LOWELL " Waddie" ZOLLARS

I was in the 7th grade when the three Zollars brothers joined the
three room Mariposa Elementary School. Waddie was the oldest and in the 8th grade, Vernon was in my class and Bradley was a year or two younger.
The Zollars family moved to Mariposa from somewhere around San
Bernardino where the oldest child, Waddie had somehow acquired the
name usually associated with a cowboy. When the Zollars
family first arrived, father Lawrence operated a shoe shop in the
building now housing Castillo's Restaurant, not long after it was
moved from Charles St., to 5th St and the Post Office relocated to
the new structure next to Trabucco's. After a couple of years, Larry
Zollars began being a full time stone mason. Mr. Zollars products of labors grace many buildings and other sites around Mariposa. The rock work at the
Methodist Church is an example of his skill. He built a fire place
out of LeGranite for me in l961. Mother, Lois was a teacher at
Mariposa Elementary. All three boys graduated from Mariposa High.
After a tour in the Navy, Waddie worked for Standard Oil in
Yosemite, much like many of us. He met and married his wife, Joan
Reynolds of El Portal and they had three sons.

After a few years working for Standard Oil in Yosemite, Waddie was
offered a station in Placerville which he eventually owned and
operated for many years. Waddie knew how to work hard and at one
time delivered blocks of ice to the local establishments for
Buchholtz's California Market. One would observe Waddie packing the
blocks from the ice house behind the Market, on 6th St, down to the
various customers. At the Drug Store we were able to make ice in our
ice cream freezer and did not need as much ice as did the Gold Coin
or the 49'er or Capitol Café. Once in a while, if our equipment was
defective, we would get ice from the California Market. When I was
in High School, Buchholtz would pay me fifty cents to unload his
supply truck of the large blocks and slide them into the ice house on
a steel slide. The trick was to not get between the blocks as they
made their way down into the building. Waddie was the delivery man
though.

The Zollars family lived on Mariposa Hill north of town on Hwy 49
North. The block building that Larry built is still in use. They were
members of the Methodist Church and participated in the construction
of the "new" building on 6th St. Waddie was a good athlete who
participated in football and baseball. He was an innovative person
with a mind of his own. For example, once, when he and a couple of
his pals, got themselves cross ways with J. L. Spriggs, then
Vice-Principal of Mariposa High, they were directed to hoe the dry grass
on the bank between the upper and lower fields at the school. After
a bit of time of effort, the young gentlemen found that burning off
the grass was the preferred method of removal. I had just stepped
out of the main building when the fire had gotten going and soon all
of the hoeing was completed, without hoes. I gained a new respect
for Waddie and his pals that day but soon learned that to try to
emulate his creative solutions did not work for me. I wound up
painting the baseball backstop a number of coats.

Waddie passed away in Placerville a couple of days ago and I am
sorry not to be able to sit on my front porch and visit with him any
more. I remember him buying my '49 Ford coupe when I was going
overseas and I often asked him if I could buy it back. So life moves
on for all of us. I will miss seeing him and Joan even if was only
once a year or so. He was a good guy, great father and husband, but
in all a product of Mariposa.

Leroy Radanovich

Leroy Radanovich Email:
Leroy Radanovich

To Read More By Leroy Radanovich:
Leroy Radanovich's Mariposa Life Archives

To learn much more about Mariposa County along with
historical photos:
A signed copy of "Images of America" - Mariposa County,
By Leroy Radanovich can be purchased at his web site:
Radanovich Galleria & Books


This is a early day photo of the Mariposa Mine in
Mariposa County that is mentioned in the article to
the left by Mr. Radanovich.

This photo and others can be purchased in various sizes.
All prints are archivally printed on fiber based paper, given a selenium wash which renders the photographs permanent with a warm tone ready for framing
Radanovich Galleria & Books


Mariposa in 1920

This photo and others can be purchased in various sizes.
All prints are archivally printed on fiber based paper, given a selenium wash which renders the photographs permanent with a warm tone ready for framing
Radanovich Galleria & Books



Mariposa County Courthouse written by Leroy Radanovich and
Scott Pinkerton is a book about the oldest courthouse in California that is still in use today.
The book is signed by Leroy Radanovich.
To purchase the book:
Radanovich Galleria & Books


Mariposa in 1860

This photo and others can be purchased in various sizes.
All prints are archivally printed on fiber based paper, given a selenium wash which renders the photographs permanent with a warm tone ready for framing
Radanovich Galleria & Books