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Thanks for visiting Historic Happenings! If you are not on the email list, and would like to be notified via email when a new posting of this newsletter is made, please email Terry Ommen at histerry@comcast.net. I will add you to the list. I will never share your email address with anyone without your permission.   

                                           

Congratulations go out to Peggy Bragg who was the first to get the October mystery spot identified correctly. The "spot" was the plaque location commemorating Visalia's first store built in 1854 by Nathan Baker. The plaque is mounted in the sidewalk in front of the Enchanted Playhouse Theater at Main and Garden streets. Nice work, Peggy.

Here's the next one. This one is very unusual and I believe it's going to be a tough one, but I've paid attention to this site for a long time and I'd like to see if anyone else has. Here are your clues:

1) This wooden pole is permanently mounted in the sidewalk.

2) I've wondered whether it could have been connected in some way to the Visalia Electric Railroad?

3) It has a wooden appendage at the top which was used to hold an "insulator."

4) From the top of this pole one gets a birds eye view of a Tulare County Corrections Department.

Where is this pole? Bonus question: Why is it still standing?

Floods of Visalia – Own Some History

Here is an opportunity for you.  On Monday, December 8 from 7:00-8:30pm, I will present a program on the historic floods of Visalia with lots of interesting historic photographs. The 210 Café (Locust and Center streets) will host the event and the evening will include a live

auction of 11 poster size enlargements of classic Visalia flood pictures. Thanks to the generosity of Costco in Visalia, one or more of these 20" x 30" enlargements could be yours for the winning bid. And by the way, they are suitable for framing. Carl Switzer, a Visalia native, will be the auctioneer and although he is not a professional auctioneer, he is good, really good. All the proceeds from the auction will go to the 210 Café and their outreach effort. Hope to see you there. It should be fun! I will also have a few of my books there as well for sale.

Yancy Stokes Comes to Visalia

Recently Lee Coats, son of George Coats, contacted me and passed along this story. Yancy Stokes, Lee's great great great grandfather, was born in Kentucky in 1814. He lived in what was Tulare County at the time (now Kings County) and when Yancy died in 1885, he was buried in the Tagus Ranch Cemetery. On his grave was an

ornate obelisk shaped headstone. Sometime, probably in the 1940s, the cemetery was abandoned and became ag land. The headstones at the cemetery disappeared. Sometime later a ditch tender found Yancy's discarded and damaged headstone, and gave it to George Coats knowing he was a relative. Lee inherited the headstone and made it his mission to get it repaired and back in a cemetery. Visalia Cemetery was accommodating, so today the obelisk headstone is in the Stokes section of the Visalia Cemetery, of course without the body of Yancy. By the way, before coming to California, Yancy fought in the Black Hawk War in the upper midwest in 1832—the same war that young Abraham Lincoln fought in. Just curious, how does a cemetery just disappear?

The Wells, Fargo Co.  Express—A Long Visalia Tradition

Dustin Smith recently discovered some historic Visalia photographs. In the collection were some interesting old timers. One was the Wells, Fargo & Co. express office here in Visalia believed to have been on the east side of Court Street between Main and Acequia.

Zane Steuben, shown standing in this circa 1890 photograph, was the local agent and several Steuben family members had worked for Wells, Fargo over the years. Notice the wooden boardwalk. The Wells, Fargo envelope shown here originated at the Visalia Wells, Fargo office as you can see. Notice the Visalia cancellation. Thanks, Dustin, for making Wells, Fargo part of Historic Happenings.

Fox Marquee Gets Upgrade—Stays in Character

Thanks to the generosity of Visalia Heritage, Inc. and San Joaquin Valley College, Visalia's Fox Theatre has a new marquee. The old replaced one was not the original, and had been installed years after the building was built. It was somewhat modern looking, and it did not fit the character of

the 1930 building. In my opinion, the upgraded new one looks more like the original and has taken advantage of modern features, for example, LED light bulbs. To me the new one has maintained the character of the old movie house. The amazing talent of volunteer, Rich Manley and the leadership of committee chair, Dana Berry, helped make it possible. So many other people and companies had a generous hand in making this upgrade a reality. My compliments to all who recognized the importance of keeping, the original "feel" of the old theater. To see what I mean, take a look at the marquee in this 1932 picture and compare it to the new one (black background, white letters.)

