The Rusch Home - Citrus Heights Historical Society

Dawna Layton

Biographies

Dawna Layton

Dawna Layton reflects on her childhood and the fun games the boys and girls played, how it was at McClellan Base during WWII and how there was a gas ration so her father couldn’t drive faster than 35 mph.

Small Family Farm Era

Landmarks

Small Family Farm Era

In 1910, real estate developer, Walt Trainor, began to buy large farms in northeast Sacramento County and subdivide them into smaller, 5 to 10 acre parcels. He marketed these parcels to people who wanted an income-generating farm in the country. Citrus fruit was a popular and profitable crop to grow at the time, so Walt…

Bill Van Duker

Biographies

Bill Van Duker

Bill Van Duker was born in Oregon then moved to the Bay Area and it wasn’t til he was 40 when he moved to Citrus Heights.

Janie McBride

Biographies

Janie McBride

Janie McBride joined the Ladies in White in 1963 on a part-time basis but that volunteer job ended up becoming full-time as she also trained to be an EMT.

Biographies

Richard Kniesel

Richard Kniesel was born in Yugoslavia and emigrated to America in 1952 when he was 12. In 1965 he purchased a gas station in Citrus Heights which would eventually become Kniesel’s Auto Shop.

Biographies

Wilma Cross

Ms. Cross was born in Idaho then had eventually moved with her family to Washington State and then in 1963 she brought her friends and family to Citrus Heights to settle and encouraged them to buy homes and land here.