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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.

This one was tough, but not for Roy Dressel. He was the first to correctly identify the interesting arched double door behind the old Albert's Studio (now behind Marcela's on Main Street.) Roy worked at Albert's for 6 years and recognized the double doors immediately. Congratulations, Roy. There has  got to be a good story regarding this brick building with the great old wooden doors.

Now for the new mystery spot. What building has this interesting eye-bolt and tension rod? Here are your

clues

            1. The building originally cost $225,000 to build.

            2. It was once part of a famous business chain.

            3. The building was finished the same year Edna Ferber's Cimarron become a bestseller.  

            4. The building has frontage on a street whose name means Holly Oak.

What building is this?  Good luck.

Visalia High Buses

Now this is a rare beauty! Lynn Davidian shared this great picture from her father's photograph collection. Charles Davidian is her father and he lived in rural Visalia. He took the bus into town with other country kids to attend Visalia High School. Charles who was 16 years old when this was taken in 1921, can be seen in front of the second bus from the left. You'll see a little blue pencil arrow pointing at him beneath his feet. The photo was taken in front of Visalia High School (now Redwood.) As an adult Charles became a fruit inspector for the railroad. He eventually settled in Alameda, California. Lynn remembers his stories about the perilous bus trips on bad roads especially during heavy rain. Lynn, thanks for sharing this wonderful old photograph.

A Rare Old Visalia Bottle

A friend of Pete Cowper sent him this image of a beautiful Visalia Soda Works bottle. I have only seen this bottle in pictures, never in person. Many newer Visalia Soda Works bottles can be found, but not this old one. This is rare! Sure would be nice to learn some of the history of this company. Anyone have this bottle? Anyone know anything about this company? Thanks Pete.

Song Leaders – Visalia High - 1953

Barbara Hinds Joseph shared this great photograph. It shows the 1953 Visalia High School song leaders. She said that the girls did not have fancy uniforms but instead made their "jumpers" from maroon corduroy material. The group members are identified as:  top row L-R: Carol Powell, Harlean Mathewson, Judy Williams and Gladwyn Fryer; bottom row L-R: Nada Henderson, Marilyn Winters, Joanne Kelly, Barbara Hinds. Thanks Barbara for sharing this one.

Looking for a Connection

Rosemary Dority, now Rosi Isbell Hendrickson, lives in Washington State but grew up in Visalia. She is anxious to get in contact with other former Visalians that now live in Washington. She has asked me to share her email and she wants to hear from all you expats. Rosi’s email is the pianobench@whidbey.com

Wilson's Ramblers – An Early Motorcycle Club

This is not a newly discovered photograph but it is a great one anyway. It has been circulated some, but it needs another exposure. It is, of course, a photo of the 1938 Wilson's Rambler Motorcycle Club. Members are wearing their fancy duds and Chief of Police Jim Fluty is in uniform on the right and on the far right is Visalia Mayor J. Pierce Gannon. I believe this photo was taken in front of the building that still stands at 115 N. West Street—one of the sites of Wilson's Cyclery. I do have identification on most of the members here, so if that is important to you please contact me and I'd be happy to share that. 

***For those interested in the story of the Harrell Building (southeast corner of Court and Main) check it out online in the June, 2013 issue of Lifestyle Magazine The story begins on page 40. To read it click here: http://issuu.com/lifestylemagazine/docs/lifestyle_june_web

***Our area was called Four Creeks Country before European settlement. Stan Bennett asked for the names of the creeks that made up Four Creeks County. Well, the answer is, it depends on who you ask. The 4 creeks could be: Outside, Deep, Cameron, Packwood, Dry, St. Johns, Elbow or Mill. Take your pick. Jury is still out on this one. Sorry I can't be more precise, Stan.

***Tamara asked about the cute group of little houses at 704-708 W. Main Street called Grey Gables Court. All that I know is what I read in the Visalia Heritage book. They were built around 1923 by Otie Stevenson. Anyone know more?

***One more thing. You may have noticed a new look for Historic Happenings. My daughter Lyndsay made this beautiful change and she made it just in time for the 5 year anniversary of HH. Yep, this blog has been around that long and I thank all of you for staying with it. And Lyn, thanks for helping your dad keep up with the times. Your help and patience is always appreciated.

