In the first half of the 20th century, Fontana Farms Company operated a hog ranch on the site where Kaiser Company Incorporated later erected one of the nation's largest steel mills. After the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, the United States was forced into an unprecedented escalation in the production of ships, planes, and armaments. Soon the sensational announcement came to San Bernardino County that Fontana, a railroad convergence located a safe distance from possible coastal bombardment, would become home to thousands of sweathogs in the war effort. A gold rush of sorts ensued, and all property south of Valencia Street to the railroad was sold in a week. This book pays tribute to the fact that, for two generations, Kaiser Steel Corporation at Fontana was among California's and the nation's industrial giants.
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Title: A museum preserves the history of Kaiser Steel
Author: Mark Muckenfuss
Publisher: The Press-Enterprise
Date: 07/31/2010
Mark Muckenfuss The Press-Enterprise
John Anicic was busy compiling a book on Fontana's history for Arcadia Publishing -- one of those sepia-toned, largely pictorial volumes nearly every community now has -- when someone suggested he put together a similar book on Kaiser Steel.
"I didn't know anything about Kaiser," said Anicic, 73, of Fontana, even though he had cleaned office trailers there for four years in the 1970s, when the plant was still running. "I just assumed there was nothing available to do a book."
He put a solicitation for material in the local newspapers and was stunned.
"I got 150 phone calls," he said.
So he put together the story of the steel plant that shaped the San Bernardino Valley and supplied the bulk of the Pacific fighting fleet in World War II. But that was only the beginning. In 2006, when the book was published, Anicic along with his friend Charlie Dall, 73, of Fontana, held an open house to mark its release.
"That's when all this other stuff started showing up," Anicic said, motioning to the walls, shelves and display cases in the Kaiser Steel Museum in Rancho Cucamonga. He initially thought the material was a temporary loan but found out otherwise.
"The people said, 'Oh, we don't want it back,' " he recalled. "I said, 'What am I supposed to do?' They said, "Well, we want a museum.' "
Anicic and Dall, who worked as a switchman on the Kaiser Steel rail yards for 14 years, opened the one-room museum last fall. The historical material from the plant, which employed more than 100,000 workers between 1942 and 1983, is housed in a building with its own history. It sits in the west wing of Sweeton Hall, which was built in 1915 as a school house.
Anicic and Dall are longtime Fontana residents who were involved with the Fontana Historical Society for many years. Neither is associated with the organization now. It seems even historical societies are not immune from power struggles and political maneuvering. But their experience has helped them organize their new museum, which is filled with photo displays of the old plant and littered with hard hats, uniforms, steel-making equipment and memorabilia such as commemorative belt buckles, ingots of pig iron and steel, mason jars filled with bits of slag, and campaign buttons.
Yes, campaign buttons.
One reads, "I support Frank Anglin, Zone 9, Grievance man."
"Frank Anglin came by a few months ago," Anicic said. "He lives in Arizona now."
Typically, only a handful of folks wander through the museum during the two days its open -- noon to 5 p.m. Thursday and Sunday. Many of them are former workers, and they frequently bring in material for the collection.
One man, named Louie, came in a wheelchair with his son. Anicic pointed to a white hard hat with "Louie" written on it in script.
"His son said (Louie) was so happy that his hat had a place here and that he would never be forgotten," Anicic said. "We got a call about three weeks later from his son saying that Louie had died."
Dall sees the museum as a lasting link to an important part of local heritage.
"One of the things I want to do is honor the people that worked out in the mill," he said. "This place had such a huge impact."
Anicic said they are attempting to acquire a mural showing the steel-making process -- including a string of lights pointing out the progression -- that still hangs in what was the old Kaiser Steel cafeteria.
"We just heard about six months ago they would like us to take it," he said. "We never know what's going to be coming.
The museum is at 9324 San Bernardino Road. Call 909-823-3164.
Author: Mark Muckenfuss
Publisher: The Press-Enterprise
Date: 07/31/2010
Mark Muckenfuss The Press-Enterprise
John Anicic was busy compiling a book on Fontana's history for Arcadia Publishing -- one of those sepia-toned, largely pictorial volumes nearly every community now has -- when someone suggested he put together a similar book on Kaiser Steel.
"I didn't know anything about Kaiser," said Anicic, 73, of Fontana, even though he had cleaned office trailers there for four years in the 1970s, when the plant was still running. "I just assumed there was nothing available to do a book."
