at Miller Park and in the USWA Auditorium parking lot.
Steve Herron
Fontana Days was always fun. Miriam, when it was on Marigold and Sierra, I can remember when Bob Harvey and I went there one day. We got in trouble for sneaking a peak at the 2 headed cow. We later ate hot dogs, then road on the hammer. The place wasn't busy because it was early and the operator of the ride gave us an extra long ride. We were both sicker than dogs after that. Bob gave up his hot dog right there on the carnival grounds. What a mess!
Steve Herron
Cherry Liquor's business was booming on Kaiser paydays. A lot of the guys would sit in the parking lot there, drink their purchases and shoot the breeze. Sometimes it was hard to find a place to park. Jerry's Burgers drive-in also did good business off the Kaiser guys. John, regarding Baker's, my wife and I in 1973, living on a very tight budget in those days, treated ourselves to dinner on tacos and a drink for under $3 on Fridays. Paydays, because we felt so rich, we went to Peppi's.
Steve Herron
A lot of Fontana business activity was tied to pay day at Kaiser Steel. Many stores, especially liquor stores, carried large sums of cash to accommodate payroll checks.
John
How about Sterns signs? In the 60's and 70's it seemed that every painted independent storefront business name in Fontana had a small notation of "Sterns" or "Sterns again" at the bottom right hand corner. Perhaps Sterns will one day receive due credit as the Michaelangelo of Fontana...
John
It was a great parade when it went from City Hall down to near Sierra and Marygold. There were paper napkin stuffed chicken-wire floats by some clubs and churches. There were school bands and marchers. One daring spot to watch it from was sitting on the lower ledge of the elevated billboard in the empty field on the n/w corner of Sierra and Ceres. You could also run into a lot of people you knew by walking along the route. Over the years the Fontana Days parade got shorter. By the 1980's I think it only went as far south as Merrill. Fontana Days was always a welcomed sign of summer vacation from school approaching.
John
Remember when they used to hold the Fontana Days carnival in the n/w corner field of Marigold and Sierra, which of course became the Lucky's plaza... Then they started holding the carnival at Palmetto Park. I remember taking my son there, and he rode on the donkeys with a sombrero and serape.......
Miriam
In the early 1970's Bakers on Sierra had Taco Fridays. You could get 10 tacos for $1. I remember having to wait when there were orders for 20 or 30 tacos ahead of me...
John
In addition to the original Jolly Farms the west side of the Sierra between Ceres and Merrill had Milt's Smorgasboard, Lazio's Sporting Goods, and Baker's (which still survives). I think Milt's was on the corner of Ceres and Merrill. I don't recall ever going to Milt's but just remember the sign and that the building was white. There was also a Lazio's Liquor store on Valley. The original was just a little hole-in-the wall in a very forgetable row of little stores. In around 1965 Lazio's moved to the new store he built on the northeast corner of Valley and Juniper. Each of the Lazio's had a good selection of magazines and a comic book rack or two.
John
How many remember the Colton Cable SkiWay on Valley Blvd? You could waterski while being pulled by an overhead cable around a wide channel of water that surrounded a large island in the center. There was a concrete tunnel under the water to get to the island. Dick Clark's "Where the Action Is" series recorded one show there in the 1960's. "Paul Revere and the Raiders" performed.
John
I think Mt Slover in Colton is almost gone. It might not be long before it starts becoming a pit instead of a peak.
John
Moving on - As of March 2008 the Fontana Library is still in the old Coronet Store building at Valencia & Nuevo. The big new library building, just south of where the Herald News was located in the 60's, is supposed to open next month.
John
I'm sure you all remember the large quarry that's on the right side of the freeway; as you come into Colton; remember that when we were kids, it actually came to a point, at the top? I think I'm overdue, for a trip down to the Inland Empire to see all the new stuff!!
Miriam A.
John; thanks for the updates; I guess it's been much longer than I thought, that I went into Fontana; because I don't remember seeing any of those new things. About the old quarry; I went up there once with a friend--in the 80's; and I remember getting the most "eerie" feeling up there. We didn't hike down to the water,but there was an old railroad car there; and I wanted to explore it, but something told me to get the heck out of there. Never went back.
