50 years ago: Old School Project dance helps fund new shingles

50 years ago Population 3,179 (U.S. Census 1960 and 1970) School: A bouquet of roses to all those involved in the Old School Project benefit dance. The affair netted some $1,000 for the project. This money came in just in time to finish the shingling before the rainy season starts. Special recognition should go to the CSUS students who worked so hard on the event and, we are told, showed up the following morning to re-wax the dance floor. Note: The Old School Project involved the old schoolhouse, which was on the site of Mary Beermann Elementary School on F Street between 3rd and 2nd Streets. The old schoolhouse was relocated to Glen Edwards Elementary School property at the corner of 1st and L Streets. It is still in use today. 75 years ago Population 2,410 (U.S. Census 1940 and 1950) Lincoln High School: The early history of Lincoln High School, originally called Lincoln Union High School, was compiled by the students in 1926. The following is from those students. For many years, the people of Lincoln felt the need of a higher education for their young people. After graduation from the local elementary school, our young folk, desirous of continuing their education, had to leave home to attend high school. A petition was circulated which led to the formation of the Lincoln Union High School District during a picnic at Gold Hill on July 4, 1907. They continued this circulation until Lincoln and the surrounding districts were given the opportunity to voice their approval of the project. Great support to the project was given by the News Messenger. A special election was called for and the plans of the campaign were based upon an appeal to the progressivism of the town, local pride and a well-directed interest in the furthering of school activities. The special election was held Aug. 3, 1907, in the various districts which would comprise the Lincoln Union High School District. On the momentous day, the citizens of Lincoln, Sheridan, Valley View, Fair Oaks, Central, Orange Vale, Fruitvale, Mt. Pleasant and Daneville districts voted 109 to 7 in favor of forming this new high school district. This idea of further educational advantages of Lincoln having met with almost unanimous approval, the next step was the selection of trustees who were to have the great responsibility of making either a successful or unsuccessful beginning of the high school. On Sept. 7, 1907, at a meeting of the board of trustees, it was estimated the cost of establishing and conducting the school for the next year would be about $2,500. The next thing was to select a suitable building for the school and to select a principal. After some investigation as to a suitable building, the "Mariner Home" on H Street between Sixth and Seventh Streets was leased and it became the first housing place of the high school. Walter S. Brown of Stanford University was selected as principal. On Sept. 23, 1907, the Lincoln Union High School opened its doors. The total enrollment of the new high school was forty and by this large attendance showed how loyally the citizens of the district were supporting this new educational institution. Teams for the practice of baseball and basketball were soon selected. The girls organized a basketball team and made arrangements to use the old cannery building for practice. The high school closed its first term of school on May 29, 1908, with the success of the school assured. The interest and enthusiasm of the students as well as that of the citizens of the district, not to mention the untiring efforts of the Board of Trustees served to make the first year of this school one which was already becoming looked upon as a strong and leading institution of its kind. Note: This article was written by Mrs. Mabel Ahart. Visit the Lincoln Area Archives Museum to view maps of the various districts. The museum is open Thursday-Saturday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.; it is located in Beermann Plaza, 640 5th Street. Yuletide: Lincoln's business district will burst into a virtual blaze of Christmas pyrotechnics tomorrow night when they throw the switch that will light up their Yuletide street decorations in preparation for the coming season. This marks the first time in many years that Lincoln has been decorated for the Christmas season as nine huge garlands of lighted strings and bells light up 5th Street along the highway and downtown through G Street (now known as Lincoln Boulevard). As Christmas draws nearer, Christmas carols will be heard over the loudspeaker system which has been used here for the past three years. Four Lincoln businessmen originated the plan for the street decorations and carried out the scheme through to its final completion. Armed with the idea that Lincoln should dress up for the Christmas holiday season, the four proceeded to sell the idea to the community and with contributions from merchants and other townspeople, purchased the necessary equipment which can be added to year to year as the occasion demands. The present decorations will be stored after the holiday for use in coming years. A four-man force volunteered to put up the lights and stringers. 100 years ago Population 1,324 (U.S. Census 1900, 1910 and 1920) Red Cross: That's the way Lincoln does things. A report from the Red Cross workers shows that again Lincoln has gone over quota in the Red Cross drive which has been going on for some time and just ended. A meeting will be held Wednesday, Dec. 2, at 7:30 p.m. in the Trustees' Council Room in the auditorium, at which time the final reports will be read. It is surely gratifying to know that our people always respond so liberally, placing Lincoln in the lead in patriotic or philanthropical work. During all the drives or calls for money and men during our titanic struggle in the great war, Lincoln was the first to go over the top. In money measure, we are not the richest people in the word, but in spirit, our wealth is unbounded. Recipes Savory casserole of mutton: Cut a slice of mutton from the middle part of the leg of a yearling – have the slice two inches thick. Remove the bone and fill the cavity with minced onion or celery. Dredge with flour and salt and pepper. Prepare in the bottom of casserole a rich gravy of one cupful of brown stock, one-half cupful of currant jelly, a dozen chopped olives, six peppercorns, three whole cloves, and one tablespoonful of lemon juice. Thicken when boiling with one tablespoonful of flour mixed with a little water, to a paste. Lay into this the round of mutton, spread the top with beef marrow, cover the casserole and bake for an hour and a half in a moderate oven. Flank steak: A flank steak, when carefully prepared, makes a most appetizing dish. Pound the meat until the fibers are well broken, rub with three tablespoonfuls of butter or cooking oil; when the oil is absorbed, fry in a hot iron frying pan. Place the browned meat in a casserole, rinse out the pan with two tablespoonfuls of boiling water and pour it over the meat. Add one bay leaf, one clove of garlic, two teaspoonfuls of salt, two tablespoonfuls each of minced celery, green pepper and carrot. Add two cupfuls of boiling water and in the last half hour of cooking, six medium sized potatoes. Cook 2½ hours. Thicken with a tablespoonful of flour mixed with a little cold water. – Thank you for reading! MBO