He put a solicitation for material in the local newspapers and was stunned.
"I got 150 phone calls," he said.
So he put together the story of the steel plant that shaped the San Bernardino Valley and supplied the bulk of the Pacific fighting fleet in World War II. But that was only the beginning. In 2006, when the book was published, Anicic along with his friend Charlie Dall, 73, of Fontana, held an open house to mark its release.
"That's when all this other stuff started showing up," Anicic said, motioning to the walls, shelves and display cases in the Kaiser Steel Museum in Rancho Cucamonga. He initially thought the material was a temporary loan but found out otherwise.
"The people said, 'Oh, we don't want it back,' " he recalled. "I said, 'What am I supposed to do?' They said, "Well, we want a museum.' "
Anicic and Dall, who worked as a switchman on the Kaiser Steel rail yards for 14 years, opened the one-room museum last fall. The historical material from the plant, which employed more than 100,000 workers between 1942 and 1983, is housed in a building with its own history. It sits in the west wing of Sweeton Hall, which was built in 1915 as a school house.
Anicic and Dall are longtime Fontana residents who were involved with the Fontana Historical Society for many years. Neither is associated with the organization now. It seems even historical societies are not immune from power struggles and political maneuvering. But their experience has helped them organize their new museum, which is filled with photo displays of the old plant and littered with hard hats, uniforms, steel-making equipment and memorabilia such as commemorative belt buckles, ingots of pig iron and steel, mason jars filled with bits of slag, and campaign buttons.
Yes, campaign buttons.
One reads, "I support Frank Anglin, Zone 9, Grievance man."
"Frank Anglin came by a few months ago," Anicic said. "He lives in Arizona now."
Typically, only a handful of folks wander through the museum during the two days its open -- noon to 5 p.m. Thursday and Sunday. Many of them are former workers, and they frequently bring in material for the collection.
One man, named Louie, came in a wheelchair with his son. Anicic pointed to a white hard hat with "Louie" written on it in script.
"His son said (Louie) was so happy that his hat had a place here and that he would never be forgotten," Anicic said. "We got a call about three weeks later from his son saying that Louie had died."
Dall sees the museum as a lasting link to an important part of local heritage.
"One of the things I want to do is honor the people that worked out in the mill," he said. "This place had such a huge impact."
Anicic said they are attempting to acquire a mural showing the steel-making process -- including a string of lights pointing out the progression -- that still hangs in what was the old Kaiser Steel cafeteria.
"We just heard about six months ago they would like us to take it," he said. "We never know what's going to be coming.
The museum is at 9324 San Bernardino Road. Call 909-823-3164.
About the Author
Author and historian John Charles Anicic Jr. is a past president and past board member of the Fontana Historical Society. He is president of Fontana Heritage Museum Association, a board member of the Etiwanda Historical Society, and a San Bernardino County regional parks commissioner. Following up his Images of America book on the town of Fontana, Anicic explores an important industrial chapter in the boom town's history through more than 200 vintage photographs from former Kaiser employees and their families.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Kaiser Memories,
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Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Kaiser Steel, Fontana (CA) (Images of America) (Paperback)
I grew up in the 1950 and 60s within 10 miles of Kaiser Steel. My father worked 21 years at the mill and retired from there in 1981. John Anicic's book brought back a flood of memories for me as well as good information. I am a railroad hobbist and I am slowly modeling an N-Scale Steel Mill. After acquiring Mr. Anicic's book I have almost enough photographs and other information to base my small railroad upon The Kaiser plant. Great book for those interested in California industrial history, WWII preparedness, steel production, on and on.I would recommend it to everyone that may have the slightest interest.
5.0 out of 5 stars
A gift for my Dad.,
By
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Kaiser Steel, Fontana (CA) (Images of America) (Paperback)
My Dad worked at Kaiser Steel for 17 years, only to be laid off just before the Japanese bought the plant in 1985.This book helped bring back a lot of memories. My children and I enjoy the hours of stories Grandpa tells about his years at the mill.
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Inside This Book
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Courtesy of Alexia King, Eagle Mountain, California Steel, California Speedway, San Bernardino Railroad Historical Society, Courtesy of Charles, Kaiser Company, United States New!
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Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
railroad historical society Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Courtesy of Alexia King, Eagle Mountain, California Steel, California Speedway, San Bernardino Railroad Historical Society, Courtesy of Charles, Kaiser Company, United States New!
Books on Related Topics | Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
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