Postcards

In Part I of the Ito and Kito families' story, I introduced you to Masa Kito Fujitani, who wrote a charming memoir of her family (the Kitos) and their family friends (the Itos).  The two families settled in a house on St. Clair Road in 1920, having fled California following the passage of the Alien Land Law, designed to deny Japanese families their foothold in America by withholding the right to own land. Fortunately for this valley, the two families gained a foothold here, becoming productive farmers and valuable members of the community. The two families were protected by Fallon’s community leaders during World War II, and their children thrived as citizens and students.  In the following passages from Masa’s story, she writes about her school experiences and those of her brothers and sisters.

“Once we reached school age, we all went to the St. Clair district school from first grade through 8th grade and then we all graduated from Churchill County High School. Regardless, the cows demanded milking before and after school, and the eggs still had to be gathered, and we still had to slop the pigs.  However, we still had our fun—we learned to swim in the big canals that brought water to our properties.  Canals were deep enough to dive into and we didn’t know about a public chlorine pool—that was in town!  Imagine Nobie's and my surprise to see this dead cow body floating down the canal.  Not knowing better about germs and disease, we poked it and swam around it!  Perhaps we both developed a strong immunity to cow disease!!!  

Through the years, my parents and siblings knew that their high school classmates ‘fun time’ was coming to our farm to pinch a few Hearts of Gold melons late at night.  The melon robbers didn’t know that my folks planted a ‘special’ section of melons just for their taking!!  That way we could guard and look for them with a shotgun full of rock salt! (I heard that a shot in the air caused one ‘melon grabber’ to drive right into the drain ditch!)

My sister, Emi, was the first girl in Fallon and our family to earn the 4 year Harold’s Club Scholarship to attend and graduate from the University of Nevada, Reno. Then she earned an MA from the University of Utah and became a Bio-Chemist in Philadelphia.  Aya left Fallon and worked as a beautician in Salt Lake City. Nobie went to Oregon State, then joined the Air Force. I was a class of 57 graduate of CCHS, then enrolled at University of Nevada, Reno, for a year.  In 1958, the Ito/Kito property was sold to John and Mary Ann Gomes whose home is still there. The Itos left for California and I accompanied my parents to Denver and later graduated from Northern Colorado University.  I was hired in the Anaheim, CA elementary school district and still reside in Santa Ana, CA.

Looking back, I had remarkable teachers and classmates at CCHS!  Anne Gibbs Berlin and Pat Oxborrow were my English teachers. In addition,  I had Byrd Sawyer as a mentor.  She had written the ‘Our State Nevada’ textbook which we were required to read and then write an essay about Nevada. She guided me to interview my parents and the Itos about their experiences as Japanese families in Fallon.  About 30 years ago, Andy Russell contacted me about my essay and family photos for his thesis.  Last year I was pleased to hear from Andy about approvals and updates to family photos for his new book. ‘Like Friends, Like Foes:  Japanese Americans and Nevada through World War II’ is to be published in 2026!”

Thank you, Masa, for your “Postcard.” My apologies for misspelling your name in Part I of your story.

Please send your stories and ideas for stories to [email protected].