June 2019 NEWSLETTER
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THE MANTECA HISTORICAL SOCIETY NEWSLETTER JUNE 2019 - VOL. 31, ISSUE 6 THE MUSEUM DEDICATED TO THE PRESERVATION OF MANTECA AREA HISTORY Portuguese Festa Memories Upcoming Dates: Written By: Sharmaine Mendes All events are at the Museum, unless indicated. Exec. Committee Meeting Wed. June 12, 2019 3:30pm Program Night Thurs. June 13, 2019 7:00 pm Board Meeting Thurs. June 20, 2019 6:30pm See us online: Face- book/ Man- tecaMuseum A parade, a delicious meal served to one & all, and an orange Nehi soda in a OUR WEBSITE IS: returnable bottle. themantecamuseum.org What do these things mean to you? To my generation, and residents of the Cen- WHAT’S INSIDE tral Valley, who are the descendants of the Azores Islands and Portugal, they Milo 2 mean “Festa”. Candini The Manteca Ripon Pentecost Society is celebrating 100 years as an organization in June 2019. The festa is an affirmation of the Portuguese culture as well as a President’s Corner 3 religious event. The celebration have evolved over the years, at one point in time, the event included dances on both Saturday and Sunday nights and fireworks. Membership 4 One aspect that remains the same; little children still have a great time sliding Renewals around the polished dance floor while adults dance the Chamarita. MEMORIAL GIFTS 5 This is a wonderful gathering of people who came to America for a better life. They were hard working folks who established dairies and farms, real estate Docent corner 6 companies, and car dealerships in Manteca. Many of these enterprises are still in MUHS Reunion operation today, run by descendants of the original families. List of Board of 7 The organization has invited all past presidents, queens, and side maids to be part directors of the parade this year. Find a shady spot along Center or Fremont Streets and watch as the bands, queens, and groups of small children march past on their way Museum Info 8 to St. Anthony’s Church. You will see visiting queens from around the state wearing elaborately decorated capes march from the MRPS Hall to St. Antho- Museum Hours: Wed. & Thurs., 1- 3pm; Sat. & Sun., 1- 4pm - Call (209)825-3021 for Info. - Admission is Free PAGE 2 THE MUSEUM Milo Candini By Donna Stafford “Strike One!...Strike Two!...Strike Three!...You’re Out!!” at the Old Ball Game! I love baseball and have been an Oakland A’s fan for many years now. Since we are in the mist of baseball season; I thought it was only fitting to write about Manteca’s baseball star...Mile Candini. Before he was born, his Italian immigrant parents live in Athol, Massachusetts. But later moved and settled in Manteca where Mario Gustino Candini was born on August 3, 1917. He was the seventh child born of eight. With the desire to as- similate into American society and the current tensions at the time, due to World War I, his parents changed his name from Mario Gustino to Milo Cain Candini. At Manteca High School, Candini stood six foot tall and weighed in at 187 pounds. He was very athletic and lettered in basketball, track, and football; along with baseball. However, he quickly be- came the school’s star pitcher as a junior and senior. When he was a senior, he tossed a no-hitter game and once struck out 45 batters over two games. Candini was named the medium school Athlete of the Year in 1934 and 1935 and Baseball Player of the Year in 1935 and 1936. He led Manteca Buffaloes to consecutive West Side titles. His ability at baseball caught the attention of the Pacific Coast League and scout, Joe Devine, who was on the prowl looking for talented players for the New York Yankees. He had just signed on Joe DiMaggio a year earlier. So, in 1936, after Milo graduated, Devine signed him on. However, after being in the Yankee Farm system for six years, he never played on their team but was traded to Washington in 1943 and was on the Senators open- ing day roster. He proceeded to play all or part of eight seasons in Major League Baseball from 1942 - 1951 for the Washington Senators and the Philadelphia Phillies. When his career was over, he continued to pitch in the Pacific Coast League until 1957; primarily for the Sacramento Solons. In 1951, the Bowman Gum Company produced a picture card on him: Series 5 (R406-5). He served on the Washington Sena- tors from 1943 - 44 and 1946 - 49, and the Philadelphia Phillies from 1950 - 51. His record follows: Win - Loss Record 26 –21 Strikeouts 183 Earned Run Average 3.92 He was right handed. When Milo retired, he settled down with his second wife, Viola, in Manteca. He worked for Contadina Foods and later he