November 1, 2025

A Message from the President

Dear Members, Friends, and Fellow Historically Interested Supporters,

Welcome to Autumn, at last. At the Society, plans are feverishly underway for an amazing holiday season. I personally invite you to attend at least one of our many events as we celebrate a year full of surprises – both pleasant and not so much – and prepare to dive into 2026, a year certain to be, well, how shall I put it, a “doozy.”

In the meantime, you may know that November was designated Native American Heritage Month since George H.W. Bush’s proclamation in 1990. With that in mind, there are a couple of things I thought noteworthy. 



Firstly, you will notice soon that our extensive Native American Basket Collection is on hiatus. One primary reason is that the delicate artifacts need to rest in a dark, climate-controlled environment for preservation – that is obvious. The second reason, not so well-known. 

Since 1990, Federal law has provided for the protection and return of Native American human remains, funerary objects, sacred objects, and objects of cultural patrimony. By enacting NAGPRA, the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, Congress recognized that human remains of any ancestry "must at all times be treated with dignity and respect." Congress also acknowledged that human remains, and other cultural items removed from Federal or tribal lands belong, in the first instance, to lineal descendants, Indian Tribes, and Native Hawaiian organizations. 

With this law, Congress sought to encourage a continuing dialogue between museums and Indian Tribes and Native Hawaiian organizations and to promote a greater understanding between the groups, while at the same time recognizing the important function museums serve in society by preserving the past. New NAGPRA Legislation, enacted in January of 2024, also requires that museums consult with affiliated tribes to get consent before displaying their cultural objects. As you can imagine, this is easier said than actually successful. Most of our local Native American tribes have few records that can assist, yet, like other museums and libraries across the country, we will do what we can.

With that in mind, I thought this month would be ideal to share a story I have always found fascinating. The following article appears as written in the language of the day for the early 20th century. Clearly, these perceptions of Native Americans and why they even needed treatment for diseases that had been introduced into their communities, from the very outsiders who were now trying to teach them “hygiene, morals and a civilized way of life” were widely misconstrued or ignored. Missionaries and doctors had no perspective on or knowledge of the “aboriginal” cultures they were engaging with and the fact that they had successfully treated themselves for thousands of years for ailments common to their tribes. As there was no regard given to “crude tribe practices” or the honored role of the Medicine Man and his time-tested methods, you will not be surprised that Western medicine was required for Western diseases. Certainly, despite the “good deed” being done by providing free medical and dental care that the “Indians” could have the “privilege” of using, the irony of why treatment was required to stop tribes from literally dying out was not acknowledged. Parts of the essay are quite difficult to read from a 21st century point of view. Consider…what would an article in the newspaper about this topic look like in today’s world? 

"Indian Hospital at Clovis is First of Kind in West"

"Dentist and Nurse in Charge"

From The Fresno Morning Republican newspaper 
August 25, 1918

“One of the most useful institutions which have been established in Fresno County recently, and the first of its kind in the west, is the Indian hospital which has been opened at Clovis for the care and treatment of Indians who make their annual pilgrimage from their remote homes in the hills to the Valley to help in the fruit harvest and to lay in a supply of funds to tide them through the winter, which is severer in their mountain homes than here in the Valley section.

“The institution is in charge of Miss Blanche E. Post, county school nurse, who is ably assisted by Rev. and Mrs. J.G. Brendel, Indian missionaries; Dr. W.C. Pendergrass, a physician of Clovis; Dr. A.W. Pruett, a dentist from the University of California, and Oscar B. Colley, teacher at the Indian school at Sycamore, and Mrs. Colley, his wife, who is housekeeper at the school.

“Temporary quarters have been secured in a vacant building a block north of the Hoblett Hotel, and this has been fitted up with all necessary equipment for the treatment of Indians who are ill and in need of medical care, and who have heretofore depended upon the doubtful, crude methods of the Indian medicine man when sickness has overtaken them.



“Among the chief causes of sickness with the tribes on Indians who inhabit the hills of Fresno County is tuberculosis. This is today considered the Indians’ most dangerous enemy by the federal government. One death out of every four among Indians of the United States is attributable to this disease. Its prevalence is mainly due to the unsanitary conditions in which the Indians live and to the lack of sanitary care of the body, especially as to cleanliness and to the lack of proper care of the teeth, throat and lungs.”

“Look After Young Indians”

“With the idea in view of helping the younger generation of Indians, and to save them from the fate which befell the older ones, many of whom are past human aid, this institution has been established. Several interesting patients have been taken to the institution, given treatment and discharged as well in the three weeks that the institution has been in operation.”

