Fresno County Historical Society

TIME TRAVELERS: 19th Century America from the Gold Rush to the Founding of Fresno County During the Covid-19 pandemic, your FCHS has been working to ensure our students are still connecting to history and social studies lessons! Although our FCHS annual Living History event was not able to be held in 2020, the Society, along with our generous sponsors, is able to provide the School Days experience through an exciting array of online digital curriculum. Twelve immersive and un...ique lessons will take students on a journey to the America of the 1800s and will share the story of Fresno County in the 19th century though activities, video presentations and learning about the historical figures of the time. This project has been made possible by: Educational Employees Credit Union, Clovis Unified School District, Fresno Unified School District, Assemi Group Inc, Smittcamp Family Foundation, The Bonner Family Foundation and California Bank & Trust, with additional support from the Fresno County Superintendent of Schools and Bank of America. Enter the event at: https://www.valleyhistory.org/time-travelers

Happy 165th Birthday Fresno County - This announcement in The Daily Union newspaper let readers know that a new county had been created in the center of California on April 19, 1856. A little know fact is that the legislator or clerk who penned the act creating Fresno County in 1856 wrote the name as Frezno, the official spelling which still stands in the state archives!

ROOTS OF THE VALLEY Happy 165th Birthday to our own Fresno County! California’s 1850 statehood was accompanied by formation of 27 counties, the largest being Mariposa. As more people came into Central California, pieces of Mariposa County began breaking off to become other counties including Tulare in 1852 and Merced in 1855. For those in the Fresno area, traveling to a distant county seat was difficult. Eventually, people who lived between the Chowchilla and Kings river...Continue reading

ROOTS OF THE VALLEY - Our Nation's Christmas Tree Charles Lee of the Sanger Chamber of Commerce was visiting the Grant Grove area in 1924. As he stood at the base of the huge General Grant Tree, one of the oldest and largest growing things on earth, a small girl approached. Looking up at the tree in awe, she stood for a moment in silence. Then she said quietly, "What a lovely Christmas tree that would be!" She turned and left. Lee returned to Sanger but could not forget her ...words. He wrote to President Calvin Coolidge telling him about his experience. Four months later, on April 28, 1926, President Coolidge officially designated the General Grant Tree as the Nation's Christmas Tree. The people of Sanger sponsored a religious service at the base of the General Grant Tree in 1925. As the years progressed, hundreds made the trip to the Nation's Christmas Tree. The service that is held here on the second Sunday of each December is broadcast throughout the country. In 1956, the General Grant was given added significance when President Eisenhower named the tree our only living national shrine; a symbol dedicated to the memories of those who have died serving our country, a tradition that continues today.

Roots of the Valley: The History of Christmas Tree Lane (Images courtesy of the Pop Laval Foundation) The story of Christmas Tree Lane is one that people in our area never tire of learning about and, particularly in 2020, this drive-through wonderland is likely to have more charmed visitors than ever.... Let’s go back to see how it all began 100 years ago when a new development was opened north of Fresno, called Fig Garden. Developers J.C. Forkner and Wylie Giffen hired landscape architect Horace Cotton to design the plantings for the tract. Cotton’s plan featured a main street lined with deodar cedars. In December 1920, Mrs. W.P. (Mae) Winning, wife of local dentist William Winning, lighted the cedar tree in front of her Van Ness Boulevard home in memory of her young son, William Billy Hobart Winning who had tragically passed away at the age of 14 in an accident on the property. After admiring Mrs. Winning’s beautiful tree, members of the Fig Garden Woman’s Club and other residents of the boulevard took up the idea of outdoor decorations as a project and decided to light their trees. By 1928, ten families participated. In 1930, Dr. W.W. Leslie saw outdoor decorations used in Altadena, Los Angeles County, as a community project. With some other members of the Fig Garden Men’s Club he came to the woman’s club and volunteered to help organize displays throughout the neighborhood. In December 1930, the first official Christmas Tree Lane opened with thirty lighted trees stretching one quarter of a mile along the boulevard. Each year, the number of lighted trees grew. For ten decades, the deodar cedars, have grown in size and beauty. So, too, has Christmas Tree Lane, which now extends for nearly two miles and includes over three hundred lighted trees and decorated yards. An annual trip down Christmas Tree Lane by vehicle or on foot (not this year) is among Fresno’s most anticipated traditions for residents of all ages

