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This story was written for a California State University, Bakersfield, class assignment by Arnold Martinez, who grew up in Shafter. In today's fast paced world, it's easy to forget the major events that took place in the mid-20th century which changed the world forever. There are several estimates as far as the death tolls are concerned, but experts agree that the totals were between 65 million and 95 million worldwide, including civilians. History has been my passion since I...
Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone in March 1876. The first transcontinental telephone wire was connected from New York to San Francisco on June 17, 1914. The first call was not made until July 29, 1914. By the mid-1950s, a lot of the general population were enjoying this wonderful invention. But, for my family in the late 1950s, that may as well have happened on the moon. To say they were not interested in this latest "luxury" would be an understatement. To give my...
Growing up and being a teen was not always easy back in the early '60s. I happened to live in the small agricultural town of Shafter, just 18 miles from Bakersfield. Our family budget seemed to be forever challenged and stretched to its maximum, but I always received whatever I needed. My first employment turned out to be a summer job grading potatoes in a local potato shed, Em. H. Mettler & Sons. I looked forward greatly to earning my own money. Teenagers in the Kern County...