“How It Was Started”

“Through the efforts of the Parlor Lecture Club of Fresno, and its sales of Red Cross seals, a nurse was provided for the rural schools of Fresno County. Miss Blanche E. Post was employed and engaged in the work. In looking after the children in these schools, Miss Post learned of the needs of the Indians. During the summer, while the schools were not in session, she devoted her time to looking after the health of the Indians while many are down from the mountains helping in the fruit harvest. In this work, she is greatly assisted by Rev. and Mrs. J.G. Brendel, the Indian missionaries, who are doing a most wonderful work among the tribes, which necessitates many sacrifices on their part. They have charge of the work in this district which includes Madera, Fresno, and Tulare counties, and missions at other points in northern California.

“For six years, Rev. Brendel and wife have been engaged in this work here, laboring for the physical as well as the spiritual uplift of the race. Through their efforts the Indian is learning much that will benefit his health, mind, and also his finances. Rev. and Mrs. Brendel have been Indian missionaries for many years in the East. But there the government has schools and hospitals, and the Indians receive proper care. When the missionaries came here, they found the Indians dying so rapidly that it seemed that a short time must elapse when all would become extinct. They have worked untiringly to bring before the proper authorities this appalling condition. The missionaries have been forced to see little babies and mothers die for want of medical care way back in the hills, far from help of any kind. With no idea of the laws of health, the Indians have infected whole camps with tuberculosis, trachoma and skin diseases. Living as they do in camps, where there are no means for care, often in little one-room, windowless houses in the hills, where in winter they subsist on acorn mush and meat, that is secured by hunting and later dried by hanging in the trees. Being unprotected from flies and other disease-carriers, they developed various forms of ailments. Another source of sickness is the fact that, in the summer, the food supply runs low before the hunting season opens. And when harvest time in the Valley arrives the Indians, whose bodies from lack of nourishment are not up to standard, come down to the Valley where food is plentiful, and sickness results from overeating and lack of knowledge of how to protect themselves from disease, with the result that many are too ill to work, and lose both time and money.”

“600 Work in Fruit”

“Rev. Brendel has been able to secure employment for the Indians in the fruit as a means of helping them to better financial conditions and has brought down into the valley about 600 Indians yearly, consisting of men, women and children, to work in the vineyards. Indians make the best kind of workmen, being honest and methodical, and entirely dependable.



“When they come down from the hills, they bring their whole outfit on a wagon and camp on the ranch on which they are employed. It is not uncommon to see a wagon loaded with the family – and they are all large families – including in the load the numerous family cats, chickens and dogs. The camp is usually made under the trees, where primitive beds are made of straw strewn upon the ground, and where the family sleep out in the open, and while they do not “keep the pig in the parlor,” they do the cats and dogs and chickens. It can readily be understood that these camps are somewhat of a menace to the health of the people of the valley, unless properly looked after, and the inhabitants of the camps are properly cared for. This brins us to subject matter of this article – the establishment of the Indian hospital.”

“Women Start Movement”

“In April, the Parlor Lecture Club brought Miss Blanche Post to inspect the schools of Fresno County. Among the schools visited were the four Indian missions at Auberry, Sycamore, Dunlap and Table Mountain. She found such a high percentage of the younger population being infected with disease, and the teeth of the younger generation in such a badly abscessed and decayed condition, that she felt that her visit to the mission schools would be of little benefit unless something tangible could be done to relieve the situation. A visit with the missionary to the supervisors was made, where the facts were laid before that body and an appropriation was made for medicine for the Indians.”

“State Help is Provided”

“Mrs. Tate Thompson, director of the State Bureau of Tuberculosis, was interviewed. She quickly took the matter in hand. She agreed with the suggestion of Miss Post that dental care of the teeth of the children would mean much toward educating them, as well as preventing incipient tuberculosis. She interviewed state authorities and was able to secure the services of the Parlor Lecture Club’s nurse for the month of August, to be paid for from state funds, while not employed in the schools. Through the efforts of Miss Post, a dentist was secured from the University of California in the person of Dr. A.W. Pruett. Portable dental equipment was sent down from the university a house and equipment in the shape of furniture and bedding was donated by the Woman’s Club of Clovis, and as the Indians came into the valley, should they become sick, they would be able to find a place to go to and be cared for free, and a number have availed themselves of the privilege.” 

“Treat Pneumonia Patient”

“One of the first patients to arrive was a little boy, Raymond Wilson, who is four years old. His mother died of tuberculosis when he was a baby. The boy was brought sixteen miles to the hospital to take care of him. Dr. Pendergrass was called and pronounced the trouble as typhoid pneumonia. The little boy has hovered between life and death for nearly two weeks but is at last gaining. The old grandfather assists the nurse constantly in his care and is very solicitous for his little charge, while the doctor continues his work.

“Babies are also brought in sick and here the nurse teaches the mothers how to feed, bathe and properly clothe their children. The nurse often finds children with from four to seven dresses on.

“Daily practical lessons are given the Indians on properly bathing and clothing, caring for the mouth and teeth and in keeping the camps clean, and teaching the lessons of cleanliness and health, that they may go back to the hills in the winter and better care for themselves.” 