Town Organization—At last, after running the machine five or six years without a legal head, we have one. We are now a town defacto as well as dejure. We are glad of this arrangement for many reasons, but principally that we'll have food for editorial ammunition. City fathers are always legitimate targets to practice upon in the absence of better sport.  Visalia Delta, May 26, 1864

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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 Joseph Vicenti for being the first to correctly identify the last mystery spots as one of the cute little cottages known as Grey Gables Court at 704 W. Main Street. Nice work, Joseph and quick too!

Now for the new mystery spot.  I am now moving to an alley location to test your knowledge of the interesting backs of our buildings. 

Here are the clues on this building:

            1. The brick arch with large double door is an unusual feature of this building, and may be the only   one of its kind in Visalia.

            2. This  building is across the street from the old Mt. Whitney Power Co. building that still stands.

            3. It  currently houses home furnishings.       

            4. At one time the building was a very close neighbor to Luke Bianco's grocery store.

Where is this building? Good luck.

The Man Behind the Flowers

In the last issue of HH, I highlighted the Peter Perkins Flower shop that first opened in Visalia in 1914. I received a couple leads on more information about the man whose name is still associated with the business. (Well close, at least. Now it is spelled Perkens with an "e" not an "i".) Charles Loffland shared this newspaper photo and the obituary on this interesting man. According to a notation on the clipping, Peter died February 15, 1958 at the age of 64. Thanks Charles for your help on this.

Visalia Vapor Trailers—A Plaque that Continues to Make Visalia Famous

In the last two postings of HH, I have talked some about the Visalia Vapor Trailers, a hotrod club that was started in 1949. I asked if anyone had a club plaque. I heard from Tom Runyon, current president of the club and he showed me his sand-cast aluminum plaque.  Thank you Tom for sharing that. If you see one of these in a back window or on a bumper of a car, you know you are looking at a VVT member.

Valley Voice—It's Coming Back!

Remember this shocker? December 22, 2011 was the last published issue of the Valley Voice. For over 30 years, the Voice offered Visalia and the broader Tulare County area another news source, then on December 22, 2011, it suddenly stopped. Well, on Thursday, June 6^th the Valley Voice will return. Yes, Catherine Doe and her husband Joseph have taken it over and the first issue promises to be a good one. The Valley Voice office is in the Montgomery Square building on Main Street. There will be various rack locations for the paper throughout Visalia and hopefully beyond.  Best of luck Catherine and Joseph. The return issue is sure to be a keepsake, so make sure you get yours!

Taylors — Another Visalia Landmark

Taylor's Hot Dog Stand is a Visalia favorite and has a following even beyond local patrons. Established in Visalia in 1952 by Pauline "Ma" and Jimmy Taylor, and Jimmy's brother Kelly, the local landmark eatery moved from its original site next door to the O'Dell-Mor Apartments building to its new site across the street in 1984 (where it is now.) The Taylor’s Grandson Matt runs it now. Russ Dahler shot this pre-1984 photograph of the old building in all its glorious color. Thanks Russ.

Matt Kneeland Shares Family Photographs

Recently Matt Kneeland shared some pictures from his family’s album. Included here is a sample of the pictures. The first is a view southbound on Mooney Blvd.  at Freeway 198. Looks like freeway construction and

widening of Mooney Blvd. Note the drive-in on the left in the foreground—that is the building that we call Mearles. On the right is the COS campus. On the far right you can see part of the Motel Harlan sign. This photo appears  to have been taken around 1950. The second picture is of the Girls Athletic Association taken on the Mt. Whitney Campus in 1954. Nice letter sweaters! Thanks Matt for the great pictures. By the way, Matt believes most of the collection was taken by his grandfather, Dale Wooten.

***I just wrote a story for Lifestyle Magazine about Visalia's old Sweet building, the Link Brothers and some ghost sightings. Yes, I said ghosts! Check it out at    http://issuu.com/lifestylemagazine/docs/lifestyle_may_web. The article with photographs starts on page 20.

