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Beneath the Popeye Statue: Fond Memories of Crystal City
I was born in Crystal City on February 14, 1931. My parents named me
after the local doctor, Robert F. Martin. When I was about eight years
old, I won a spinach-eating contest held in the shadow of the famous
Popeye statue. As a reward, I was introduced to the crowd at the rodeo
held in conjunction with the Spinach Festival. I got to ride a horse to
the center of the rodeo arena to be introduced.
My dad worked for
Piggly Wiggly and later owned his own grocery store, which was called
Kirk's Cash and Carry. It was located on the town's main street. We
lived a few blocks from the large brick elementary school, and not too
far from the band park and the Baptist church.
I graduated from
the eighth grade in Crystal City and remember several of my teachers:
Miss Penshorn (who later married Mr. Ray, another of our teachers), Miss
Reed, and Mr. Campbell, our principal. Hispanic youngsters attended
their own elementary school and so did African-American youngsters. We
competed against the Hispanic students in baseball, and were friends off
the school grounds; however, as I remember it, we did not attend
elementary school together.
I have lots of fond memories of those
years. My parents separated when I was about twelve years old, and my
mother and I moved first to Arizona, then back to Crystal City, then to
California where my family and I live today.
My dad, in later
years, worked at the internment camp and even later yet as a night
watchman for Del Monte.
I had four older brothers: A G, Knox,
James, and Henry. Two are still living. My brother A G established a
scholarship a few years ago in memory of his deceased wife. The
scholarship grants $1,000 yearly to a high school senior from Crystal
City who plans to become a teacher.
Robert F. Kirchner
, California
Published:
November 14,
2005
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