“Protect Public Health”

“The state housing commission and the board of health have been notified so that the proper toilet facilities and camps are to be kept in condition for the Indians’ welfare, as well as in the interest of public health, and realizing that disease may be spread in this way, all precautions are now being taken.”

“Government Assistance”

“The government has secured the services of Oscar Colley and wife, teachers and housekeeper at the Indian school at Sycamore, to assist Rev. Brendel and Miss Post in this work during the summer months.

“Too much cannot be said of the mission work to be done here at home, and of the untiring, faithful efforts of Rev. Brendel and wife in bringing to the people the needs of the Indians. In care for these people, and in protecting the public, thus doing a double duty, Rev. and Mrs. Brendel are doing a wonderful work. They have devoted years to this work and have a thorough understanding of it, and in dealing with the aborigines have their entire confidence and exert great influence. They have converted many to lead Christian lives and have persuaded many to give up the Indian marriage system of barter and adopt the plan of marriage according to the laws of the land. The Indians have thus grown to feel their part in civilization, and many of them are in the service of the army, while the women have contributed liberally to the Red Cross, and not a few have invested in savings stamps and Liberty Bonds.”

“Work of Rev. J.G. Brendel”

“While Rev. J.G. Brendel and wife look after the spiritual, moral and financial welfare of the tribesmen, and Oscar B. Colley and wife superintend their education, by the establishment of this hospital, Miss Balance E. Post has laid the foundation for means that will be provided in the future for their physical welfare, and from the crudest of human material may be developed a class of citizens, now almost depended into a class of useful men and women, able to work out their own destiny, become self-supporting, and equipped with knowledge, and in the end be made into useful members of the commonwealth.”

Food for thought during this Thanksgiving month…and please, remember often the servicemembers, past and present who have been fortunate enough to be in the “All Gave Some” category, and not the “Some Gave All.”

Warmest feasting wishes,

Elizabeth Laval                                    

President                                                 

Fresno City & County Historical Society 

MARK YOUR CALENDARS

Christmas at Kearney Returns November 21st

Christmas at Kearney: Beyond Santa, Delivering Holiday Magic is a celebration you won't forget!

Our annual display will fill Kearney Mansion with sixteen Christmas trees from November 21st through January 4th. This year, each of our trees will feature the story of different mythical gift-bringers from around the world.

Local decorators will bring their own special interpretation and creativity, making each tree unique. This six-week long event will comprise a host of special activities including a Meet & Greet with Santa featuring a Christmas Market on December 6th & 7th and a Holiday Tea Party on December 13th.

Plan to include a visit to Kearney Mansion on your wish list this year and let us help you make the kind of Christmas memories that will last a lifetime. 

Public Mansion Tours are available on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays at 12PM, 1:30PM and 3:00PM; advance reservations are encouraged. Private Tours for groups of 10 or more can be booked throughout the week by appointment.

YOU ARE INVITED! 

Come out to the Kearney Mansion Museum & Gallery and join us for a crafty and festive evening for our first-ever Tinsel & Tonics! 

On Thursday, November 20th you can enjoy a special evening of holiday cheer as you create your very own beautiful wreath while sipping on seasonal beverages in the enchanting atmosphere of the Mansion. Whether you’re a DIY enthusiast or just looking for a fun night out with friends, this event is the perfect way to usher in the holiday season! 



Your ticket includes: 

• All wreath-making supplies to deck your halls with merriment 
• Guided instruction for the how-to portion of your celebratory evening 
• A glass of wine or festive holiday beverage 
• Refreshments and nibbles to feed that creative spirit 
• And a special guided tour of the Kearney Mansion Museum, which includes a VERY FIRST LOOK at all 16 gorgeously curated holiday trees before Christmas at Kearney opens to the general public the next day.

ARCHIVE SPOTLIGHT

By Cami Cipolla, Director of Educational Services and Community Engagement

Hello Friends of the Archives!

In celebration of our veterans this month, we’re looking back at Fresno County’s remarkable military history during World War II. Even before the United States entered the global conflict in December 1941, Fresno was already preparing for war. 

In 1940, the 185th Infantry National Guard units anticipated being called to active duty as local draft boards began registering men. Z.S. Leymel, who soon became Fresno’s mayor (1941–1947), served as County Defense Coordinator and announced on August 4, 1940, that 5,000 men had joined the Home Guard. In October 1940, fourteen months before the U.S. declared war, Congressman B.W. Gearhart of Fresno County revealed that the War Department had selected Fresno’s Chandler Field to serve as a major bomber airbase. “Gearhart told The Fresno Bee that 2,268 officers and men would be stationed at the base at all times.”

