Written by Jesse Atondo for the Blankenships as it appeared in the Arvin Tiller/Lamont Report supplement October 8, 1997:

 

Truett (Joe) Blankenship, wife Jewell, daughter Mary Lou and sons Charles and Gerald Cotton

    On a very cold February, with a lot of sleet and snow, they decided to seek a new and prosperous future.  finding work was almost an impossible task in Oklahoma.

    "Dust storms and crop failure and such times were rough but word had gotten around there was plenty of work in California," said Jewell.  "Where the money grew on trees," many said in Oklahoma.

    So they loaded up the old class S-37 Plymouth Sedan with their few necessary things and the five of them made the journey to the promised land - California.

    They arrived at the Arvin Federal Camp; no money, nor job, no where to turn.

    At that time, Dewey Russell was the manager at the camp and they assigned the Blankenship family to a medal cabin, bedstead, oil burning stove.  with few necessities there, they started their life in California.

    They started the kids to school and Truett and Jewell found work after a few days.

    Mr. Blankenship got a job at DiGiorgio Ranch; his first check was $21.21 and Jewell worked on weekends and holidays, they all picked  cotton and worked at various jobs.

    Both Blankenships showed much sadness back then 'cause they missed their folks that were left in Oklahoma.

    "I cried for my mother," said Jewell.  Truett missed his mother also.  They just had to get adjusted and seek for a future and better way of life.

    "We met a lot of good neighbors, they also had jobs and money to spend and our children didn't have to walk miles to school in bad weather," added Jewell.

    When Joe and Jewell Blankenship look back over the many years, they recall it "not being a bed of roses, but we endured.  There must have been some good come of it."

    Joe Truett is now 91 years old and the couple has lived in Lamont for the past 55 years; still growing a garden and tending to their home in Lamont; remember the past, but living in the present.

    "Now we must say  'Thanks for the memories,'" say the Blankenships.

Personal reminiscences
The Arvin Tiller/Lamont Reporter
9717 Main, P.O. Box 548, Lamont, CA 93241, (661) 845-3704