With Richard Quinn's permission, here is the photo that appeared in the May 2009 TW Almanac article on tow trucks.
Here is the same view today:
They have evolved in to a modern recycling operation, as well.
I was interested in when the photo was taken. Richard surmised in TW it was from the late '30s or '40s. Well, when Richard forwarded the print to me, I was able to enlarge it. See the "bills" on the fence on the right? The largest advertises an event on Thursday, Aug. 4th.
A check of calendars shows Aug. 4th falling on a Thursday in the years 1938, 1949, and 1955. A smaller bill advertising the 100 mile auto race in Stockton appears to show a date (not real clear) of Sunday, Dec. 4th. Same years for that combination of days. Based on the condition of the 1936 truck--even though used in a junk yard--I ruled out 1938 as the year of the photo. So that leaves 1949 and 1955. Richard responds that it is probably around 1949 or 1950 based on another photo he has of this event!!![:0][:0] Wait a minute. Why am I shocked[?] This is Richard Quinn.
Seeing the GM sedan pretty much confirms it. A motorcycle expert could probably help here, too.
PERSONAL STUFF: My grandfather worked in the tall faint building in the left background until the 1970s.
LOCAL HISTORY: See the railroad tracks on both sides of the center line in the first photo? Short freight trains ran down these tracks right down the middle of the street through the length of Modesto's downtown, stopping traffic several times a day. Cross traffic was stopped. Traffic on 9th street was able to continue in the outer lane. This was also [u]Hwy. 99</u> until the freeway went in in about 1963! MANY collisions occurred over the years. The railroad was Tidewater Southern. They moved freight from the Beard Industrial tract through Modesto up to Stockton. After much pressure from city government, the trains finally stopped using these tracks in 2000. The rails were removed in 2004.
MOVIE TRIVIA: In George Lucas' American Graffiti, several times there is the sound of passing trains. You never see them, but you hear them. The kids cruised 10th street in their cars, one block over from these tracks. One block further away were the Southern Pacific tracks. So trains were always a presence in Modesto, and George chose to accurately include them in his hometown movie tribute. Yes, I know it was [u]filmed</u> in Petaluma, but he added the correct sound element.
KURTRUK
(read it backwards)
Here is the same view today:
They have evolved in to a modern recycling operation, as well.
I was interested in when the photo was taken. Richard surmised in TW it was from the late '30s or '40s. Well, when Richard forwarded the print to me, I was able to enlarge it. See the "bills" on the fence on the right? The largest advertises an event on Thursday, Aug. 4th.
A check of calendars shows Aug. 4th falling on a Thursday in the years 1938, 1949, and 1955. A smaller bill advertising the 100 mile auto race in Stockton appears to show a date (not real clear) of Sunday, Dec. 4th. Same years for that combination of days. Based on the condition of the 1936 truck--even though used in a junk yard--I ruled out 1938 as the year of the photo. So that leaves 1949 and 1955. Richard responds that it is probably around 1949 or 1950 based on another photo he has of this event!!![:0][:0] Wait a minute. Why am I shocked[?] This is Richard Quinn.Seeing the GM sedan pretty much confirms it. A motorcycle expert could probably help here, too.
PERSONAL STUFF: My grandfather worked in the tall faint building in the left background until the 1970s.
LOCAL HISTORY: See the railroad tracks on both sides of the center line in the first photo? Short freight trains ran down these tracks right down the middle of the street through the length of Modesto's downtown, stopping traffic several times a day. Cross traffic was stopped. Traffic on 9th street was able to continue in the outer lane. This was also [u]Hwy. 99</u> until the freeway went in in about 1963! MANY collisions occurred over the years. The railroad was Tidewater Southern. They moved freight from the Beard Industrial tract through Modesto up to Stockton. After much pressure from city government, the trains finally stopped using these tracks in 2000. The rails were removed in 2004.
MOVIE TRIVIA: In George Lucas' American Graffiti, several times there is the sound of passing trains. You never see them, but you hear them. The kids cruised 10th street in their cars, one block over from these tracks. One block further away were the Southern Pacific tracks. So trains were always a presence in Modesto, and George chose to accurately include them in his hometown movie tribute. Yes, I know it was [u]filmed</u> in Petaluma, but he added the correct sound element.
KURTRUK
(read it backwards)
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