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1916: Spreckels to build in Manteca
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The Spreckels Sugar plant in the late 1950s. - photo by Photo Contributed

100 years ago

November 17, 1916

Manteca is to have a $1.5 million dollar sugar refinery to be erected by the Spreckels Sugar Company, not later than next year, in or as near the town as practicable. Further than that, one or more railroads will be connected up to the town and bring to Manteca added prosperity and heavy business and at least 300 families, according to F. E. Sullivan, general manager of the company.

 

90 years ago

November 18, 1926

R. E. Leventon and Son, pioneer blacksmiths of this city, announce the sale of their business to J. C. Bradley, who comes here from Modes to. The new owner is optimistic over the future of Manteca and the South San Joaquin Irrigation District. Mr. Leventon came here in 1914 and entered business and has made many friends. He served on the city council. Elwood Leventon, who has been associated with his father, has been chief of the Manteca Fire Department for several years.

 

80 years ago

November 19, 1936

Joseph Pendas of Louisiana was bound over to Superior Court here Tuesday when he appeared before Judge E. E. Douglass on a charge of attempted robbery. Pendas is charged with attempting to rob Police Chief Tom Brockman Sunday morning at 1 o’clock. Brockman was not in uniform at the time.

 

70 years ago

November 18, 1946

The Chamber of Commerce has undertaken the job of making a survey of the sidewalk needs in the city for the purpose of having the information available in the event a sidewalk laying project is decided upon in the future. Actual work, it is said, would probably have to await the time when the city was ready to establish grades, and then curbs. Gutters and storm sewers could also be installed at the same time.

 

60 years ago

November 15, 1956

The Manteca High School band won first place in the High School Band division during the Veterans Day parade held in Stockton Saturday. Leroy Darling is the director. The band will travel to Long Beach next Friday by Greyhound bus to appear in the All-Western Band Review Saturday. Friday, the band will present a concert at Disneyland and, prior to the concert, the group will tour the Knott’s Berry Farm.

 

50 years ago

November 14, 1966

Four points of disagreement that blocked the extension of Powers Avenue to Shasta School apparently were resolved when seven persons met Thursday afternoon. Mayor Ed Pitts told City Council Monday night that the city and Antone Raymus are now ready to draw up an agreement. He instructed City Attorney John Burnett and City Manager Angelo Bressani to go ahead with an agreement that would probably be ready for next Monday‘s meeting.

 

40 years ago

November 19, 1976

Completion of the Highway 120 Manteca Bypass is about assured. A meeting of the State Highway Commission Thursday and Friday in Fairfield includes an agenda item which calls for more than $4 million in highway funds for the grading project from Spreckels Road westward to a point two-tenths of a mile east of Interstate 5. The project has been sought by Manteca officials for the past 30 years.

 

30 years ago

November 15, 1986

Showcasing the first phase of the expansion project of Manteca Hospital Friday afternoon included more surprises than the physical improvements. As Mark Oliver, president of the hospital’s governing board, extolled the highlights of the new phase, a large sign was uncovered revealing the new name of the facility — Doctors’ Hospital of Manteca. “The name change better identifies our relationships and commitment to Manteca’s caring hospital,” said Oliver.

 

20 years ago

November 20, 1996

Incoming school board member Manuel Medeiros wants to eliminate bilingual education after the second grade in Manteca schools. “They (the Hispanic students) should learn to speak English,” Medeiros said, after Tuesday’s Manteca Unified School District board meeting. “It doesn’t matter if they (the Federal and state governments) tell you that you have to do it. You shouldn’t just follow blindly.”

 

10 years ago

November 22, 2006

When the Boys and Girls Club telethon first began 27 years ago, it was a small-time operation, televised from the cramped confines of the Cable Vision offices. “It ran for two hours, and we made about ($1,500),” said Mayor Willie Weatherford. Now, it has become a well-oiled machine with an army of volunteers manning the telephones and earning a record $147,014 when it went off the air at 11 p.m. Wednesday.