Miriam
Miriam, Of the times I been back to South Fontana in recent years the thing that really knocked my socks off when I realized what it was is the Oakquarry golf course (Oakquarry.com). Driving south on Sierra it's on the west side after you pass over the saddle and start descending into Riverside County. It's around one of the old Jurupa Hills quarries. It uses a Riverside address but it's in "our" Jurupa Hills.
John
Miriam, I think you're right, Kragen did seem to take over a lot of auto stores, and I do think they were in the Lucky Plaza at Marygold. I had forgotton that it was Bill Bader before it became Rotolo Chevrolet. I remember the rotating "sky lights" they used when the new models came out in September and my dad taking me along to go look at them.
John
Miriam, In 2001-02 Jurupa Hills Elementary was changed to Jurupa Hills Middle School. It's a 6th grade only school for the FUSD "Gifted and Talented Magnet Program". Then the students go to Sequoia for 7th and 8th grade. I guess the district needed to shuffle some space around. It doesn't have a gym. It has a number of "portable" bungalow classrooms. It's supposed to return to an elementary school after another middle school gets built in the area. Other South Fontana changes in the last few years include Fontana's 2nd post office at SE corner of Juniper and Santa Ana, a new Stater Brothers shopping center at NW corner of Sierra and Jurupa (has a Starbucks too). The big new Home Depot at the SW corner of Sierra and Santa Ana opened last year. I think it's the SE corner of Sierra and Slover that's expected to get a Walmart and a Hilton (garden) Hotel. Compared to how it was in the 1960's parts of South Fontana are like an alien galaxy....
John
didn't that Chief auto supply later become Kragen? or maybe Kragen was across Marigold, in the Lucky's plaza? and remember the old FORD dealership, off the corner of Foothill and Sierra; n/e side? and back in the 60's, wasn't it Rotolo Chevrolet of Juniper and Foothill, that used to be Bill Bader Chevrolet?
Miriam A.
John; What exactly do you mean by the former Jurupa Hills School? is it no longer a school? also; the other parts store you may be thinking of is Western Auto; used to be on the northeast corner of Arrow and Sierra. Also; Morris Auto was owned by the Swedloves. Last I knew, the sons were running it.
Miriam Appelbaum
In the 60's cars didn't last as long and many folks were willing and able to fix cars themselves. Moss Auto Parts on the west side of Sierra above San Bernardino always seemed to have everything we needed. They relocated to a new location in the Quicker Liquor shopping center for a number of years before they disappeared. Morris Auto Supply on Nuevo downtown is still there, though I'm sure they've had a change in ownership over the years. C&J Auto Parts was in the small shopping center at northwest corner of Sierra and Ivy. There was another parts store downtown on Sierra but I can't recall the name. There was also a Chief (chain) auto parts in the South Sierra Stater Brothers shopping center.
John
So it sounds like the Sugar Shack was relatively close to area of the Palms Drivein (burgers) location on Sierra. I don't remember too much about the Palms. I only recall that we ate in the car. Did they have car-hop service like A&W?
John
The Sav_mor gas station used to be a Wilshire Station in the early 60s.
Steve Herron
The Sugar Shack was on the east side of Sierra across from where Holly Ave intersects with Sierra. Just south of the USWA/Fontana Performing Art Center is.
Steve Herron
The name Sugar Shack sounds familiar but I can't place it for sure. Was it out on the south side of Foothill some place way west of Citrus with similiar establishments?
John
Miriam if it's been awhile since you were in Fontana you may not know that they're in the process of clearing out the grape vineyards across from the former Jurupa Hills Elementary School in preparation for building a new high school there between Citrus and Oleander.
John
Maybe Fontana should have left well enough alone. Some years ago a lot of downtown Fontana store fronts were "upgraded". Now they're coverting them back to 50's style (Like Victoria Gardens in Rancho Cucamonga).
John
Hey Guys; remember the old DMV on Orange Way, where probably most of us got our permits and licenses?
Miriam Appelbaum
It amazes me how many little "plazas" they've put in, up and down Sierra. Give me the old Spanish-style buildings of old Fontana, anytime!!
Miriam A.
I remember the Sugar Shack. One of my sisters was a hostess or something, there. Wow, it's been torn down for a long long time! Bringing up old early-childhood memories, makes me homesick!!
Miriam A.
