From 1963 through 1988, Ernest D. Wichels had written a weekly history column for the Vallejo Times Herald Newspaper.
These articles explore the rich history of the Solano County area,
and they are only a small sample of the entire collection.
Articles will be added to this database on a continual basis.

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Latest additions: 2009-10-09 11:33 Planking On Streets / Wichels, Ernest [837] [WICHELS-1965-837] Our current City Council meetings include debate on almost everything "under the sun." but one of the subjects which is seldom discussed is the condition of streets. Detailed record - Similar records 2009-10-09 11:33 Relics And VIP Visits / Wichels, Ernest [836] [WICHELS-1965-836] The year 1965 brings to an end the five-year observance of the Civil War Centennial. And this brings to mind a few local reminders of that conflict, and several other noted historical facts not readily appreciated by most Solano citizens. Detailed record - Similar records 2009-10-09 11:33 Fun Time At The Springs / Wichels, Ernest [838] [WICHELS-1965-838] Last Sept. 13 we wrote of the past glory of Blue Rock Springs-how it was established about 1866, taken over by General Frisbie in 1869, the center of Vailejo's summer life-dancing, swimming, camping-for half a century. Detailed record - Similar records 2009-10-09 11:33 Mastodon History / Wichels, Ernest [814] [WICHELS-1965-814] Recent fossil discoveries in Solano County have brought the interest of paleontologists to this area. We've always known that our Coast Range mountains-particularly the Mount Diablo region-were productive of fossils. Detailed record - Similar records 2009-10-09 11:33 Solano's 49ers / Wichels, Ernest [840] [WICHELS-1965-840] It isn't easy to find a real "native son" these days. In fact, "native sons" are California's minority group in this day of expanding population - with 20,000 new residents crossing our state boundaries every month. Yet, it is surprising how many of our Vallejo and Solano County residents are direct descendants of the hardy pioneers who came to California - by overland trial or via the Isthmus of Panama, in 1849 or earlier. Detailed record - Similar records 2009-10-09 11:33 Paddles To Polaris / Wichels, Ernest [841] [WICHELS-1965-841] We, all Solano County citizens, live on an arm of one of the greatest harbors in the world! Navigable waters bound two sides of our county. And yet we find that the average Solano an seems only dimly aware of our county's heritage in waterborne traffic, and its past and present reliance on water "highways." Detailed record - Similar records 2009-10-09 11:33 We're Losing The Bay / Wichels, Ernest [842] [WICHELS-1965-842] In 1883 the Congress passed the Anti-Debris Act, which was meant to curb the damage wrought by hydraulic mining. In California it was commonly called placer mining. But it was not until Judge Lorenzo rendered his famous decision on Jan. 9, 1884, that hydraulic mining practically ceased in the Sierra Nevada. Detailed record - Similar records 2009-10-09 11:33 Solano-Napa Earthquakes / Wichels, Ernest [843] [WICHELS-1965-843] Last Sunday a devastating tremor rocked Chile; on Monday, it was the Aleutian Islands in Alaska. We are in the spring period of past earthquakes in Solano and Napa counties. Most of them have been in this eight-week period of March and April. Detailed record - Similar records 2009-10-09 11:33 New Year Eve Past Century / Wichels, Ernest [847] [WICHELS-1964-847] We discover what our forefathers did during the New Year season by reading Farragut's log books, and looking over the early editions of the Vallejo Chronicle. How did the weather behave here 100 years ago today? Detailed record - Similar records 2009-10-09 11:33 Carols And A Blaze / Wichels, Ernest [846] [WICHELS-1964-846] In the days before automobiles, movies, TV or radio, many Vallejoans turned to their churches for Christmas Eve fellowship and entertainment. We chose 1878, at random, and here is what the weekly Chronicle of 86 years ago said, on Dec. 28: Detailed record - Similar records 2009-10-09 11:33 Seals And Shoplifters / Wichels, Ernest [845] [WICHELS-1964-845] Readers of earlier Vallejo newspapers saw items which seem strange to the subscribers of today, yet there is a great deal of similarity in some of the problems both then and now. Detailed record - Similar records 2009-10-09 11:33 Hoodlums, Then, Now / Wichels, Ernest [844] [WICHELS-1964-844] Vallejo is being plagued with a rash of broken windows, damaged automobiles, purse-snatchings, and other acts of hoodlumism. A common observation is: "What is happening to our society?" or "How did this all start?" Apparently many people believe this is all new. Detailed record - Similar records 2009-10-09 11:33 History Repeats / Wichels, Ernest [860] [WICHELS-1964-860] Anniversaries do have a habit of repeating themselves. Last Tuesday's