Jerry R. Tyson/News-Sentinel

Lodi’s historic arch is seen undergoing one of its periodic refurbishings. The arch, one of only three mission-style arches in California, was built in 1907 and later topped by a bear. Over the decades, it has become perhaps the city’s most important landmark.

Lodi’s arch spans decades of pride

By Ralph Lea and Christi Kennedy
Special to the News-Sentinel

The year 1907 was a busy one in the newly incorporated city of Lodi.

The Southern Pacific was building a new passenger depot.

The California Traction Co. was installing track and electric power lines for street trolley cars to carry passengers and freight between Lodi and Stockton.

The disastrous flood on the Mokelumne River had receded; the second grammar school in town was being built on the west side; and grapes had replaced watermelons as Lodi’s primary crop.

The 2,000 inhabitants of Lodi were proud of their city. They enthusiastically responded to businessman Charles Ray’s idea to stage a large carnival advertising Lodi’s Tokay grapes. The Lodi Arch spanning Pine Street at Sacramento Street was erected for this carnival.

Stockton architect E.B. Brown was asked to design an entrance to downtown for the carnival. Brown’s creation was the mission-style arch with bells of different tones standing over Pine Street, between Sacramento Street and the railroad tracks.

The Cary Brothers construction firm, headed by twins Ed and Fred, built the revival arch. Their employee Ed Hadcock installed the bells in the arch’s three openings.

Cary Brothers also built a second temporary wooden arch with small theater rooms on both sides and a bandstand overhead in the center. That arch was built solely for the Tokay Carnival and was torn down afterward. It stood 200 feet west of the more permanent arch, which is built of wood, cement and metal.

In 1908, a fire bell was added to the arch. This bell alerted the town that there was a fire and summoned Lodi’s volunteer firefighters. This bell was used for the next 15 years.

The next year, on California’s Admission Day in September, the city of Stockton held a large celebration and parade. The Stockton Parlor of Native Sons featured a large float with a papier mâché bear. The Lodi Parlor of Native Sons stole the bear and placed it on top of the arch, facing south. This bear stayed there, looking toward Stockton, for the next 47 years.

About the same time, the city placed the word Lodi on both sides of the arch. By around 1910, about 126 lights outlined the letters.

In 1934, Lodi decided the host the first Grape Festival in the downtown area around the arch. A.J. “Randy” Randolph, a Lodi sign painter, was asked to build a new bear for the arch. Randolph and his employee Clair F. Schultz made a wooden frame, added chicken wire, papier mâché and then plastered the outside. The bear was then painted gold.

In 1954, the Lodi Arch was over 46 years old and showing its age. When the Grape Festival was approaching that year, a hurried facelift saved the municipal eyesore. Jack Hoggatt, manager of the Lodi Chamber of Commerce, disclosed that temporary repairs were done that year. Cracks were sealed and holes cut into the arch so workers could inspect the structure’s condition. In June, Eric Woock was named chairman of the Mayor’s Restoration Committee.

In 1955, the Lodi City Council declared the arch a safety hazard and threatened to raze the structure. Mayor Willard J. Robinson organized a citizens group, which solicited donations to repair the crumbling monument.

At this point, the city of Lodi still had not assumed ownership of the arch. The city clerk, Henry Glaves, explained that the city rented the land from the Southern Pacific Railroad for $1 per year. Councilwoman Mabel Richey was sure the Grape Festival owned the arch. City Attorney Robert Mullen declared that, in his opinion, the arch belonged to the city. However, City Manager Doug Weller thought only a court could make the final decision.

On Sept. 10, 1955, about 45 citizens met in the Lodi Library auditorium to start a drive for money to repair the arch. They named members of a committee for the Save the Arch campaign. Albert Nies was named chairman, and Eunice Looser was appointed secretary. John Graffigna pledged to take over maintenance as a last resort if the fund-drive failed. The city refused to contribute funds.

Mrs. Ralph Clark, formerly Bertha De Almado, queen of the Tokay Carnival, started the donation drive by giving the first $100. The committee soon raised $1,112.

On Dec. 22, 1955, the Christmas spirit was present at the City Council meeting. The council approved an agreement with the Hieb Brothers, Leon and Herbert, to renovate the arch. The terms of the contract said the work would be done without cost or liability to the city.

On Feb. 21, 1956, the Lodi News-Sentinel reported that Carl Mauch changed the golden bear on top of the arch into a bruin with the technical assistance of taxidermist John Dawson. He added an inch of casting plaster to the bear’s girth. The bear also was turned around to face north toward Sacramento during the restoration.

By March 1956, $6,310 in donations of cash, materials and labor had been collected. The arch restoration was completed, and Pine Street was opened March 30.

About 49 years after it was first built, the Lodi Arch was re-dedicated on April 9, 1956. The Lodi Union High School Band, under the direction of Sydney A. Halsey, marched to the arch at 7 p.m. Mayor Robinson was the principal speaker. Mrs. Clark also participated in the ceremony. Naomi Carey of the Northern San Joaquin Historical Society read Eunice Looser’s poem about the structure’s decay and rebuilding. Ceremonies closed with the community singing “America the Beautiful,” and the arch’s bells were rung for the first time in 20 years.

In March 1961, Fire Marshall F.O. Eprosen and Lodi firefighters washed the arch so the Lodi Junior Chamber of Commerce members could paint the landmark. Bob Little was chairman of the clean-up and painting. Jim Nichols decided to paint the golden bear a more realistic dark brown color. However, there were people who felt the bear should remain golden. So there was a compromise, and the bear was painted brown with gold highlights.

In July 1976, the Lodi Woman’s Club painted and landscaped the area around the arch. This spruce-up strongly influenced the City Council’s decision to turn the lights back on after the energy crisis that started two years earlier.

As the arch aged gracefully, it acquired notoriety for its heritage and architecture. In the last few decades, it has been honored with several plaques.

After the 1956 restoration of the arch, the committee placed a plaque marking the event. Later, the American Institute of Architects recognized the structure’s mission design, one of only three left standing in California.

On Sept. 10, 1981, the Lodi Arch was registered as California Historical Landmark No. 931, and another plaque was added to the arch.

In 1984, the city of Lodi added a patio, benches and redwood trees to rededicate the heritage structure. Mayor Randy Snider and council members Evie Olson, David Hinchman, James Pinkerton, Fred Reid and the Downtown Improvement District placed another plaque spotlighting the arch.

In 1994, the Lodi Historical Society honored the landmark arch, the depot and the two blocks of businesses along Sacramento Street with another plaque.