February 2023

1923: President Harding mindful of the land’s conceivable petroleum value, set aside an area of approximately 23 million acres on Alaska’s North Slope as an emergency oil supply for the U.S. Navy. He established the first strategic petroleum reserve in the nation, Naval Petroleum Reserve #4 by Executive Order. In 1976, the administration of the reserve was transferred to the Bureau of Land Management and renamed the NPR-A.

First proposed by the National Woman’s Political party in 1923, the Equal Rights Amendment was to provide for the legal equality of the sexes and prohibit discrimination on the basis of sex. On March 22, 1972, the Equal Rights Amendment was passed by the U.S. Senate and sent to the states for ratification.

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs movie was released on February 4, 1938. Ruth Handler invented the Barbie Doll.

February 17, 1904 Madame Butterfly bombed and was closed on its premier night at Teatro alla Scala, Milan, Italy. Puccini reworked the play and 3months later it re-emerged as an astounding success.

February 17, 1801, there were 16 states in the nation. The House of Representatives balloted as states (one vote per state and an absolute majority of nine was required for victory) to determine whether Thomas Jefferson or Aaron Burr would become our third president. On the 36th ballot Jefferson was elected as our third president defeating Aaron Burr. Due to this experience, sentiment for a new way of selecting the president and vice president resulted in the 12th Amendment.

May 1954 a special meeting was called to request dissolution of pastorship between Countryside Church and Rev. Ray Squires. A motion was made by Elder Lloyd Rominger that an invitation be extended to Rev. Stewart Potter of Winters to be Countryside Church’s pulpit guest and to act as moderator. Motion carried. Rev. Potter would be paid $10.00 for filling the pulpit on May 16, 1954. A motion was also made to request Sacramento Presbytery to appoint an ad-interim pastor for Countryside. Motion carried.

July 20, 1954, Mrs. Lloyd Rominger, chairman of the Manse Committee, reported on the condition of the manse and the repairs necessary to make it ready for the next pastor. 1.No termites by dry rot under the house. 2. Living room needs retexturing and upgraded lighting. 3.Kitchen needs general overhaul. 4. Bathroom needs replastering, new lighting and a shower. 5. Back porch could be divided for storage room and bedroom or dining area. Needs sheet rock, new flooring and paint. A motion was made by Elder Robert Lewis that a contractor be asked to give an estimate of cost and report back to the session. Motion carried.

August 31, 1954, Mrs. Lloyd Rominger reported that according to estimates, the total cost of fixing the manse, (carpentry labor and material, new heating plant, material for electrical work with free labor, painting inside and out, indoor lighting, door chimes and outside lights, and moving some old plumbing plus new plumbing and fixtures) should cost approximately $4032.31. Action was taken to limit the cost to $4000.00. A motion was made by Elder Joseph Bradshaw to direct Floris Mast to borrow $4000.00 from the bank and a note for that amount would have to be signed by ten members. The motion was seconded by Lloyd Rominger and carried.

December 6, 1954, the Women’s Auxilliary requested permission in writing, to install a double sink in the kitchen of the church, at their expense. A motion was made by Elder Frank Nissen and was seconded and carried. The Women’s Auxilliary also requested in writing, permission to remove the chair cabinet in the downstairs hall and permission to have the wall space in the northwest corner of the basement closed in with shelves. A motion was made by Elder Peter Porterfield to request the Women’s Auxilliary for more details; seconded and carried.

December 28, 1954, a suggestion was made by Elder Vernon Mast that Elder Lloyd Rominger of the Pastor Relations Committee, be instructed to speak to Dr. Ralph Marshall Davis of the possibility of his serving as an ad-interim minister for two years at Countryside Church.

January 1955. A special meeting of the session opened with prayer by Rev. Stewart Potter. Elder Robert Lewis, chairman of the Pastoral Relations Committee, reported that the committee did not have any prospects for a new pastor. In view of the report, Elder Frank Nissen made a motion that the session ask the Sacramento Presbytery, through Ministerial Relations Committee, to appoint Dr. Ralph Marshall Davis as an ad-interim minister and moderator of the session at Countryside Church of Esparto. The vote, by show of hands, was unanimously for the motion. The minutes of this meeting were read and approved. Melvin Durst, Clerk.