***The mystery of the old Visalia theater sign is still waiting to be solved, however, George Pilling who was one of the construction workers turning it into the Enchanted Playhouse, said that they did not replace the sign that was on the building during that transformation.

***The hanging tree mystery is also still waiting to be solved.

***Recently I received an inquiry from Kathi Hipwell Hash. She is trying to find 2 family related pictures—one of Hash's market (on Giddings across from the Rawhide ballpark) and the second is Hipwell's Grocery. She believes Hipwell's was on Bridge Street. Can anyone help with these two photographs? We talked about Hash's some time back, but no photographs were found. Let me know.

***In the last HH I showed a photograph of a youngster’s band. Several of you, including Art Browning, Jim Drath and Rita Loffland Cooley identified the director of the band as a man named McCord. Thanks for that.

***I received a delightful email from Kay (Kathryn Kottmeier) Fleming and she shared some wonderful memories including a mention of a Visalia hangout called the "BBQ" located on Main at Willis, I believe. She had great memories of this drive-in. Anyone have any pictures? Thanks Kay for staying in touch.

A Visalia traveler related this to a newspaperman, "A number of immigrant families from Arkansas have lately settled near Visalia. They are the bone and sinew which one day will make this valley the garden spot of the lower country. Several families from Los Angeles are also among the settlers upon the banks of the Four Creeks. Game is very abundant, and easily obtained. Grizzly bears make frequent visits to the tule swamps, where they are easily trapped." Sacramento Daily Union, November 20, 1856

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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.

Nice work Jaime! Jaime Hitchcock was the first person to correctly identify the mystery spot as the old Boy Scout building now housing Ameriprise at 221 No. Encina (Oak and Encina.) The glass blocks were the obvious giveaway and are clearly a unique feature of this building. The majority of you that correctly identified it remembered the building as the Visalia Boy Scout office of some years ago.

Now for the next mystery spot. Here are your clues:

            1. This building seems out of place in the downtown area.

            2. It dates back to about 1923.

            3. There are more than one of these in Visalia.

            4. It is located near the street that was named for the family of the builder.

Where is this building? Good luck.

I received this information from Bill Adair. Roeben Road or Street as it is called now is named for William "Bill" Roeben. He was born in Germany and settled in Texas. He married Antonia Vogelsang and the couple moved to Visalia in 1903 and farmed west of town.

Visalia Theater Sign in Pizza Parlor

Patrick Barszcz recently sent me this picture. He saw it on display at the Planing Mill Pizza Shop at 514 E. Main Street and apparently the sign came from the old Visalia Theater which opened in 1949. Is this the old original theater sign? Maybe a replica was put up when the Enchanted

Playhouse took over? Anyone know the story of the sign switch?

Visalia Recreation Band Photograph Appears

Recently I was presented with this photograph. As you can see printed above the band members is Visalia Recreation Band. The band members and band director are unnamed. Surely this circa 1955 photograph has recognizable people. Can anyone help?

No Wilting of Peter Perkins' Flowers

Several of you recently mentioned to me Peter Perkins Flower Shop. First of all Peter Perkins was an actual man. He opened his flower shop at 116 No. Court Street on October 17, 1914. The business is still operating in Visalia, although it has changed locations several times over the years and has a different owner. Next year Peter Perkins flowers will celebrate its 100th year in business. Quite an accomplishment! The first photo shows a Peter Perkins advertising display at the 1920 Visalia Fair. The second one shows the flower shop when it was located at Floral and Willow streets. I would love to hear some Peter Perkins Flower stories. Anyone know anything about Peter Perkins himself?

Interesting Old Court Street Photograph

Recently I received a photograph, circa 1900, that shows Court Street with a view looking south near Oak. On the immediate right you can see the Templar's Hall building (balcony posts) with the Palace Hotel annex on the left in the foreground. Next to it is the actual Palace Hotel. The Harrell Building can be seen behind the Palace Hotel. On the right is the City Stable and the Visalia Times newspaper office. The man in the foreground looking back is unidentified. This photographic view is pretty rare. The second image is a current view from the same vantage point.

***I recently wrote a story about downtown Visalia which included Ken Schelling, an important personality in downtown history. Ken's insight into downtown is remarkable and very interesting. You can read the article in the April 2013 Lifestyle Magazine. It's a beautiful magazine and can also be found online  at  http://issuu.com/lifestylemagazine/docs/ls1304  The article is on page 40.

