Compiled by Nick Sestanovich

75 years ago

“Do We Have What It Takes” Is Subject Of Rilea W. Doe, Vice President Safeway Stores For August 10 Meeting Of Kiwanis Club (Aug. 5, 1943)

Rilea W. Doe, vice president of Safeway Stores, Incorporated Oakland, California, will speak before the Benicia Kiwanis Club on August 10, it was announced here today.
His subject will be, “Do We Have What It Takes.”
An able speaker with an unusual experience in the merchandising field, Mr. Doe will outline some of the fundamental problems confronting business men, and the responsibilities of good citizens in war times.
Rilea W. Doe has been with Safeway Stores, for 24 years, and is the oldest employee of the company in years of continuous service. He joined Safeway Stores in Burley Idaho, when the company had only four stores in operation, while today the organization has grown to a total of approximately 2500 stores.
In succession, Mr. Doe has been a vegetable washer, salesman, store manager, supervisor, buyer, district manager, and now vice president with headquarters in Oakland.

50 years ago

S.F. firm to take over Watchie site for developments (Aug. 5, 1968)

Citizens Federal Savings and Loan Associates of San Francisco, said engineering for the development of the former H.R. Watchie property, known as Southampton Development, and houses should be started this fall.
Elmo Rose, vice president in charge of loans and head of the new development for the Savings and Loan company, revealed the plans in a news release this week.
Rose confirmed his company has taken over 1,125 acres from Watchie and Benicia Associates of California and Washington in lieu of foreclosure on promissary notes which totaled about $1.85 million.
Watchie had borrowed the money to develop the Southampton project, but progress stalled after gas, electricity, water, sewers, streets and storm drains were installed.
In November, 1966, a Watchie Spokesman said a lack of mortgage money prevented the building of homes in Southampton. No construction has been started since then.
However, Rose indicated studies by his company show there is a market for homes in this area, with the Humble Oil Co. refinery nearing completion and the success of industry locating in the Benicia Industrial Park.

25 years ago

So, is it hot enough for you? (Aug. 3, 1993)

By Sarah Rohrs

Assaulted by stifling hot weather, Benicians sought relief this weekend in every way possible— snapping up fans and coolers and buying “tons” of sodas— in search of that elusive cool breeze.
“It was so hot out Sunday we went out to eat just to sit in the air-conditioning. It was the first time I can remember going to a restaurant where I didn’t care how long I had to wait,” Heather Campbell said.
For those Benicians who like it hot, they should be pleased. The days should be scorchers throughout the week.
But temperatures are expected to drop a bit and a week from now should return to an average summer pattern of sunny days in the 80s, and foggy and slightly chilly nights, National Weather Service forecaster Duane Dykema said Monday.
Already, the cool blanket of nightly fog is starting to hug the coast at night. Monday’s temperatures in Benicia and Vallejo were slightly lower than Sunday’s.
Monday morning, residents were welcomed a slightly cool breeze blowing off the water. Some commented about it not being as hot as the weekend.
Patty Cure said the weekend’s weather was “way too hot for me.” She recalled spending most of the time outside in the yard because it became too warm inside her house. She and her teen-aged daughter cooled off by running through a sprinkler and stretching out a water fight into an all-afternoon affair.
Maria Grapentine, assistant manager for Thrifty’s Jr., said every available colling device in the store sold out: fans, coolers, ice, and backyard pools. She estimated the store sold more than 900 scoops of ice cream Saturday and Sunday.

The full articles of these and other stories are available on microfilm at the Benicia Public Library.

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