However, early the following year, the War Department shifted plans. The facilities at Chandler Field were deemed inadequate, and a new location east of Fresno was chosen instead. Civil Aeronautics Authority Superintendent of Airports J.E. Read bluntly stated, “Fresno is way behind the parade in her airport facilities. The aviation industry has just passed you by. You had a good airport once, but it has not kept pace with developments in the industry.” Purchased by the Fresno City Council and leased to the U.S. Army, the new base officially opened on April 3, 1941, though months of construction still lay ahead. Men began arriving that May, and by November, the base was fully staffed. In January 1942, it was officially named Hammer Field in honor of Lieutenant Earl M. Hammer, the first Californian killed in action in the Army Air Forces during World War I. With the arrival of the Army Air Corps, the base quickly took on the character of a small town, complete with a church, fire department, library, and movie theater. Neat rows of small houses were built for officers, while enlisted men lived in barracks. The Post Exchange (PX) included a post office and general store and offered laundry and barbering services. The base newspaper, The Night Hawk, kept everyone informed and connected.

Hammer Field also housed a large Army Air Force Regional Hospital, boasting 932 beds across 85 buildings. The hospital served military installations across the region. In June 1943, the 794th Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC) arrived to “take over jobs on the base which would relieve male soldiers for combat duty or more strenuous tasks.” Later renamed the Women’s Army Corps (WAC), these women performed vital work—most notably, rigging parachutes, and also served in clerical and nursing positions. Living in separate barracks with their own mess hall, the WACs earned widespread respect for their professionalism and discipline. The G.I.s underwent rigorous basic training like running obstacle courses in full gear, learning military drills, and practicing marksmanship on a firing range in Squaw Valley. They endured simulated gas attacks and received instruction in aircraft maintenance, communications, and message transmission via teletype. Reflecting the segregation policies of the era, African American troops were often assigned to construction and kitchen duties. Despite unequal treatment, their contributions were vital to the operation and upkeep of the base.

Hammer Field primarily hosted bomber crews, with a few fighter units assigned for protection. Pilots trained on aircraft such as the A-29 Lockheed, B-25 Mitchell, B-26 Martin, B-24 Liberator, and the famed B-17 Boeing Flying Fortress. In Fresno, the Vega Aircraft Company operated a sub-assembly plant producing parts for the Flying Fortress. In May 1944, Hammer Field became the center of the Army Air Forces Night Fighter Training Program, enhancing its reputation as one of the West Coast’s most important air training sites. Off-duty soldiers enjoyed a wide range of recreational activities, from movies and boxing matches to woodworking, bowling, and dances. Celebrities often visited, and the nearby mountains offered a special retreat, Camp Soquel, where soldiers could rest and relax for three days, enjoying swimming and hiking.

After the war, the City of Fresno voted in 1946 to rename Hammer Field. Public Works Commissioner Fred M. Ashley explained that Lieutenant Hammer “was a San Francisco man” whose name “had little or no meaning here.” The base was renamed Fresno Air Terminal, giving rise to the modern-day acronym “FAT” still seen on travelers’ boarding passes from Fresno Yosemite International Airport. North of Fresno, the U.S. Army acquired land in Pinedale on March 24, 1942 which was just seven miles from the city near the San Joaquin River. The site, formerly owned by the Sugar Pine Lumber Company, had stood vacant since the early 1930s. In the summer of 1942, Pinedale was used as a temporary Japanese American Assembly Center, housing families while internment camps were built farther east. The center closed on August 6, 1942, and immediately afterward, servicemen from Hammer Field arrived to convert the camp’s 269 buildings for military use. Once updated, Camp Pinedale became a sub-base of Hammer Field, hosting the Western Aviation Signal Training Unit and the 840th Supply Depot for the Fourth Army Air Force. African American units such as the 428th and 445th Signal Construction Battalions were stationed there, bringing the camp’s population to about 1,500 officers and enlisted men. The camp’s schools trained soldiers in radio operation, teletype, switchboard use, telegraphy, pole-line construction, and message center operations making Pinedale a crucial center for communications training. Camp Pinedale also hosted a Women’s Army Corps (WAC) unit, where women were trained as drivers, mechanics, radio operators, photo lab technicians, and clerks.

Their efficiency and dedication earned the respect of officers and enlisted men alike. The camp even had its own newspaper, The Interceptor, which featured cartoons, updates, and morale-boosting articles. Off-base, soldiers flocked downtown to dance halls like the Rainbow and Marigold Ballrooms, watched movies at the White Theater, and gathered at the USO club operated by the Catholic Welfare Bureau in the Elks Building on Tulare Street. Rabbi David L. Greenberg of Temple Beth Israel later recalled, “Fresnans got involved in the USO because nearly everyone had someone in the Armed Forces. They found therapy in helping other people’s sons, and everyone wanted to help keep up morale.” In early 1943, the Fresno County Civil Defense Council and City Police Department recognized the need for separate entertainment facilities for African American servicemen, reflecting the ongoing racial divisions of the time.