We are excited to announce the reopening of the Kearney Mansion Museum & Gallery for tours beginging on Friday, November 6th. Get your tickets in advance at https://www.valleyhistory.org/visit

Join Us For A Virtual Holiday Tea Party

From the FCHS exhibit Fresno's Early Mayors: Perspectives from the Past Frank A. Homan Commissioner of Public Safety and Welfare and ex-officio Mayor of the City of Fresno, 1937-1941... Popular from his years of running Homan and Co. Sporting Goods, Frank A. Homan’s first foray into public service began with an appointment to the Fresno City Board of Education in 1909. During his tenure, which lasted for a number of years, he actively promoted the building of schools and, during his term as chairman, Fresno Normal School was founded. He was an active supporter of the college for the rest of his life, serving on the board of the Fresno State College Foundation from its beginning in 1931 until his death. As Mayor, Homan oversaw the construction of a new City Hall building on the southeast corner of Fresno and M Streets and the fire house at Fresno and E Streets, as well as the Fresno Municipal Golf Course. In 1950, he received the Fresno State College Foundation’s distinguished service award. In 1952, Homan Elementary School was named in recognition of his service to education. Shortly before his death on June 25, 1968, Frank Homan received an honorary degree in public service from Fresno State Collegea fitting tribute to a man who placed a high value on education and public service. The Fresno Historical Society Archives house his collection of fourteen scrapbooks. Pictured in the photos Frank Andrew Homan met wife, Sarah Estella Estelle Chance Homan, sister of Frank Chance of "Tinkers to Evers to Chance" fame, presumably while the men were teammates on the Fresno Expositor newspaper team. In addition to playing tennis and baseball at Fresno High School before turning semi-professional on the diamond, Homan was a reporter at The Fresno Morning Republican newspaper. He stayed active in education and in the community throughout his productive and selfless life. Here, Homan, wife Estelle and the Superintendent of Chandler Field posed at the newly christened airport. Photo Courtesy of the Fresno Historical Society Archives Thank you for joining us each week to meet and learn about Fresno's Early Mayors and their perspectives from the past.

Photo taken on November 11, 1918 as Americans celebrated the end of World War I with the announcement of Armistice despite being in the midst of the pandemic known as Spanish Flu. First identified in military personnel in spring 1918, it is estimated that about 500 million people or one-third of the world's population at the time, became infected with this virus.Infectious diseases already limited life expectancy in the early 20th century, but life expectancy in the United St...ates dropped by about 12 years in the first year of the pandemic. To maintain morale, wartime censors minimized early reports of illness and mortality in Germany, the United Kingdom, France and the United States.Papers were free to report the epidemic's effects in neutral Spain (such as the grave illness of King Alfonso XIII).These stories created a false impression of Spain as especially hard hit,giving rise to the pandemic's nickname, Spanish flu. Photo by Claude C."Pop" Laval and presented with permission from the Pop Laval Foundation.

Today, Tour Manager, Candice Ac Hill, introduces the next installment in the ongoing series from our Ethnic Oral History Collection. Enjoy meeting Addie Robinson who settled with her family in Madera in 1919.

Fresno County Historical Society Grapevine Newsletter

From the exhibit, Fresno's Early Mayors: Perspectives from the Past. Zygmunt S. Leymel Commissioner of Public Safety and Welfare and ex-officio Mayor of the City of Fresno, 1929-1937, and 1941-1947... During the Depression, Z. S. Zeke Leymel oversaw the construction of Fresno’s first airport at Chandler Field, and sought municipal control of Fresno’s water and garbage systems. Returning to office during World War II, Leymel worked closely with the U.S. Army to construct Hammer Field, and endeavored to incorporate Fresno’s sprawl into the city limits. The Fresno Historical Society Archives house his collection of twenty-four scrapbooks. Died in office Photo Captions: After WWI, Fresno County needed an airport to attract serious aviation interests. Numerous sites were tried but abandoned, so in January 1929, Senator Wilbur F. Chandler and wife, Edna Marie, pledged a 100-acre tract of their farmland, already in occasional use by fliers, as an airport. On left, Mrs. Chandler and Mayor Zeke Leymel dedicated the field on November 2, 1929 in front of a crowd of 10,000. On right, Pop Laval early aerial of Chandler Field. Photos Courtesy of the Pop Laval Foundation One of the most revered local sports heroes of the day, Ralph Giordano, better known as Young Corbett III, was an Italian-born American boxer. He was named World Welterweight Champion in 1933. A tough southpaw, he was known for his tremendous speed and determination and is considered one of the greatest southpaws and counterpunchers of all time. Here, Mayor Zeke Leymel crowned Corbett after his inspiring title bout at a parade held in his honor. Photo Courtesy of the Fresno Historical Society Archives Join us next week to meet the final Mayor featured in the exhibit - Frank A Homan.