I was surprised to hear from John C. that the Pizza Hut had been knocked down. I remember working there for a brief time, before I was 2l.
Miriam A.
I had forgotten about the TV's in the classroom. We must have all watched the same lady teaching us Spanish! All I remember is "Bate' Bate' Chocolate'"! How funny. Any of you remember La Azteca? It was on Sierra on the East side in a little shopping center. You could get "taco makers" which had all of the fixings - take home & make your own.
Ginny Buse
I remember the A&W also; just below Merrill, wasn't it? right next to John Burr motorcycle place. Does anyone remember the original Jolly Farms? It was kinda small and quaint. Best chicken. The people who owned it back then; (The Cunans) named the place after one of their daughters-Jolly. {They had this really cool 2 1/2 story house in Riverside; not far from Raincross Square. Used to love visiting them out there.} Just a bit of "historical" info., about Jolly Farms.
Miriam A.
I don't remember Mel's Root Beer but I do remember the A&W. That was always one of my favorites. I can remember my Dad loading up the car and driving to the A&W and getting it served by a car-hop and they would hang the tray on your car window. You'd turn your lights on when you were finished, leave a little tip under the rubber mat on the tray and the car-hop would pick it up.
Steve Herron
In downtown Fontana there was "Mel's Rootbeer" on the east side of Sierra. I remember going there a few times in the late 50's. The rootbeer mugs were icy cold and we just sat at the long counter with the frosty mugs drinking. One summer we made root beer at home. We used glass pop bottles and had a hand-capping gizmo we must have gotton from a junk store that squeezed new caps onto the bottles. On a very hot afternoon we heard some loud pops/explosions out in our garage. We realized the rootbeer bottles were exploding. Maybe we put too much yeast (or whatever it was that made the fizz). It was up to our folks to "disarm" the remaining bottles.
John
I memember Mrs. Collins; she was a bear; but Tony was the nicest man. His last name was Trone, if memory serves me correctly. I guess it's true, however; you have to have a certain kind of something to be able to drive a bus of rowdy kids! Mrs.Rohr was also a bus driver in S. Fontana. She was very nice, too. Yeah Nancy; I remember when our numbers began with VA; and my parents had the same phone number, for about 45 years!
Miriam A.
I think they re-did the boundaries for the junior highs back in the mid 1960's to adjust/improve racial balancing among the schools. Alder was a relatively new school at the time so I don't think too many minded being switched to there. It was a long bus ride from South Fontana to Alder but it was almost as long to go to Fontana Jr High. Fontana Jr High had a number of building that seemed ancient (and they're even older now).
John
Until sometime in the mid 1960's we had to use an operator to call out of the local area - even to such exotic locales as San Bernardino. Then came area codes and we could dial anywhere that had one. But it wasn't until the later 1970's that we had the right to own our own phone, they were rented to us before that.
John
We had a party line too! Remember when our telephone numbers began with "VA" for "Valley"?
Nancy
We LOVED Mary Collins! When they re-did the boundaries for the junior highs we ended up being bused to Alder Junior High -- instead of Fontana Jr. High. My brother had spent one year at Fontana, and then had the choice of staying there, or switching to Alder. He chose Alder; Mary was the bus driver. She was our bus driver for our first several years at Jurupa Hills, too, until we moved down the street.
Nancy
At Slover-Boyle school the bus drivers were Mary Collins and Tony for different parts of South Fontana. I don't think I ever knew Tony's real last name. All the kids called him Tony Baloney. I rode Mary Collins' bus to Slover-Boyle but when Jurupa Hills opened I could walk to school. When it was time for Fontana Junior High I was back on a Mary Collins bus. It takes a certain attitude/presence to be a school bus driver and Mary Collins sure had it. If you caused too much trouble on her bus you didn't get to ride it anymore.
John
I also remember the party lines on the phone; you could pick up the phone and get what we(kids) thought was some pretty juicy gossip! There used to be these two women, who talked about different things.
Miriam
I remember the classroom t.v.'s, too. It was quite a novelty. I also remember when the Museum was in Bloomington; they also had alot of rocks, gems, and I think-arrowheads. When they opened up the new one in Redlands, I took my son there a few times.
Miriam A.
