Durham Locations, Landmarks, Lads and Ladies Compiled by: Adriana Farley Cover photograph, by Teri DuBose, taken November 15, 2009, shows left to right: The three most senior ladies, all members of the Durham Womans Club, who have taken an active interest in our community, are shown with the fall colors along the Midway. Doris Lucas, born May 21, 1921 married Jack in 1940. She has been a member of Womans Club since 1950. Doris is the mother of two Durham High School grads, Skip, class of 1963 and Ray, class of 1966. Bernice Abshier, born July 25, 1922, married Lloyd in 1939. Bernice became a member of Womans Club shortly after her move to Durham, approximately six months after her marriage – and is still a member to present day. She is the mother of four DHS grads. Alys (née Keenan) Walters, is a Durham High School graduate with the class of 1935, and is the mother of seven Durham High School graduates. She was born October 8, 1916, married Ray in 1942, and joined Durham Womans Club in 1945. ISBN 1-931994-31-7 © July 2010 Adriana Farley 1384 Durham Dayton Hwy Durham, CA 95938 Durham Locations, Landmarks, Lads and Ladies Durham Locations, Landmarks, Lads and Ladies The rather ordinary “Durham Street Names” title needed some help, so with input from Susan Murphy, and a suggestion from Barbara Berger for the title, Durham Locations, Landmarks, Lads and Ladies, was chosen to cover the many and varied topics within this work. A book of this scope is hard to put into a box. Each subsequent “find” led to another, with the topics of Dayton and Nelson also incorporated into the description of the names of the roads, streets, and byways traveled daily. The general geographic area coincides with the Durham Unified School District’s boundaries, except for the eastern end, and this work only goes to Highway 99. Many other fine historical writers will no doubt cover the east-of-the-highway research. Grateful thanks to the following: Teri DuBose for her always exceptional work as a photographer, and for capturing the essence that is Durham with the ladies on the cover, and, Doris Lucas, Bernice Abshier, and Alys Walters for their gracious agreement to be featured on the cover. Dayton Mayor Leroy Cartwright, and long-time Durham teacher Rosalie Cartwright were invaluable, and always available for questions, responses, ideas, and answers. Susan Murphy provided the many photos of old-time Nelson, and, previously written historical narratives, answers, and enthusiasm for the project. Dale Wangberg’s carte-blanche gifts of maps, previous personal research and multiple email responses were also of great help in covering the history of the names for Nelson streets and features. Gene Russell, Ph.D., for the idea for this work from his book Orland Place Names, and his early reading of the format and good constructive comments. Long time friends and exceptional grammar consultants: Barbara Berger, Karen Read, and Margaret Schmidt for the proof reading. Many thanks also to those whose help was solicited, and are noted as contributors at the end of each quotation and/or information provided for streets, names, lists, and physical features. These include Butte County Public Works department staff, Mid Valley Title Company staff as well as the staff, teachers and administrators at all three schools, members of organizations, business owners, local realtors, long time residents and friends and family. iii Durham Locations, Landmarks, Lads and Ladies All errors are the fault of the compiler, for which I beg indulgence. Presented now are alphabetical stories about the streets, roadways, byways, organizations, physical features, and suggested interesting topics that describe Durham, Dayton, and Nelson, California. – July 15, 2010 iv Durham Locations, Landmarks, Lads and Ladies Ackerman Avenue – Located west off Lott Road, approximately one-half mile south of the Lott Road / Chico Oroville Highway intersection, toward Butte Creek levee. Ackerman Avenue is “probably named for someone who’s last name was Ackerman, but none of our land records reflect anything that would be of any help.” [David Libby, resident of Ackerman Avenue, via interview, May 27, 2009.] Adams Ranch Road – Esquon Road, the access road east from Midway, south of Butte Creek, has a southern leg which leads to the headquarters of modern-day Rancho Esquon. Adams Ranch Road was named for E.L. Adams, who purchased large tracts of land from acreage previously part of Esquon Rancho (the land grant awarded to Samuel Neal in 1844 by Mexican Governor Micheltorena) which was renamed Adams Ranch as early as 1918. A portion of the Neal Grant, upon Sam’s death in 1859, was sold to G.W. Gridley, and other large parcels were purchased by Leland Stanford, Judge