- What: Ten papers and a photograph from Joe Sharmer’s files, 1942–1952: a wartime ration certificate, his war-bond appointment and citation, a 1943 pay statement, the hospital committee letter, the Planada Dehydrater Co. accounts, his campaign cards, a courthouse dedication and a page from the Merced Rotary history
- Where: Planada and Merced, California
- Shared by: Joseph Sharmer IV, from the family’s papers
Each original is shown beside its transcription. Click any image to enlarge it.
The war years
CERTIFICATE OF REGISTRAR
Certificate of Registrar
This is to Certify that pursuant to the Rationing Orders and Regulations administered by the OFFICE OF PRICE ADMINISTRATION, an agency of the United States Government,
Sharmer, Joseph
Planada, Merced, Calif.
5 ft. 9 in., 165 lbs. Eyes: Bl. Hair: Br. Age: 44 yrs. Male
has been issued the attached War Ration Stamps this [1?] day of Jan, 1942 …
[signed] Christensen, Registrar
Local Board No. 19 C [?], County Merced, State Calif.
Still attached: War Ration Stamps nos. 18, 19, 20 and 22.
LETTER
TREASURY DEPARTMENT
WAR FINANCE COMMITTEE
Office of State Administrator, Monadnock Bldg., San Francisco
August 6, 1943
Mr. Joe Sharmer
Chairman, War Finance Committee
Planada, California
Dear Mr. Sharmer:
On behalf of the Secretary of the Treasury, I hereby officially confirm your appointment as Chairman of the Planada War Finance Committee. You are aware, of course, of the magnitude and importance of the task before us. It will mean that all of us must give unstintingly of our time and energy to this great cause. I am sure that under your leadership your community will establish a record of which you may feel justly proud.
In order that you may lay the ground work for the forthcoming Third War Loan, I am mailing you, under separate cover, a suggested Organization Plan. Other suggestions will follow in bulletin form.
Cordially yours,
Charles R. Page, Chairman
War Finance Committee, Northern California
CITATION
UNITED STATES TREASURY DEPARTMENT
Northern California War Finance Committee
For distinguished service rendered America’s War Finance Program during World War II, this citation is awarded to
Joe Sharmer
December Thirty-first, Nineteen Hundred Forty-five
Merriel E. Cooley, Executive Vice-Chairman
William W. Crocker, Chairman
PAY STATEMENT
Form W-2 · Statement of Income Tax Withheld on Wages · Calendar Year 1943
Employee: Joseph Sharmer, Planada, Calif.
Employer: The Pacific Telephone and Telegraph Company, 140 New Montgomery Street, San Francisco 5, California
Wages paid during the calendar year 1943: $1,126.28
Amount of income tax withheld: $136.80
Married
The Planada Dehydrater Co.
STATEMENT
PLANADA DEHYDRATER CO., Planada, California
Statement of Profit & Loss, Year Ended January 31, 1949
Sales of Fruit and Services: $163,396.43
Cost of fruit acquired: $100,341.33 (inventory 1 February 1948, $75,000.00; purchases, $21,872.13; processed fruit, $3,469.20)
Gross profit from sales: $63,055.10
Expenses, the largest: picking, $20,734.62; salaries, $10,450.00; depreciation, $7,895.98; sorting, $7,232.20; plant operations, $6,371.46; drayage and express, $2,693.81; tractor work, $2,244.75. Among the rest: fertilizing and spraying, pruning, hoeing and suckering, irrigation, dusting, and “camp expense.”
Total expenses: $70,723.75
Total net loss: ($7,668.65)
From the family
“He was General Manager. He was hired there after his rail trips East to take orders for fruits and vegetables proved a great success. But WWII interrupted everything for a few years.”
— Laurel Sharmer
The hospital
LETTER
March 25, 1949
Mr. Charles Buckner, Architect
Salinas, California
Dear Mr. Buckner:
As you are aware, we are trying for funds for the construction of a new hospital and, as such, would like to have you meet with the hospital committee at 2:00, April 4 at the Merced General Hospital, regarding the construction of the seventy-five bed hospital that we are working for.
On that day, we have the meeting of the doctors and hospital committees of the General Hospital and we would like to be in a position to inform the doctors so they can, in turn, inform the medical society that we are working toward plans for the construction of this seventy-five bed unit.
If this date does not meet with your approval, will you kindly let me know at your earliest convenience.
Very truly yours,
Joe Sharmer, Chairman
Hospital Committee
JS/md
Supervisor, District Two
CARDS
1948: JOSEPH SHARMER · Candidate for Supervisor · District No. 2 · Merced County · Primary Election June 1, 1948
In office: JOE SHARMER · Supervisor, District No. 2 · Merced County · P.O. Box 221 [?], Planada, California · Telephone Planada 2772
1952 primary: JOSEPH SHARMER · Candidate for Re-election · Merced County Supervisor · District Two · Primary Election June 3, 1952 · Your Vote Will Be Appreciated
1952 general: Re-Elect JOE SHARMER · Merced County Supervisor · District Two · General Election November 4, 1952 · Your Vote Will Be Appreciated
The 1952 cards were printed by the Merced Express.
INVITATION
THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF MERCED COUNTY
Announce the dedication of the beautiful new
COUNTY COURTS BUILDING
at the Courthouse Square, Merced, California
on
Tuesday, May 29, 1951, at 2:30 p.m.
Dedication Ceremony — 2:30 to 4:00 p.m.
Open House — 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.
Supervisors — Harry P. Schmidt, Chairman; Glenn M. Fountain; Joseph Sharmer; Ernest A. Griffin; J. L. Toscano
Remembered by the Rotary Club
ROTARY HISTORY
*JOSEPH SHARMER II · 26TH PRESIDENT 1947–48
… Married to Ruby Wilson. Worked for National Cash Register in San Francisco for 10 years. Also, worked at a dehydrating plant in Planada. Was a Fig Grower and a Manager for a cannery in Le Grand. Remembered for his fondness for wearing blue striped bib overalls. Had a good sense of humor and told good stories. Also a great mimic who could act out his stories. He was a County Supervisor, Mason and Shriner.
Notes & context
The war finance committee. The Treasury’s war loan drives sold war bonds town by town, each run by a local volunteer committee. Joe’s appointment came as Planada prepared for the Third War Loan, and his citation followed at the end of 1945.
The dehydrater. In Laurel’s words he was General Manager of the Planada Dehydrater Co., hired after his rail trips east taking orders for fruit and vegetables, like the one told in the letters, proved a success. The 1949 accounts show the scale of the business: more than $160,000 in sales, with picking, sorting, pruning, irrigation and even a “camp expense” line.
The hospital. His 1949 letter is the start of the new Merced County General Hospital, “Erected A.D. 1950–1951,” where his name is on the plaque. His son Jay was photographed pointing to it, and in a letter from Seattle Joe writes home from a hospital convention.
The 1952 election. Joe ran for a second term, through the June primary and on to the November general election, and lost; his campaign manager’s letter is You Put Up a Good Fight.
The Rotary Club. Joe was the 26th president of the Merced Rotary Club, 1947–48. The striped bib overalls the club remembered are the ones he wears in the photograph inset on the hospital plaque picture.
More papers. A 1940 bank loan, his 1948 letter to voters, his 1949 W-2, a Shrine circus story and the advertisement for the Planada house are in Joe’s Papers, Part Two.
