Just another typical week in the thriving metropolis that was Pinole around the turn of the last century. I will quote each item (original spelling and punctuation included) and add appropriate commentary when necessary.
From the San Francisco Call, October 9, 1900:
“Billy Sexton’s goat was raffled last week.”
No word on who it was that got Billy’s goat.
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“M.M. Higuera is just recovering from a sick spell.”
Must be from contaminated meat. Read on.
“Abe Greenfield spent Wednesday and Thursday in San Francisco.”
He was supposed to return Wednesday evening, but transferred to the wrong ferry and wound up back where he started. Apparently the old system was even more complicated than BART.
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“Butcher Dean has been on the sick list the past week.”
No relation.
“Several of the Pinole married men have had to go home nights for the past week on account of burglars.”
No word from any of the wives about whether or not this was an improvement.
“George Griffling has been under the weather for the past week. Nothing serious, however.”
Really? Try telling that to Butcher Dean and Mr. Higuera.
“Bennie Barron has been quite sick with inflammation of the bowels. He is at present slowly improving.”
Ouch. Apparently he didn’t take Mr. Higuera’s and Mr. Griffling’s advice not to go to the butcher.
“Manuel Moitoza is considered the champion dishwasher of the town.”
The fact that there’s even a competition for this pretty much tells you all you need to know about our sleepy suburb.
And finally, if you think Mr. Greenfield had a bad time in the City:
“Johnnie Wohlfrom came back from Nome [I assume Alaska] a sadder but wiser man. When asked what kind of a country it was John threw his hands in the air and said: ‘Oh, my! don’t talk Nome to me. I’d rather be on the old beer wagon.’”
Article courtesy of the California Digital Newspaper Collection, Center for Bibliographic Studies and Research, University of California, Riverside. All newspapers published before January 1, 1923 are in the public domain and therefore have no restrictions on use.
