Manuel Magdaleno's Memories

Manuel Magdaleno's Berendo Memories

by Alex Magdaleno

I talked to my uncle Manual the other day. He also remembered that it was a market before the Newsom's bought it. He couldn't remember the name for sure. He thought it might have been McCollum or something like that. He also remembered the young woman who lived there that Henry mentioned. He said she had a loud voice and was always yelling at someone in the house. He talked about a boy named Robert Baer (Sp?) who live across the street where the Slagles moved later. He was a little younger and used to play at the Magdaleno's. One day he got his finger caught in the wringer of their washer and it tore all the skin off it. Eventually he lost it. Hope had mentioned this too me earlier. She said she had warned the kids not to play around the washer. Her older brother Artie had to pay the medical bills. Hope said she would not let Robert play at the house after that. Manuel said he was in the front room of the house when the 33 earthquake struck. He had his hand against one of the windows. The house moved so much that the glass came out of the wood channel and then back in pinching his finger. He remembered the name of two of the McCrary boys who live in the two story house on 112th. Floyd and Tommy. Tommy was a mute, but Manuel said he sure could raise a fuss. Manuel and Henry tried to join the Navy in about 38 or 39. They had not finished high school and that was a requirement at the time. You also had to be 20. They and two friends went to the high school principal in Yuma and asked if they could go back an finish up. He refused as they were adults. They went back every day and bugged him. Finally he got permission from Phoenix and they wer allowed back in but were not allowed to socialize with the other students. Manuel was 22 at the time. When they finished in 1940 they went to San Diego to sign up. Henry failed the height requirement. Some Corpmen spoke up and said let us have him for a night and he'll pass in the morning. They tied a harness around his upper body and weights and rope pulleys on his feet. Henry had to sleep like that all night. The next day they carried him by stretcher to be measured and he passed. - Alex

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Manuel, Mr. Hill and Henry
circa 1943

112th St. side of Magdaleno House
circa 1940

Slagle House from Magdaleno front lawn

McCrary House (with palm trees in front)
from Magdaleno house

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