December 2022

December 1923 Friend Richardson was governor of California. It was also the first year of a “National” Christmas Tree in Washington D.C.  Calvin Coolidge was President and he walked from the Elipse to light a 48-foot fir tree with 2,500 electric lights of red, white and green. Radios were popular gifts and broadcasted concerts and performances were the center of many parties.

December of 1943 Earl Warren was Governor.  Franklin D. Roosevelt was President.  Christmas was very creative because of continuing rationing for the war effort.  Turkeys were particularly hard to find and alternative ingredients were used many times in cooking with traditional recipes. New recipes and methods were being developed as women were working outside of the house to fill positions vacated as more men were deployed.  Traveling was difficult with gas and tire rationing and a 35-mph speed limit.  Many gifts were handmade and mailed to loved ones across the nation and the world. The government encouraged war bonds as gifts.

On December 26, 1923, the lots for the site of the new church (corner of Grafton and Fremont Streets) were purchased from Chris Sieber.   On January 27, 1924, the contract for the building of the church was given to K.C. Hinkle, contractor and builder, at a figure of $16,000, for the building material for the main building.   Work was to be done at contract prices, and labor to be donated on the basement building.  Sub-contracts were presented and accepted.  Actual cost of the building was approximately $30,000 to be paid by pledges, subscriptions and donation of labor.

In December 1948, with acting Pastor Raymond Squires presiding, the following nine people were received for baptism: Raymond and Dorothy Emery, Mary Ann Taber, Everett F.  and Ronald Parker, Ross and Diana Parker, Mabel Wright and Daniel McCampbell.  Those nine people plus Alfred E. and Betty Jane Story, Vernon Korstad, Dustin L. and Naomi C. Hayes, Jack D. and Charlotte H. Mast were received into membership.    The matter pertaining to the removal of the baptistry was introduced.  An inspection was made and by a motion duly passed that Clarence Storm contact the building committee and contractor and make a report.  H.G. Durst, Clerk.

January 7, 1949 Reverend Stewart Potter moderating, it was moved and second that the appointment of the board of Deacons as sponsors of the Boy Scout Group be accepted. Motion carried.   Matters pertaining to the removal of the baptistry to enable more room was discussed.  After a motion duly carried a recommendation be in order that the baptistry be removed and that the committee be discharged with thanks.  Report of the Nominating Committee of Elders for new Elders were: Victor Vierra, Millard Woodson and Frank Nissen. By unanimous vote it was duly passed and accepted.  Mr. and Mrs. Henry Delp were accepted to membership.   In memory of Mrs. Edith Armstrong, the Christmas tree donated to this church for 1948 Christmas programs was by Mr. R.O. Armstrong, her husband.   H.G. Durst, Clerk

November 2022

President George Washington issued a proclamation for a “day of public thanksgiving and prayer”.  Beginning in 1863, President Abraham Lincoln encouraged Americans to recognize the last Thursday in November as “a day of Thanksgiving”.  In 1939, President Franklin D. Roosevelt declared the fourth (next to last) Thursday of November as Thanksgiving instead of last, the fifth one.  The change was intended to extend the shopping season before Christmas and help bring the country out of the Great Depression.  Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade started in 1924.

November 4, 1946 regular meeting of Elders and Trustees.  Reverend Jack Thomas, Elder Roy Wyatt, Trustees Vernon Mast, Millard Woodson, Lawrence Brownell and Roy Emmerton attended.    Mast reported that the church roof was painted. The contractor recommended to put on one coat now and another in 4 years. The price for painting is $1.00 per square, without materials.   Reverend Thomas reported the Sunday school needed more rooms.  Woodson made mention regarding some folding doors available in Oakland and suggested they could be installed in the northwest corner of the auditorium to make an extra room.   Roy Wyatt to investigate.  H.G. Durst, Clerk.

December 9, 1946, a special meeting was called of the Elders and Trustees.  A motion was made and seconded that the church take out $5,000.00 Public Liability Insurance.  Motion carried.  A proposition of the church owning or taking over the Boy Scouts proposed lot and building in Esparto is taken under further consideration.    H.G. Durst, Clerk.

January 6, 1947 regular meeting of the Elders and Trustees.  It was requested by Reverend Jack Thomas that the church apply for a charter and then sponsor a Scout Air Patrol Group.  Motion made, seconded and carried.   Motion was made and seconded that Countryside Community Church accept the ownership of the Scout building and lot as sponsors of the scouts.  Motion carried.  Another motion was made and seconded that a committee be appointed to work with the scout leaders in writing up the rules and regulations of how the new scout building is to be used and conducted.  Roy Wyatt, Herman Durst and Reverend Jack Thomas were appointed as a committee to work with the scouts.   Motion carried.  H.G. Durst, Clerk.

October 2022

One hundred years ago, October 1922, Woodrow Wilson was President and William D. Stephens was Governor of California.  World War 1 ended in 1918 and in June of 1922, a Memorial was established at the Yolo Fliers Club for the 32 County residents who died in the war, including Harmon R. Taber and Elmer E. Van Lew.

In October 1922, a group of people gathered to consider the advisability of starting a new community Sunday School for children, in Esparto.  The plan was, after the Sunday School was established they would work on building a Church.  The first Sunday School officers were, Mrs. H.F. Grothe, Superintendent, Mr. Roy Wyatt, Asst. Superintendent, Mrs. V.F. Viera, Secretary, and Mrs. A.H. Fredson, Treasurer.  The first Sunday school session was held in that October and forty-five children were present.   

A second executive meeting was held and the following people were elected to the Executive Board:  Mr. Joseph Sener, Mrs. Don Russell, Mrs. F.P. McManus, and Mrs. Roy Wyatt.  

In December, another meeting was held and it was decided to organize a community church under Presbyterian leadership.  The organization was completed at the meeting of March 18, 1923.  The Reverend N.M. Fiske of Davis Community Church presided.  At that time, forty members were received, making a charter membership of seventy.  The first Elders were:  Mr. James Knox, Mr. Roy F. Wyatt, Mr. Joseph Sener and Dr. E.R. Fletcher.  The first Trustees were:  Mr. D.D. Russell, Mr. V.F. Vieira, Mr. Frank Nissen, Mr. Paul Stephens, Mr. H.F. Grothe, Mr. Walter A. Bauer, and Mr. Fred C. Wyatt.

The first Christian Endeavor Society was organized in January 1923.

In February 1923, the first Women’s Auxiliary was organized to meet on each Tuesday.  The organization was to be a general auxiliary and to work in four groups: Priscilla, Ruth, Esther, Naomi.

A church choir was composed of the following:   Mrs. Frank P. McManus, Choir Director,  Mrs. Carl Nichols, Organist,  Mrs. Alice Marsh, contralto,  Mrs. Roy F. Wyatt, mezzo-soprano,  Mr. H.A. Sawyer, tenor,  Mr. Carl Nichols, basso,  Mr. A.H. Binde, basso.

The Bluebird Organization of Junior Girls was organized in April of 1923 directed by Miss Helen Rudolph.

The first pastor, Mr. Samuel J. Holsinger, began work on May 3, 1923, held in the Auditorium of the Esparto High School.

The first Boy Scout Troop under the leadership of Mr. S.J. Holsinger was organized May 7, 1923.

On May 18, 1923, Mr. Gould, architect, presented the sketch of the church.  Articles of Incorporation were filed in the County of Yolo.  In October of 1923 the first financial campaign was conducted and $15,800 was raised.  The Presbyterian Church gave a grant of $2,000, and a loan of $4,000 for ten years without interest.