Historic Happenings

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Mystery Spot Identified! Congratulations Patrick Barszcz
Patrick Barszcz has once again solved the mystery spot location. The cement marker dated 1914 was placed at Highland Park by Visalia High School Students. A number of you took the “oval” clue and incorrectly guessed Lincoln Oval Park as the location. If you have never seen this tiny oval shaped park, go by and see it and the marker. To get there, take Willis Street to Race, Race to Highland and the park lies between Race and Grove streets. Thanks to all of you who took a stab at it.


Visalia Soldiers Go to the Mexican Border—A Great Photographic Record Has Surfaced
In the midst of the Mexican Revolution, Visalia’s Company D, California National Guard, was sent to the Mexican border. The unit spent about 5 months there, and up until now, very few photos have appeared from their camp down there. My good friend, Laura, recently shared with me a family photo album showing her uncle who was stationed with the Visalia unit on the border. Her large collection of photographs will help us understand what it was like for a Visalia soldier stationed on the Mexican border. Company D was stationed there from June to November, 1916, and the photograph here shows her uncle Marvin with Phil Bear, a small black bear captured in Giant Forest and shipped down to Company D as a mascot.


Cream Rises to the Top
Sandy Newman recently discovered a stock certificate issued for the Visalia Cooperative Creamery. The creamery was organized in 1910 and for years occupied the brick building that is now Arts Visalia across from the Depot Restaurant. The great old building is obviously still standing. The stock certificate is embossed with the corporate seal which is dated April 12, 1910. This is a nice old rare document and Sandy, thanks for preserving this great old piece of Visalia history and sharing it with us.

Local Reporter Dives into the Library Birdbath
J. C. Hickman was a Reporter and eventually became Managing Editor for the Visalia Times Delta in the 1960s and early 1970s. In 1969, when this photograph was taken, he had worked hard to get the inoperable Robin Fountain working again. Here he is seen pretending to drink from the fountain. Thanks J. C. getting the fountain to work and for providing the photograph and interesting history to go with it. By the way, the rededication event date for the Robin Fountain has not been set, but hopefully will be soon.



The Next Mystery Spot—Three Diamonds
Are you up for another Mystery Spot? This time, your task is to identify the building on which these three diamonds are located. They are obviously decoration and here are your clues. Anxious to hear from you. Where is this building?
1) The building once housed an automobile garage and dealership.
2) The brick structure continues to be connected to a service organization that repairs that which is broken.
3) It is located on a street with a strong connection to water.
4) The building was first occupied in 1927.



Assorted:
{{}}The 400 block of E. Main Street has come up again on the radar screen. According to the April 23, 2009 Valley Voice, Craig Mangano said, “It’s a dangerous building, it’s scary, and we don’t see how any of it can be saved. But the City of Visalia will have something to say about that.” I hope the Mangano Co. will consider something other than demolition. We have lost so many of our old buildings. Let’s make history and historic preservation part of the discussion for that historic area of town. (Please scroll down to the November 20, 2008 posting of HH for background on this block.)

{{}} The mysterious post at Main and Liberty continues to get comments. Patrick Barszcz believes, almost without a doubt, that it is an abandoned post office drop box post. Others have said so too. Old paint evidence and other items have convinced him. (Scroll down to the November 20, 2008 HH posting for background information.)



“Drive slowly and see Visalia, drive fast and see the judge.” On a billboard in Visalia in the 1960s.