Yuba City celebrates centennial

It was a far smaller hometown Josh Gilmore first saw in 1930, when he arrived in Yuba City for the first time.

"Where we are now, it was just orchards," the Alberta-born retired truck driver remembered of the Yuba City of yesteryear: few but friendly neighbors, a long-vanished post office and hotel on Bridge Street, seemingly more fruit trees than people.

On Friday night, Gilmore, approaching his 100th birthday in March, was one of thousands strolling downtown Yuba City as it threw a birthday party of its own — the Yuba City Centennial Celebration, a street fair marking the 100th anniversary of its incorporation.

Some 10,000 visitors visited the downtown district for the city-sponsored fair, according to Carol Ramirez, the event's co-chairwoman. The centennial capped a year's worth of city events to mark the occasion.

Founded in 1849 as a supply point for Gold Rush miners, Yuba City quickly became the seat of a newborn Sutter County but was long overshadowed by Marysville, the Feather River's gateway to the California gold country for numerous newcomers. It incorporated in 1908 and slowly grew, first to service farms near the Feather River and later as an expanding Central Valley bedroom community.

A newly restored Plumas Street was dappled with reminders of that time — a skinny-wheeled Model T car, or a group of women in belly dancer-like outfits as part of an early evening street parade.

Amid the food stands, midway rides and music stages, past and present — the once-small farming village and the fast-growing exurb of today — often were side by side.

A few square dancers trod their steps by the corner of Teegarden Avenue, within earshot of the reggaeton band a few blocks north. Later, dozens flocked around a stage to hear Latin-flavored rock music — which then gave way to City Council members greeting the audience wearing top hats and black suits, at the head of a procession including jugglers and African-style drummers.

"It's fun; what's happening here is fun," said Laura McMorrow of Yuba City as she took in the show from the sidewalk. "It's great to see the diversity."

Contact Appeal-Democrat reporter Howard Yune at 749-4708 or hyune@appealdemocrat.com.