Delphia: Show Patterson a little respect

By Claude Delphia

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Patterson is celebrating its 100th birthday. The community was founded, so the story goes, when T.W. Patterson came to Will Cox, who was farming the Patterson family's Rancho Del Puerto Land Grant, and said he wanted the grain harvested so he could start laying out the streets for a new town.

Within months the new town was under construction, and by the first part of 1910, buildings were going up and people were settling.

The first two buildings were the Center Building, now the Historical Society museum, and the Hotel Del Puerto across the street. Thus the town was conceived, born and prospered, with businesses and homes expanding out from its center circle.

It was incorporated as a city in December 1919.

Patterson is just one part of the West Side that makes it different. (By the way, it is West Side, two words.)

We do think we are different — and the rest of the county east of the San Joaquin River has always let us know just how different they think we are.

Being newer than most communities in the county, Patterson has felt this difference acutely.

Every time we see a list of events in The Modesto Bee, we note that Patterson isn't included. The latest was a list of Memorial Day events, and again none were listed for Patterson. At near 21,000 residents and one of the county's fastest growing cities, we just don't stand out.

Wait, I'll take that back. We are noticed when the county government decides to put a dump over here. Then there was the tire burning plant and fire fiasco. Oh, and lest I forget, now the supervisors want to destroy 3,200 extra acres of prime farm land so Modesto, Ceres and Turlock residents can commute to the former Crows Landing air base for jobs the other cities don't seem to be able to provide.

Despite all the efforts to use the West Side and especially Patterson as a dumping ground for projects that no one wants elsewhere, Patterson will move forward, celebrating its birthday with a hometown celebration July 4. And a Labor Day History Weekend will be a homecoming of past and present residents, including thousands of Patterson High School graduates and many old-time families.

For more information on the centennials, log on to www.patterson100.org. The celebration is sponsored by the city of Patterson and local organizations.

Plan to participate as we get ready for the next 100 years.

Delphia, a longtime Patterson resident, serves on the Centennial Committee and chairs the Labor Day History Weekend events. Write him at columns@modbee.com.