*** Regarding Robbin's Music store. Many of you remembered Robbins but remembered it at 300 So. Locust Street. Apparently it started on Main and later moved to Locust.

***I received this inquiry recently from a person who shared the following: "My family settled in the Visalia/Hanford area in the 1920s. My grandfather James Sweeney is in the biographical history. My grandfather Dilbeck worked in the Dodge garage on Main. I am trying to find the early Swedish owned bakery in Visalia It was owned and run by a Swedish family but I can't find early history including businesses. Bothof's website doesn't include history so not sure if that would be it." Can anyone help this person?

***Chad Holman also had an inquiry and asked about a so-called Visalia "hanging tree." According to the story he heard, the tree was used to "lynch" African Americans when Visalia had an active Ku Klux Klan. Anyone have any information about this hanging tree?

***J. C. Hickman, retired reporter and editor of the Visalia Times Delta inquired about the brass or bronze plaque that had been on the L. J. Williams Theater identifying the building as the original Montgomery Auditorium. I mentioned to him that I had seen the plaque several years ago, but he asked me to check to see if it was still there. I did, and found that the L. J. Williams Theater no longer had the plaque. I asked a school employee about it and they said it had been stolen several years ago, apparently a victim of metal thievery.

***In the last HH I mentioned the Visalia Vapor Trailers and indicated I heard that a history was being written about the organization. Anyone have a good "sand cast" aluminum window plaque? I'd love to share it with the rest of the HH readers. I am certain some still exists.

***Joseph Vicenti asked if anyone knew where the huge old Hyde Ranch Dairy milk bottle went after the dairy disappeared. The bottle weighed just over 1 ton!

***Visalia Heritage, Inc. wants everyone to visit their new blogsite and sign up for periodic postings. It sure looks nice. Check it out at www.visaliaheritage.blogspot.com

***I'm glad several of you were able to identify relatives in the old track photo that was in last HH. Always fun to see recognizable faces in old photographs.

“The plan of giving nickel dances will be followed at the Steuben hall hereafter on Saturday nights. That each dance will cost the gentlemen a 5-cent piece, and he can dance but once or as often as he pleases, provided he has a sufficient number of 'five centses.' This plan has been followed with much success elsewhere.” Visalia Morning Delta, April 7, 1909

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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 to Steve Gerrard for his quick and accurate identification of the latest mystery spot. The mystery spot of course is the beautiful law office of Russ Hurley and Phil Laird. The old restored building and beautiful property at School and Floral streets once belonged to Dr. Combs and his wife Maude. Good work Steve, and again, congratulations.

Now for the new one. Here are the clues:

1.      This is not an ancient building

2.      At one time it housed a business machine store

3.      The building appears to have been built in the late 1940s

4.      This building is close to another building that is used frequently by those seeking information. As you can see, this novel building has glass blocks as part of its construction.

Where is this building? Good luck.

Visalia’s Mexican Concert Band

I recently received a great old photograph that belonged to Pat Finger, now deceased. Her daughter, Kathleen, found it with her mom’s things. The band members shown here are posing on the Tulare County Courthouse steps here in Visalia and are identified on the back. The leader of the band was Celso L. Rojas. Louis Salazar and Rojas would occasionally tour as solo musicians leaving the band in Visalia under the

control of Pedro Grajeda as the band leader. This photograph has conflicting dates of 1918 and 1912, but regardless, it’s an old timer. I do know the band existed as early as 1908. Thanks, Kathleen, for finding this great old photograph. So few pictures exist of Visalia’s Hispanic pioneers. Recognize anyone? Let me know if you do.

Remembering the Titantic—101 Years Ago

Even though the sinking of the Titanic had no connection to Visalia, the catastrophic incident was widely reported in the local newspaper. Dana Lubich reminded me that this month, April, 2013 is the 101^st anniversary of the sinking and the loss of so many lives. Thanks, Dana, for not letting us forget this tragic event in history.

