Taking a walk down Cherokee

Cherokee Lane begins at Harney Lane and travels north for 2.8 miles to Pioneer Drive on the north end of Lodi. Cherokee Lane gravel turnpike originally ran for about nine miles between Mokelumne River and Calaveras River. (Marc Lutz/News-Sentinel)

Taking a walk down Cherokee

For more than 150 years, Lodi's Cherokee Lane has provided visitors with access to town and locals with access to almost anything they could possibly need

By Marc Lutz
Lodi Living Editor

Saturday, August 25, 2007 10:46 AM PDT

Comments (19 comment(s))

As I began my walk, I started thinking about where I was going. My path would lead down one of Lodi's heaviest traveled roads (A 2004 city of Lodi study showed that it averaged 117,000 vehicles annually; second only to Kettleman Lane which came in at 175,000 annually). A road that most Lodians don't care to walk down. In fact, when I told people what I was doing, the response was almost universal: "That road? Be careful."

But fear comes from the unknown, and I was determined to get to know this part of Lodi.

History lesson

Cherokee Lane is older than Lodi. It was once a part of Highway 99 and, at another time, part of the Lincoln Highway (also known as Highway 40). There is no debate on where the name came from because nobody knows. San Joaquin County records show that it was named in 1856 and extended from the Mokelumne River down to the Calaveras River.

Diving into research, I learned that one possible origin for the name came from the Gold Rush era. Miners would hire Cherokees to come out to California and dig for them. In fact, that's how the town of Cherokee here in California got its name. Could it be those same men traveled up our Cherokee Lane as they headed toward places like Oroville? No one can say for sure.

John Grattan, who was a pioneer farmer living upon the road in those days, remarked that the road had gotten so bad that it was impossible to travel to Stockton by rig. During one such year, his family had used up their supply of flour, and Grattan had to walk to Stockton, purchase a 50-pound sack of flour and lug it all the way back to his farm.

The Cherokee Inn was owned and operated in 1930 by L.E. Blakely and his wife on the northwest corner of Cherokee Lane and Lodi Avenue. (Courtesy photo)

It was then, in 1868, that $30,000 was spent to pave Cherokee with gravel. It became officially known as Cherokee Lane gravel turnpike.

Lodi and Cherokee Lane finally united in 1906 when Lodi incorporated.

What I wouldn't give to have seen this area in those days.

Local folk

Walking south, I decided to stop in at Dee Dee's Cafe for a cup of coffee. This place was hopping. Rarely have I come into this restaurant and seen so many people. I followed a familiar looking gentleman wearing a red cap. He held the door open for me. As he found a seat I heard someone yell out, "Hey, Byng!" Of course. He's Byng Forsberg, table tennis champion extraordinaire.

"Win your last match?" his friend asked.

"Yeah," said Forsberg quietly. "I'm the Oregon state champion now."

"That hardly seems fair," came the reply.

I was shown my seat and ordered my coffee. Soon I was joined by Dee Dee Carpenter, the owner.

Carpenter, an amiable smiling woman who seems to know just about everyone's name, celebrated the five year anniversary of Dee Dee's Cafe on Aug. 1.

"There were better sites, definitely nicer places we could have been located," Carpenter said. "But I'm glad we bought the business here. I've met a lot of nice people, and I love my customers."

Foot traffic on this part of Cherokee is light, Carpenter told me. She gets most customers driving to her place.

Today the land houses West Coast Motors, one of many car dealerships found along the 2.8 mile stretch of road. (Marc Lutz/News-Sentinel)

Of Cherokee Lanes bad reputation, Carpenter says there are lots of things that could be done to clean it up. Keeping overgrown weeds in empty lots cut down would be a definite improvement, she said.

I thanked her for the coffee and went on my way.

Exiting the restaurant, I was passed by a man lugging his backpack and a rolled up sleeping bag. I wondered if he knew how John Grattan must have felt. We both continued on our respective ways.

Further down the road I happened across a couple of people sitting on a bench at a bus stop. They were having a friendly debate and stopped talking when I approached. Marie and Steven wouldn't give me their last names, but they were more than happy to share their perspectives on life on Cherokee Lane.

"I only stay here when I have money to rent a room," said Marie. "But I see mothers pushing strollers all up and down the street."

She lamented about the amount of help she gets when she spends time on Cherokee, and felt like she is discriminated against because she's homeless.

Steven, who is 37 years old, said he spends about half of his time on Cherokee, but mainly to look after his mother who lives in the area.

