100 years ago: Lincoln booming with cottages

50 years ago Population 3,179 (U.S. Census 1960 and 1970) Ads: Johnny and Lou's East Avenue Market had the following on sale: Beef stew meat, $1.36/lb.; London broil, $1.98/lb.; round steak, $1.98/lb.; fryer breast, .98 cents/lb.; ground round, $1.39/lb. East Avenue Market was located at 671 East Avenue, currently occupied by Grace Life Church. Parking was in front and beside the store. Rainbow Market had the following on sale: Bag of oranges, .69 cents/lb.; cucumbers, .10 cents each.; broccoli, .39 cents a bunch; carrots, .19 cents/lb.; yellow onions, .19 cents/lb.; Italian squash, .19 cents/lb.; prunes, .25 cents/lb.; potatoes, 20 lb. bag; .79 cents; grapes, .49 cents/lb. Rainbow Market was located at 720 5th Street, currently occupied by Dollar Tree Store. Rainbow Market then built a new store at the present site of Walmart Neighborhood Market, 255 Lincoln Boulevard. 75 years ago Population 2,410 (U.S. Census 1940 and 1950) The Lincoln Gazette was the first newspaper ever published in Lincoln. It was Volume I, January 22, 1887. Lincoln Gazette was published Saturdays by J.H. Austin, Proprietor. Subscription price was $3.00 per year. In his Salutation in this first issue of the paper, which was printed in Granger's Hall (now the Emmada Building), Publisher Austin says, "We made up our minds Lincoln would support a newspaper – the people of lower Placer County pay the greater part of the taxes in the county and they should have a medium through which the voice of the people of this section of the county can be heard …" But I understand the paper was very short-lived. As I scan this old paper, I find very little local news. Mr. Austin says he was too busy getting the paper started to gather news so a great deal of the paper was devoted to articles copied from metropolitan newspapers. However, Mr. Austin does editorialize on the need of a fire department, saying Lincoln is the only town of its size without an organized fire department. "Not even a ladder," he said, "could be had without considerable difficulty in case of fire. If a few buckets-full of water would not put out any fire all any one could do would be to stand and let it burn." He continues, "The citizens of Lincoln should at least provide for hooks, ladders and buckets and place them where they will be handy for access in time of need." Mr. Austin also said, in this first issue, that Lincoln needs a flour mill and it seems strange that this enterprise was not started long before now. This article written by Mrs. Abel Ahart. City Council: The City of Lincoln adopted a 1950-51 budget calling for an expenditure of $115,762.00. At the same time, the board tentatively approved a tax rate of $1.35 for the coming year. The budget was adopted following the reading of the auditor's report by Darrel Hodges of Sacramento. The council temporarily found itself out on a limb with budgeted expenditures which exceeded expected income for the new fiscal year. The difference was overcome by removing from the budget a proposed expenditure of $15,600 for services and materials to be used in the repair of water transmission lines. That sum, it is hoped by the council, will be taken care of Sept. 27 at a special bond election. Even with this it was necessary to use surpluses held over from last year in three different departments to create a workable budget. The surpluses were in water, airport and library funds. The budget as it now stands leaves an unbudgeted reserve of $3,914.42. The new budget exceeds that for the past year by some $4,000. The last budget was set at $107,845.00. The records show that $103,329.53 was actually spent during the 1949-50 fiscal year. The tax rate, which cannot be officially set until Sept. 12, was outlined as follows: $1.00, general; .20 cents, special construction (firehouse); .10 cents, library; and .05 cents, sewer bond extension. The council included an .08 cent postwar tax in the rate but it has been learned since Tuesday night that the state had not provided for its inclusion. The postwar fund depends on a matching of funds between the state and the town. 100 years ago Population 1,324 (U.S. Census 1900, 1910, and 1920) Building boom: Lincoln is pretty much on the boom right now. Seven new cottages are being erected at this time, with several more to be started in the near future. With the development of the clay industry and future expansion of other business near town, we are sure to go ahead. It looks pretty much like the seal of prosperity has been tagged to us. With the big land deal, prospective irrigation, increased business, etc., we recognize big things for our community. There are several matters we are unable to bring to our readers' attention, but you may take it from us that there is something doing all the time in and about Lincoln. We are all looking on the bright side of life in Lincoln. Mr. W.L. Ress, who recently bought the Harry Wiliamson block west of the Sanders property on Fifth Street, has let the contact for six new cottages on his block. Already, work on two 4-room cottages has been started, and as soon as these are nearing completion others will be started. The contract calls for three 4-room cottages and three 5-room cottages. These buildings are to be of the modern bungalow type and will be quite an asset to Lincoln. Mr. Ress intends to build sixteen houses in all. A. Ristau is building a four-room cottage at 1st and G Streets. John Sorenson has under course of construction a neat little cottage on E Street, between 2nd and 3rd Streets. A.M. Poe is building a small cottage on his lots on western Fifth Street. The people in the Hoits' addition of Eastern Lincoln are quite jubilant over the fact that most of them now have city water. Record price: 1,560 acres of land between Lincoln and Sheridan changed hands this week. The property was owned by W.F. Dunn and was sold to C.R. Powrie of San Francisco. The price was $117,000, and the highest price ever paid in Placer County for similar property. Jerk line: Wheat is still the main staff of life and it pours into Lincoln in a golden stream. Thousands of acres are all around, and among them is the Dunlap ranch 6 miles west. There, wheat, barley and oats are the staple crops. These are reaped in the modern method with headers that takes the heads from the straws, cleans and sacks the grain. This year was planted 140 acres of wheat, 140 acres of barley and nearly 600 acres of oats. This grain is brought to a warehouse by 8-horse teams, each team drawn by the jerk line. There are very few jerk line drivers left, and a thing of beauty is to watch them handle their teams. They lined up alongside the warehouse (Jansen's Feed and Grain) with their loads of grain from the Dunlap place, which amounted to 2,000 bushels of wheat, 850 sacks of barley and 2,400 sacks of oats, a total of 4,050 sacks. Note: A jerk line is a single rein to control the lead animal in a team. Thank you for reading! MBO