How about party telephone lines in the 1950/60s? Sometimes a private line wasn't available. In South Fontana we would sometimes pick up the phone and hear a neighbor talking instead of a dialtone. If we wanted to call the party-line neighbor on the phone we had to do something like hang-up and then pick up the line when the phone stopped ringing. The neighbor had to be aware that they might have to wait a moment or two for someone to "be there" after they picked the phone up. It was usually just easier to walk over and talk to them...We also had a elderly couple as other neighbors that didn't have a phone. Once in awhile they would get a call and we would go over and get them to our phone.
John
At FOHI in the 1960's we had "Rooter (sp?) Buses" that took students to "away" Football games. For something like 50 cents or $1 you got to ride a regular FUSD school bus back and forth to a game. They left from the FOHI parking lot in the evening and returned after the game. They'd travel to the game in a caravan. In some ways they made the "away" games more of an event then the "home" games.
John
How about the old San Bernardino County museum when it was located in Bloomington (south side of the freeway, east of Cedar)? It had a very large collection of bird eggs, not the most exciting thing to study. It also had some train cars outside that were open for exploring. The caboose had the most nooks and crannies.
John
We didn't have TV's in the classroom at Jurupa Hills (at least not by the end of the '62 - '63 school year). But I do remember a special ocassion when 2 or 3 small TV cameras on tripods were brought into the classroom, a special "TV Teacher" was brought in (I guess the regular teacher wasn't photogenic enough), and parents were invited to watch what happened in the classroom on TV screens in another classroom, or maybe it was the auditorium. It was a total fake-out. If the parents wanted to know what happend in the classroom they would have been better served to just sit in the back on a regular day and watch (That's what I did with my kid). I guess it was the novelty of seeing their kids "on TV" that generated interest.
John
Do you remember when all the schools got TVs and we would watch "Learn Spanish" and science demonstrations.
Steve Herron
I remember going to the South Fontana Community Church during school hours -- the Pastor was Chauncey (sp?) Bruce. He was the pastor there when my aunts and my dad went there as children, and he remembered all of them!
Nancy Price
Religious practices and school. Back in those days around 1960 there was some provision that permitted elementary school kids to leave school for limited periods for "religious instruction". Catholic nuns took a group of participating kids off-campus one afternoon a week. A Protestant alternative was offered by the South Fontana Community Church (on Live Oak). Kids that weren't involved got to remain in their classrooms and read/study.
John
I also remember Bill Moore, our Janitor at Jurupa. Yes, he was the nicest man ever was. And the lead cook-Kathy. I got to help out in the Cafeteria too, and got either ice cream or something,for a treat. John; I remember the name Carvala; I'm tryig to put the face with it. I also remember the house with the white rocks you mentioned.
Miriam A.
I guess my msg. didn't appear. I remember those rag drives too, Steve. We had a brick/cement incinerator that my dad built, for trash. Saturday mornings, we would burn the tumbleweeds in a big pile. We had the dumpsite, in the Jurupa Hills we used to go to dump. I remember that on the Slushy Meadows trip, we had to bring along dehydrated food, and a little pot to cook it in. What an adventure that was!! I also the mass flag salutes, and the bomb drills; and doing the Virginia Reel, and the Mexican Hat Dance.
Miriam Appelbaum
Wow - I haven't read the message boards in quite awhile, I guess!! You guys have come up with some great memories!! I remember those horrible incinerators, Steve. I was about 4 when the little girl next door got too near theirs, her dress caught fire, and she died from the burns. Glad those things are gone!! Had to laugh about the bomb drills - duck & cover! Ha! Bank day, Friday ice cream. You guys made me smile!
Ginny Buse
Some patriotism is a good thing. At Jurupa Hills we had a school-wide flag salute as school began on Monday mornings. Each class would line up outside their classroom facing the flagpole in the center of the quad. After the flag was raised we would all recite the Pledge of Allegiance in (general) unison. There was always a slight momentary echo as we finished.
John
The only thing that surprised me more then going by my old elementary school one time and seeing lush green lawn where our dirt and loose rocks play field had been was going by another time and seeing air-conditioning units on the building roofs. Going to school has been totally whimped-out...Do today's Fontana schools even have bicycle racks?
