Life and all in Redding California
I see the new courthouse in Redding is finally set to open. I captured this aerial footage of it under construction in the fall of 2022. The scene starts across the street at the old courthouse, dressed in beautiful fall colors, and then (takes too long) to circle the new structure. Worth a view, if you haven’t seen it elsewhere on social media.
Here’s a great project to build 4 homes in Redding with this intriguing new construction method. Is this the wave of the future?
So, evidently I live in a science fiction novel. They print houses in my town. And I took a photo of the work getting underway using a supercomputer/digital camera/phone I carry around in my pocket. Then, I sent my satellite navigating camera airborne for aerial shots. It’s easy to get bogged down with all that seems to be going wrong in this world. But given my perspective from across nearly seven decades of progress on this planet, so many things have improved greatly. Astonishing, really. #thisisredding
A Facebook post reminded me of this image I captured of the old and semi-famous Gene’s Drive In. A classic Highway 99 burger joint that in its day often attracted crowds of hot rod enthusiasts. Seen here with a “classic” dented Geo Metro parked out front, more indicative of the hard times seen a few years back. Gene’s did not survive the economic downturn.
I think it was mostly the big neon sign that made it seem special. In the end, not enough to save it, like many other neon lit Redding landmarks.
A few years back, Redding adopted a “50s Glitz” proclamation. That was to be our design theme for downtown. It hasn’t been widely adopted, luckily. What few new structures that tried it ended up looking ridiculous and forced. Not real neon, but neon-like colors and plastic signage. I hope the idea fades out. Neon elevated Gene’s to a certain charm, but obviously not enough to sustain it. Neo-Redding should look elsewhere for a design theme.
Click to enlarge. Alas, it is no more.
From Wikipedia: “A Carnegie library is a library built with money donated by Scottish-American businessman and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie. A total of 2,509 Carnegie libraries were built between 1883 and 1929, including some belonging to public and university library systems. 1,689 were built in the United States, 660 in the United Kingdom and Ireland, 125 in Canada, and others in Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, Serbia, Belgium, France, the Caribbean, Mauritius, Malaysia and Fiji.
At first, Carnegie libraries were almost exclusively in places where he had a personal connection, namely his home-town in Scotland and the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania area. Beginning in 1899, Carnegie substantially increased funding to libraries outside of these areas.
In later years few towns that requested a grant and agreed to his terms were refused. By the time the last grant was made in 1919, there were 3,500 libraries in the United States, nearly half of them built with construction grants paid by Carnegie.”
What a legacy! He touched many lives. Andrew Carnegie’s Library Motto:
Presumably, Redding didn’t just casually make the decision to remove it.
But if you are reading this from beyond the pale, Andrew Carnegie, Redding in 2016 is very sorry about that. Here is how the site looks today:
Our present Redding Library is also quite beautiful. In a different way.
I’m happy that the Pope is visiting the U.S. today. I admire him. I was raised a Catholic, although I have not considered myself to be such since a young man. This Pope seems much different than most during my lifetime. Pope Francis appears more humble, thoughtful, and less imperious. I find him inspiring. Last year we toured the Vatican on a somewhat rainy day, and I was lucky to capture some very nice photos. I thought the occasion of his visit a good excuse to look them over again.
Below, we pose in St Peter’s Square, where the Pope addresses crowds.
There was so much gorgeous art and architecture at the Vatican, it was overwhelming.
Here’s a glimpse of the planned building now under construction at the site of the iconic-but-now-razed Greyhound Station that occupied the corner of Pine and Butte in Redding. Click to slightly expand.
We have a long history of tearing down what few interesting buildings we have in Redding. But that’s okay by me they are replaced with beautiful and imaginative structures like this. If you are interested in occupying this space, here is a link to the flyer about 1321 Butte Street by fellow Realtor Chris Haedrich of Haedrich & Co. (530) 221 1127. It’s Really Redding.
Bus station image courtesy of Shasta Historical Society. Consider joining us.
Re-post from 2009 in view of today’s 10th anniversary celebrations of our famous bridge. Images below from when it was right for the 5th time. This year, the celebration is much bigger.
Yesterday a group of folks gathered at the north end of Redding’s Sundial Bridge to observe the Solstice, and perhaps to verify that their cell phones report the same time as the planet. Noon. Yep.
There was a band, and some booths. At one of the booths you could look at the sun, but there were no sunspots or flares, so it pretty much looked like just a bright disk.
Redding lays claim to the tallest known sundial on the planet at 217 ft. We humans have a history of building large and relatively permanent structures to observe the planetary movements.
Connections. That’s what looking at history provides. Connections to the past.
We attended the Shasta Historical Society’s walking tour of Diestelhorst Bridge yesterday.
Below, historian Mike Grifantini offers stories that help connect us all to the Diestelhorst Bridge.
The story of its origin resonated. The bridge was a project funded by forward thinking Redding civic leaders around a hundred years ago. They commissioned a leading architect of the time for its design, A.V. Spah.
The civic purpose for the bridge was to drive highway traffic through downtown Redding. If it weren’t for this bridge, traffic would have shifted east via Freebridge, and would have left Redding merchants high and dry.
Evidently, their plan worked. Redding did not dry up and fade away.
I considered the connection to another bridge in Redding, the Sundial. Now celebrating it’s 10th year. A bridge commissioned by visionary civic leaders, and designed by a leading architect. A bridge designed to drive traffic through Redding, rather than around it. Connections.
You can see the Sundial in the lower corner of the image above. Its angularity seeming to be a reflection of the trestle struts.
Forward thinking citizens. Using bridges to drive commerce, and connecting a thriving community. A plan like the bridge itself, having withstood the test of time.
It’s Really Redding.
There’s another historical walk in Redding scheduled for this evening. See what connection you may find.
Cannabis Gelato. Remember, you saw it here first, Redding.
Erin said this idea might take off in the U.S. like Starbucks. Maybe so. Afterall, we already have cannabis products like girl scout cookie weed, so why no icecream as well?
I’d rather see this comfort food, below. Paella and Sangria enjoyed at a sidewalk cafe. More like this please.
On the other hand, here’s an image Redding folks wouldn’t much care for. We would call it tight parking.
Here are a few more images of Barcelona from our recent journey. Click to enlarge, and click enlarged image to exit.
Spain feels very comfortable, indeed.