Several German Prisoner of War (POW) camps operated in Fresno County between 1944 and 1946, including sites in Coalinga, Firebaugh, Mendota, San Joaquin, and Tranquillity. Each held around 250 prisoners, who were often loaned out to work on nearby farms. Many of these camps were converted from former labor camps due to the region’s isolation. Locals later recalled their presence with a mix of surprise and curiosity. LeVeta Vincent remembered fences and watchtowers going up near Firebaugh in 1943, noting that “we never saw anything in the newspaper or heard anything on the radio about these camps” because of wartime censorship. The Sierra Nevada foothills east of Fresno also played a role in the war effort as well. Tungsten deposits discovered in 1942 were used in steel alloys for tanks and warships. In April 1943, the Army took over the former Wawona Civilian Conservation Corps Camp in Yosemite National Park, where troops from Camp Pinedale trained in mountain warfare. That June, the U.S. Naval Convalescent Hospital opened in Yosemite’s Ahwahnee Hotel.

The Navy believed the peaceful surroundings would help soldiers suffering from shell shock which we now refer to as PTSD. Though the Valley’s steep cliffs later proved challenging for psychiatric patients, the hospital successfully treated over 6,700 servicemen before closing. Tragically, not all wartime flights over the Sierra ended safely. On November 18, 1942, Second Lieutenant William R. Gamber and his crew disappeared during a navigation training mission from Mather Field. Their remains were discovered in Kings Canyon National Park five years later, and additional crew members were recovered as recently as 2007, a solemn reminder of the hazards faced even in training.

Throughout World War II, Fresno County played a pivotal role in the Pacific Coast Defense. Military operations brought much-needed economic recovery to a region still recovering from the Great Depression, providing civilian jobs, military contracts, and agricultural demand that fueled growth across the Valley. Thousands of servicemen passed through Hammer Field, Camp Pinedale, and other regional training centers before shipping overseas. With its central location, open land, and access to major rail lines, Fresno became a vital hub connecting the Army and Navy installations in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and California’s Central Coast, cementing its place in the state’s wartime history.

It is always fascinating to dive into our Central Valley history in relation to the greater world view! Cheers friends!

Honoring Celia Burnett – A Legacy of Care 

By Donald Spencer MSc., Archivist 

Just a few months ago in June, I was contacted to uncover more about Celia Burnett, who was a remarkable and often overlooked figure in Fresno’s early medical history. In connection with the City’s newest chapter of innovation in healthcare, we are proud to share our place in this story, and celebrate Fresno’s enduring spirit of compassion, progress, and localized care. On October 1st, Community Regional Medical Center held the grand opening ceremony for the Burnett Extended Care Center. This new addition will be a state-of-the-art facility in downtown Fresno named in honor of Celia Burnett, whose simple yet meaningful act helped shape the foundation of healthcare in our region. 

The new Burnett Center, located on Fresno and R Streets, across from Community Regional Medical Center, marks a $35 million transformation of the former Beverly Manor Convalescent Hospital. Now finished, the 62,500 square-foot facility offers both long- and short-term skilled nursing and rehabilitation services. The grand opening ceremony, attended by Fresno’s mayor Jerry Dyer and Congressman Jim Costa, celebrated not only the impressive new facility but also the legacy of its namesake.  

In doing my part, I was asked by a Community Medical Center representative to find out what Celia’s story was. As it stood, little was known of Celia even though her actions have had such long-lasting positive ramifications for Fresno. In doing the research, utilizing newspapers and archival materials, I was able to discover that Celia Burnett, whose surname appears sporadically throughout late 19th-century Fresno newspapers as Burnitt or Bernitt, led a life as dynamic as the region she helped shape. Born Celia McDonough in Louisville, Kentucky, she came to California with her sister Maggie, while their mother remained in Louisville. Over the years, Celia’s name changed throughout several marriages. Her first husband was a prizefighter, or “pugilist,” “Prof. Young Dutchy” Hansted. Her second marriage was to a mining entrepreneur named Major John P. Burnett, and not too much later she was wed to an oil broker named W.R. Thomas. Each marriage reflected a new chapter in her life, but it is clear while reading about her that she never allowed any of her husbands to define her as a person. In 1892, Burnett’s second husband commissioned the construction of a grand residence on J Street. It was a $10,000 project that would soon take on a new purpose. Under Celia’s management, the home evolved into a boarding house and eventually transitioned into the Burnett Sanitarium.  

Burnett Sanitarium, 1905

Burnett Sanitarium, 1921

The Burnett Sanitarium, founded in 1897 through a partnership between local physicians and Mrs. Celia Burnett, marked a defining moment in Fresno’s early medical history. Originally located at the corner of Fresno and S Streets, the institution began as a modest private hospital and quickly earned a reputation for its quality of care. In 1905, a new building opened on the site, and by 1916, the addition of a five-story Burnett Annex positioned the sanitarium among the most modern hospitals on the West Coast with a capacity for up to 120 patients. Following its sale in 1945 to a nonprofit corporation, the facility was renamed the Fresno Community Hospital, later evolving through several name changes into what is now known as Community Regional Medical Center. A surviving postcard from the 1910s depicts the impressive early structure, a lasting image of the institution that provided care to Fresno. 

