'A Glimpse Of History' by Jack Story

In the Jan. 21 issue of the Village News, the C section cover feature is a full page dedicated to the purchase of the County's former HHSA (Health & Human Services Agency) building by Mission Resource Conservation District.

It brought back to my mind my own association with the Soil Conservation Service (SCS) years ago. In the early 1950s, I was employed with the SCS when the office was located near the middle of town on Main Street.

Ben Mock and Jim Bosanko were field engineers and I held the surveyor's rod for them when they worked in the field.

Bob Steele, Roger Pepple, and George Borst were conservationists.

John Wachtel was a soil scientist and John Minor was in charge of it all. The job of Mock, Bosanko, and Wachtel was to locate and identify soil types on agricultural acreage in our conservation district. They displayed their work on aerial maps which were available for public scrutiny.

Then, from 1968 to 1996, I worked for Bartlett Farm and Grove Management and I called on soil conservation folks many times to help me on special projects during those years. They assisted in such projects as designs for reservoirs, irrigation systems, orchard layouts, and properly contoured work roads to name just a few.

If my memory serves me right, the first soil conservationist in town was Clarence Tedford. He served during the late 30s and into the 40s. I can remember old-time farmers saying that it was just another way that the government was poking its nose into the their business.

They were not alone in their thinking, but they were wrong because the role of government conservation workers' stewardship of the land over the years showing how to preserve our soils has

been amazing. No dust bowls around here.

During the time that I worked for Bartlett, I served on the Mission Resource Conservation Board which served to coordinate the work going on between all the San Diego County conservation districts among other things.

During the time that I was employed with the SCS, I purchased an 11-acre parcel of land that was determined to be 100 percent Vista sandy loam and it was above the normal frost line. This was a perfect parcel for growing avocados. I was only 21 years old, but I knew this was a good investment.

Shortly afterwards, I was drafted into the Army where I started out earning $62.50 a month and my monthly payment on the land was $50, but it was worth it because when I came home I sold it for a good profit and was able to begin what has become my career as a lifetime Fallbrookian.

Since retirement, I have not kept up with matters that are going on in the conservation field.

The object of this writing is about some history as I have seen it through my eyes. I urge you, especially those who are involved and enjoy the near-perfect conditions in our area for growing so many things, to visit our local Fallbrook Historical Society museum (Rocky Crest Rd. at Hill St.) where a wealth of information is in store for you.

Remember: "To know where you are going, it's best to know where you have been." --hiSTORYcally Yours, Jack Story.

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