John
At Jurupa Hills Elementary each of the classrooms had a long wide shelf just under the windows along one wall. We'd all huddle under it next to each other for the bomb drills. There was a fire drill where one class failed to show up in the assembly area. The principal investigated and found that they had got the fire and bomb drill alarms mixed-up.
John
I guess the cityfolks in "Downtown" Fontana used incinerators but us savages out in the wild lands south of the freeway in the 50's just sort of gathered together our loose weeds and tree branches into a pile. When the pile got big enough, once or twice a year, dad struck a match on a Saturday, and voila, problem solved. Eventually we had to get a permit and then casual fires were prohibited altogether. As a kid the excitement of having the bonfire was replaced with excitement of a trip to the dump and seeing all the great free stuff there for the taking. We went to the county dump in Bloomington before Fontana got its own dump on the North side.
John
...we used to have rag drives at Randall-Pepper. Does anyone remember incinerators? How about Bank Day? Ice cream included with your cafeteria meal on Fridays only. Schools with no fences or grass? Bomb drills were always fun. How about sixth grade sex education film in the cafeteria. How about square dancing at school?
Steve Herron
John -- The Ross & Brown Box Factory stayed in business into the 1970's, I don't know for sure when it finally closed. The employees' parking lot was across the street from our house. All the old buildings are still there. The Shane houses are right next to the Citrus overpass, on the east side. I think they still look pretty good, too! I went on the overnight Slushy Meadows trip, too. I remember making homemade backpacks out of plastic trashcans and straps.
Nancy (Shane) Price
......didn't remember that Water's Country Store had burned down; I moved out of Fontana in about 1989, and after my parents died late 1989, I didn't get down to the old neighborhood much, after we sold the homestead. We knew Helen & Jimmy Waters practically since birth; and Sharon and Judy went to school with my older sisters. Jimmy has died several years ago; don't know if Helen is still alive.
Miriam A.
OOPS---fingers spelled "Chedry" instead of "Cherry." So John C., who are you? Also, I remember our Principal of Jurupa]]Mr. Saugstead, going on the Slushy Meadows trip, with us.
Miriam A.
The markets in south Fontana' on Slover and Live Oak,, was Magana's; and the one on Slover and Beech, was Leyva's. The 7/11 on Slover and Cherdry, came in at the 1960's, I believe. Not sure about the one on Slover and Sierra. Oh My God: I didn't think anyone out there, remembered the trip to Slushy Meadows!! Yes, I went that weekend. I think it was the Duncan boy that got lost up there. That was a trip to remember, all right!!
Miriam Appelbaum
Waters Country Store pretty much burned down when it was gutted by a fire in about 2006. The parking lot had reputation as a location for illegal transactions for much of the 1980's and afterwords. Originally, it was the primary market, if you could call it that, for South Fontana. Historically, there were also couple of other smaller markets/liquor stores in South Fontana on Slover near Beech (?) as well as at Live Oak. It was probably the early 1970's before the small market at Sierra and Slover (Did it start as a Circle K?) arrived as well as the Circle K at Cherry and Slover.
John
Do you remember hearing about the fire, probably in the early 1970's, when the Jurupa Hills Elementary cafeteria/auditorium burned down? From what I recall some kid(s) broke in looking for ice cream and somehow a fire resulted, maybe they were using candles(?). It was rebuilt but I was never inside afterward to know if it was rebuilt the same way.
John
Near the end of 5th grade ('62) and 6th grade ('63) at Jurupa Hills Elementary we had outdoor education with overnight camping trips to Slushy Meadows (San Gorgonio Wilderness). We had to hike in and carry/cook own own food. It was rustic (had to use a shovel). Mr Murray was the teacher in charge. Did either Miriam or Nancy get to participate in these in later years or where they discontinued?
John
Nancy, can you tell us anything about the "Box Factory" that used to be on Boyle? I stopped in there once in high school to apply for a summer job but otherwise I know nothing about the place.
John
In the 1960's the Webb O'Neal Chevron service station on the SE corner of Sierra and Randall always seemed to be the neatest and best-looking gas station in town (with the highest prices). Diagonally accross the intersection was Jones Pet Shop with the large monkey cage on the outside. The guy that ran it knew what appealed to kids...
John
I've always been impressed with (what I'm pretty sure is) the Shane house at the end of the block. It's an island of "Wonder Years" serentity among other properties that have either been leveled, surrounded by harsh fences, or over-run with cars and trucks parked where the lawns used to be. The house and its landscaping seems to be as they always has been.
