California Gardening: Extreme Home Makeover visits my neighborhood, 1 by Twincol

Twincol wrote:
Yo, fellow Californians . . . check this out.

I live in a neighborhood built in the 1940-50's for the most part. A small early "planned community," tract-like neighborhood. Pre-tract building for the post-WWII generation of first-time homeowners. Does that make sense? Most were originally at 800-1000 square feet, including an often detached garage building. The history of the owners is also interesting, IMHO, and I've actually initiated a search of the history in years past in order to connect with the original owners (now in their 80's-90's). I've known and worked with some of these "oldesters" (gotta be careful with this tag. . . as I'm gettin' to be one) in community-based non-profit orgs as volunteer board members, for example. I would like to be able to outline some of the neighborhood history to be added to our community's Historical Society's data.

One such home is the house directly behind me and sharing the brick fence bordering my rose bed. It was built and loved by home builder/contractor Wathen (I can't recall which Wathen at the moment) of Wathen Brothers Builders. Two others of the brothers also lived within several blocks, having built their homes here. Another was designed and built by Martin Temple, if my sources are accurate, an architect of local reputation specializing in commercial building design (one in which I actually work at the moment, BTW). That house is at the foot/head of a cross street just down the street from me (I live on a corner). There are a significant number of other prominent locally and regionally prominent professionals who built and occupied their first homes here, had their first babies, as well. My own family, for instance, moved from the East Coast (I'm a Maineac by birth) when my father was transferred by Massey Harris Ferguson in 1952 to Stockton. There was a considerable shift of our country's population from states east to California in the 50's. Think "Babyboomers."

Why send this missive to California Gardeners forum? Well, just kinda interesting perhaps to fellow Californians.

Attached is a daylight pic of the chaos from the end of the street on which I live. It is from the same spot I used for one of last night's photos http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/941653/ . There will be an opportunity tomorrow for us to go sit in bleachers (geez) to watch the beginning of the construction. The lot is, at this moment, void of any hardscape and the work of stabilizing the ground space and laying the foundation concrete will take place this afternoon and overnight.

The link included herein will take you to the DG Repair/Maintenance forum, to which I posted initially, where there seems to be little interest in the activity "Extreme Home Makeover." I'm thinking my fellow Californians might be interested . . . then again . . . perhaps not [snivel]. If you are, and you'd like to see the local newspaper article go to http://www.fresnobee.com/local/story/1119941.html


Warmly, Linda (constantly trying to quiet territorial doggies living with her)