opened Milo’s Liquors from 1962 to 1979 before retiring. He enjoyed playing in the local softball leagues will into his early 50’s and was a strong supporter of baseball in this town. A street leading to Big League Dreams is named Milo Candini Drive. Candini died from cancer at 80 years old on Match 17, 1998. He is buried in Park View Cemetery in Manteca. In 1994, he was inducting into the Manteca Hall of Fame and in 2012, into the Sac-Joaquin Sec- tion High School Sports Hall of Fame. It is wonderful that this talented ballplayer was from our town! We have so much to be proud of, especial- ly Manteca Union High! I sure do wish I could have seen him pitch that ball!! Sources: The Baseball Gauge, Wikivivdly, Wikipedia, Gregory H. Wolf and the Manteca Bulletin JUNE 2019 PAGE 3 President’s Corner Join us for the Thursday, June 13th program celebrating 100 years of the M.R.P.S.! They have provided several items that are now on display on the stage - stop by and take a look. The event will be held outdoors, weather permit- ting. We are now upgrading and will be accepting credit and debit cards in the gift shop. All members are eligible for a 10% discount on merchandise. The 2019 membership cards are finally here, and this should help answer ques- tions that many have had about their level of giving. Membership runs from January through December each year. New computer software has been added which will make track- ing of membership information, inventory of gift shop items, and monthly billing much easier for our Museum Gift Shop FOR REAL CLEAN New items are available in the gift shop in- WINDOWS cluding canvas tote bags, plant stakes, note- Quentin & Lucas Bassett pads, and stickers. T-shirts are 50% off, while supplies last. More jewelry has been added, so (209)823-1492 come in and see the new inventory. For Excellent Service! Members receive a 10% discount on items. Brockman Family Below from left to right is Mike Brockman, Frank Brock- man, Judy Brockman, Irene Brockman Cattanach, and Greg Cattanach. Left we have the Brockman brothers Mike and Frank hold- ing Tom Brockman’s pistol. PAGE 4 THE MUSEUM The M.R.P.S. is Celebrating their 100th Anniversary in June 2019. Flag Day June 14th A commemorative cookbook is on sale at the museum gift shop for $35.00. There will also be a program June 13, 2019. Renewing Members PATRON: Jon & Anita Zanetti SUSTAINING: Rocky Mountain JUNE 2019 PAGE 5 MEMORIALS & HONOR’S PROGRAM This is a very special way to remember those who have passed away, or to honor one for a special event, or tribute. All gifts directly benefit the museum. Gifts are typically tax deductible, and the names of those remembered are then inscribed in the ”Honor Roll Book”, which is on permanent display at the museum. Memorial Gift Forms are available at the museum docent desk, or by calling at (209) 825 -3021 office (leave message) and we will be happy to mail a Memorials form(s) to you. Many thanks to past and present contributors for remembering friends and loved ones with a gift to the Manteca Mu- seum. The Manteca Historical Society & Museum is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. MEMORIAL GIFTS Received April 28, 2019 - May 19, 2019 In Memory of Don Gallagher Toni Raymus & Andrew Sephos Isabelle Steves Pugh & Family In Memory of Marian Roland Raymond & Chris Mendes In Memory of Diane Mendes McKinley Sally Mendes Raymond & Chris Mendes In Memory of Mary Coelho King Sally Mendes In Memory of Addie Micheletti Manuel Valverde In Memory of Sandy Hedegard Albino & Carmen Macedo In Memory of George Valdez Jennifer Patel PAGE 6 THE MUSEUM Getting To Know Your Docents… My name is James (Jim) Moore and I have been a Manteca resident since 1984, where I relocated from Fremont CA. From 1988 until 2004, I worked evenings at Hobbit Shop Ceramics in Manteca with Marilyn and Tom Lange, where we manufactured ceramics for hobbyists and support- ed Manteca and Ripon Senior Centers, the Boys and Girls Scouts, and Future Farmers of America. I am currently retired from Lawrence Liver- more Lab after 30 years of service in Computations. I am married to Ka- ren Moore, and have one son, Keith, that’s fifteen. My interests are black- smithing, archery, shooting, fishing, and supporting my family. I enjoy being a Docent and learning more about the history of Manteca and sup- porting the Manteca Historical Society. MUHS Reunion Gathering Manteca Union High School held a reunion dinner on April 27th, with classes from 1941 to 1960 attending. Lee Shockey and committee worked for months to put this together, with each class having a representative coordinating the effort.