As we were: Grace Ramona Bacoccini remembers early days

25 Years ago

Feb. 17, 1988

Grace Ramona Bacoccini recalls early life in El Dorado County

By JOY HAESSLER

Grace Ramona Bacoccini of Placerville turned 84 Jan. 31 — not quite a turn-of-the century baby.

She was born at her grandparents’ (Mike and Ida Sweeney) ranch house on Happy Valley Road. Her parents were William and Bertha Sweeney. When she was 3 years old the family moved closer to town, so she and her sister (who is no longer living) could go to Willow School. The original schoolhouse she attended burned down …

“The family moved to town when I was 17,” Grace said. “I worked at the Ivy House as a waitress for several years. That’s when all the Raffettos were there. They were really nice.”

In 1923 Grace married Pete Bacoccini and they enjoyed 57 years of married life. In 1932 they moved to Coon Hollow Road, where they raised their four children and where Grace still lives today …

During the war I made targets at Target House in Diamond Springs at the lime company,” Grace said. “I did that off and on for 10 years.

“I also worked for Carl and Micky Visman at Boa Vista for 10 years. On weekends I used to do catering for the Invitational Dance Club and for a lot of the famous people here in town.” …

Grace lives by herself, drives her car and buys her own groceries. “Driving the car is the easiest part,” she said. “Buddy” keeps her company. “Buddy” is a 3-year-old Australian shepherd. She also has two cats who “adopted her.” …

Grace said she has enjoyed living in Placerville all these years. “I know so many people,” she said. “I received a phone call from Oregon asking if I was a Sweeney descendent. I said yes and it turns out our mothers were sisters. We exchanged pictures.”

 

75 Years ago

Feb. 17, 1938

Betrothal Announced At Berkeley

At a daintily appointed luncheon for about fifty friends at the home of her mother, Mrs. Fred Saunders, at Berkeley, on Saturday, Miss Wilma Manning announced her engagement to wed George Maul, son of City Attorney and Mrs. Thomas Maul, of Placerville. The date of the marriage was not set.

Miss Manning had a wide acquaintance in Placerville, she having been a teacher at the county high school in recent years … Mr. Maul is attending Sacramento Junior Collage and plans to continue the study of law …

 

110 Years ago

Feb. 21, 1903

The Mother Goose Festival

The entertainment and bazaar at the M. E. Church on Tuesday evening was largely attended and each number on the programme was well received. Miss Bess Ross as Mother Goose who was introduced in a recitation by Edna Day, was a decided success and introduced each of her characters with the pride of a real mother … Hazel Combellack as Bopeep sang very sweetly, while Georgie Barlow as Little Boy Blue delighted the audience with the sweet clear tones of her coronet solo … the orchestral selection directed by C. W. Ball was given with spirit and dash that speak well for the abilities of the players and for Mr. Ball as a leader. The little witches sang Three Blind Mice in which they were assisted by Mrs. Swansborough who made the scene very realistic. Mrs. Dorothy Fitch as Queen of Hearts was very stately in her robes and her recitation introduced the final chorus of Mother Goose Melodies … the ladies have netted about $175 to be turned in to their Pastor’s salary.