|
from my perspective . . .
On my July 28th post of the 1971 Redding newspaper article, I discovered that the reporter had printed a few errors. (I learned this first-hand from Ariel Facey). The paper noted: Police Chief Ariel Facey is also the town ambulance driver and operates his own butcher shop. "He's on duty 24 hours a day," says Mayor Durett. "The chief is paid $600 a month by the city. The truth is: Ariel was the Fire Chief and Ambulance driver and earned $60 a month . . . a far cry from $600 a month! Ariel's brother Festus (named after their father Festus) was the butcher at Mr. Parker's store (Denny-Bar). Ariel said he got 'appointed' as Fire Chief. He took over from Bob Mackey who had taken over from Lawrence Buchner. At the time Ariel was Fire Chief, the Fire Hall was where the Museum is now. He retired at age 65 and in November of this year he will turn 90. He is still sharp as a tack and I had fun while he and Eb shared stories and we looked at old photos. Ariel said when he retired, Larry Hicks took over as Chief. Ariel was born on what is now the Whipple Ranch. They moved to the old Fleck place up Hurd's Gulch and then to Island Road (where Rusty Coleman later built his house). Ariel said the 'hose cart' was housed in a building on property where Hoop George now lives and his father later moved the building up behind Dennis Franklin's house, where his Dad lived. When Ariel was 10 years old they lived on the old Bob Young ranch and he milked 13 cows before and after school. His Dad worked at the Young Ranch, then got a job at the W.D. Miller Sawmill. Eb said he worked with Ariel's Dad at the Sawmill, which reminds me that when I bought the Bullinger family home and barn two years ago, Butch told me that the workbench in the back garage was cut especially for him in the mid 1950's at the W.D. Miller Sawmill. It is 16 feet long, 24 inches wide and 3 inches thick . . . of Douglas Fir . . . a rare item now!
Ariel was named after his Uncle Ariel who was killed in W.W. I. He said up toward Callahan on Eastide Road was the Facey Place. He remembers the women had their rooms and the men had theirs! The 'upper place' was where his Dad lived until he went in the Service and the 'lower place' was where all his uncles lived. I asked him if the Fire Department still has/uses any of the old trucks that were around when he was Fire Chief and he said they still have the 1931 Dodge fire truck. He also said the old hose cart has been restored by the Ft. Jones Fire Dept. and they have a replica as the insignia on their badges. I will attempt to get photos of those also. Mel . . . that's another photo shoot for you to do!!!!!!!!! And speaking of the Facey lineage, Kristy Sweezey of the Etna Deli has Facey roots. Serena Travis and I had a bite of lunch there today and you can listen in on our conversation with Kristy here. Note: The link will open in a new Browser window. Once the recording begins, just click on the 'Etna News - More Photos' Browser window to continue viewing this page. (adjust the sound on your computer)
Kristy's mother Laurie is a Facey! If you want to have a real fun evening watching a movie, call Synthea Smith (she's in the book or email me and I'll give you the number) and purchase a copy of the 'Old Etna and Ft. Jones Movie' she was instrumental in reviving. I believe it was shown years ago at the old Etna Theatre prior to the main attraction. It is a real hoot! We discovered the first time we watched it that Eb's Mother, Ann Miller Whipple was in the D.A.R. photo. He jumped out of his chair and yelled, "I think that was my Mom . . . run that back so I can see"!!!!!!! You might discover some of your kin in the movie also. Here are a few more fun photos that Mary Stephens Waller had in her album:
1955 flood where French Creek bridge was damaged
Etna High School Teachers 1945-46
P.S. Does anyone know who owned the old 'Bucket of Blood' Saloon before Ed Corrigan removed it and built Corrigan's in 1945?????? In joy! Che'usa Please shop locally!
* * * * * *
* * * * * *
|
|
|
|
|
