In August 1935, the front pages of the Lodi News-Sentinel were filled with excitement, optimism and sadness.

The Tokay 1913 is a paperbound Lodi Union High School yearbook, about the size of a small town's thin telephone book. It's a glimpse into the past a century ago when student life was much like it is today and yet so different.

Anticipation for the annual Lockeford Picnic in May 1915 had been building for more than a month.

He was known as “Honest Ben” and the “father of the Senate” in Sacramento in the late 1800s. But in Lodi, the kind-looking, bearded Benjamin F. Langford was known as the honorable gentleman who championed the tree fruit industry and helped establish a local bank and railroad.

Fifteen years ago, Gary and Janet Crow saw an empty shell of what used to be Richmaid Restaurant. They decided to purchase the building and open up their own restaurant.

An early boomtown that busted, Elliott lives on only as a faded memory and short entry in local history books.

A Union soldier in the Civil War and pioneer farmer on the Plains before settling in Lockeford, George R. Garretson was a witness to America's frontier history.

It was tough being a dog in Lodi's early days. In October 1906, Lodi presented "a sorry appearance to the tourist," according to the Lodi Sentinel, and wandering dogs got a small portion the blame. The dusty town of 1,900 residents still had the look of a pioneer farm settlement with unrestrained dogs, cows and other animals wandering around the dirt streets. Animal droppings throughout the town were common nuisances.

Four months after constructing a new clubhouse on rural Sargent Road west of Lodi, the hardworking women expected to pay off the last of the building debt with a dinner and dance in the winter of 1926.

The Hutchins Street Square Foundation held a low-key ceremony today to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Square, formerly known as Lodi Union High School. The original cornerstone was placed on this day a century ago.

A former vice principal is suing Lodi Unified School District for what she considers wrongful termination.

One hundred years ago, Feb. 13, 1913, was a momentous day in Lodi.

Students and teachers in Lodi can tack an extra five days on to the school year, thanks to a new agreement through the teachers union.

The Lodi Education Association has reached an understanding with Lodi Unified School District to restore five instructional days, with pay, to the 2013-14 calendar.

"It is definitely a win for the kids. It is a shared interest to get days back for kids as quickly as possible," said Jeff Johnston, LEA president.

To pay just the teaching staff for those five days costs $2.5 million.

In 1923, Lodi was a progressive city of 8,000 with a bustling business core, modern schools, dynamic fruit shipping industry and miles of valuable vineyards encircling it. Yet, Lodi was so overlooked that it was mismarked on maps.

A nearly two-inch-thick bound collection of brittle old newspapers is hard to throw away. So, it was dropped off at my house recently. As historians, would we be interested in this glimpse into the past?

The historic Queen Anne Victorian house at 826 S. Church St. catches the eyes of many passing by on the busy street.

President Franklin D. Roosevelt made a bold move in late October 1939.

Do you realize what a treasure we have in Ralph Lea and Christi Kennedy?

Leon Croce’s restaurant hasn’t served a meal in years. But legions of Lodians still remember the quality food, extensive menu, and the man whose passion for the work fueled each dinner service.

Schools in Lodi almost closed down in 1922. The school year began typically enough on Sept. 11 of that year. With the grape harvest in full swing and with police fully occupied catching bootleggers with illegal jackass brandy stills, Lodi's schoolchildren lined up for the opening bell that day.

You may have missed it, but Thursday was Ralph Lea History Day in Lodi.

The following is a list of public meetings in the Lodi and Galt areas this week:

About 35 miles from Lodi, disaster struck underground 90 years ago.