The Giant Milk Bottle – Hyde Ranch Dairy

Steve Blackwood recently shared a memory of the Hyde Ranch Dairy located near what is now the K-Mart Shopping Center. The ranch was known for the large 21’6” milk bottle (used as a water tank) mounted on a high tower. The bottle weighed slightly over 1 ton. The tower was 40’ high and the bottle was placed on it in about 1926. Steve reflected back to his youth and said, “Hyde Dairy was across the street from my house on Linda Vista. Spent many an afternoon walking through the alfalfa fields to unload trucks there. We used to climb the derrick to the big milk bottle they used as a water tower.” Steve, glad you survived the climbs. This photograph shows how the bottle was raised to the tower.

Bartell Todd Gave Visalia Gas

Another great old picture made it to me recently. Remember the Bartell Todd Texaco service station and garage (309 W. Main Street) across from the Fox Theatre? Bartell Todd bought the Featherstone Service Station in 1922 and turned it into a very well-known and popular spot. This 1929 photograph shows employees, some in uniform. The building on the far left with the “Nash” sign on it, still stands with Café 225 occupying part of it. The only person identified is Joe Angelastro, fifth from the left. Visalia’s downtown had many gas stations in its early days and now almost all are gone. The Bartell Todd building was replaced by Visalia’s new Sears building in about 1950. Thanks Sharon, for preserving this great old photograph and sharing it with us.

The 1945 Visalia Union High School Track Team

Recently, Harold Lee Edwards shared this beautiful old photograph showing the Visalia Union High School track team with the athletes identified. It is dated May 1945 and the picture was taken inside the “bowl” at the east end. I recognize so many names including Sam Sciacca, Bob Bricker, and others. If you see people you recognize,  please let me know and for sure let them know. Also let me know if you

are in here.  Anyone still have this “V” shirt complete with wings? Great looking track shirt. Please let me know if you have one.

Robbins Meant Music to Visalia

Moneka Simmons recently shared some of her Visalia memories. She mentioned one business that is not often mentioned…the Robbins Music Store. It was on Main Street next to the Bank of America building. It was started by Mr. and Mrs. J. E. Robbins in 1920. Over its long life it offered pianos, organs, phonographs, televisions, radios and appliances and sheet music for sale. Moneka recalls when it carried records as well. She said, “We loved that place back when I was a kid. We could go into the store and choose a 45-rpm record that we wanted to hear, then we could go into a glass booth and play it to decide if we wanted to buy it or not.” The photo shown here is the store at the time of the 1945 flood. Anyone know when Robbins’ closed?

***It was silenced and now we’re getting our voice back! Yes, the Valley Voice newspaper is starting up again with its first issue scheduled to be published in June. It is going to be published bi-monthly and be pretty much like the old VV. An interview with U. S. Congressman Devin Nunes will be featured in the first new issue. News and story ideas are welcome and encouraged and can be sent to Catherine or Joseph at news@ourvalleyvoice.com. Best of luck!

***Moneka Simmons shared another memory of Visalia. Not sure when this was, but it sure sounded like a dangerous Halloween. She said, “It was all out war on Main Street. Dirt clods, rotten eggs, tomatoes, you name it – a solid barrage of stuff being thrown at people walking and also cars cruising up and down Main. It was awesome until the ‘city fathers’ again got tired of cleaning up the mess up and down the street the next morning. I have heard that people came from San Francisco and other places to see it.” Wow!

 ***For a long time I have heard from many of you mentioning an organization called the Visalia Vapor Trailers. That hotrod organization dates back decades and many people were part of the group. Many still do belong. I also heard that a member of the group is writing the history of the organization and I am looking forward to reading it. Hope it comes out soon.

***Michelle Lang is an independent film producer who has announced a new film called “Lost on Purpose.” The story is based in and around Visalia  and here is an interesting and  short description of the film with the actors and the producer. http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/273375852/lost-on-purpose      Good luck to you Michelle and everyone involved.

“Forty-one persons, mostly Chinese, were arrested in gambling raids last night by the Visalia Police Department. Establishments at 405, 409, 410 and 414 East Center street were raided. All persons taken into custody were taken before Police Judge Gareth W. Houk and paid fines totaling $890.” Visalia Times Delta, May 14, 1938.