Following her final marriage and subsequent ventures in local real estate, Burnett’s public record grows sparse, yet her enduring impact on early Fresno’s medical landscape remains unmistakable. The change from boarding house to sanitarium remains a testament to her adaptability, enterprise, and pioneering spirit. Even though much about Burnett’s personal life remains elusive, the records we do have paint a portrait of a determined woman and her driven mindset. From operating a boarding house, a sanitarium, and navigating Fresno’s turn of the century land developing scene, Celia Burnett exemplified the independent spirit and ingenuity that helped define early Fresno.

The Burnett Extended Care Center’s new foyer will include a tribute to Celia Burnett with the information provided by the Society that details her origins and role in the local emerging healthcare system. Through this recognition, her story continues, bridging Fresno’s past with its ongoing commitment to care, compassion, and community. 

ROOTS OF THE VALLEY: THANKSGIVING 1888

While we have shared various origin stories of Thanksgiving with you, November 1, 1888, was the actual day that President Grover Cleveland proclaimed that Thursday, the 29th of this month be designated a special holiday for reasons that are a bit different than what might have been contemplated.

Because of our incredible McClatchy Collection, we now know exactly what was said 137 years ago. We cannot wait to make this 88 ton behemoth Archive available to all.

“Grover Cleveland”

“22nd President of the United States: 1885 ‐ 1889”

“Proclamation 285—Thanksgiving Day, 1888”

“November 01, 1888”

“By the President of the United States of America”

“A Proclamation”

“Constant thanksgiving and gratitude are due from the American people to Almighty God for His goodness and mercy, which have followed them since the day He made them a nation and vouchsafed to them a free government. With loving kindness, He has constantly led us in the way of prosperity and greatness. He has not visited with swift punishment our shortcomings, but with gracious care He has warned us of our dependence upon His forbearance and has taught us that obedience to His holy law is the price of a continuance of His precious gifts.

“In acknowledgment of all that God has done for us as a nation, and to the end that on an appointed day the united prayers and praise of a grateful country may reach the throne of grace, I, Grover Cleveland, President of the United States, do hereby designate and set apart Thursday, the 29th day of November instant, as a day of thanksgiving and prayer, to be kept and observed throughout the land.

“On that day let all our people suspend their ordinary work and occupations, and in their accustomed places of worship, with prayer and songs of praise, render thanks to God for all His mercies, for the abundant harvests which have rewarded the toil of the husbandman during the year that has passed, and for the rich rewards that have followed the labors of our people in their shops and their marts of trade and traffic. Let us give thanks for peace and for social order and contentment within our borders, and for our advancement in all that adds to national greatness.

“And mindful of the afflictive dispensation with which a portion of our land has been visited, let us, while we humble ourselves before the power of God, acknowledge His mercy in setting bounds to the deadly march of pestilence, and let our hearts be chastened by sympathy with our fellow-countrymen who have suffered and who mourn.

“And as we return thanks for all the blessings which we have received from the hands of our Heavenly Father, let us not forget that He has enjoined upon us charity; and on this day of thanksgiving let us generously remember the poor and needy, so that our tribute of praise and gratitude may be acceptable in the sight of the Lord.

“Done at the city of Washington on the 1st day of November 1888, and in the year of the Independence of the United States the one hundred and thirteenth.

“In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed.”

“GROVER CLEVELAND”                                                                 
“By the President:”

“T. F. BAYARD,”                                                                              
“Secretary of State”

The Clevelands spend the 29th of November thusly:

By the way, at least one president had quite a different opinion than Cleveland. Thomas Jefferson (3rd President) refused to issue a proclamation for Thanksgiving, believing it mixed government with religion. His political opponents used this stance to accuse him of being irreligious, though he argued it was to protect religious freedom by not endorsing one form of worship over another. 

Abraham Lincoln (16th President), however, established Thanksgiving as a national holiday in 1863 during the Civil War, proclaiming it a day to be observed each year. 

So, with Cleveland’s erudite decree in place, let’s look at what the Daily Morning Republican newspaper in Fresno reported that local residents were doing on November 29, 1888…if you think about it, we should call this column the earliest form of SOCIAL MEDIA!

“THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 1888. Thanksgiving”

“Give thanks to-day."

“Remember the poor to-day."

“Asa Ellis is at the Grand Central.

“Judge S. C. Denson of Sacramento is in the city.

“Combs & Scott will serve a free grand dinner to-day.

“M. Theo. Kearney went to San Francisco yesterday.

“W. S. McMurtry returned from San Jose last evening.

“Go out and see the "sojer" boys play battle this afternoon.

“Eva Barnum of Porterville is the guest of friends in this city.

“R. Davis will act as foreman of the carpenter force on the Temple Bar block.

