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Upland Public Library Local History Collection For more information on the copyright or about this image, please contact the Upland Public Library at (909) 931-4205 or ci.upland.ca.us/#Local_History
Description
This document is an interview with James C. McCoy and it took place in 1978. McCoy was born in 1901 and grew up in Indiana. After working for General Electric Company in Fort Wayne, McCoy was stationed in Hawaii where he later met his wife. They moved to the Los Angeles area in 1925. McCoy later got a job at the Upland Lemon Growers and in 1935 became a Zanjero for the San Antonio Water Company. McCoy defines the term Zanjero as “water-master.” McCoy recounted a time when a customer stole water while he was Zanjero. McCoy also discussed the flood of 1938 and recounted the damage it did to the community and how he dealt with the flooding as Zanjero. McCoy also reflected on the urbanization of the area and particularly the effect this had on Native Americans in the area. He also recounted his connection to the Navajo reservation, how often he visited, the work he did there, and the trips he made there. He then went on to discuss how his Zanjero work was structured throughout the seasons. He also described how he worked with other people to maintain steady supply of water. He also discussed how the Great Depression affected the area, his family, and his friends. Then McCoy went on to discuss life in Upland, the grading of lemons, the packing and shipping houses, and fertilizer. McCoy sold his citrus grove in 1938 and shared some of the tools he used at the grove with the Chaffey Library.
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