Orland Historical & Cultural Society

Orland Historical & Cultural Society To celebrate and preserve Orland's rich history.

Acquisition continued. Another gift from the Blevins family is an Official Spalding Base Ball Score Book that is ove...
05/30/2026

Acquisition continued.
Another gift from the Blevins family is an Official Spalding Base Ball Score Book that is over 90-years old. This is possibly the "official Artois Scorebook" and includes a lot of surnames that were baseball players in the 1930s. The top page is the Artois team in both pictures. I do not know the official notations for scoring a game so can only guess on who had the key hits and runs. The running score by innings appears across the bottom of each page. As you can imagine, town baseball teams were important back in the day and so this scorebook is quite a nice treasure for the OHCS archives.

Acquisition. The Laura and Frank Blevins family have made several recent donations to the OHCS and the first item is ...
05/28/2026

Acquisition.
The Laura and Frank Blevins family have made several recent donations to the OHCS and the first item is this Kiddie Vanity Set. Several on eBay indicate that it is a DyDee Doll Vintage Vanity Set. The set looks in pristine condition so apparently wasn't a favorite toy with the Blevins' girls. -to be continued

The Orland Historical & Cultural Society. The May/June regular OHCS meeting was held last evening at the Ingranook (...
05/28/2026

The Orland Historical & Cultural Society.
The May/June regular OHCS meeting was held last evening at the Ingranook (building behind the Museum at 936 Fourth Street). It is a function of this OHCS page to keep the viewers apprised of important news (as well as informed and entertained) about the Society. At last night's meeting, important information and action was taken regarding a situation that has been ongoing since at least last summer. Basically, it is one of those situations that occasionally surfaces and sometimes are inherit with older and vintage buildings.
In a nutshell, the ADA bathroom and the counter sink in the Ingranook building didn't seem to be hooked to the city sewer line in the alley. The latest in technology couldn't find any previous connections. Correcting the situation will also involve removing concrete to access the main plumbing line under the building and of course, repairing after the underground work is completed.
As you might suspect, a project of this nature will be expensive but is an important situation that needs to be addressed. I was not authorized to solicit funds for this project, but you now have information for an almost $20K project now being undertaken by the membership (this is in addition to the $20K project to paint the Depot at the Fairgrounds that is also in the works). I don't have all the details on the plumbing project but would be happy to secure answers if you have any questions about the project.

Memorial Day 2026. "No man is entitled to the blessings of freedom unless he be vigilant in its preservation." -Gen. ...
05/25/2026

Memorial Day 2026.
"No man is entitled to the blessings of freedom unless he be vigilant in its preservation." -Gen. MacArthur (1880-1964)
"Patriotism is not short, frenzied outbursts of emotion, but the tranquil and steady dedication of a lifetime." -Adlai Stevenson (1900-65)

"The most loved of the entire community..." Roscoe Jerome Leonard (1891-1918) was the eldest son of Mr. & Mrs. J.M. ...
05/25/2026

"The most loved of the entire community..."
Roscoe Jerome Leonard (1891-1918) was the eldest son of Mr. & Mrs. J.M. Leonard. He was one of the most popular and dependable young men in Orland being employed at the Farmers' Cash Store for seven years before assuming the charge of the family ranch as his father was unable to carry on the work alone. He left Orland for training in October 1917 and about the middle of December, was sent aboard a transport for France. "He complained of a cold, and this evidently eventuated in pneumonia, resulting in death on the 23rd (in a military hospital, January 1918). He was a young man in his prime, having passed his 26th birthday on December 26th, while on the way across the water."
A memorial service was held in October 1918 at the Orland Methodist Church that was attended by 400-500 people. Roscoe's body arrived in Orland on 1 Oct 1920 and burial was 3 Oct 1920 at the Orland Masonic Cemetery.
Roscoe's "passing came as a shock to the entire community for no boy went away to war with more close friends than did Roscoe."
Roscoe's bunk mate David Marion Woolridge was from Newville/Corning and died of pneumonia on 21 Jan 1918. He is buried in the St. Mihiel American Cemetery, Thiaucourt, France.

