One hundred years ago this week, an article in the Santa Barbara newspaper wrote about the Red Cross volunteers at the Santa Barbara depot who met the trains of soldiers returning from World War I with hot coffee, doughnuts, cigars, cigarettes, apples, oranges and postcards. (A photo of this is on the cover of my "Way Back When: Santa Barbara in 1918" book. Image: courtesy of John Fritsche)
WAY BACK WHEN, 100 years ago today, this cartoon was published in Santa Barbara's "The Morning Press." Income tax had begun back in 1913. (Some things never change, eh?)
WAY BACK WHEN - 100 years ago today, on January 27, 1919, the Santa Barbara newspaper reported that more than 500 prospective buyers had visited the city's newest subdivision called "Fair Acres." This property on the Mesa runs along both sides of Santa Cruz Boulevard from Cliff Drive to the ocean.
WAY BACK WHEN - 100 years ago today, on January 17, 1919, an article in the Santa Barbara newspaper explained that the term "dough boy" originated during the Mexican-American War of 1846-48. When the American soldiers were in Mexico, many of them stayed in homes made of adobe, which was also called "dobie." Over time, "dobie" morphed into "doughboy." So now you know. (Image: wikimedia)
WAY BACK WHEN - 100 years ago today, on January 10, 1919, the local record store in Santa Barbara had an ad in the paper for records with titles such as, "The Rose of No Man's Land," "The Yanks with the Tanks Will Go Thru the Germans' Ranks," and my personal favorite, "Would You Rather Be a Colonel with an Eagle on Your Shoulder, or a Private with a Chicken on Your Knee?"
WAY BACK WHEN - 100 years ago today, on January 1, 1919, an editorial in the Santa Barbara newspaper wrote, "Let us be kinder to our neighbors and truer to ourselves. Let us be more charitable, and less selfish." Words that could be repeated this year, and every year!
(Image: Santa Barbara Morning Press, January 1, 1919)
WAY BACK WHEN, 100 years ago today on December 17, 1918, the local paper mentioned the visit of author N.H. Chittenden. "At present, he is engaged in writing a defense of the early inhabitants of the West, defending them against what he calls the slanderous misrepresentation of the moving picture films. He declares that the early inhabitants of California were kindly, law-abiding citizens, who have been converted into 'roughnecks' and bandits by the imagination of scenario writers." More about the author in "Way Back When: Santa Barbara in 1918." (Photo of a Cocopah man. Image: Smithsonian Institution, Bureau of American Ethnology, 1901)
WAY BACK WHEN, 100 years ago today on December 15, 1918, the local paper announced, "Santa Barbara is to be on the Langley airway … as the result of plans mapped and recommended by the Aero Club of America. The air route is to be used for commercial and military use." The route would start in Philadelphia, then go to Pittsburg, Columbus, Dayton, Indianapolis, St. Louis, Kansas City … and wind up in Southern California at Santa Barbara. Just one little detail needed to be worked out – we didn't have an airfield yet. More about the search for an airfield in Way Back When: Santa Barbara in 1918. (Photo of a Curtis biplane from WWI. Image: Wikimedia)
WAY BACK WHEN, 100 years ago today, on November 11, 1918, the word reached Santa Barbara, that the Great War in Europe had ended. The next day the paper wrote, "Within 15 minutes after the first news was received, State Street was alive with revelers. Long lines of cars coursed the thoroughfares, cow bells, tin cans – anything that would make a noise – rattling behind; horns honking and the occupants shouting an accompaniment." Peace! Peace at last!
WAY BACK WHEN, 100 years ago today, on November 5, 1918, in the midst of the Spanish Flu pandemic, the local paper wrote, "Beginning at noon Wednesday, November 6, no person will be allowed to enter or to ride upon any streetcar, auto bus, taxicab or other vehicle … without wearing a mask, veil or handkerchief securely fastened over the nose and mouth. By order of the Board of Health of Santa Barbara."