John
John -- I also remember Bill Moore, our janitor at Jurupa Hills. He was the nicest man . . . my sister and I used to visit with him all the time, and we even went back to Jurupa Hills several times, years later after we had left the school, to see him.
Nancy (Shane) Price
John: I remember your family and the house you lived in on Slover, and the place my brother and his wife rented. We lived on Boyle -- my aunt and my daughter still live in the houses there.
Nancy (Shane) Price
What a great memory, John C. So who are you?
Anonomous
I always thought the purpose of the metal shop classes at Fontana Junior High was to get us (boys) all ready to work at Kaiser Steel. We'd have to hold the metal bars in the furnace with tongs until they glowed red and then we'd have to pound them into a chisel.
John
The original Stater Brothers market(before it became Rasco/Sarco), accross from Kaiser Hospital, had it's own seperate coffee shop. That part of the building is still a restaurant. The original Stater Brothers in downtown Colton (on the south side of Valley) also had its own coffee shop.
John
FOHI was closed for a "snow day" in December 1968. It was bitter cold and the boiler at the school broke down so there was no heat. There had been a light dusting of snow all over town the night before and it was cold enough to stay visible most of the following day.
John
The grungy looking Sav_mor gas station near the Steelworkers Auditorium always had the cheapest gas in the 1960's. For $2.00 you could drive for days at 33 cents a gallon. "Gas War" prices dropped down to under 20 cents a gallon a couple of times.
John
The history of a town can sometime be told in pizza. In the mid 60's Red Devil Pizza on Sierra in the old downtown was the place to go after FOHI football games. Pizza Hut arrived near the (Orange Way) railroad tracks in about 1967 (it was torn down in 2007). I think it was the old Moss Automotive building on Sierra above San Bernardino that became a Pizza Chalet in the 1970's (it later turned into a Mexican restaurant).
John
The (black) school janitor at Jurupa Hills Elementary was "Bill" when I went there. He was calm, relaxed, and was always there for any problem or to take care of the mess when a kid got "sick". I didn't really appreciate all the things he did for the school until years later when I had my own son in elemenary school and I realized the amount of effort needed to maintain a school with a few hundred kids. I seem to remember that Bill lived on Oleander, south of Santa Ana. Bill had his "office" in a closet.
John
In the 50's and 60's we got real food in school lunches. I think they were 35 cents. At Jurupa Hills Elementary lunches were served on divided trays and in about 6th grade some kids were assigned to do "lunch duty" for a week at a time. There was two different lunches, one for lower grades and one for upper grades. The tables and benches folded out of the side walls of the cafeteria/auditorium. We helped the lady in the cafeteria set things up, helped on the serving line, even rinsed the trays as they came through the "return" window before they went into the dishwasher. One member of the team had to run the milk cart at the front (5 cents for a small carton) for those that brought their own bag lunches. Ice cream was also sold on Fridays.
John
My last name is Carvala. My younger brother (1 year behind me in school) was Richard. We lived on Slover between Citrus and Oleander. Our house had a circular driveway edged with white-washed rocks. Richard was in the same grade as David Shane. For a time in the mid 1970's David Shane lived in a rental house we had on the same property.
John
Yes, John C: let us know your last name; are you John Centanni, John Cooley, or whom?
Miriam A.
I remember a guy that used to walk up and down Sierra; he was tall and thin; had black hair and I think glasses. He used to go around making "explosion" noises; I believe his last name was "Nitti". He was 'shell-shocked' from the war; I think he had an apt. on Marygold; and supposedly, he committed suicide, later. This according to my older sister: she remembers things that I don't.
Miriam A.
John (let us know your last name): I remember the "walking man" -- my family called him "Stepin' Fetchit" and "Walking Charlie." We didn't know his "real" identity . . he walked everywhere. I went to Jurupa Hills from K-6 also and have the same memories you do . . My brother, David, was the Fiesta King when I was in 5th grade and he was in 6th -- Priscilla Ramirez was the Queen that year . . .
Nancy (Shane) Price
The dense fog we got in South Fontana. It was difficult to see traffic to cross the street. The saving grace was the general absence of traffic...