Memorial Day Weekend 2026. This weekend serves as a federal observance honoring and mourning US military personnel w...
05/24/2026

Memorial Day Weekend 2026.
This weekend serves as a federal observance honoring and mourning US military personnel who have died while serving in the armed services.
Many may not realize that US men were volunteering to serve in military forces before the US was officially involved in World War II. One of these men was Dennis David "Jack" Smith of the Lake district who became a pilot officer with the Royal Air Force stationed in London. He was making regular flights over Germany and German-occupied France at the controls of a bomber. He first joined the Canadian Air Force where he received his training, later transferring to the Royal Air Corps. Later when the American Eagle Squadron was formed of former RAF flyers following the entry of the US into the war, Jack transferred to this squadron and continued his work on raids over France.
Lt. Jack Smith was an OHS Graduate of the Class of 1937 where he was an "outstanding football player" and also prominent in student affairs. He died September 26, 1942, and was buried in the Brittany American Cemetery, St. James, France. Jack was "Orland's first air hero to lose his life in actual aerial combat."

Acquisition. Marty has sent along this business/campaign card from 1898. William Humphrey Sale (1859-1927) was t...
05/23/2026

Acquisition.
Marty has sent along this business/campaign card from 1898.
William Humphrey Sale (1859-1927) was the son of Dr. William Gray Sale (1830-69) and Emily Amelia Anderson (1836-1911). He was born in Fenton, St. Louis County, Missouri. He came to California with his brother in 1870 locating in Elk Creek where he farmed and went into the mercantile business. On 5 Aug 1883, he married Florence Nevada "Flo" Gillaspy (1864-1943) in Colusa County. They were the parents of William Bruce "Jerry" Sale (1884-1961) and Willie Grey Sale (1894-1901).
When Glenn County was created, W.H. Sale was a candidate for County Clerk and was elected by a large majority on 5 May 1891. He took office six days later and served as County Clerk for 36 years. He is buried in the Willows Cemetery.

Let's celebrate. A century ago, H.M. Keene (1867-1951)--editor and publisher of the Orland Unit--was encouraging loc...
05/22/2026

Let's celebrate.
A century ago, H.M. Keene (1867-1951)--editor and publisher of the Orland Unit--was encouraging local readers to be thankful for the recently approved federal money for the construction of Stony Gorge Dam and the further growth of the Orland Project. "Shake off the lethargy that has settled" over the community and look around at the "beautiful home community in the wonderful state." We have some of the best land, a climate that will grow the most valuable crops, water, markets, and "people of a class that go to make the most desirable home life to be found in the world." The Orland Project--What a place!!

Answering a query. Chris asked, "How would anyone mount this??!" I will try to explain:Start on a level ground with...
05/21/2026

Answering a query.
Chris asked, "How would anyone mount this??!" I will try to explain:
Start on a level ground with both hands on the handlebars. With both feet on the ground, start moving the bike until you have some speed to put your left foot on the little step above the small wheel. Another kick with the right foot and the speed will be enough to rise up and put the right foot on the right pedal that is at the center of the big wheel. Sit on the saddle and bring left foot to the pedal on the left center of the big wheel. Easy does it and off you go....
There are a number of YouTube videos on these bicycles.

Shared images. Marty has sent along images worthy of sharing with the OHCS Facebook viewers.If you have images from ...
05/20/2026

Shared images.
Marty has sent along images worthy of sharing with the OHCS Facebook viewers.
If you have images from the Fair and would like to share, send them along.
Penny Farthing bicycles were popular in the 1870s and 1880s but were made obsolete with the development of the chain-driven bike with pneumatic tires starting c. 1885. It would have been a rare sight if a penny farthing bicycle was ever seen in early Orland. The King Cyclery add is from 1910.

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Orland Historical & Cultural Society PO Box 183
Orland, CA
95963

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