What Came First?

What came first, the chicken or the egg? That seems to be a rhetorical question that is never answered to everyone's satisfaction. -- So, the next question of course is, What came first, the Winton history book or the Winton Historical Society? LOL.
Many people mistakenly think the "Memories of Winton" history books are a society project. They are not.
Rosalie and I started working on the history of Winton in 2001, researching the newspapers on microfilm at the library and driving around to find the facts on early Winton. We finally finished the book in 2004, with part of the book order available at the Winton Old Timers reunion the last Sunday in September of that year.
After the book was published, a few people in Winton thought we should have a historical society. Our first meeting was in November 2004, with Rosalie elected as president and I as treasurer.
Now we are working on the next history book of Winton and we are again asking people to let us scan their pictures and maybe use them in the next book.
I don't want people to think it's for the Winton Historical Society. It's a personal project of two people who get excited about uncovering historical facts and pictures of the town of Winton and her people.
We hope to see you at the Winton Old Timers' Reunion, and maybe with pictures in hand for us to scan into my computer.
The above picture came from my aunt; it's Winton's fourth grade class of 1937.
We are looking for Winton pictures, up to 1975, that are not in the first Winton history book. Thank you for any help in newly discovered pictures.
Lorraine CalifNative37@aol.com

Next Winton Book

People keep asking Rosalie and I "when will the next Winton book be done?" We thought it would be finished before now, but so much has been happening. My husband was getting cancer treatments for a little over a year before he died in May last year. My brother broke his neck and was a quadriplegic for about 15 months before he died in February of this year. I had two brothers-in-law die, one two years ago and one this year. So, it's been hard emotionally for me. The most devastating was when my husband passed away. Besides the emotions you go through, the work has doubled. He used to take care of most of the yard and did the cooking. I'm still trying to sort things out, decide just how much can I really do myself. I have way too many fruit trees in the backyard, and I think I will have more taken out. It's just too much work. Well, I didn't plan to go on about my personal stuff.
About the Winton book: Rosalie and I plan to 'hit it hard' after the Winton Old Timers. We are hoping that more people will bring their pictures of Winton and people of Winton to the Old Timers so I can scan them into my laptop computer.
This next book will have the history of Winton from 1950-1975. We have already researched the information in the old newspapers.
I don't have that many school pictures. I did get a 1934 fourth grade class picture from my aunt and even though it's an older picture we will include it since it was not in the first Winton book. (Memories of Winton - 1911-1950) So, if you have pictures, that are not in the first Winton book, we would be interested in scanning them and may be able to include them in the next book. Thanks. You can email me at CalifNative37@aol.com People who know me can call or email.
The above picture of Dave Koehn, the bus driver is also from my aunt. Probably taken in 1942.

Old Timers Reunion

The committee for the Winton Old Timers met today to plan the 48th annual reunion. It will be held September 28, 2008, the last Sunday of the month. Registration starts at 10:00 a.m. and lunch will be served at 1:00 p.m. This allows time for those wishing to attend church in the morning.
Tickets are $7.00 for adults and $4.00 for children under the age of 12.
Randy Heller, pictured above on the left, will again be in charge of the barbecue chicken. Also on the menu are baked beans, coleslaw, dinner rolls, beverages and desert.
Mike Crass will serve as MC. Those in attendance, 90 years or older will be honored with a special award to the oldest man and oldest woman. The person who traveled the farthest will also be honored.
We always have a good turn-out, people from out-of-town, out-of-state come to visit with friends they haven't seen in many years. No reservations are required. We never know from year to year who all will show up. Last year some locals who didn't go, were sorry to miss seeing out-of-state people. So, if you are a Wintonite or former Wintonite, please plan to attend.
The gathering will be at the Winton Middle School on Cypress Avenue, between Gertrude and Almond Avenue.
ALSO, bring your old pictures of Winton, people of Winton, etc. from the earliest days of Winton, up to 1975. They will be scanned into a computer while you wait and may be included in the next Winton history book.
The first Winton book, "Memories of Winton, 1911-1950" will be available for purchase at $35.00. A 530 page hardback book with 750 pictures. Many school pictures included.
Mark your calendar for Sunday, September 28, 2008. Click here to see more pictures from the 2007 Winton Old Timers Reunion. This will bring up thumbnail size pictures. Either click on any picture to see the enlargement or click on Detail, right under 2007 Winton Old Timers to see larger than thumbnail size and detail on some photos.

"Memories of Winton - 1911 - 1950"

In 2004, Rosalie and I published a book about the history of Winton, California, a small community in Merced County.
This hardback book with 530 pages and 750 pictures quickly sold out. We are now having the 3rd and final printing of this book.
The cost has remained the same, $35.00 per book, or $40.00 if mailed within the United States.
Besides history, the book contains excerpts from the old local newspapers, family information, school class pictures from Winton, Arundel, and Fruitland Schools.
For more information, contact Lorraine at CalifNative37@aol.com
Thank you.
NOTE: Rosalie and I recently reduced the price of the book to $25.00 or $30.00 if mailed within the U.S. We are selling the remainder of these books as of September 30, 2013.