George W. Stewart and His Delta Office

For many years, the Visalia-Delta newspaper was in the heart of Visalia. This ornate building sat on the eastside of Church between Main and Center streets. Proud of its newspaper's beginning, the top of the building advertises its start as "1859." The upstairs was occupied by Dr. J. J. Gussenhoven, physician and surgeon. George W. Stewart, owner of the newspaper, is the man standing in the doorway fourth from the right. By the way, Stewart is called the Father of Sequoia National Park. Thanks again go to Dustin Smith for reminding us of this important building that was torn down in the late 1960s.

Harvey House – Could it be a Fred Harvey Original?

For over six decades, Visalia was home to the Harvey House. Built about 1904 on the northeast corner off Garden and Main streets, it was a Spanish style, ornately decorated structure. Later it had a name change and it became the Hotel Harvey. It had quite a past, including rumors of ladies of the evening occupying rooms

there. Built over Mill Creek it was vulnerable to high water, and in January 1956, after Mill Creek became plugged, water bubbled up into the interior of building. I have often wondered if this old lodging house could have been one of the famous hotels in the Fred Harvey chain. Fred Harvey hotels tended to be close to the Santa Fe Railroad and our Harvey House was only about two blocks from Visalia's Santa Fe Depot. The architectural style seems to fit the Fred Harvey hotel design. This building was torn down in 1971. Could this have been a Fred Harvey built hotel? Share your thoughts.

***Still looking for more information on David Bice James, a Tulare County man and Visalian who reportedly died in Fallon, Nevada in 1907.

***In the October HH, Debbie Harland asked for information about what she remembered as the Allen Way Market by Highland School. Several of you responded including Jim Drath who wrote, "I used to ride my bicycle past there every day while attending Houston and Green Acres Schools. Allen Way runs between Stevenson, north of Grove, westbound to Turner Street, where it actually ends at the east gate to the Visalia Cemetery. The Allen Way Market was located on the north side of the road between Stevenson and Conyer. It was attached to a residence where the owners lived. When you walked into the store, they would literally walk out of their house into the market and help you. The store was a great place to get a 5 cent Snickers bar for a guy's lunch bag."

***Does anyone remember the Sunset Apartments in the 1400 block of West Main? In 1929 I learned that Dr. Lipson traded property on East Main Street for the apartments. I went by the area, but did not see anything that looked like apartments.

"The pretty school marms have captured the town." Visalia Morning Delta, December 2, 1896.

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Thanks for visiting Historic Happenings! If you are not on the email list, and would like to be notified via email when a new posting of this newsletter is made, please email Terry Ommen at histerry@comcast.net. I will add you to the list. I will never share your email address with anyone without your permission.   

Well, we have a winner! Shirley Kirkpartrick was the first to identify the short segment of railroad tracks still embedded in the pavement located on Oak Street next to the Visalia Times-Delta building. Good observation, Shirley, and fast too.

Okay everyone are you ready for the next one?  If so, where is this plaque embedded in the sidewalk? Here are your clues:

1) The location is on Main Street.

2) It is about 2 blocks from the site of Fort Visalia.

3) It is directly in front of Si Lovern's saloon site.

4) It is directly in front an existing building that was built in 1949.

Where is this Mystery Spot?

The Mysterious Shack 

The other day I was looking through some photographs working on a project  and noticed one image I hadn't looked at in quite a while. As I spent time studying the detail in this circa 1925 photo, I noticed something that I had never seen before. Next to the large brick structure ( almost looks like it is attached on the left) is a small building. It really blends in with its

huge neighbor. The little building says "The Shack - Root Beer and Light Lunches." Has anyone ever heard of The Shack? Of course it's gone now. The site is now part of the parking lot across the street from the downtown post office. This view is looking to the west side of Court St between Main and Acequia. Other signs on the large brick structure say W.O.W. (Woodmen of the World), Wing Bros, The Times (newspaper). Just thought I'd share this great old photo and I was wondering if anyone knows anything about The Shack?