C.F. Lott, and W.W. Durham. Most of the Stanford lands became the Durham Land Colony in 1918, but southern and eastern parcels were accessioned later from the Land Colony by Adams as well. The ranch was known as Adams Ranch from 1918 to the mid 1950s, when it was purchased by the Newhall Land and Farming Company, managed for years by John Gottlund. In the late 1970s the Newhall Ranch was sold to Tom and Sam Nevis, and known as the Nevis Ranch. “In 1990 the ranch was purchased by Ken Hofmann and the name was changed to Rancho Esquon. Mr. Hofmann, who has a love for wildlife, began the development of the current 900-acre wildlife habitat. Over the years Rancho Esquon has planted more than 10,000 Willow, Cottonwood and Oak trees. We have constructed ponds and channels and during the fall of the year one is able to observe over 75 species of Shorebirds, Pheasants and an abundance of waterfowl and birds of prey.” [http://www.ranchoesquon.com/index. Durham Land Colony, pg. 97; Interview: Rick Ponciano, October 23, 2009; John Gottlund biography, Nonpareils of Durham, c: 2009, pg 111; and E.L. Adams biography, Nonpareils of Durham, c: 2009, pg 3.] Adobe Church – See also United Brethren Church. Photo, below, from the March 5, 1944, program dedication of the Durham Community Church of United Brethren in Christ. [Courtesy, retired Reverend James D. Patterson, 2006.] 1 Durham Locations, Landmarks, Lads and Ladies Agnes Pearce Tree – A redwood tree was planted in memory of charter member Agnes Pearce (December 27, 1904–August 23, 1995), by the Good Sam membership in Good Sam Grove in 1995. Aguas Frias Road – Orville Charles Pratt (1819-1891); Judge, Supreme Court of Oregon, 1848-52; was elected judge of the Twelfth Judicial District (San Francisco), and appointed to that position as of October 21, 1863. Judge Pratt was a long-time Durham resident, settling on land known as the Aguas Frias Rancho, consisting of twenty-seven thousand acres, originally deeded to Salvador Osio. This land grant was made in November, 1844, by Mexican Governor Micheltorena. Portions of the land stayed in the Pratt family until the final tract, west of and adjacent to modern-day Holland Avenue was sold to the Orville Tracy family in 1943. Aguas Frias Road had been known as Goodspeed Watt Road, and is the road south from Four-Corners. It is at this corner where Durham Dayton Highway comes in from the east, Dayton Road ends south from Chico; Ord Ferry Road goes west through Dayton to the Sacramento River; and Aguas Frias Road commences south toward the Butte City Highway. [Editor’s Note: Aguas Frias is a misnomer. It can be written as Aguas Fria or Agua Frias, but both words should not be plural to be correct in Spanish.] Alette Nelson Bench – Located at Durham Elementary School, the bench was placed by the teachers and staff of DES for Alette Nelson (April 16, 1951–December 3, 2007), a longtime teacher there. Flowers in planter boxes sit below the bench, and one of her favorite images – a horse – is reproduced in the all- metal, DES-blue bench, located on the south end of the campus, along Durham-Dayton Highway. Alley – “Do Not Want Durham Road Closed “A petition filed with the Board of Supervisors to have an alley described in the map of Durham closed, met with considerable opposition when it came up for decision yesterday. Owners of property along the alley presented deeds to show that they had purchased the property with an understanding that they were to have the use of the alley. “District Attorney Leonard advised the board that he did not believe the board had the power to order the road closed. Attorney George F. Jones, who represented the petitioner, asked that the petition as framed be withdrawn. A second petition will probably be presented.” [Chico Daily Enterprise, Thursday Evening, June 10, 1915, pg 6, col 2.] Almond Blossom Run – “1983 Almond Blossom Run – An Incredible Success! 2 Durham Locations, Landmarks, Lads and Ladies “February 19th dawned one of the few pleasant Saturdays we have seen all winter, and nearly 600 dedicated runners flocked to Durham to run in the First Annual Almond Blossom Run. (One runner, from Ventura, drove all night to get here in time!) “It was a far more successful event than we had dreamed it might be, and the Durham Sports Boosters wishes to extend, once again, its sincere thanks to all those who helped make the run such a memorable occasion. In addition to being grateful to those who gave so generously of their time and energy, we are especially indebted to the following merchants who because of their monetary support made it possible for the Sports Boosters to award some very handsome trophies and medals: Kutz Electric, Inc., Durham Pump, Jerry’s Market, and Bob’s Texaco.