More State Shaping of Davis Life: An Unsanitary Town, 1914-15 (43)

Post Number 39, on the state pressuring Davis regarding its substandard jail in 1937, brought to mind the equally if not more dramatic episode of state pressure in 1914-15 to change the entire town’s profoundly unsanitary condition.

I report this episode in two parts. One, I quote the brief summary I gave in my book Davis. Two, I reproduce the original state report. (In the hope of greater clarity, the reproduction is of my marked up copy.)  

Demolition and Replacement of the C & 4th Fraternity House (42)

Item 9A of the HRMC February 27th meeting is a proposal to demolish and replace the fraternity house at C and 4th streets.

HRMC Agenda, Feb. 27 Meeting (41)

HRMC Minutes, Jan. 23, 2012 Meeting (40)

State Regulations Have Long Driven City Actions: The City Jail in 1937 (39)

(UCD Special Collections)

I recently ran across a Davis historical tidbit that reminded me that current Davis government angst over state regulation of such matters as redevelopment, water quality, and public schools is hardly new.

Instead, the state “mandate” has long been, perhaps, a major driver of local government.

The tidbit reminding me of this is a 1937 letter from a state agency to Mayor Covell informing the City that its jail is “unfit for human habitation” and should be replaced.

Feb. 27 HRMC Hearing on 337 D Street (38)

Enterprise, 2-16-12

Public Davis History Exhibits: # 1, Davis Ace Housewares Building (37)

1

This is the first in a series of posts on Davis history exhibits in public locations in Davis.

The walls of the stairway to the second floor of the Davis Ace housewares building at 240 G Street are covered with a rather complicated set of photographs, other graphics, and framed artifacts related to the history of what used to be called “Davis Lumber.”