The Former Home of the Times-Delta

Visalia is the oldest existing town in the valley between Los Angeles, nearly all the way to Stockton.  It had the first newspaper in the southern San Joaquin Valley (began in 1859.) Newspapers have played an important part in Visalia's history and the newspaper offices have been in a number of places around town. For over 47 years the Visalia Times-Delta has been at its current location at 330 No West Street. I strongly believe fewer and fewer people remember its previous location. The building shown here was the Visalia Times-Delta office for many years located at 214 W. Acequia—a building that is gone now. In April 1967, the Visalia Times-Delta moved from this location to their current home.

More On Yuet Sue's

As you may recall, Jaime Hitchcock recently asked about Yuet Sue's restaurant on So. Mooney Blvd. (where Denny's is now.) He asked specifically about what happened to the pair of decorative lions that welcomed you or some may say, scared you at the entrance to the restaurant. I had never seen a photo of the

restaurant and I didn't remember the  lions, so I couldn't really picture what the pair looked like. But thanks to many of you,  I was able to contact Gerald Sue, the son of  Yuet and Elsie Sue.  He was able to help solve at least part of the mystery. Thanks to Gerald, we now have at least a partial photograph of this famous Visalia restaurant. In this picture you can even see one of the decorative lions. By the way, Gerald began working at the family restaurant as a young boy while he was attending

Divisadero School. Yuet Sue's building was constructed in 1960 and the general contractor was Red Miner. About 1975 the restaurant closed and the building went through several different restaurant names and owners. Gerald does not know what happened to the lions. Maybe this photo will help figure out where they ended up. The last photo is of Yuet and Elsie Sue. Thanks to all of you who helped to track down Gerald. Thanks also to Jaime for giving us a mystery to at least partially solve. But the lion safari is not over!

David Bice James—A Pretty Amazing Man

Some time back Peter Neeley asked about one-time Tulare County resident David Bice James. He had done some research on this Tulare County and Visalia pioneer, and was curious as to where he died and where he was buried. I did not have the information, but recently I received a contact from Monica, a descendent of James. We exchanged material on him and she was able to tell us that David Bice James died in Fallon, Nevada,

Churchill County, in 1907.  However, Monica did not have his obituary and I would love to get a copy. Anyone have access to the Churchill County Eagle Newspaper for about August 1907?  Peter, thanks for putting the word out. I believe you are responsible for the contact I received from Monica. By the way James was very talented and among many things, he was the inventor of a one-rail railroad and actually demonstrated it in Visalia in 1879 on Main Street. James is identified as the man standing 2^nd from the left in this circa 1896 photograph.

Las Palmas—Probably Visalia's 2^nd Oldest Family Restaurant

Recently, Joseph Vicenti invited me to join him on a visit to Las Palmas Restaurant on E. Main Street. The building that houses this popular restaurant is in a wonderful old historic structure dating back to 1904 or so. Gilbert and Alicia Cortez own the building and restaurant, but the restaurant was started by Gilbert's parents, Louie and Lena. They opened Las Palmas originally in about 1943 on the west side of Garden Street

between Main and Center (now a parking lot.) In the fall of 1967, the Cortez family moved to their present location at 309 E. Main Street. Gilbert and Alicia are hands-on owners and are so proud of their restaurant, and they should be. They have a very loyal customer base. This couple prides themselves on "made from scratch" meals and they are also proud of their very old historic building.  This two-story building housed businesses prior to the Cortez family occupying it. It held the Pioneer Market, Money-Back Harry's, Edelstien's Mens Clothing, Soo's Meat Market, Fairway Meat Market and Lowrey Organ Company. All of those were on the ground floor at one time. The second story was once the St. Elmo House, Pioneer Apts, Cozy Rooms, and a boarding house. Thanks Joseph for arranging our visit to Las Palmas and thanks to Gilbert and Alicia for their gracious hospitality. They are shown here standing in the front of their building. The second photo shows the Garden Street location during the 1955-56 flood. Notice the sign above the entrance.

