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V/R, Co-site Administrators Joan Lucchesi ('60) and Gary Wegener ('66)

Click the "Post Message" button to add your entry to the forum

(you always have the option to edit or delete your post). 

Michele Matter (Timko) (1965)

I still enjoy the sweet smell of the grasses and watch the crops grow a little every day as I drive down the country roads home. 

Greg Kareofelas (1962)

Howard  You are right (apologize to your wife) I know the correct spelling, just a "not paying attention typo". My Grandma and Grandpa lived in a "MOTRONI built house. That gorgeous brick house at 51 Pershing Ave in the Beamer park area. This was part of the paper bag that once held nails that I found in their garage. I wanted it because the phone number was "10", I thought that was so cool that Motroni's had the tenth phone in Woodland (I'm now not sure that was the case, but to little kid Greg, he thought that :-) )

Greg Kareofelas (1962)

Bernard, you are right - ,that was the place we sold Black Walnuts, it was not Motronis, just next to them

 Hers's another Black Walnut memory, If you ever had a "Real Chocolate Sundae" at the counter when Leitholds was in the building that Ludy's is in. The nuts they sprinkled on the sundae were Not English Walnuts, almonds or any other inferior nut, they used Black Walnuts finely chopped. It is a real chore to get into a Black walnut, but the taste of that on a sundae is a real treat and worth the effort. At least once a year, I pick up a couple of black walnuts, crack them and manage to get enough to put on a sundae and bring back a pleasant Woodland memory

As far as smells, everyone has just about hit all that I can remember, other than, if the wind blew just right, we could get the "Onion Smell" from the dryer in Vacaville?

Vern Larson (1960)

And who could ever forget the putrid smell of driving behind a beet pulp truck!

Frances Handley (Jones) (1964)

One more smell I've been meaning to send . Waking up early in the morning when the sun is barely up and going outside and catching that early morning smell of the dew and dampness on all the dry crops and fields that comes blowing in . That is truly a Woodland  smell . The early hours coolness is certainly a gift . ( Especially when you live in the land of 24/7 humidity!)

Janet Long (Levers) (1966)

Greg, your treasures from the past-photos, paper (nail) bags, etc.--are why we need a "like" button on this site, or at least a "clapping" emoji.

Connie Long (Brace) (1963)

I have enjoyed all the comments on the wonderful agricultural smells (and some, not so wonderful) in Woodland.  My family only lived in Woodland for four years, but I can tell you, the smell of cut alfalfa evokes so many memories of my high school years in Woodland.  I now live in East Tennessee.  It is a beautiful, mountainous part of Tennessee, but I don't think I have every encountered a field of alfalfa here and I miss it. 

Joel Childers (1966)

Last night I had a dream about the Gable Mansion on First Street in Woodland. (It was a scary dream probably because when I was a kid, my older brother's convinced me that it was haunted.) Today, coincidentally, someone posted a picture of that old beauty on a jigsaw puzzle web site that I frequent. Last I heard, an architect bought it and restored it and it is now a historical site. Does anyone know if it's open to the public. It would be worth a look around. Maybe there is a ghost in there.

Don Murdoch (1962)

Joel,  The Gable Mansion was restored by your classmate, Jeff Barrow.  He gave tours at your 50th reunion.  Apparently you didn't attend.  As far as I know, he still lives there.  Call him.

Gary Tibbals (1965)

I am with you there Connie, I live in north Georgia and I have not smelled Alfalfa in this part of the country.

Gary Wegener (Wegener) (1966)

beautiful blue skies yesterday in Woodland and here is a picture from this morning.  What a difference from 'the fire days', though they certainly aren't over.

Joan Richter (Lucchesi) (1960)

Jeff and Star still live in the Gable house. It is open some years during the Woodland Stroll. Beautiful home and they are wonderful hosts.

