Fifty years ago, Merced mourned the passing of local leaders and historical landmarks

This year marks the 50th birthday celebration for those born in 1973, including Castle Airman Marcus Thompson’s baby — the first child born in the New Year in Merced County. It is also a special year for Kathleen Crookham because she made history 50 years ago by being the first woman named to a principal position in the Merced City School District in 20 years. Her accomplishment was significant progress at a time when married women were known only as Mrs. (husband’s full name). Finally, this August will mark the 50th anniversary of Summer Bartholomew’s rise when she became the first Merced County Maid to ever win the Maid of California contest. Ms. Bartholomew went on to win the 1975 Miss USA competition.

While these milestones are necessary to observe, it is equally important to remember the people and landmarks that passed 50 years ago. Howard George, retired Merced County Superior Court judge, passed away in March 1973 at 60, leaving his wife, Bettylou; two daughters, Margee Krum and Lyn George; and a son, William “Skip” George. Judge George was born in Newkirk, Okla., and came to Merced from Bishop with his parents in 1927 during the California Water Wars.

A Merced High School graduate, he went on to receive his law degree from Hastings College of Law and then became a member of the law firm of Preston, Braucht, and George. Serving the country during World War II, Judge George attained the rank of lieutenant in the U.S. Navy. He was active in the community, fraternal, and political organizations. He was a proud Rotarian, and his son, Skip, continues the tradition to this day.

In October 1973, Deacon George Washington Jones, believed to be the oldest Mercedian, died in a San Francisco hospital at the age of 103. Deacon Jones was born Dec. 28, 1869 in Evergreen, Ala. At 12, with his father’s permission, he went to work for the railroad. Deacon Jones married Ella Hawthorne in 1902 and farmed in Guthrie, Okla. In 1935, he moved his family to Merced and worked as a farm labor contractor until his retirement. Serving as a deacon at Second Baptist Church of Merced, he was also active in civic affairs and lived by the “love your neighbor” philosophy. He was survived by three daughters: Evelyn Hartfield, Dollie Robinson, and Frances Ellis; a son Anderson Jones; and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

The passing of Emory O’Banion on Dec. 3, 1973 marks the end of his more than 18 years of service as a Merced County supervisor. He was 61. He first took office in January 1955 and served as chairman of the board in 1960, 1965, and 1970. Supervisor O’Banion did a lot for the county during his tenure and represented the West Side well. Early that year, he cut the ribbon for the successful national Campvention in Santa Nella, broke ground for the new County Administration building in Merced, and inspected the new County Landfill in Los Banos.

Supervisor O’Banion, a Dos Palos rancher, was very active on water issues. He worked closely with federal agencies on the Central Valley Project, including the construction of San Luis Dam and Reservoir. Representing the county in different capacities, he served as the chairman and member of various business and governmental committees and associations. He was survived by his wife, Naomi; four sons: James, John, Jeffry, and Jerry (who later followed his father’s footsteps as Merced County supervisor); and a daughter, Beverly Morehead.

While mourning the passing of these local leaders, Merced County residents also witnessed the destruction of historical landmarks. For example, the old Southern Pacific Railroad depot in Merced was completely razed in September. The old depot, built in 1900, was originally located on N Street between 15th and 16th Streets and was moved to M Street between 15th and 16th Streets in the late 1920s by the American Railway Express Company. Railway Express used the all-wood building with the distinctive supporting posts until April 1971, when it was leased by restaurant operator Ray Douglas for storage. The structure had been vacant for about two years before it was sold to the Cecil Antrim firm for salvage purposes.

Several controlled burns of historic homes were performed in 1973. The home that housed Merced’s first Catholic Mass in 1872 was burned to the ground on Oct. 3. Located at 19th and Canal streets, it was one of the oldest, if not the oldest, homes in Merced. Its original owner, Mathias Smythe, was not only a leader of the Catholic community but also the first justice of the peace in this new railroad town. Joseph Norvell, Merced Express publisher, purchased the home in 1881. When his daughter Louise Norvell, former Merced High School teacher, passed away on May 19, 1973, the house soon met its destructive end.

On Oct. 24, a two-story home built in the early 1900s by the son of Merced’s first mayor, M. D. Wood, was destroyed in a controlled burn. It was located at 19th and N streets and had a list of distinguished occupants, including its original owner, J. D. Wood, who (like his father) served as Merced mayor from 1920 to 1924 and from 1926 to 1932. It was later occupied by Col. And Mrs. John Macready. Macready Drive at the airport is named in his honor.

To see all these histories and more that took place 50 years ago, visit the “Remember 1973?” exhibit at the Courthouse Museum. It is on display until May 21.