STORIES FROM THE PAST

50 years ago

A gift of outstanding interest to the library of the University of California at San Diego is the famed “Golden Spike,” which drove home the completion of the San Diego and Arizona Railway in 1919. This artifact joins the San Diego and Arizona Railroad archives and business papers given to UCSD last year.

San Diego’s prominent pioneer J.D. Spreckels drove in the golden spike on the summit of the Carrizo Gorge on Nov. 15, 1919.

More than a thousand people from San Diego, Imperial County and Baja California watched the celebration, which signified the end of construction for the railroad.

Ownership of the golden spike can be traced from J.D. Spreckels to Sam Mason, president of the San Diego and Coronado Ferry Company.

Mason kept it until 1946, when he gave it to Rear Adm. Sydney B. Dodds, U.S. Navy (retired), vice president and general manager of the ferry company.

40 years ago

A proposal calling for Gerald Moore to step down as president of the Imperial Irrigation District Board of Directors was defeated Tuesday night at the IID board meeting.

Director Fred Singh called for Moore’s “immediate” demotion, charging he had “abused the power of his position” by using it for business purposes.

Singh then produced a letter written by Moore on IID stationery quoting cost estimates of cattle feed.

“We are all concerned with the cattle industry and its escalating prices, and we hope that it will once again become a prosperous avenue of investment,” Moore stated in his letter to a Los Angeles doctor.

“As you realize, these price projections are merely estimates, and when both parties agree we can arrive at an actual cost.

“I have enjoyed being in public service for the past year and have now assumed the role of president through election by my fellow board members for the year 1977,” Moore continued.

Moore used his official IID title in closing the letter dated Jan. 10.

20 years ago

After nearly 60 years of service Drye Automotive Parts in El Centro is set to pull down the shades and lock its doors for the last time.

One of the few independent auto parts stores left in the county, Drye was established in 1939 when Wolford Drye and the Wilkes family of Brawley went into partnership.

A few years later, Wolford Drye bought out his partners and the business has been in sole possession of the Drye family since.

Said Mitchell Drye, president of Drye Auto: “We just can’t compete. We’re the only independent company left.

Closing the business wasn’t the easiest decision in the world, but we’ve thought about it for a long time now.”