Thank you for joining us for today's installment from the FCHS Ethnic Oral History Collection. Enjoy listening to the personal narrative of Ruby Pierro born in 1896. Tour Manager Candice Ac Hill introduces this engaging refection from Mrs. Pierro.

From the FCHS exhibit, Fresno's Early Mayors: Perspectives from the Past. Alpheus E. Sunderland Commissioner of Public Safety and Welfare and ex-officio Mayor of the City of Fresno, 1925-1929... In his first year in office, Sunderland, a prominent fruit packer, struggled with a police corruption scandal over Prohibition laws, in which he was named as a conspirator and forced to deny the allegations. The vice scandal clouded the rest of his term. Sunderland is credited with laying the groundwork for local ownership of the Fresno’s water company. Image Descriptions: On August 5, 1926, a celebration was held marking the first bale of cotton in the San Joaquin Valley to go under the compress. While a crowd of interested persons looked on, Mayor Al Sunderland pulled the lever which released the steam setting the machinery of the giant Calwa plant in motion. The machine was slowed down in order that spectators could see, in detail, how it worked. The first bale trucked to the mouth of the machine was pressed to a third of its original size between the massive jaws of the compress. The bale then took center stage in a parade ending in downtown Fresno. Photo Courtesy of the Pop Laval Foundation Good relations between the Mayor and the heads of important City departments was always vital to the well-being of the community. Here, Mayor Al Sunderland posed with Police Chief Walker and Fire Chief Baird in honor of Straw Hat Day, created as a way to get men, who were considered somewhat shy creatures when it comes to personal adornment to wear the lightweight protection during the heat of the long Fresno summer. It should be noted that a contest was held to see which man had the largest cranium and Mayor Al was deemed to have the smallest although some room was left for future swelling - April 16, 1926. Photo Courtesy of the Pop Laval Foundation Mayor Al Sunderland greeted the proud Yellow Cab Company Branch Manager as his new fleet was introduced in front of majestic new Fresno High campus - December 28, 1926. Photo Courtesy of the Pop Laval Foundation. Join us next week to meet Mayor Z.S. Leymel.

Welcome to another installment from our Ethnic Oral History Collection. Today's story is introduced by our Tour Manager, Candice Ac Hill, and brings you the the life of Jame Seal who moved to Fresno in 1920. Enjoy.

From the FCHS exhibition, Fresno's Early Mayors: Perspectives from the Past. Truman G. Hart Commissioner of Public Safety and Welfare and ex-officio Mayor of the City of Fresno, 1921-1925... A popular man born in Millerton, Hart had served as chief of the volunteer fire department, police commissioner, and city clerk. Hart appointed a planning commission to zone the city for the first time, and facilitated Fresno’s growth with new sewer, power and telephone lines to the northern and eastern suburbs. Hart also supported the construction of Fresno State Normal School two miles north of downtown. The stories behind the photos are as follows: Mayor Truman G. Hart shook hands with well-wishing constituents on June 11, 1922. Six months later, an official recall of Mayor Hart and Commissioner of Finance Charles Dillon was formally launched. Apparently, the Mayor had incurred the displeasure of local Ku Klux Klansmen and other organizations of a kindred nature. It is claimed that the recall petition, with sufficient signatures, was stolen before it could be filed. In any case, the recall never materialized and the attempt to impugn the character of two fine Fresno public servants was handily foiled. Mayor Truman Hart pictured breaking ground for the Firemen & Policemen’s Base-Ball Park, located at the southeast corner of Ventura and Chance avenues on January 10, 1922. Firemen's Park was one of the first in the region to have lights for night play. In 1927, Babe Ruth and Yankee teammate Lou Gehrig, members of the famed "Murderer's Row" team, had taken the city by storm. Fresh off a World Series victory and Ruth's new home run record of 60 for a season, each captained a team of local Nisei baseball stars at the venue. More than 2,000 fans packed the Park for the afternoon game October 29th and saw Gehrig's team, the Larrapin’ Lous, beat Ruth's Bustin’ Babes 13-3. The game was called in the ninth inning after hundreds of kids flooded the infield, swarming the two Yankees for autographs. Ruth again played at the Park in 1931. Newly installed Mayor of Fresno, Alpheus E. Sunderland, accepted the Key to the City from Truman G. Hart, Sunderland’s immediate predecessor. Mayor Al, as he was promptly dubbed, urged citizens to turn away from partisanship in the post-election era and instead each make a personal contribution toward the good of the community. With no show of formality and with only two resignations to indicate anything unusual was taking place, Mayor Al E. Sunderland at noon today stepped into the office of Mayor of Fresno and assumed the reins of government laid down by Truman G. Hart. In Sunderand’s first speech as Mayor, he implored citizens to get more involved in local government, remarking, The position of Mayor of Fresno is not one of joy and ease - it carries tremendous responsibilities. (Fresno Bee, April 27, 1925) Photos Courtesy of the Pop Laval Foundation. Join us next week for more of Mayor Alpheus Sunderland.

