This week, I spent a number of hours listening to an interview with John H. Nicholson. He was a City Councilman in Upland and Head Engineer at Sunkist, among other things. His interview spanned across three double sided tapes. I was impressed by the wealth of knowledge that he had about the area, the Sunkist Corporation, and about his own community. Nicholson’s remarks on the sheer number of goods that Sunkist produced got me thinking about how rapidly changes in how we produce and consume things occur. The corporation made almost 700 different products for their customers. Nicholson also mentioned that some products were very alike, he pointed to Tang as an example, sharing that the only difference might be the addition between it and a similar product might be the addition of more sugar. Sometimes it is hard to think about how and when some of the big social and economic changes in the world took place– there were not always this many options at the grocery store! But this interview highlighted a point in which specific industrial changes in the Sunkist corporation occurred in this region. As we begin to think about the future we want to leave for future generations, it is important to understand at which point changes occurred in our past.This can give us tools to be able to reflect on the alternatives for the future. This week I asked myself “Do we really need two different kinds of Tang?”
Labor in Citrus Groves and Globalization
This week, I spent time listening to an interview with Lonnie
Blanton. He was a citrus grower in the Upland area and his interview provided insights into the citrus growing process. Toward the middle of the interview, Blanton reflects on labor patterns. He suggests that the relationship between the United States and Mexico could be mutually beneficial especially in terms of a more relaxed immigration/labor policy. This comment made me think about current political discussions surrounding labor and migration. In addition, it related to some of the readings I have done for my Senior Seminar. In the course we have discussed the processes of globalization and particularly its relationship to capitalism. Listening to this interview made me reflect on the global patterns of economics (specifically the accumulation of capital wealth) and its effect on sociopolitical relationships over time.
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Claremont: A place textured with memories
This past weekend, my friend and I went on a hike. On our
drive to the trail-head, we passed the San Antonio dam. I couldn’t help but think
about Harold S. Stewart, who sat on the board of the San Antonio Water Company
around the 1940s. His oral history recounted the building of the dam. Water still
flows to that dam and is used by the Inland Empire today. After our hike, my
friend and I went to a coffee shop that is inside an old citrus packing house.
At this point, I was reminded of Robert Nesbit who worked with the Pomona Fruit
Growers Exchange in the 1940s and 1950s. The Packing House is right next to the
railroad that was once used to export citrus from this area to the greater Los
Angeles area. These particular places all throughout the area have very
specific histories. It is important to know how these places come into being
and what particular historical situations created them. Each time I go on a
hike or go to get a cup of coffee, my understanding of space will be textured
with oral histories. These stories are important as our community continues to
grow and change because they can help us to imagine our future. I can’t help
but try to imagine what Claremont will look like in 60 years and which stories
will be remembered!
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Zanjero: Ditch Rider and Water Keeper
A Zanjero is a “ditch rider” or someone who controls the
flow of water to various irrigation sites by traveling along the irrigation
routes. This week, I was enthralled in the life of Thomas Chappell, who was the
only Zanjero in Upland in 1977, when the interview took place. His days began
early, around 4:00AM and were often cut short by sleep, as he went to bed
around 7:30PM. He worked on delivering water to farmers across the area, by way
of opening and closing valves. His entire life revolved around supplying water
for his community, so much so that he missed out on important family holidays
and milestones in his children’s lives. Chappell’s commitment to his job has
led me to reflect on the absolute necessity and value of water. Water is so
important that someone committed their entire life to delivering it. We have to
keep that in mind as we live our lives; water is life.
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Life and Water: Initial Relflections
Hello Everyone! My name is Sophia and this is my second week
as a CLIR CCEPS Fellow! I am excited to continue to learn and grow in this new
position!
The past two weeks have led me to consider how water
influences our daily lives and the lives of other living things. I spent a lot
of time reading about Harold S. Stewart, born in 1894, and how he spent his
time. He worked on the advisory boards of citrus growing companies throughout the
Upland area and most importantly on the San Antonio Water Company board. Water
and its multitude of uses was a big part of his professional life.
Besides learning about his career, I learned about the
things that interested him: hiking and hunting. The importance of water can
often be easily overlooked, but as Stewart told the story of the San Antonio
mountain range as an ever-changing place, I began to see water’s influence. He
recalled the wildlife and how there were fewer deer and mountain lions as he
grew older. Simultaneously, water was being used to cultivate citrus, and collected
to be sold by companies across the Inland Empire. Were the changes in animal
populations reflecting some of the changes in water usage? I am not claiming correlation,
but rather noting the deep interconnectedness of the world that takes shape
through water.
