There was time, that Ravendale on the Madeline Plains was more than a wide spot on Highway 395. Like so many locales, it had experienced some interesting times.
One of these accountss involved the Ravendale Elementary School during the 1938-39 school year. Frances O’Brien had a contract to teach school that year for $1,320. When the school opened in the fall, six students had enrolled. The enrollment then dropped to four, and then to two, and by January 1939, there were no students. The trustees questioned whether they were obligated to pay O’Brien’s contract since there were no students. The matter was referred to California Attorney General Earl Warren. Warren informed the trustees that they had to pay O’Brien’s contract whether she had any students or not. Warren did state that the trustees and O’Brien could negotiate a compromise. Whatever transpired is not known. The school re-opened in the fall of 1939, with thirteen students. However, Emma Metcalf replaced O’Brien as the teacher.
Seasoned California residents know that not only did Attorney General Earl Warren later became the Governor of California, but he went higher up on the ladder and became the Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court.
I remember my Sargent telling about Earl Warren as Gov. of CA
was scheduled to fly in at Chester, CA and let it be known that he
did not want any law enforcement people around when he landed. The first person to met him was the town drunk. (of which we had several)