by Paul W. Hutchins
Some things never change. Dogs needing to be licensed. Property line disputes. The City requiring residents to ‘clean up’ their yards or be fined. Trim your trees or the City will do it and charge you. Property owners disgruntled and challenging an increase in property taxes.
These are all things we can relate to today. But, did you know they were also the very same problems residents of Walnut had to deal with over 100 years ago?
In searching for information on the history of the Layton Township Cemetery, originally named the Walnut Cemetery, I was given permission to look at the original Walnut City Council minutes dating back to 1877.
Pouring through close to 1,000 pages can be grueling. It can also be enlightening!
What I was reminded of the most was the fact that some things never change. Some of the same problems they faced over 100 years ago, are the same things we deal with day.
Here’s something we’ll have to print in a future issue: City Ordinance #45, Prohibiting children from being abroad on the streets, alleys and public grounds of the town of Walnut, after certain hours of the night.
The ‘hours of night’? 8:00pm-5:30am.