“There were forty-seven men answered to roll at the drill of Company C last night.

“Silas Simon, a commission merchant of San Francisco, is spending a few days in this city.

“The report of the clearances from the clearing house for Wednesday amounted to $20.375.52.

“Mary E. Randall was yesterday granted a divorce from Charles B. Randall by Judge Campbell.

“Charles E. Flemming, proprietor of the El Capitan hotel at Merced, is spending a few days in the city.

“Professor D. C. Smith took his orchestra to Selma last night to play for the grand Thanksgiving ball there.

“The marriage of David L. Stutzman to Mrs. R. E. Carlton was yesterday recorded with County Recorder Wainwright.

“The San Joaquin Lumber company followed its usual custom and gave each of its employes a Thanksgiving turkey yesterday.

“Last evening quite a delegation of the young people went to Selma to attend the grand ball given by the Unity club of that place.

“There will be a special meeting of Fresno lodge, No. 247, on Friday evening, November 30th, at 7:30 P. M. Work in the third degree."

“Mrs. Daniel. Whitmore of Ceres, who has been visiting with friends in this city for a few days, left on the express. yesterday for Merced.

“Charles Tennessee Goforth, the great nuisance of the San Joaquin valley, was put in the county jail last evening on a charge of being drunk.

“Mary Graham was on yesterday brought before Justice Stewart for disturbing the peace of Dr. M. Smith. The date of the trial was not set.

“Professor H. H. Brooks went to San Francisco yesterday, where he will remain for a few days making selections of the latest music for his dancing school.

“The trial of Ah Tan and Ah Young, who were arrested a few days ago for dealing tan, was on yesterday continued by Justice Stewart until December 20th.

“Miss Kittie Hughes, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas E. Hughes, who has been attending a private school in San Francisco, returned home last evening to spend her vacation.

“James Graham and Edward Osborn were yesterday arrested on a charge of disturbing the peace. On being brought before Justice Stewart the cases were continued without date.

“Mina M. Lacy filed a petition with the county clerk yesterday, praying the superior court that she be legally separated from Robert M. Lacy. She bases her claims on the grounds of cruelty.

“In department No. 2 of the superior court yesterday the jury in the case of the People against Captain H. Smith, charged with using an ax on Chauncey Smith, failed to agree after several hours’ deliberation and were discharged.

“The fire bell is not large enough, many of the firemen living in the suburbs being unable to hear it unless the wind is blowing in the direction of their residence. Instead of getting a new bell, put in the village electric alarm system.

“ John D. Morgan oil yesterday filed his official bond with County Recorder Wainwright: as constable-elect of the third township. His sureties are John C. Hewitt, who qualifies in the sum: of $1000, and J. N. Poole, who also qualifies for the same amount.

“The editor extends his thanks to Mr. Theo. Borchers for a generous Thanksgiving basket, containing a varied selection of choice fruits and vegetables, fit to grace the table of a king. If the prayers of newspaper men availeth anything, Mr. Borchers will live a hundred years and be happy every day.

“Mr. Armitage, the architect of the Electioneer stables, received many compliments yesterday upon the excellent manner in which the building was constructed. At one time the weight of water on the upper floor was simply terrific, but everything, floors, walls and all, stood the strain without giving or getting out of plumb.

“W. B. Holland, a cousin of F. M. Chittenden, accompanied by Herschel Holland, a relative, arrived in this city yesterday from Vevay, Indiana. The young gentlemen heard so much of Fresno, especially during the encampment of the Grand Army in the east, that they concluded to come and spend the winter here rather than in Florida, which they have been in the habit of doing heretofore. They will probably invest in Fresno real estate.”

And finally, an Op/Ed from this day’s newspaper, published at that time by J. H. Short and J. W. Shanklin, is sure to bemuse as you peruse…

“RETURN THANKS. Thanksgiving day is purely an American institution. The idea of returning thanks to God for the blessings bestowed for a twelve-month originated in that spirit of religious sentiment peculiar to our ancestors who came to America to escape the intolerance of the old world. It was celebrated in New England from the first settlement by the Pilgrims and WAS long peculiar to the northern states of the union, but in recent times it has extended to nearly all the states. Since 1862 it has become a national institution.

“The fourth Thursday of November is usually set. apart by proclamation of the president or by the governors of the respective states. Thanksgiving day has changed from a day of fasting and prayer, as at first celebrated, to an occasion of feasting and hilarity. Christmas itself hardly outranks the day we have chosen to display a proper spirit of gratitude, to that mysterious power that controls the universe, in good feeling and generous deeds. All classes, irrespective of religious predilections join in the festival, and if there is not a perfect accord in rendering thanks unto the Supreme Ruler, there is no diversity of opinion upon the importance of having a fat turkey for dinner upon the occasion.

