New author Mary Zuniga-Savage and her grandson, Alfonzo Martin, were at the Downtown Dixon Business Association's Train Days promoting Dixon's newest book, “The Railroad Advanced Dixon's Township.”

DIXON, CA (MPG) - Mary Zuniga-Savage lost more than sleep over the past couple years dealing with the grief of losing her dear friend, Shirley Humphrey. She finally made her way through it and finished what she and Humphrey started several years ago: a book about the history of Dixon.

“We started the project together and I couldn’t even think when she was gone,” Zuniga-Savage said. “I had a hard time. Because she worked on it with me, it just sat for a long time…but I knew I had to finish it.”

“The Railroad Advanced Dixon’s Township” is not a small book. There are 28 chapters and more than 600 pages that include an index, glossary, a four-page bibliography and many photos.

“If you’re a Dixonite, it’s all about us,” said Andrea Brown. “There are things about Dixon that I never knew and this is the story from Silveyville to Dickson and it was really fun and really sweet. These ladies did a great job. There are local stories about all the people you know and love. Shirley is looking down on us and she’s proud. It’s a quick read because you’re interested in it and it’s a larger print.”

Zuniga-Savage dedicated the book to Humphrey, who was “very active in the community and was an advocate as a civic leader…she will not be forgotten. She made her forever footprint.”

Zuniga-Savage and Humphrey became friends many years ago through the Dixon Historical Society when Zuniga-Savage wanted to learn more about the history of Dixon, where she had recently moved. Humphrey had lived in Dixon since the 1950s and graduated from Dixon High School in 1961.

According to her obituary, Humphrey worked for the University of California at Davis for 42 years, first as a secretary in the Department of Entomology, then as a University of California Agriculture and Natural Resource Small Farm Program representative and later as a regional administrative analyst. Humphrey enjoyed her work and excelled at writing agricultural publications, reports and guides. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in applied behavioral sciences from UC Davis in her 40s while working full time and raising her family. Humphrey retired in 2004.

Once retired, Humphrey changed her focus to "community activist" and "journalist." She and Zuniga-Savage served together on many tasks, including the opening of the Dixon Historical Society.

It was a shock to many when Humphrey suddenly died in fall 2021. She was still writing political commentaries and history features for the Dixon Independent Voice at the time.

Zuniga-Savage and Humphrey started the book a couple years before that beginning research with the Native community, then Spaniards, then Mexico, then the Gold Rush.

“Then immigrants start coming, then farmers, then it goes into when the train comes and it ends with a lot of the stories from Dixonites who tell their stories,” Zuniga-Savage said.

The chapters also have stories about the potential racetrack and the possible movie studio.

“I tried to keep it short but couldn’t and there will be more books but this is the big one,” Zuniga-Savage said. “I didn’t have a schedule and I was getting tired but when I sent it to Amazon, we edited it together.”

Pictured here is the cover of the book, “The Railroad Advanced Dixon's Township.”

 

Zuniga-Savage was happy that she went through Amazon as she said they “greatly assisted” her in the process.

“My main goal was for people to come and learn about Dixon. People were shy (about writing) and didn’t want to write but Shirley was very good at that and (her husband) Jim Humphrey wrote too,” Zuniga-Savage said. “There are several other writers, including the late Maggie Kittyle, who wrote about the Bracero period.”

Finally, the book arrived. Zuniga-Savage and her grandson sat at a table during the Downtown Dixon Business Association’s Train Days and sold them.

“I felt elated because it was done and because it took so long. It was a learning thing. I had to do a lot of research and write a bibliography,” Zuniga-Savage said. “My children are very proud of me and I’m proud of the people who gave their time and gave their interviews. I thought they were very special people.”

The book, “The Railroad Advanced Dixon’s Township,” is currently available in paperback for $55 on Amazon.