"I have to move up and down the road," Steven said. "I get hassled by the police and other people."

They went back to their conversation, and I went back to my exploration.

The fourth grade class of 1934-1935 at Lincoln School poses for their class picture. The school was eventually shut down in 1977. (Courtesy photo)

This area, where Big K-mart, Rancho San Miguel and various smaller businesses operate, used to belong to William Micke. That's right. The man responsible for bringing Micke Grove used to live and do business on this very parcel of land on Cherokee between Flora and Eden streets.

Micke grew Tokay grapes and peaches, and stored them in a packing shed that sat adjacent to his home.

Before William Micke owned the land, there was a race track where the proprietors raced horses and dogs. Not at the same time, mind you. Although, that would be interesting to see. After Micke bought the land, he plowed it up and started his Lodi legacy.

It amazes me how things change.

Business as usual?

As I walked on I noticed motels. Names like The Modern Motor Lodge and Rancho Grande are operating reminders of a time when Cherokee Lane was a part of Highway 99. They offered a place for those traveling through to stay and rest their weary heads.

The school was renovated in 2001 and re-opened in 2006 as the Lincoln Technical Academy. (Marc Lutz/News-Sentinel)

In fact, there are no less than 11 motels along Cherokee Lane. The majority of lodgings for Lodi are found right here, and still offer a place for the weary-headed traveler to snooze the night away.

Other noticeable sights are the many car dealerships and the name "Geweke."

But there are several used car lots that are independently owned. At some point I lost count. Some are right next door to one another. Others sit across the street from eachother.

West Coast Motors might not be well known, but it's located in a well known, if not heavily traveled intersection.

The car dealership is on the northwest corner of Lodi Avenue and Cherokee Lane. That very spot was also home to the Cherokee Inn, owned by L.E. Blakely and his wife back in 1930. A hungry customer could expect to pay as much as .45 cents for a plate of food at the Cherokee Inn.

As noon approached, I was wishing I could get a plate of home-cooked food for about that much. Then I saw .69 cent corndogs across the street at Wienerschnitzel. What luck!

Not far from the Wienerschnitzel is Rauer Bookkeeping. I stopped in and talked to Doug Rauer and his wife Carol about their business here.

A Brief History of Cherokee Lane

1853: California started portioning towns into townships.
1856: Natural road between Mokelumne River and Calaveras River is named "Cherokee." No information exists on how it was named or who named it.
1860: Cherokee Lane sees increase in traffic, though winter conditions made travel difficult and sometimes impassable. Road becomes a subdivision line for townships.
1868: Petition presented to San Joaquin County Supervisors to construct Cherokee Lane gravel turnpike. The cost was $30,000. The road ran for nine miles from Waterloo Road in Stockton. Sometime later, the road becomes a toll road.
Between 1868 and 1890: During this time there was a racetrack for horses and dogs east of Cherokee and south of Lodi Avenue.
1869: Town of Mokelumne established west of Cherokee Lane.
1874: Mokelumne's name changed to Lodi.
1890: William G. Micke purchases property east of Cherokee between Flora and Eden that was a horse and dog track. He has it plowed up. He then raises Tokay grapes and peaches. Micke and his wife had their home and packing sheds on the property.
1900: Sections around area are named for pioneers.
1906: City of Lodi incorporates and expands eastern borders to Cherokee Lane.
1908: Lodi Seventh-Day Adventist Academy opens doors on northwest corner of Cherokee Lane and Kettleman Lane as a boarding school. School operates its own dairy and printing press.
Between 1916 and 1920: Lincoln Highway is redirected from Lower Sacramento Road to Cherokee Lane into Stockton.
1916: Lincoln School is built on Cherokee Lane and named for the Lincoln Highway.
Sometime before 1919: Lincoln Highway (Highway 40) rerouted as part of Highway 80. The road becomes an official part of State Highway 99.
1921: Cherokee Street is renamed Washington Street, possibly to avoid confusion.
1935: Lodi Tire Comany Established on northern end of Cherokee.
1938: Richmaid Ice Cream opens restaurant.
1963: Highway 99 bypass constructed, alleviating traffic congestion on Cherokee.
1968: Lodi Academy becomes a day school.
1977: Lincoln School is closed down by state due to not meeting earthquake standards.
1996: Lodi City Council receives proposal to improve Cherokee Lane. Landscaped medians and decorative sign posts to be installed.
2000: Mural adorning east-facing wall of Pacific Gas and Electric completed by Lodi Students.
2001: Lincoln School renovation begins.
2006: Lincoln School re-opens as Lincoln Technical Academy.
— Sources: Ralph Lea, Lodi historian; "History of San Joaquin County"; "Lincoln Highway in California"; News-Sentinel staff.

