(SAHGE 18) Ralph Field and Farmory Traditional Cache
dmchapman: The container is lost in a pipe filled with wasps. The farmers market has moved away. I may place a new cache later just for the airport.
(SAHGE 18) Ralph Field and Farmory
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“Through federal aid, the Civil Conservation Corps and the support of the American Legion, the airport site was cleared off and leveled. It was officially dedicated as Ralph Airport on June 16, 1935, according to the Chispa, the quarterly magazine of the Tuolumne County Historical Society.” For many of us here, Father’s Day is synonymous with Columbia Airport. For more than 50 years now, the busy little county airport has hosted a Father’s Day weekend fly-in and celebration. But how many know its story? In 1929, a dashing 32-year-old by the name of Lowell Ralph was learning to fly, and he wanted a real airport to do just that. Tuolumne County was behind this idea all the way, that is until a proposed airport tax to fund this project was suggested by Board of Supervisor member (and Lowell’s father) Frank J. Ralph, then suddenly it wasn’t much of a going concern. But that wasn’t going to stop Lowell, so his mission continued and he eventually leased 55 acres in Columbia. In 1933, with the chance of securing federal aid for the airport construction, the county was back on board for the project and secured Lowell’s leases and options and, with a whopping $1 per annum salary, Lowell took on the role of airport manager. With subsequent land purchases and the tremendous work done by the Civil Conservation Corps, Camp Yankee Hill Company No. 752, Ralph Airport was officially dedicated on June 16, 1935, and renamed Columbia Airport in 1944. Many pilots, planes and their stories have taken off and landed from our airport through the years, and it has and will continue to serve us well. So maybe next time you pass this way you’ll think of the passionate young aviator who started in all. — Billie Lyons, curator of the Tuolumne County Historical Society The concrete building directly to the East from the coordinates dates from the mid 1950s. At that time it was a California National Guard Armory. The Armory until recently was known as The Farmory; A quirky market filled up with local farmers, artisans, food vendors and entrepreneurs; all with a focus on organic, sustainable, natural living. Now located in Jamestown and rebame Heritage Marketplace.
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(Decrypt)
CBFGRQ. Gbj Njnl Mbar
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