John
I remember many tumbleweeds as big as a car or travel trailer begin blown by the winds. As a sign of progress and development the loose tumbleweeds have been replaced by plastic grocery/trash bags often hanging high up on telephone poles on in trees.
John
I took a guided-tour through Kaiser Steel, back when it was still up and running.....
Miriam Appelbaum
remember going to the Bel-Air Drive-in? and the Arrow Theater?
Miriam A.
Does any else remember the Fontana "Walking Man"? He'd walk east on Slover and north on Sierra in the morning and come back in the afternoon. He was thin, not tall, wore farmer-type coveralls, and I think he had a felt hat sometimes as well as frquently carrying a pipe. My family assumed he was not a hobo but maybe just retired and out for a walk. I'd see him a couple of times a month, year after year, back and forth in the 50's and 60's. Anyone else have any more info on him?
John
The Colton "Auction" on Valley Blvd on Thursdays. It was the farmers market of its day. Produce was cheap (and fresh), Levi 501's were much cheaper then at the Broadway in Inland Center, and 4-track and 8-track cartridges were readily available (though they were usually not produced in a legitimate factory)
John C
Whoever John is; if you lived in South Fontana below the freeway and Cherry overpass, I probably know you!
Miriam A.
Yeah; I remember all of those events at Jurupa Hills School too, since I attended there from K-6. It was a pretty cool school, even then!!
MIriam Appelbaum
We have great school events at Jurupa Hills Elementary in the late 50's/early 60's such as the Halloween night (the PTA often turned a classroom in to a "Haunted House"), the annual Christmas play/show (We weren't afraid to even call it Christmas back then), and the school "Fiesta" that marked the upcoming end of the school year and the hot summer to come.
John
The irrigation water system in South Fontana. It was a great summer day when a neighbor had their irrigation water turned on and we could walk barefoot down the trenches of cool water between the hot sand.
John
The eucaplytus tree wind breaks in South Fontana.
John
We had 3 big walnut trees on our property, and we'd crack the nuts on the road, and eat them. Completely pesticide-free and natural; long before"organic" was popular, ha!
Miriam Appelbaum
Pat Prine and I would climb into the big apricot tree he had in his yard and eat ripe apricots until we were sick. Then we would go over to his Mulberry tree and eat a bunch of Mulberries. In the fall, after a rain, we would pick grapes in the abandoned grape vineyard behind our house and find mushrooms, eatable mushrooms. My neighbors used to cook and eat them. I guess they were OK.
Steve Herron
Hey people, don't you remember all the neat flying and crawling critters we used to get?
Miriam Appelbaum
you used to still see fireflies, horned-toads, potato bugs, and the green Japanese beetles......
Miriam A.
we used to go down past Mulberry,and play in the wash; which later became industrial, after we graduated....
MIriam Appelbaum
Miriam - And you were all the way on the other side of town! I could hear them from my house on Juniper just north of San Bernardino Ave. What a sound!
Steve Herron
I used to hear the roaring of the cars, at the Drag Strip, on Foothill.
Miriam Appelbaum
the first phase of culture-shock to me, was when they opened Sierra up,through to the other side.It felt weird for the longest time, to drive through the hills.....
Miriam A.
How ironic is that? We all rode around the same area around the same time frame,and never ran into each other!! Nancy; I have pictures of the fields and grape vineyards before they put the Southridge homes in all along the hills. Those were our hills!
Miriam Appelbaum
We used to go to the rental stables on Banana. I remember in jr. high, me, Rick Wilminko, Debbie Dove and Sue Abascal went riding. So we were riding along through the grape vineyards when we came along a rode. Sue's horse didn't like the looks of the rode and made a sudden right turn. She was thrown into the grapevines and got pretty scratched up. We had fun anyway!
Steve Herron
Miriam -- I'm surprised, too! We rode all over the hills -- I was always on a "borrowed" horse, since I didn't have one, but I got to ride a lot. The Jurupa Hills are almost unrecognizable now with all the homes there.
Nancy Price
there was a horse-riding stable on Banana below Santa Ana; where you could rent a horse for "pennies"-- we'd save our allowance to go riding--down by the Jurupa Hills... Nancy-surpised we never ran into you and Jenny Clotts!!
Miriam A.
