Louise in San Juan in Capistrono, Ca on mission
Let’s look back to the past and explore the origins of Galt through the eyes of Louise Dowdell, one of the original residents of Galt.
Louise Loll was born on August 15th, 1918 in Galt. She graduated from Brown Grammar School in Galt in 1932 and got married in 1937 in Reno, Nevada to Earl Dowdell. She had a variety of different jobs: she worked for 26 years in the Galt post office, for 3 years in Stockton as a ticket clerk for Greyhound lines (buses), for 2 years cooked in the cafeteria at Galt High School and for 1 year she worked for a Real Estate office in Galt. In between she took some minor jobs, a babysitter, a shop assistant in a drug store or a helper with picking fruit and walnuts to increase the family income. She became a Christian and joined the Galt Bible Church in1957. In 1978 she retired and now is the president of the Galt Area Historical Society. She had the privilege to be the first president and now is honored to have this position again.
Louise, Earl and her colleges from Greyhound lines in Stockton
Earl Dowdell
Born: in San Francisco on September 7th, 1917
Job: mechanic
On December 7th, 1942 left for the navy when WWII began by the air attack on Pearl Harbor
Returned from the navy on October 13th, 1945
Died: January 28th, 1995 from cancer
Earl Dowdell during his leave from navy in 1943
Louise’s maternal grandmother was born in Healdsburg, California and her great-grandparents came from New Jersey and NY State by a covered wagon train.
Louise Loll and her mother, Stella Loll
Mother’s name: Stella Loll
Born: in Fresno, California
Birth date: 1889
Job: Housewife
Died: 1969
Athos Carl Loll (around 80 years old)
Father’s name: Athos Carl Loll
Born: in North Dakota
Birth date: 1893
Job: Farmer
Died: 1987
Louise’s grandparents (father’s side) came to the USA from Germany, which means that she is an American of German descent. Her grandma went back in 1928, for one year and then returned to the USA.
Earl’s parents moved to Galt in 1933 and opened the Dowdell’s Midway Cafe. In that era it was the best restaurant in the whole region!
Earl Dowdell’s parents:
Mother’s name: Christina Logan
Born: in Scotland
Birth date: 1892
Job: Restaurant owner
Died: 1952
Father’s name: Grant (Frank) Dowdell
Born: in Anorka, Minnesota
Birth date: 1887
Job: Restaurant owner
Died: on May 1947 from a heart attack in the back seat of the car on their way to the mountains
Family origin: Scotch-Irish
In Louise Dowdell’s family they have come from several nationalities and backgrounds: Scotch-Irish from the husband’s side and Pennsylvania Dutch and German influence from Louise’s side.
According to Louise Dowdell’s stories:
Louise’s grandparents came to California in April 1905 after selling their property in North Dakota. Her grandfather and father (at that time only 12 years old) came to California by a box car train with their cows. Each time the inspector came by, her father had to hide among the cows as they were only allowed one person to accompany the cows.
Back in North Dakota, they had very severe winters. Once a huge hailstorm broke the windows.
They bought property and settled down in Galt. Louise’s grandma was educated and ran their family business. At those times it was very common that women didn’t go to work but raised children at home.
There is a very interesting story about how Louise’s mother met her husband: Louise’s great- grandparents’ daughter had six children. Their oldest daughter got married and moved to Galt. Louise’s mom went to visit them and she met her future husband, who lived across the road. After three months they got married.
Louise’s great- grandparents originally lived in Healsburg in California. This area suffered from floods and once a huge flood had flooded them out and they decided to move 150-160 miles south. The government let them have 160 acres. They had to live on this bare land for 5 years and build and improve the property. After they had proved up, they got their papers giving them the land.
Louise in her early childhood with her kitty Mary
As a little girl, she lived on a ranch and always wanted to own a pony. When she was 8 years old, they went to visit her grandmother (who had six children). There were also some of granny’s friends and they had a pony. Louise wanted her pony so badly, that she went and asked her grandma, if she would give her the money for it. It was so cheap! Only $30. Her grandma replied:” Go and ask your dad. If he allows you to buy the pony, I will give you the money.” And dad agreed. Louise named her Minnie.
Louise while riding Minnie
She was so mean! Nobody could ride her. They had quite a hard time with Minnie. Louise’s mom was quite worried about her. She would be sewing and when she would hear the pony running she would look out and see no Louise. She thought I Louise would have a broken arm or something. After a while Louise learned how to hang on and didn’t get dumped any more.
Louise
Loll- First Miss Galt Rodeo (16 years old)
Louise and Earl Dowdell in Tia Juana, Mexico 1942 (shortly before Earl left for the navy)
(The Dictionary of Cultural Literacy; E.D.Hirsch, Joseph F. Kett, James Trefil)
The great slowdown in the American economy, the worst in the country’s history, which began in 1929 and lasted until the early 1940s. Many banks and businesses failed, and millions of people lost their jobs.
“In 1920s everybody thought that everything was OK. It’s like now. It’s scary. Look at all those houses and cars people have. If the depression came now, I wouldn’t like to be here. In late October 1929 the stock market crashed. Some people committed suicide because they had a lot of money in stocks. Prices went lower but nobody could buy anything. Banks and businesses started to suffer. Banks closed the door. My grandma put some of her money in a Sacramento Bank and she lost all of that.”
“I knew one man who came to California from North Dakota. He had cattle and a ranch. He sold some cattle in a different place and got $800 for them. He decided to put it to the bank in that town instead of taking it back to his hometown. When the depression came, people started being mad at him. It was a nice sum of money back in those days. They thought he knew something they didn’t know.”
“In 1852 people settled in a small village and named it Liberty. One man, Mr. Harvey, decided to buy property near there. A railroad was planned to be built from Sacramento to Los Angeles. Mr. Harvey was smart and was trying to put the railway through his property. When they finally put the railroad here, it destroyed Liberty. Back in those times, people didn’t have cars, they used horses and wagons. There are still a few houses moved from Liberty in Galt (one of them is the old Christian Church). The first settlers were Europeans who came from the eastern coast of the continent. The Liberty cemetery still stands and there are over 100 people who have probably something to do with the first settlement here. The town of Galt was named by Mr. John Mc.Farland, who came from Galt, Canada. Galt was established in1869.“
“First of all, Galt was only a railway station and then people settled down around the station. The main street was 4th street. Everything was there- the stores, saloons, hotel, restaurant, bakery, doctor, etc… There is still one old building made from brick- the old Webster’s (built in 1869). The general store had all kinds of different things. When I was a little kid, I used to go there and buy a whole bunch of candies for only a nickel!“
Dowdell’s Midway Cafe
“Dowdell’s Midway Café was a very well known restaurant, because the Lincoln highway 99 went through Galt. Highway 99 was built in 1938 before the freeway. When they knew it was going to change, they bought property and built a brand new restaurant on highway 99. They had banquets from Stockton and Sacramento. The bar made a huge difference too”, says Louise.
This oral interview was done by Jaroslava (Jarka) Lojdova in late 2004, in Galt, CA. Jarka is from the Czech Republic and has done this type of historical documentation in her home town of Trebic, Czech Republic. This is part of her work for her Internship for the Galt Area Historical Society. Jarka hopes to attend Cottey College and study music and International Relations. She plays concert piano, guitar and the recorder. Jarka speaks Czech, German, Spanish, English and has studied Latin.
Last edited 4 November, 2005