Tehachapi throws itself a party!

Posted by editor Monday, August 17, 2009 - 14:23
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The citizens who had the foresight and vision to incorporate the Town of Tehachapi in 1909 would have been right at home at the birthday party the city threw for itself on Aug. 13, 2009.

With downtown still configured as it was by the Western Development Company of the Southern Pacific Railroad in 1892; with many of the original homes lining the streets; with trains roaring through every 20 to 30 minutes, the original five Town Trustees (City Council) would have known their way around, perhaps strolling the tree-lined streets to their former abodes.

In the faces of the hundreds of celebrating citizens, in the words of the speakers and music of the orchestra, the Trustees would have seen the civic pride that connects 1909 to 2009.

They would not be surprised that the city has become the commercial and governmental anchor of the Tehachapi valleys.

They looked ahead and they saw it.

They provided the structure that enabled subsequent council members, mayors and city managers to build a municipality.

On Aug. 13, 2009, residents marked the 100th birthday of the incorporation and honored the threads of culture that have created the communal quilt called Tehachapi.

Speakers represented the Kawaiisu native people; the Hispanic families, the refugees from the Oklahoma Dust Bowl and the railroad and cement plant workers.

The program included remembrances of the devastating 1952 earthquake, a look at the Tehachapi Municipal Airport, the wind industry and the city's law enforcement history.

The Tehachapi Pops Orchestra (T-Pops), under the direction of Robby Martinez, debuted an original composition, “Tehachapi,” that gave wings of sound to the birds, the animals, the wind, the native music and the mountains.

Mindful of the current tough economic climate (and waiting for an appellate court to decide if the state of California can take the city's money to balance its out-of-whack budget), city management took care that the centennial celebration was not an expensive blow-out - and that made it better, because it arose from heart.

“It was an amazing program. It was the spirit of Tehachapi,” said city manager Greg Garrett. “You don't need money to have a good time. We had a minimal budget. People contributed over and over again.”

The city set up 250 folding chairs in Robinson Street in front of City Hall, facing the podium, orchestra and the giant video screen atop the tent that covered the orchestra. When those chairs were full, citizens lined the sidewalks and sat on the curbs and steps. Individuals baked cupcakes and fanciful cakes to share with the crowd.

Mayor Linda Vernon's daughters Tiffany Waldowski and Ashleigh Smith created an edible replica of the city's signature railroad water tower.

No one wanted to cut that one up.

Citizens waited in line to sign a guest book.

Elected officials came to share the event and speak briefly: U.S. Congressman Kevin McCarthy, California State Senator Roy Ashburn, California State Assemblymember Jean Fuller, Kern County Supervisor Don Maben, Delano Mayor Dam Ramirez and the current City Council members Phil Smith, Ed Grimes, Shane Reed and Mayor Linda Vernon.

Councilman Stan Beckham, absent for the festivities, was attending a California League of Cities event.

McCarthy presented to the city a flag that has flown over the nation's capitol.

In a thoughtfully coordinated program, following each speaker the jumbo screen showed related pictures as the orchestra played a special song to match.

The orchestra played the new composition “Tehachapi” following comments by Kawaiisu tribal elder Harold Williams, who is providing to the Tehachapi Museum precious baskets that his grandmother left him in her will.

City Councilman and former mayor Phil Smith, whose father was a railroad signalman at Keene, said “I really appreciate what the pioneers had to do. In 100 years, I hope they appreciate what we did today.”

Highlighting Smith's theme, the orchestra played “I've Been Working on the Railroad.”

Jim Dinsmore belted out “Sixteen Tons” in homage to the cement plant company store at Monolith following historian Del Troy's comments on the cement industry. Cal Portland Plant Manager Bruce Schafer had been called away and was not able to attend.

City Councilman and former mayor Ed Grimes, who grew up on a farm in Tehachapi, recalled setting new-fangled sprinklers in the fields and picking pears on the way to school and gave a nod to the newest agriculture triumph, the vineyards. The orchestra saluted ag history with “Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White."

Former mayor Mariana Teel (saluted with “South of the Border”) said her family came from Mexico to work at the cement plant at Monolith.

“Word got around and they came from Los Angeles, from Baja California, from Durango and Zacatecas, Mexico,” she said. “Word was that life was good in America and they came.”

Her mother and father were born in Tehachapi.

“We brought our customs, our cultures, our strong work ethic,” Teel said. “It was a good time. Life was good in America. Life was better in Tehachapi.”

Proud of her Oakie heritage on her mother's side, former mayor Deborah Hand (musically saluted with “Oklahoma!”) told of the great migration from the harsh Dust Bowl of Oklahoma.

“By 1940, two-and-a-half million people migrated to California, hoping for survival in the great Central Valley,” Hand said. They brought their distinctive music that became the Bakersfield sound, she said.

“Some migrants had to pass through Tehachapi,” Hand said. They were tired and hot from the desert, she said, and residents gave them apples and juice.

“Some migrants remembered this kindness,” she said. “They remembered it was cooler there and the people were nice.”

The grandchild of one of those migrant families, Greg Garrett, is now city manager.

Saluted with “I Feel The Earth Move (under my feet),” Joan and Dick Johnson told about the 1952 earthquake, and sleeping outdoors in the yard for six weeks.

She recalled watching “water go this way and that in ditches and we couldn't feel a thing [movement].” He said “The camaraderie was instantaneous” and everyone helped others.

Airport Commission Chairman Doug Stone detailed the past and bright future of aviation in Tehachapi. The orchestra played “Flying.”

Jeff Duff, executive vice president of Airstreams Renewables, a company that trains wind technicians, hailed Tehachapi as the epicenter of wind technology. The wind pioneers here, he said, were able to ”convert wind into a new way of life. They turned something into waves of the future.”

The orchestra saluted the wind industry with “Windmills of Your Mind.”

“Happy birthday, Tehachapi. I love you,” said Main Street Tehachapi Executive Director Michelle Vance, saluted with “Downtown.”

Tehachapi Police Chief Jeff Kermode (saluted with “Beverly Hills Cop”) said that three peace officers have been killed in the line of duty in Tehachapi, two in 1873 and one, Chief William Mantoth, in 1968.

Afterglow

Residents hailed the centennial event, crowned by a gentle breeze and birds chirping in the trees, a great success.

“Wonderful,” said Senator Ashburn. If everyone in California had been here, he said, “they would be rushing to get to Tehachapi.”

Baker Linda Pettit, who made 150 special cupcakes for the event, said she loved everything about it.

“It made me think of all the reasons I came back,” said David Reed, who was away for 10 years. “I'm so proud of us.”

Ed Grimes appreciated the good participation from elected officials.

A happy Charles White of the Heritage League, removing copies of historic photos that had been stuck to City Hall windows, said, “It went extremely well, like clockwork.”

Jeff Duff said, “I think this was an awesome event, well put together. Kudos to the city for pulling it off. I was honored to be part of it.”

David Butler: “I thought it was fantastic.”

Historian Del Troy: “I thought it was wonderful… the people all worked very hard to put this together.”

Bill Fisher, general manager of the Golden Hills Community Services District: “I liked the history.”

Greg Garrett: “It was the team. It is special to be city manager at this time.”