I worked in the credit-office at Grants, long before computer technology took over....
Miriam Appelbaum
I used to ride my bike to Randall-Pepper Elementary School on the weekends and ride around the school grounds. This was before locked gates and fences and even playgrounds with grass. My bike was purchased at Grant's at the Square. It cost $32.00 and I put it on lay-away. I paid for it selling TV Guides weekly at a profit of 4 cents a copy.
Steve Herron
I remember Rasco too; used to go in there and get little things.... and I worked at Milt's Smorgasbord a short while..was sorry to see it go out of business.
Miriam Appelbaum
My Mom worked at that Rasco for years.
Steve Herron
. . . I walked with my grandfather to see construction of the Citrus overpass, right next to their home (1958) . . . walking to John & Pete's Mobil station on the corner of Slover & Citrus to buy candy . . . riding horses to Water's Country Store on Santa Ana . . . riding horses all over the Jurupa Hills with my best friend, Jennifer Clotts . . . the miniature golf course on Valley & Catawba . . . Milt's Smorgasbord . . . the Rasco (Sarco) Store in the South Stater Bros. shopping center . . .
Nancy Price
....I'm with you, Ginny; I actually miss the Santa Ana winds too-- in Oregon, there's no such thing!!
Miriam Appelbaum
Remember the year it rained so badly? It was our sophomore year. I didn't think I'd ever say this - but I miss the Santa Ana Winds!
Ginny Buse
Learning to swim and swim good at the Plunge:My neighbor Timmy Burns was my Teacher sometimes and a good one!
Bill Kezar
getting a scoop of ice cream at Thrifty's only cost you a nickel.
Steve Herron
...when Kaiser Steel would light up the sky for miles around...
Miriam A.
.....there were still a lot of citrus groves in Fontana, and they would smell so beautiful, at certain times....
Miriam A.
....you could get the best (flavors of) ice cream cones at Thrifty's,at the Fontana Square....
Miriam Appelbaum
......eating at the lunch counter in Woolworth's; at the Fontana Square......
Miriam A.
we used to go into the King Coronet store,with those great stairways....
Miriam
.....I used to sit in Crawford's Drug Store at the soda counter; and the water in those paper-cone cups in the metal holders was always cold and good!!
Miriam Appelbaum
Randall-Pepper Elementary School didn't have a lawn on the playground or a fence around the school.
Steve Herron
There was one of those big automated ice houses after the amusement thing went out.
Steve Herron
.....growing up in southwest Fontana--below the freeway, we didn't even have streetlights, until we were practically grown.
Miriam A.
Didn't there used to be an ice place on that corner, Steve?
Miriam Appelbaum
there used to be a little outside amusement business across the street from the old Safeway. It was on the northwest corner of Juniper and Arrow.
Steve Herron
Do you remember when Denny's on S. Sierra was called Sambo's?....and the old Safeway was the brick building on Juniper and Arrow which later became Phillip's Draperies?.....and remember watching movies at the old Arrow Theater?....What about the old Bel-Air Drive-In?
Miriam A.
....the Bird Farm was there on Live Oak, by the hills.. ....Southridge area was nothing but grape vineyards, and dirt roads.. ....the field across Citrus from Fohi was grapefruit groves.. ....remember when the Fontana Square was about the only shopping center in Fontana? ....when Pic'and'Save on Foothill used to be McDaniels?.. ... the Santa Ana winds?
Miriam A.
Sierra Ave. didn't go through, and the road ended at the bottom of the Jurupa Hills..... also, when I could walk down to Water's Country Store on Santa Ana, and buy an RC cola for about 17 cents.....those were the days.....
Miriam Appelbaum
Jurupa Avenue was the southern border for Fontana. Nothing after that but dirt roads, vineyards and of course, Jurupa Hills. We'd spend all day up there. Go up to the top and have the valley spread out below you. (That is, if the smog wasn't too bad). If the grapes were ripe, we'd have a paper bag full to eat on the way home.
Larry Barron
we would walk to the Topp's Store on the corner of Randall and Juniper. If we were lucky we might have a quarter in our pocket. With a quarter we could buy a 12 cent soda, 2 candy bars and 3 pieces of penny candy. When we finished the soda we would return the bottle and get 2 more pieces of penny candy.
Steve Herron