"We were on Lodi Avenue, and then we moved to 920 S. Cherokee," Carol Rauer said. From there they moved to Industrial Avenue, but then back to the current Cherokee location in the mid-'80s. "We would rather do business here than Downtown."

Food, cars, a place to sleep, upholstery, groceries, tattoos, piercings and even palm readings can be purchased on this 2.8 mile stretch through Lodi.

"In fact, eight of the top 25 sales tax producers in the city are on Cherokee," said Jeff Hood, city of Lodi's public information officer.

Hood wasn't sure what the oldest existing business on this road is (he speculated that it might be Richmaid Cafe), but he did know about the newest: Dollar Joe's at 16 N. Cherokee. The shop opened its doors on July 10 of this year. I decided to stop by.

The shelves are crowded with just about everything you could need to get your household in shape. But don't let the name fool you. Not everything is a dollar at Dollar Joe's. I found great big cooking pots (the kind you use to feed an army) for $34.99.

Right across the street, on the west side, is a place called Country Antiques. Its signs in the window tout being an art gallery and antique store. I was eager to explore this possible gem.

Another sign told me I wouldn't be able to go in until Oct. 1, since the store is closed until then.

Oh well. On I go.

Ken Lung's Lodi Tire Company is another one of those businesses you might not notice when traveling the north side of Cherokee Lane. The brick building, however, immediately caught my eye.

Inside, owner Ken Lung was busy helping customers, but took the time to talk to me.

"I have no idea if this is the oldest building on Cherokee," Lung said.

"I do know it was built in 1935," Lung said. He pointed out pictures hanging on the wall under a giant, stuffed marlin. The pictures show when the business first opened as Lodi Recap Tire Shop, later becoming the Goodyear tire store, and eventually becoming his business. Lung also pointed out a picture taken sometime during the 1950s of a vehicle versus a freight train. Sure enough, a ghost of the tracks still remains crossing the street and then abruptly end on the west side of Cherokee.

Preserving education

Further up the road where Cherokee begins to meet Highway 99 again, I discovered more restaurants and a church. Figuring I wasn't on a spiritual journey, I decided to head back in the opposite direction. I passed the Grape Festival Grounds and the colorful mural adorning the wall of PG&E. Just a bit more and I saw another example of Lodi's inspired vision.

Two schools lie along Cherokee Lane, although one was almost forgotten. Toward the north end of the road, Lincoln school was first erected in 1916 and named after the Lincoln Highway. It lasted until 1977 when it was closed down due to non-compliance with the state's earthquake code. It later reopened as an adult school, but then later closed again because of its declining structure. Lincoln School was renovated in 2001 and was finished and re-opened as Lincoln Technical Academy in 2006.

Planners made sure to keep the original look of the school, and today it looks as new as ever. I watched as eager students were getting ready to start classes for the day. It could have easily been demolished and made way for something entirely new, but Lincoln Technical Academy is a shining example of a town's eagerness to move forward, but not forget its past.

Down on the south end of Cherokee is the other school. Started as a boarding school in 1908, Lodi Academy (a part of the Seventh-Day Adventist private school system), has been a cornerstone on the corner of Cherokee and Kettleman for 99 years.

I finished up my walk by thinking about all I had seen. Here is a grand piece of our local history. Here is a place where you can find God, get a set of tires, good Mexican food, a tattoo, a great education or a good night's rest. This is definitely one of Lodi's major arteries; a lifeline of constantly flowing blood.

Diana Anderson, owner of Lodi's only fortune telling business and located for 53 years on Cherokee Lane, said that it has always been a beautiful area.

"I wouldn't trade it for New York City," said Anderson.

And what of the future of Cherokee Lane?

"It's going to be much, much, better. I think we're going to see an upsurge in it," Anderson said.

Contact Lodi Living Editor Marc Lutz at marcl@lodinews.com.

Reader Feedback

Lodiansince1956 wrote on Sep 1, 2007 7:25 AM:

" Has to be the stupidist story i have read in a long time. why not tell us what is truly going on in lodi instead of sugar coating with ridiculous stories like this. Tell us why our city is filthy and run down, why are streets go without repair, why the trees are untrimed. REALLY STUPID STORY. CHEROKEE LANE COME ON DOWN AND VISIT THE DIRTY SIDE OF LODI "

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