The first "District office,'' established in the City of Sacramento, comprised a few hundred square feet in the Clunie Hotel located at 8th and K Streets. That was more than half a century ago. This small sub-office of the San Francisco District was home to the survey parties, snag boat crews and other "River Rats" who made the early attempts to improve navigation on the Sacramento River.

After utilizing space in the Clunie Hotel for about a decade, the "District Office'' was moved across the street to the Nicolaus Building around 1924. By this time Owen Stanley had made many contributions to navigation and flood control in the Central Valley, and Henry Rich was celebrating his 14th year with the Corps of Engineers.

The relatively few offices housed in the Fruit Building served as headquarters from 1929 through the first half of the Great Depression. The larger staff needed to prepare the flood control studies, plan the debris dams and complete the expanded work load of the Depression years, required additional working space. So, in 1935, the District Office was moved to the Old Post Office building at 9th and I Streets. During the latter part of the thirties, the District continued to grow, primarily because of the added work force needed to complete the famous "308" studies.

The responsibilities of war-time construction meant yet another move for District personnel. New office space was secured in the Wright Building in December, 1941. The Sacramento District was headquartered there until its most recent move, in 1961, to the Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse located at 650 Capitol Mall. In addition to those buildings that have been "home" to the District Office, many other buildings have accommodated various divisions and branches of the main office. The Sacramento Signal Depot, the McClatchy Building, the Brinley Building, the Scampini Building, Bryte Yard and various other sites throughout the Sacramento area have been utilized to house elements of the District.

Many seasoned veterans recall the days when small groups of men would go down the back stairs of the Wright Building, through the back door of "Frank Fat's," past the pots and pans in the kitchen, and settle down over a "mild libation" to hammer out, informally, that which didn't lend itself to polite discussion.

Not only the times and places, but the men and women directing the District in years past, have set the mood, established the climate and defined the procedures of a given era. Prior to the official establishment of the District in 1929, men like Owen Stanley, and Division Engineers in San Francisco such as Jackson and Grant set the pace and directed the activities of the Corps of Engineers in the Central Valley. Since that time however, the Sacramento District has been directed by a wide variety of competent, local personalities: Henry Rich, a diamond in the rough, could always be counted upon when the going got tough; Henderson McGee, known as the professor, who somehow managed, in a calm and quiet way, to bring order to a chaotic situation; Amalio Gomez, O. Haven Hart and Frank Kochis, professional engineers who could cut through the bureaucratic clutter and got the job done.

During the war years, Colonel R.C. Hunter was known as a man who could accomplish any mission, "no matter what". On the other hand he is remembered as being an extremely fair man, well liked by the civilian employees. Colonel Lester F. Rhodes is remembered as being an excellent bridge player. He was followed by Colonel Joseph Gorlinski, often called the "Count" because of his truly aristocractic manners. Colonel Alvin D. Wilder, it may be recalled, was a natural poet and song writer, who gave the District the beautiful ballad entitled "Frankie, Frankie Kochis, King of the Two Top Floors". (Sung to the tune of Davy Crockett.)

Many District employees remembered Colonel Robert Mathe as being a loud singer and a terrible guitar player, with the ability to make friends easily. Colonel Crawford Young is said to have been a born fighter, a good man to have on your team. It was felt that he acquired his excellent characteristics while playing football at West Point. He was a blocking back, which allowed his teammates to score. He is also remembered as a pretty fair golfer.

The Sacramento District has been extremely fortunate in having been served by exemplary leaderships, both military and civilian. But it must be remembered that the District functions and accomplishes its missions through cooperation and teamwork. The excellent reputation gained and held by the Sacramento District is the result of many people in small elements of the organizational structure who put their total effort into their work. It is a team enterprise from start to finish.