***Debbie Harland has a question. She was raised in Visalia and recently was "cruising the internet looking for reference to a corner market that was in Visalia when I was growing up called Allen Way Market. I remember it as being very small and plunked in the middle of a residential neighborhood over by Highland School. My friend there tells me it was near the Four Square Church. Any idea, or am I imagining things," she asks? Can anyone help Debbie?

***Barbara Tootle O'Dell is looking for information about her father's side (the Tootle side) of her family. Anyone with information on the Tootle family in Visalia, she would love to hear about it. By the way, her mom's mother, Celia Thompson owned Celia's Café near where the Red Carpet Car Wash is today. Anyone remember Celia's or members of the Tootle family?

***If you'd like to know more about the old "Good Templars Hall" on Court Street across from the old courthouse, pick up a copy of the September 2014 Lifestyle Magazine. There is an article with photos on the old time building starting on page 14. You can also read online by going to:   http://issuu.com/lifestylemagazine/docs/lifestyle_sept_web_8d6434373064cd

***Jo Audino remembers a Sportsman's Club banquet on Main Street maybe in June of each year. She also remembers a car show that may have had a bbq, and wonders if there was a connection. Or were the Main St food events separate? But she is specifically asking about the Sportsman's Club banquet. Anyone have any memories of that?

***Okay, I have more information on the old farm homestead at Caldwell and Linwood. The barn and tank house are still standing on the site. The site is being developed as the new home for a  Montessori school. For many years it was the ranch of Charles and Lucene Raibley. John Raibley believes they moved there in 1917. Go by and take a look. These relics of the past, namely the barns and tank houses, are disappearing very quickly in Tulare County. Thanks to all of you who led me to John Raibley for more information about this property.

 

Another much-needed permanent improvement which Visalia must make as soon as possible—if this city is to keep pace with other towns of the county and valley in attracting outsiders and tourists—is the main approaches to Visalia, those streets leading into the city from the east and north in particular. Approaches such as that on West Main Street for the principal roads into Visalia would be a wonderful betterment to this city; and it is hoped that the city board will find itself in a position to make these notable improvements soon. Visalia Daily Times, May 10, 1919

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Thanks for visiting Historic Happenings! If you are not on the email list, and would like to be notified via email when a new posting of this newsletter is made, please email Terry Ommen at histerry@comcast.net. I will add you to the list. I will never share your email address with anyone without your permission.   

Congratulations go to Peggy Bragg for correctly identifying the last mystery spot. She was the first identify the old Safeway Supermarket building on Center Street at Willis. The building now houses Smart and Final. Nice work Peggy!

Now for the next one.  This is an unusual mystery spot as it is not a building but rather remnants of a railroad spur left embedded in the street. Where is this track remnant? Here are your clues:

1) These tracks are on a street running east and west.

2) According to Spiro Agnew, a type of business near these provided lining for the bottom of birdcages.

3) I believe this spur line was once used to deliver products.

4) The cross street adjacent to these tracks was the west boundary of the earliest city boundaries.

Good luck!

Wreck of the Visalia-Tulare Railroad

Patricia Geiger recently asked about the train wreck involving the Visalia & Tulare Railroad. It is an interesting story and deserves a mention here. In 1888 a little commuter train was kicked off between the towns of Visalia and Tulare. The little line travelled  between Visalia and Tulare and back again. It struggled to stay alive financially, but its survival was not in the cards. On May 5, 1900 with 35 passengers onboard it left Visalia for Tulare. Cruising at about 20 mph near what is now Caldwell and Mooney, Engineer Inness was loading wood in the engine firebox and didn't see a cow,

some say calf, that wandered onto the tracks. Inness applied the brakes but not in time. He hit the animal and it wrecked the little train. The cow was killed and the accident was also fatal for the railroad. Shortly after the incident, the remaining rolling stock, rails, ties and other equipment was sold to a lumber company in Seattle. That ended the Visalia & Tulare Railroad.

More 1955 Flood Pictures Float to the Surface

Karyn Crowe Ruiz recently shared some photographs she found in her parent's house. Her parents, Dan and Nancy Crowe, both deceased, lived in Visalia and Karyn was cleaning out the house when she found some 1955 flood photos. These two show some

interesting birds eye views of Visalia during the infamous flood. Notice the Christmas decorations and all the business signs on both of these pictures. The marquee at the Fox advertises Martin & Lewis in "Artists and Models" and the marquee also mentions Walt Disney's "Music Land" in Technicolor. The other photograph shows a view northbound on Locust from about Main Street. Notice Chan Bros. Market, Purity Store, Main Drug and the old Jordan Building ( Charley’s Shoes ). All these buildings still stand today.

