Advertisement from the Piru News, April 24, 1930.
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Sanitary Food Market circa 1936.
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Pete’s Sanitary Barbershop circa 1920.
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Courtesy Fillmore Historical Museum

Correction from the last “Did You Know?” column. Fillmore Rotary began May 19, 1924 the main Rotary organization did begin 1905. Thank you to Martha Richardson.

When avocadoes first began to be grown in the area, not being sure how to serve them Alice Moore Milton served the pit to visitors throwing away the flesh.

In 1912, Fillmore Billiard and Amusement Parlor advertised “hot and cold baths at all hours.”

At various times, Fillmore not only had the Sanitary Dairy, but a Sanitary Market, Sanitary Barber and Sanitary Bakery.

J. A. Grimes of Grimes Canyon note, was the first person to own a typewriter about 1905. He complained, “the d--- thing can’t spell.”

Carl Caswell “C. C.” Elkins holds several “firsts” for Fillmore: first owner of a general store; first insurance agent; first notary public; first to ship oranges out by train; first to manufacture olive oil; first justice of the peace. There are probably some left out.

Fillmore’s first street lights were strung across Central Avenue between Stephenson’s Market and the Rood Harmonson Store on the north side of Main Street in 1907.

John Galvin was Fillmore’s first city attorney in 1914 after incorporation. He had graduated law school in 1910. When asked how he was chosen with little experience to be city attorney, he replied, “It happened I was in the right place at the right time to draw up the incorporation papers and become the attorney. I had personality, obvious and unimpeachable character and I was the only attorney in town.”

Fillmore’s first undertaker, E. A. French, also owned the Outlet Novelty Store at 330 Central Avenue.

Gold was discovered in 1842 at the San Feliciano tributary of Piru Creek, by Francisco Lopez who had trained as a mineralogist at a university in Sonora, Mexico. This as six years before it was found at Sutter’s Mill.

The William Shiells family donated the land for the Veteran’s Memorial Building and Library as well as Shiells Park.

J. P. McIntyre, a Sespe beekeeper in the 1880s, named his daughters after flowers: Lily, Pansy, Myrtle, Violet, Iris and Flora. His son was named Robert.

The first paved sidewalk was installed by George Tighe in front of his store in 1909. By 1917 there was 5 miles of sidewalk with curbing in Fillmore.

For twenty years (probably with the collusion of fellow Rotarian and Postmaster J K L Schwartz) Frank Erskine answered the local children’s letters to Santa Claus.

In the early 1930s Piru had three barbershop/pool hall combinations – Ideal Billiard Parlor and Barbershop owned by T. H. Green; Belty’s Barbershop (with 3 pool tables) owned by R. O. Belty; and Ruiz’s Barbershop (which also had card tables) owned by G. T. Ruiz.

Santa Paula High School Fire Investigation

On Sunday morning 11/27/22, at about 12:42 a.m., a structure fire was reported at the Santa Paula High School. Firefighters responded to the scene and have since extinguished the fire. The Santa Paula Unified School District announced that school will be cancelled for Santa Paula High School students on Monday and Tuesday, November 28th-29th. The incident is under investigation by investigators from the Ventura County Fire Dept. and Santa Paula Police Dept.

Anyone who may have information pertaining to the fire is urged to call the Santa Paula Police Department at (805) 525-4474 or Detective Shawn Virani at (805) 525-4474 ext. 220. Anyone who wishes to remain anonymous may call Ventura County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS. The Santa Paula Police Department has also established a secure database to collect footage from security cameras or surveillance videos. If you have information or video(s) to share, please notify the Police Department and email SPCrimeInfo@spcity.org.

Also, the Santa Paula Unified School District is offering a WeTip telephone number to report any information: (844) 805-2659.

Join us on Twitter @SP_Police, Instagram @SantaPaulaPoliceDepartment, FaceBook – Santa Paula Police Department and with Nixle by texting your zip code to 888777 to receive local law enforcement and public safety alerts and advisories.

The Fillmore Fire Department in conjunction with the Fillmore Fire Foundation is kicking off the annual Holiday Toy Drive this week. Collection drop off boxes for new toys are available at the Fillmore Police and Fire Stations. As part of the Toy Drive, on Sunday, December 4th, the Fire Foundation will be holding the annual Chicken Dinner Fundraiser to collect donations that will used to purchase hundreds of toys for children in the Fillmore/Piru area. A complete chicken dinner meal is prepared for anyone wanting to donate fifteen dollars ($15)that will be used to purchase a new toy. Because of on-going COVID-19 precautions, all meals will be for take-out only and will be available via a contactless drive-thru process,this year the dinner will be held at the Fillmore/Piru Veteran’s Memorial Building, 511 Second St. Dinner will be served from 5-7 PM.In lieu of a $15 donation, a new toy valued at $15 or greater may be donated. The hundreds of toys purchased from this event will be combined with those that are donated by the Community and then distributed on Saturday, December 17th, from 9AM-12 PM at a huge Community Holiday Giveaway event.If you would like to donate to the Toy Drive/Community Giveaway or would like to purchase tickets/drop off toys, please call 805-815-0328.

1st place winner was Celeste Camarena of FMS; she will be entered in the regional competition with a chance to go to State.
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Lion’s Club member Scott Lee with Patricia Rivera and her mom. Particia won runner-up award for the Lions Club Peace Poster Contest.
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Lion’s Club member Scott Lee with Maria Gallegas. Maria won runner-up award for the Lions Club Peace Poster Contest.
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Every year, Lion’s Club International holds a Peace Poster Contest. The local Fillmore Lion’s Club encourages students to creatively express their ideas about world peace. This year the theme was “Lead with Compassion”. Many students, especially from Fillmore Middle School, entered their artistic renderings. Lion’s Club appreciates the support of classroom teachers, especially Doris Nichols and Megan Baker-Andrade, who help their students not only expand their skills and creativity, but their awareness of the world as well.

The entries were spectacular again this year! Maria Gallegas and Patricia Rivera from Fillmore Middle School both won runner up awards. Celeste Camarena, also from Fillmore Middle School, won first place. Her poster will be entered in the regional competition. If she wins there, her poster will be entered in the state contest, etc. When asked for a comment about her poster, she said, “Compassion is all about how you feel about helping people. Giving them what they need, especially later in life.”

Winning for best group entry were the students in Ms. Megan Baker-Andrade at Fillmore Middle School. Each student received a small cash prize and a certificate. Congratulations Emilio Martinez, Lupyta Castro, Ethan Kaiser, Michael Rico and Whyett Van Kalsbeek. Your entry was truly inspiring!

Lion’s Club sincerely thanks all students who entered for their thoughtful and polished vision for peace. Thank you also teachers and parents for inspiring excellence in our young people.