Watsonville News, 134 Years Ago Today: Typhoid Fever and Harvest

Thanks to the California Digital Newspaper Collection, we have a window into Watsonville's past. On this date (Nov. 27) in 1877, updates on typhoid fever, Thanksgiving and the fall harvest made the news in Sacramento. This brief was published in the Sacramento Daily Union, Vol. 3, No. 243.

Typhoid Fever-Watsonville Thanksgiving Day-Farmers Busy-Rainfall-Special Trains-Assemblyman Elect

Watsonville, November 26th—The mortality of the present week has been very great here. There were six funerals yesterday. Most of them have died of typhoid fever.

Thanksgiving Day will be observed by the customary religions, services and by a grand dinner at the Rink.

The farmers in this valley are busy plowing. The grain that has already been sown, is up and doing well.

About an inch and a quarter of rain has fallen.

A special train will probably run from this place to Santa Cruz for three evenings, beginning with to-night, to convey those who desire to attend the grand opening of Smith's Opera House.

Assemblyman elect, Judge George Pace, starts for Sacramento next Wednesday.

Anyone know what the Rink—where the community Thanksgiving celebration was held—was? What were the big crops in the Pajaro Valley during this era?