Bakersfield's Curfew Bell, 1891-1988 - Gilbertgia.com

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night watchman Selna will do all in their power to see that the ordinance is enforced." 13 In 1898 Bakersfield reincorporated on a vote of 387 to 146, 14 but a curfew ordinance had to wait until 1903 when offices of the new government were established and working. An article in Harrell’s Daily Californian in July 1903, entitled City Marshal Will Arrange to Have the Bell Rung Every Night, read as follows: “The W.C.T.U. members have called attention to the fact that the curfew has not been rung for several days as required by the city ordinance. City marshal Tibbets [sic, Tibbetts] said today that he will take steps at once to see that the ordinance is enforced, but the ringing of the bell has been done as a courtesy by the fire department, and there is no one at present regularly assigned to do the work. Some arrangement will probably have to be made in this direction. The marshal and all city officers strongly approve of the ordinance and its strict enforcement." 15 East of Bakersfield at Kern City in 1903, the town council (and the Daily Californian), seem to have forgotten that Kern City wrote a curfew ordinance ten years earlier. In A Curfew Law Is Proposed In Kern, the Californian wrote, “The ringing of the bell every evening of 8 o’clock will warn all children off the streets and might result in much good, as has been found to be the case in other places. The bell could also be very useful for fire alarm purposes.” 16 13 Bakersfield Californian, Nov. 18, 1892. Leo G. Pauly was then supervising principal of Kern City schools. 14 History of Kern County. Morgan, 1914, p 123. Bakersfield incorporated Jan 4, 1898. 15 Daily Californian, Jul 16, 1903. Women’s Christian Temperance Association 16 Daily Californian, Aug 6, 1903 Bakersfield’s Curfew Bell, www.gilbertgia.com 6
Although a curfew had been proposed, three years passed before it was enacted. The Californian reported, “Ordinance No. 5, related to the curfew bell, was read and will be rigidly enforced by the officials. The curfew will be rung from the engine house bell and will consist of nine distinct taps. Three of these will be sounded, then a pause, and three more. 17 A reading of the ordinance suggests perils issuing from the adult entertainments along Baker Street and from the nearby Southern Pacific tracks. “Section 1. It shall be unlawful and it is hereby declared a nuisance for any minor child, under the age of 18 years, to visit or loiter about any gambling house, bar, saloon or any place were spirituous, malt or vinous liquors are are sold or dispensed or about any house of prostitution.” 18 “Section 2. It shall be unlawful and it is hereby declared a nuisance for any child under the age of 18 years, to play or loiter about any railroad depot, or the cars of any railroad of this town, or to ride upon any railroad car, engine, truck or other vehicle, without the consent of the agent or owner thereof.” 19 “Sec 3. It shall be a misdemeanor for any minor child under the age of 18 years, to be in any street or public place within the corporate limits of the town of Kern, except a lawful exhibition party or entertainment, between the hours of 8 p.m. and 5 a.m. of the following day from the first day of November to the first day of April following, and of 9 o’clock p.m. and 5 o’clock am of the following day from the first day of April to the first day of November 17 Daily Californian, Jul 17, 1906 18 Ibid. 19 Ibid. Bakersfield’s Curfew Bell, www.gilbertgia.com 7
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Bakersfield's Curfew Bell, 1891-1988 - Gilbertgia.com

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