Yuet Sue's—A Hunt for a Photograph

Jaime Hitchcock is looking for a photograph of Yuet Sue's restaurant. It was was once located at 2332 So. Mooney Blvd. (where Denny's Restaurant is now.) He remembers the entrance to the restaurant which had two decorative lions in front, one on each side of the entrance. Sometime while the restaurant was still operating, the lions disappeared. Were they stolen, salvaged, or destroyed? No one seems to know. We are on the hunt for a picture of  Yuet Sue's so we can see the lions. Anyone have a photo or information  about the lions? By the way, this is a souvenir ashtray from the restaurant.

J. Thomas Crowe—Well-known Visalia Attorney

Karyn Crowe Ruiz also found in her parent's belongings some photographs of  her grandfather, J. Thomas Crowe. Tom Crowe , as he was called, was a prominent attorney as well as a well-respected community leader. In 1970 Tom became the only attorney from the San Joaquin Valley to ever serve as President of the California State Bar. He was a lifelong Boy Scout advocate and

in 1980 he was given the 1^st  Distinguished Citizen award from the Mt. Whitney area council for the Boy Scouts. In 1936 he married Wanda Walston of Visalia, and three children resulted from that marriage—Marilyn, John and Dan. Tom Crowe was named Grand Marshall of the Rodeo Parade in 1970 and is shown here with his wife Wanda.

Acequia— Wow Have We Slaughtered the Pronunciation!

Recently, I was listening to a historical podcast and the narrator was talking about water and irrigation on the land that is now in New Mexico. He kept referring to a small irrigation channel that he pronouncedd "a say kia". I was intrigued by the word and finally realized he was using the correct Spanish pronunciation for the word we are all familiar with: Acequia as in Acequia Avenue. I understand California is full of Spanish names like Sierra Nevada, Los Angeles, Santa Clara, and so on, and frequently, the Anglo pronunciation is a little different from the Spanish. The Anglo pronunciation of Acequia isn't anything like the Spanish pronunciation. If you'd like to hear the exact pronunciation of the word, go to: www.spanish.dictionary.com  In the search bar at the top, type the word acequia and click search. Midway down in bold is the word acequia with a little speaker next to it. Click on the speaker and hear the correct pronunciation of acequia. I think you will be surprised.

***Dana Lubich checked with Central Valley Community Bank, the successor to Visalia Community Bank, and asked if the yearly historical calendar was going to continue. He was told it would not. Too bad as this calendar had a good run. Maybe some other business will pick up the historical calendar idea.

***Barb Armo asked about cotton crops around Visalia. She remembers a lot of them in the earlier years, and remembers a group of women who called themselves Cotton Wives. What happened to the local cotton crops and what happened to Cotton Wives? Anyone know?

***Recently, Jas David Lacey noticed the old barn and tank house at the corner of Caldwell & Linwood. These old structures had been hidden for so many years and because of some clearing of land, they are now exposed. Does anyone know anything about the old farmhouse history or the property history? It is on the northeast corner of Linwood and Caldwell. Drive by and take a look.

***If you'd like to know more about the historic Armory Hall here in Visalia, pick up a copy of the August 2014 Lifestyle Magazine and on page 50 you can read about the interesting old building, or you can read it online at:  http://issuu.com/lifestylemagazine/docs/lifestyle_aug_web_cd9dc5805c2ee7

***There is a skateboard museum in Morro Bay and when Paul Spencer visited it, he heard through the owner that the skateboard park that used to be at Mooney's Grove "was the very first skateboard park built in the United States." Does anyone know anything about this distinction?

 

     

His head swelled, his voice is harsh,

When he awakes at morn.

Because each night he loves to drink

The well-aged juice of corn.

The Visalia Daily Morning Delta, January 2, 1900  Note: Published  right after a big New Year's bash, I'm sure!