Greg Kareofelas (1962)

Thanks Janet for the nice comment, I'll continue and try to post fun stuff about :"Good Ole Woodland"

And Yes Joel, we used to think the Gable Mansion was haunted. This is how it looked before it was restored - I took this pic in 1971. I had an opportunity to visit in when it was open for a Christmas Special, recently. In addition to making the oustide "look pretty", there was much structural work done to make it last for many years into the future. Had it not been done, it would not be here today

Don Murdoch (1962)

Back in the 50s, there was a giant oak tree in the front and to the right.  It had a very thick canopy and big vines hanging down. We would climb those vines up 40 feet in the tree. Once,  the police came but couldn't see us as the foilage and mistletoe was so thick.  Fun times in the 50s.

Doyle Phillips (1961)

Don, didn't that oak tree extent into the road a bit? i remember one of those trees along First extended into the street. Close to it was a hitching post.  

Don Murdoch (1962)

Doyle, The tree was closer to the house than it was to the street.  It was just off at an angle from the front left of the house.  Back then, there were several trees but the BIG one was the one we climbed.  The  ivy vines were over an inch in diameter

Marilyn Millsap (Thompson) (1961)

The big oak tree was where the Barrows have put that lovely gazebo.  My grandmother lived across the street from the Gable mansion and was good friends with Gertrude Gable.  I can remember her walking off down First St. wearing white gloves and a hat on her way to her job - I believe as secretary to a lawyer (maybe Elmer Armfield?).  I think Harriet Lee rented a room from the Gable sisters (Myrtle and Gertrude).  I think they only lived in a few rooms of the house.

Theresa Eve (1964)

Great history on the Gable Mansion!  I did go to a Halloween Party there in the early 70s, just as the home was under the total remodel.  So grand inside that house with the wood and big rooms.  Nice to see the before picture, Greg.   

Kay Most (Chapman) (1962)

The Gable House is so gorgeous once restored.  I well remember the closed-up "haunted" look of it all when I walked from the high school once a week over to Mrs. Bentz's home for my piano lesson, and I would pass by that house.  All kinds of fantasies as to what mysteries it contained and what it must be like inside.  I'm delighted it didn't fall to the wrecker's ball.

Armand Jaques

The discussion on smells in Woodland.  One that struck me was the distinct difference between fall and spring grass.  Coaching both football in the fall and track and field in the spring .... this olfactory memories create many joyful thoughts for me.

Joel Childers (1966)

Kay - You were in my brother David's class at WHS. Your class was graduating just before our class arrived in 1962. I also took piano lessons from Mrs. Bentz for about three years. Oh, how I hated piano recitals, but I am SO glad she pushed me to practice and learn how to play. I still do to this day. Thanks to Mrs. Bentz.

Jeff Barrow (1966)

Starr and I have been fortunate enough to be the custodians of the wonderful Gable Mansion since 1997. As only the third owner since its construction in 1885, we have tried to preserve the past grandeur of the home while also bringing it into the 21st Century regarding electrical, plumbing, foundation, painting, HVAC, etc. There have usually been two charitable fund raising tour events each year and hopefully we can get back to that when these current health restrictions are eased. We have a few old pictures in the files that are fun to see. The one below shows Amos Gable, the original owner, in his horse and buggy in front of the home. The date is most likely the early 1890s.  

Don Murdoch (1962)

Hi Jeff.  There's the tree I was describing.  Just imagine it with leaves and ivy with vines.  

Jeff Barrow (1966)

Don: As you can see in the picture below, which I believe was taken sometime in the late 1950s, the yard of the Gable Mansion was quite overgrown. That big tree distinctly has a number of large vines hanging down which are probably the ones on which you were climbing. The tree had one large limb hanging over the house and a second large limb extending out over Cross Street. The base was over 10' in diameter. Unfortunately, about 10 years ago, it became badly diseased and the Arborist said it was dangerous so we were forced to remove it, which took over a week to accomplish. Sad to see it go.

Doyle Phillips (1961)

Don and jeff, the picture posted by Jeff of around 1890 shows the tree I was referring to. The picture shows how far in front of the home the tree was. In the late 40's early 50's the tree extended beyond the curb onto First Street. There may have been another tree over from it with a hitching post in between.