Material in the public domain. No restrictions on use.
Description
Key Words: Claremont Education, Claremont Local Businesses [Tape 1] Bud Day moved to Claremont in 1914 when he was eight years old, and he has lived in Claremont ever since (1995). His father found work building houses and doing repair work for people in Claremont. Bud went to the Claremont Grammar School (now Sycamore Elementary). He remembers several of his teachers and describes the segregation and discrimination towards Mexican and Chinese students during that time. After he graduated from high school, he attended Pomona College for three years. He worked for the post office in Claremont under Ruth Powell for fifteen years, then he worked as a distributor for the Los Angeles Times. During that time, he opened his bike shop on First Street. He remembers some of the other businesses in Claremont including a confectioner’s store, Missions Café, the San Antonio Hotel, a drug store, a movie theater, a bowling alley, a jewelry store, and a hardware store. He mentions that there were homeless people living by the train tracks east of College Avenue. He added, “They walked around town, would never bother you. Talk to you if you wanted to talk to them, but never ask for anything.” He describes the types of bikes that he sold in his shop. Business was good, and eventually he was able to work at the bike shop full time. “That was more fun than anything I ever did," he added. "Those Claremont kids were great, they really were.” He added that during the shop’s best year, he probably sold about 2,000 bicycles. Bud was also active in Kiwanis. During his time as a member, the Kiwanians did a lot of landscaping in Memorial park and gathered a freight car full of donated clothing. [Tape 2] Bud mentions that he has photo albums with many pages full of pictures and articles about Claremont’s history.
Type
sound
Format
Master Audio cassette
Form/Genre
Oral histories
Extent
1 Tape of 1
Identifier
caclah_000020
Language
English
Subject
Bicyclists Biking Business Elementary education Discrimination in education--United States Elementary schools Local history Small business United States Postal Service Education
Time Period
1905/
Place
Claremont (Calif.) Pomona College (Claremont, Calif.)
Provenance
Claremont Heritage California Revealed is supported by the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act, administered in California by the State Librarian.
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