Boom years Fullerton, California

city of fullerton s valencia orange show exhibit featuring aztec pyramid, 1931

drilling petroleum began in 1880 discovery of brea-olinda oil field , fueled first real boom, peaking in 1920s. construction reflected vogue spanish colonial , italian renaissance-inspired architecture, in historic fox fullerton theatre (erected 1925); home of walter , adella muckenthaler, designed frank k. benchley (erected 1924); , city s chief landmark, plummer auditorium , clock tower (erected 1930). fullerton college established @ present location @ chapman avenue , lemon street in 1913. meanwhile, city banned overnight street parking in 1924— law enforced present day. period 1910-1950 represented golden age city other southern california cities marked elegant architecture ranging beaux arts movement distinctive california mediterraneum architecture, in turn surrounded bucolic farms , parks. significant public works projects constructed during period, including conversion of southwestern sewer farm fullerton municipal airport @ behest of placentia ranchers , aviators william , robert dowling in 1927.following depression, concentration of industry, depressed farming economy, , cheap land development shattered earlier period quality of life. through mid-1900s economy shifted toward food processing rather food production, manufacturing; southeastern fullerton became industrial center. val vita food products (later hunt wesson , today part of conagra foods, inc.) began operating citrus juice plant in western fullerton in 1932. 1941 had become largest food processing company in us. in 1934 a.w. leo, tom yates , ralph harrison developed first hawaiian punch recipe in converted garage in fullerton. city became producer of aerospace equipment, electrical , electronic components, navigation systems, , laboratory instruments.

in 1949 dick riedel , bill barris piloted sunkist lady, modified aeronca sedan, out of fullerton airport set endurance flight record of 1,008 hours , 2 minutes.

also in 1949, fullerton setting in leo fender developed , refined design of fender telecaster, guitar later used among of greatest musicians of 20th , 21st century. among them: bruce springsteen, keith richards, joe strummer, waylon jennings, dwight yoakam, greg camp, jimmy page, kurt cobain, james burton, jonny greenwood , many others.