Calanan Park in Nevada City
Calanan Park
August 1, 2010 would have been George H. Calanan's 138th birthday, except that he passed from life in 1951 seven months after the park was named honoring him for all his good deeds. Most of us are aware of the tiny, downtown Nevada City park. This little green spot has relics tied to his life: a hydraulic gold mining nozzle, and gate valve used in that type of gold mining, a shaft core from the quartz Idaho-Maryland Mine, an ore car and other memorabilia. Wonderful reminders of Nevada City's history. But those who were born and raised here have other memories to share about the place before it became a park.
Husband Mel started delivering newspapers for the Sacramento Bee seventy four years ago when he was nine years old; a job that lasted four years. He'd ride his bike down Red Dog Road to town and park it at Wamsleys, that was located a couple of doors down from the National Hotel, and across the street from the vacant lot now called Calanan Park. The newspapers were delivered to Wamsleys. While the carriers waited for them, they'd play football in the park. Mr. Wamsley gave them some nylon socks that the boys stuffed with old newspapers to make their footballs. Across the street was Dick Lane's Service Station and repair garage.
During the winter months when it snowed, Mel would ride his bike as close to town as he could, until the snow build up between the fenders and wheels forced him to park it, and walk the rest of the way into town. Each carrier had a whistle that they'd blow when they delivered the paper, so that the customer would know their paper was there. At that time each paper cost about ten cents. Mel made $1 dollar a month for delivering them.
Mel says that "During 1939 I got so many subscriptions for the Bee that I won a trip to the World's Fair at Treasure Island. I've forgotten how many other carriers went. Mom and Dad had a 1937 Buick Sedan and the Bee paid for the gas."
That huge tree in Calanan Park (pictured above) was also a youngster when the newspaper carriers played football there. Over the years it grew up just like they did, and eventually the city decorated it with Christmas lights that our children and grandchildren enjoyed many years. If that old tree could talk, what a tale it could tell about the changes it's seen downtown. May it's reign continue for many more years.
EpilogueDiane adds..."Enjoyed your info on Calanan Park (always remembered the park, but never knew the name of it) and the cute bio on Mel. I think the Dick Lane you mentioned in the article was my Uncle Dick, my Mom's brother. We always look forward to your wonderful photos and stories!"