Today’s story, from our Ethnic Oral History Collection, comes from the late Lucy Crossley. She was born in Fresno, CA in 1917 and is an Edison, Fresno City College and Fresno State graduate. She became a Psychiatric Social Worker. In this recording she reflects on the families she went to school with at Edison Technical High School.

From the exhibit - Fresno's Early Mayors: Perspectives from the Past William F. Toomey, Mayor of the City of Fresno, 1917-1921 Entering office just as local boys were sent off to World War I, Toomey worked to annex growing communities near Fresno, and encouraged the continuation of a building boom in downtown Fresno along with an expanded streetcar network. Toomey struggled to manage a sprawling modern city with an outdated government. By the end of his term, Fresno adopted ...a new charter that called for a commission form of government. He is buried at the Belmont Memorial Park. In the photos, Fresno Mayor William F. Toomey hand a check to the women of the YWCA on May 24, 1920. Also pictured, Mayor Toomey uses a Fresno Scraper drawn by a pair of horses to level land for the Liberty Cemetery, where many local veterans would come to be laid to rest. The Fresno, with development roots in Selma and its namesake city, was employed for all types of earthwork construction until mechanical ground moving equipment came into use in the 1920s and 1930s. Photos Courtesy of the Pop Laval Foundation Join us next week to meet Mayor Hart.

Today's Oral History is a sequel to the Cowings story. Today, our Tour Manager, Candice Ac Hill shares the story from Eva Cowings, a master seamstress of Fowler, CA. She was Abraham Lincoln Cowing’s wife. She too was born in 1895 and moved to Fowler, CA in 1913. Enjoy listening.

From the Exhibit - Fresno's Early Mayors: Perspectives from the Past Alva E. Snow, Mayor of the City of Fresno, 1912-1917 A prominent Fresno lawyer, Snow had served a term as Fresno County District Attorney. Although he was supported by the Good Government League, Snow’s government struggled to enforce laws restricting the activities of saloons and gambling dens. When Congress proposed the Prohibition amendment in December 1916, the local Anti-Saloon League rallied support t...o push Snow from office. In the photo Fresno’s Mayor Alva E. Snow, second from the left, was in the grandstand to greet Governor Hiram W. Johnson, fourth from left holding his derby, who was the guest of honor at the Fresno District Fair on Governor’s Day, September 30, 1916. The group was seated in the old wooden grandstand. Overhead is a string of new-fangled electric light bulbs. All the men wore vests and watch chains and the stiff collars that were high fashion at the time. Sigmund Levy, extreme right, then a reporter for the old Fresno Tribune and Director of Exploitation for the fair, described Johnson as one of the most beloved men in California history. Left to right are Frank M. Hill, manager of the Fresno Traffic Association; Snow; J. E. Dickinson, a fair director; Johnson; George Warlow, another director; Wingate Lake, a Fresno hotel man; City Public Works Commissioner William Stranahan; H. E. Patterson, Manager of the Chamber of Commerce and Levy. Photo Courtesy of the Pop Laval Foundation Join us next week to meet Mayor William Toomey.

Today's ethnic oral history collection is introduced by Tour Manager, Candice Ac Hill, and features the late Abraham Lincoln Cowings of Fowler, CA. He was born in Georgia in1895. His parents were teachers and his father was also a lawyer in Georgia. On his father's side, his uncle was a veteran who fought in the Spanish-American War in Cuba while they lived down-south. It was through Abraham's uncle that his parents learned about Fowler and the uncle convinced his family to move from Georgia to Fowler, CA in 1903.