Spaulding Alumni:
September 6, 2007
This letter is intended for 1942 and 1943 class mates-- hopefully still living. Few will remember me as I was unable to join school social functions. My father died in 1942 so used club time to do home work and after school Bill Willie and I worked the evening shift in the excelsior mill in union.
In my 9th grade a leg injury resulted in osteomyelitis (bone infect) so was rejected for the military. After that mother sister and I moved to the Boston area where I was a mechanic at Northeast Airlines.
August 1948 I wanted a change and headed west on a motorized bike that took me as far as Iowa. I hitch-hiked from Iowa to San Jose. Wanting to avoid large cities, I took a bus north arriving in Garberville with $5.00. My second day I found work in a saw mill camp starting at ten cents per hour more than with the airline. I was lucky as I needed to quickly find work to send money home.
I had a free bare bones cabin. Everything was free except my groceries. It was an exciting experience for a young easterner. On week ends the mill families went to the only back sand ocean beach in California where we fished. Occasionally on the way home we had a fish fry -by a mountain stream. Evenings we played rook until the lights went out. Those were exciting fun days.
I got experience working for three research and development companies, one in Santa Monica and two in Santa Barbara. Raytheon, the last company, made it possible to land a job in the engineering school at the University of California Fresno. The work was ideal for my talents and I worked with students and professors. After 25 years I retired with a state pension beyond my dreams.
While working at Fresno State, as known then, I designed and built my home located in the foot hills in a planned development. Having never designed or built a home I plunged in. I drew my plans and had them passed by a county engineer. Wiring and plumbing I learned on the job.
We have stores, horse stables, club house, golf course, swimming pool, ballpark, church, and lots one acre up to 15 acres. I have 1 ~ acres, one acre too much to take care of. We are located 31 miles from Yosemite National Park. A new Indian casino is 7 miles by road from home. Their senior all you can eat buffet costs $5.99 offering four ethnic foods. We eat there once a week. Occasionally I put a dollar in a slot on the way out not being addicted to that losers sport.
My wife and I recently passed an eye exam both having 22/20 vision. Past years I must of eaten too many cheese sandwiches requiring a heart stint. August this year I passes the tread mill arid cholesterol examine. I am more careful what I eat now and I walk to the mail boxes a mile away that is mostly up hill returning. I spend a lot of time in my shop shown in the picture. It has the usual tools and a bathroom with shower with intercom to the house. I made as many of its cabinets as space allows.
Should old classmate reads this letter please fell free to write.
Sincerely
Roland Stevens
30625 Seminole Dr.
Coarsegold, CA 93614