The Bakersfield Californian 'Eye Street' / 7-8-10

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The Bakersfield Californian Thursday, July 8, 2010

Eye Street

Index Arts Alive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18 Grand Hollywood Gala . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19 The Lowdown with Matt Munoz . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20 Kern River Brewing Co. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21 Bakersfield Burrito Project . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22 Ice Cream awards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23 Ticket roundup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24 Calendar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24

Editor Jennifer Self | Phone 395-7434 | e-mail jself@bakersfield.com

Our pets, ourselves: a history New book follows Kern pet trends through generations BY HILLARY HAENES Californian staff writer hhaenes@bakersfield.com

In the days before roll-on deodorant and air-freshener, a foul odor or two probably didn’t warrant a lot of upturned noses. But a skunk for a pet? That took some devotion, even in the 1800s. Even in Kern County. But that’s how our pet-loving forebearers did things, and their exotic animal choices didn’t end with Pepe le Pew. Bear cubs and ostriches also had free rein at the family homestead, said Sarah Woodman, author of the delightful new book “Traditional Tails: Portraits of Kern County Pets and Their People.” While looking through hundreds of old pictures of people and their pets, Woodman made several discoveries of pet-owning trends over the years, but she found one constant through the generations. “People were crazy about their animals and still are today. They spent a lot of money on their pets,” Woodman said. Though the love may be the same, how we show it definitely has changed. Swarovski crystal collars and doggy frozen yogurt would probably have our greatgrandparents falling off their horses. But that’s not to say they didn’t spend lavishly on their pets when they could. The cost to license a dog back then was $2, which felt more like $50 by today’s standards. Birds were housed in fancy cages, while the finest leather dog collars and leashes had elaborate decora-

HENRY A. BARRIOS / THE CALIFORNIAN

Sarah Woodman, public program manager at the Kern County Museum, is the author of “Traditional Tails: Portraits of Kern County Pets and Their People.” Woodman went through 300 photos before selecting 80 for her book.

tions. And there was no greater opportunity to show off pets in all their finery than the Pacific Coast Field Trials, hosted for many years at Stockdale Ranch in BakLennie and Linda Whiston, in a photo dated 1946, with two pet skunks found by a farmer while he was irrigating his land on South Cottonwood Road.

OTHER GOOD READS IN LOCAL HISTORY To purchase a copy of “Traditional Tails: Portraits of Kern County Pets and Their People,” visit the Kern County Museum’s general store or go to kcmuseum.org/museumStore. The book costs $14.95, and only 500 copies were printed. If you’re interested in local history, check out the following books from the Kern County Museum. 1. “Hard Drivin’ Country” by

Jeff Nickell and Sarah Woodman, $18.95 2. “Historic Kern County” by Chris Brewer, $15.95 3. “Curtis Darling’s Postcard Collection” by Donald Arnot and Jeff Nickell, $15.95 4. “Basques to Bakersfield” by Mary Paquette, $15 5. “The Chinese of Kern County” by William Harland Boyd, $24.95

PHOTO COURTESY OF SARAH WOODMAN

Patsy Bailey with her cat, Cheetah, in 1939.

PHOTO COURTESY OF SARAH WOODMAN


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