Betsy J. Green

WAY BACK WHEN - 100 Years Ago Today - The other breakfast cereal company had an ad in the local paper on July 20, 1918. An ad in the local paper reminded me of the breakfast cereal king who used to live in Santa Barbara. No, not Kellogg, the other one — Charles W. Post. Remember Post Toasties or Postum? And how about Grape Nuts?

Post lived at 2102 Bath Street toward the end of his life when his health was failing. Despondent over his ill health, he committed suicide here in 1914. (The home is now longer here.)

WAY BACK WHEN - 100 Years Ago Today - On July 7, 1918, women rolled up their sleeves & pitched in. As more and more young men left for the battlefields, young women stepped up to take their places -- in the fields, in the theaters, in the telegraph offices, and in the hotels. "Girls Ready to Enter Bean Fields," wrote the local paper on July 7, 1918. "Clad in overalls and straw sombreros, nine well-known Santa Barbara girls will invade the Carpinteria apricot orchards … The job undertaken by the girls is a man-sized one. … The girls will not only pit, but they will pick and dry the fruit as well, practically unassisted by male employees. … Appearance will be a secondary matter, so a little dirt upon their faces and hands is to be expected." 

WAY BACK WHEN - 100 Years Ago Today - On July 2, 1918, the order came from on high — i.e., the United States War Office, and was printed in the SB paper. “Work or Fight! … Every man who is within the draft must fight for the government or work for it. … Not only men within the draft age, but most of the younger and older men are complying with the government’s wishes and are now engaged in useful pursuits. The majority of them have gone to the farms and ranches or entered into some of the other pursuits … classed as essential.” (Image: Aces and Kings: Cartoons from the Des Moines Register, Jay N. Darling, 1918) Read More 

WAY BACK WHEN – 100 YEARS AGO TODAY – On June 28, 1918, the local paper announced the names of four Carpinteria men who were leaving to work in the spruce division of the American Aviation Corps (now called the Air Force).
Why spruce? Most World War I planes were made of spruce and linen.

WAY BACK WHEN – 100 YEARS AGO TODAY – On June 25, 1918, the local paper reported on speeding problems in Santa Barbara: “‘The [East] Valerio Street hill, which seems to be the place most motorists select to test the speed of their cars,’ was too tempting for one driver. This motorist was nabbed by the SB Speed Officer for zooming down the hill at the illegal speed of 28 miles per hour. (The speed limit for most streets in 1918 was 15 m.p.h.)  Read More 

WAY BACK WHEN – 100 YEARS AGO TODAY – On June 14, 1918, Santa Barbara residents were chuckling over this cartoon in the local paper. Folks here really needed a good laugh after reading numerous depressing stories about the war in Europe.

WAY BACK WHEN – 100 YEARS AGO TODAY – On June 2, 1918, the SB paper announced that the local chapter of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows would hold a meeting to greet the organization’s “Grand Patriarch” who was visiting this area. The meeting was held in the IOOF building at 15 East Anapamu. The group still meets in this building, and the next time you pass by, you can look up and see their logo -- three chain links -- displayed on the second floor of the building.  Read More 

WAY BACK WHEN, 100 years ago today in Santa Barbara, on May 26, 1918, 1,000 people came out to watch the annual motorcycle race up Eucalyptus Hill. The fastest time was 14-1/5 seconds. Not sure where the start and finish lines were. (Above) A top-of-the-line motorbike from 1918.

WAY BACK WHEN, 100 years ago today in Santa Barbara -- on May 18, 1918, famed Swedish-American painter Carl Oscar Borg began building his house on Loma Alta on the Mesa. Borg was known for his paintings of Native Americans of the Southwest.

WAY BACK WHEN, 100 years ago today in Santa Barbara, on May 7, 1918, a traveling circus came to Santa Barbara and marched up and down State Street. “Everyone was a child during the circus parade at noon today. It was truly the children’s hour. And what a parade it was! The streets were filled with old and young. Laughter sounded even above the rumble of the street cars.”  Read More