“Just how it came about that the turkey stumbled into national fame and found himself an object, if not of adoration, of at least wholesale digestion, is one of the unsolved mysteries. Perhaps, like Topsy, he "jest growed" into general favor for this special occasion. However, it may have happened that he, like Lord Byron, awoke one morning and found himself famous, is presumably of less interest to countless thousands of gobblers who strutted around the barnyard with great pomp and circumstance three or four days ago, than it is to them to-day. If they cannot strut and gobble in the closing scene of their brief earthly triumphs, they assuredly look far n more pleasing to the eye of man when placed upon the festal board, beautifully roasted and hedged about with a generous supply of cranberry sauce, and so it happens that even the turkey joins in the general thanksgiving. The nation has much for which to be thankful.

“Little less than a year ago the business affairs of the country were thrown into a state of alarming uncertainty by a proposed change of the national tariff policy. This proposition, formulated at great length by the president's annual message to congress, alarmed capital and labor alike. The utter defeat of the free trade party on the 6th of the present month will form the leading theme of thousands of thanksgiving dinners to-day. The ultra devout protectionists will thank Gol for the overthrow of Cleveland and his free trade fallacies; the politicians, of similar political views, as a rule will thank the independence displayed by the American electors in refusing to be lead like lambs to the slaughter at the behest of the party in power. The election of General Harrison is truly a subject of national thanksgiving.

“It means stability of our present prosperity and is the most stinging rebuke to that aristocratic class of politicians whom the president drew around him, who claim that the few should govern and the many obey, that has ever been administered by the American people. We of California should feel deeply grateful for innumerable blessings that have been showered upon us during the past year. Health, increased prosperity and a bountiful rain at just the right season, giving almost absolute certainty of abundant crops, are all matters for which to return thanks. We do return many thanks--and shall proceed to carve the turkey. 

“WELL, Thanksgiving is here, and ye editor will have to skirmish among his neighbors for a turkey dinner or go without--every one of our delinquent subscribers having apparently forgotten that we enjoy a piece of roast gobbler just the same as ordinary people. Wish some of those people who are continually urging us to keep booming the country would engage in the poultry business.”

A true look back into our roots and, possibly, some food for thought.

CENTRAL VALLEY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION

CELEBRATES SIXTY YEARS

The Central Valley Community Foundation invites residents throughout the region to join us in 2026 as we celebrate 60 years of serving the San Joaquin Valley region! The year-long celebration starting in January will include events, an art commissioning, a video contest, and other fun opportunities for you, our neighbors, to celebrate with us. What would a 60-year celebration be without taking time to look back and honor the history of the region? If you love hearing about the stories that shaped this Valley, you won’t want to miss our storytelling series, 60 Stories that Shaped Us. You can check out the stories, videos and get information about all of the anniversary celebration opportunities on our website centralvalleycf.org beginning in January or follow us on Instagram, Facebook or LinkedIn @centravalleycf. Join the celebration!

FOREVER REMEMBERED

DR. JAMES ALDREDGE

(1939 - 2025)

Our community lost a giant of a man in October, Dr. James Aldredge. Until his passing, Jim devoted his entire life and career to breaking boundaries and making Fresno better in a multitude of ways. He truly "poured his heart into this city." Rest well, our friend - you always said the next time we would see you was at Cooley's...sadly, this time you were right, as usual. "

SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY TOWN HALL CORNER

FATHER GREG BOYLE

NOVEMBER 19, 2025

Belonging Gone Right

The Path to Gang Rehabilitation

Life-Changer & Author



What if the answer to violence isn’t punishment, but kinship? Father Greg Boyle, founder of Homeboy Industries, the largest gang-intervention, rehabilitation and re-entry program in the world, has transformed thousands of lives by offering second chances to former gang members. With sharp wit and boundless compassion, he challenges us to rethink justice, redemption, and the power of community. His work isn’t just inspiring—it’s a call to action.

MAKING HISTORY EVERY DAY:

A show of support for the Fallen in Fresno County

Reprinted from ABC30 Action News on October 30, 2025

Wednesday, the Fresno County Sheriff's Office held a somber dedication ceremony for its newly completed memorial in east central Fresno, now open to the public.

Crowds of local leaders, law enforcement and loved ones gathered at the site of the memorial, which is the Area 2 substation on Armstrong and Harvey.

Its wall of honor bears the names of 21 members of the sheriff's office who died in the line of duty and a tree for each life lost.

There is a sculpture of a lion, which represents a peacekeeper of the fallen deputies, guarding those who guarded Fresno.

There are also depictions of a widow left behind and the local bagpiper who plays at the funeral.

The project broke ground in May of 2024.

"Today is not about any one person who helped build this memorial," says Fresno County Sheriff John Zanoni.

"Today, we're here to show our respect and to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice and gave their lives in the line of duty, and to always remember that they are the reason this memorial was built."

The project was done under the Fresno Sheriff's Memorial Foundation.

Established in January 2022, the association aims to honor memories and pay tribute to those who laid down their lives, while also supporting their families' needs.