Chronicle featured an illustrated story of the demolition of the slip of the Mare Island Ferry Co. at the foot of Georgia Street. Since the days of Farragut (1854) this area has been the departure point of passengers bound for the naval shipyard. Detailed record - Similar records 2009-10-09 11:33 The Turkey Is Unchanged / Wichels, Ernest [859] [WICHELS-1964-859] Thanksgiving has always meant turkey (even though cooked on a wood stove) , but the day has changed in many other ways. Up to 50 years ago this city and county invariably celebrated Thanksgiving Eve with a Masquerade Ball. Detailed record - Similar records 2009-10-09 11:33 A Bit Of This And That / Wichels, Ernest [858] [WICHELS-1964-858] It rained this past week-considerably above November's 91-year average of about 1.80 inches. But earlier Vallejoans saw much more moisture than we've had. November of 1885 had 6.6 inches; November of 1926 a total of 6.2 inches. And 1875, 1892, 1913 and 1934 recorded 5-inch rainfalls in November. Detailed record - Similar records 2009-10-09 11:33 Then, And Nowadays / Wichels, Ernest [857] [WICHELS-1964-857] When one is interested in the earlier years of Vallejo and Solano County, it seems that every issue of the current Times-Herald or Evening News-Chronicle contains at least a dozen stories that lead directly to similar events some 50 to 100 years ago. Detailed record - Similar records 2009-10-09 11:33 Ninety Odd Years Ago / Wichels, Ernest [856] [WICHELS-1964-856] Tuesday is election day. The shouting, the charges, and the counter-charges, will soon cease and a few persons will be asked to "eat crow." Elections have, arparently, always been the same. Detailed record - Similar records 2009-10-09 11:33 Old Church Structures / Wichels, Ernest [855] [WICHELS-1964-855] Solano County has many old and revered churches. No one (or two, or three or more) columns could justly describe all of them. Some of these churches still serve large and growing congregations; some simply stand as markers of a gracious era a full century ago. Detailed record - Similar records 2009-10-09 11:33 Ranch Towns In Two Areas / Wichels, Ernest [854] [WICHELS-1964-854] Most people think of Vallejo strictly a shipyard city. Many find it difficult to believe that once it qualified as a "ranch town." Ranchowners, the hundreds of employes in dairy operations, cattle and sheep raising, and grain and hay harvests, formed a vital segment of Vallejo's economy in early days. Detailed record - Similar records 2009-10-09 11:33 October Leaves / Wichels, Ernest [853] [WICHELS-1964-853] Every month has important anniversaries of local interest. Three of Mare Island's nuclear-powered submarines were launched in October: THEODORE ROOSEVELT, a polaris-firing boat, on October 2, 1959; the attack A-Sub SCAMP on October 8, 1960, and the first Mare Island A-Sub, SARGO, on October 10, 1957. Detailed record - Similar records 2009-10-09 11:33 Early Media / Wichels, Ernest [852] [WICHELS-1964-852] It is difficult for most of us, living in the year 1964, to realize the advantages we possess over those available to Vallejo residents or Mare Island personnel just a hundred years ago. We take our freeways, radio and TV, dial telephones with direct connections to New York or Hawaii, automobiles, airplanes, etc., for granted. Detailed record - Similar records 2009-10-09 11:33 Changing Fashions / Wichels, Ernest [849] [WICHELS-1964-849] Newcomers, and the younger generation, are not as conscious of the changing fashions of living in this area as are the oldtimers or those who pore through Solano County's historical past. We are all aware of the new bodies on automobiles and the gadgets which add considerably to the cost of a car. Detailed record - Similar records 2009-10-09 11:33 Solano Pioneers / Wichels, Ernest [848] [WICHELS-1964-848] This afternoon, at 3 o'clock, the public is invited to the Third Annual Pioneers Day sponsored by the Solano County Historical Society, at the historic Rockville Churchyard, about a mile north of Cordelia. The society has a long-range program of cataloging the large list of pioneers who shaped the destinies of our, county a century ago. Detailed record - Similar records 2009-10-09 11:33 The White Sulphur Spring / Wichels, Ernest [850] [WICHELS-1964-850] The "day camps" at our Blue Rock Springs recreation spot now become a memory with the opening of another school semester. Some 60 years ago this time of the year marked the end of the "summer camp" for scores of Vallejo families. Detailed record - Similar records 2009-10-09 11:33 Messengers Of 1912-1914 / Wichels, Ernest [851] [WICHELS-1964-851] This community and this county are saddened by the passing, last week, of Harry V. Soanes--a leading business, civic and philanthropic leader and a citizen who truly helped to spark the progress of Vallejo during the present generation. Detailed record - Similar records [>> more]