May 1, 2025

A Message from the President

Dearest Members, Supporters, and Friends,

This is somewhat an ironic day. The kick-off of National Historic Preservation Month is held on May 1st each year. What is unusual in 2025, is that this celebratory time follows immediately on the heels of our organization, as well as thousands more across the country, having been notified that all federal and, in many cases, state grants that relied on federal dollars from the NEH, the NEA, the IMLS, the National Park Service and more have been suspended indefinitely or terminated for the time being. 

Let me be crystal clear – this is in NO WAY a commentary of or reflection on what the Executive Branch is doing in Washington, D.C. The Fresno City & County Historical Society is a neutral non-profit which strives every minute of each day, for 106 years now, to preserve the past and present in a completely unbiased and transparent fashion so that current and future generations can LEARN the lessons that only truthful accounts told from a variety of viewpoints, often diametrically opposed to each other, can provide; material that people can absorb and use to come to their own conclusions. 

I have to admit, though, that we are sad and disappointed to see our funders shuttered, and we hope balance can be restored soon. 

However, we are optimistic that self-funded granting entities and local donors will open their coffers to groups like the FCCHS for the good of all the community. The argument has been floated that the work we do should be on the back burner and that humanitarian crises must take precedence. No one would disagree that there are many within our country’s borders and across the globe that are in dire need of assistance. 

We would take the position that serving those referred to above and capturing the records and thoughts of modern-day Americans, with our community a variegated microcosm of the world as a whole, is vitally crucial as well. They are not mutually exclusive. 

As we have been preparing a number of funding proposals for The Archive on Kern, there was just something more we felt we needed to add to better stress the vital role of what we do – some might say “beat you over the head to make our point.”

Well, as she so often does, our Vice President of Museum Service (and so much more), Candice Pendergrass, stayed up most of one night as we were twisting in the wind a bit to find the missing link. See what you think of this. Candice wrote:

“ARCHIVES PRESERVE DEMOCRACY AND PROTECT TRUTH”

“On a remote Norwegian island of Spitsbergen in the Svalbard archipelago, near the North Pole, sits The Svalbard Global Seed Vault carved into a mountainside. This far away facility is a long-term seed storage bank. The Seed Vault is the ultimate insurance policy for the world’s food supply. It stores duplicates (backups) of seed samples from the world’s crop collections as a safeguard against catastrophic loss.

“Svalbard stands as a failsafe against starvation and extinction. The seeds inside its protective shell are vital to our survival. In much the same way, the Archive on Kern holds in its protective shell original truth, understanding, and knowledge. This unique and irreplaceable collection stands ready to combat disinformation, manipulated facts and lost history with unedited, original documents that can set right misunderstanding, shed light on lies, and correct errors wherever they are found.

“The technological advances of the past 25 years have introduced both wonderful and terrifying changes to our daily lives. Ninety-four percent of all Americans access the internet regularly; roughly 311 million people across the country find news and information, enjoy entertainment, and perform their jobs each day on-line. Through the world wide web, we are more connected and more separated than ever before.

In November 2022, the advent of publicly accessible Artificial Intelligence was introduced to our digital lives and over the next two and a half years, this technology has been used by individuals, businesses, and governments alike to change our understanding of reality.

“Never before in history did we question whether a recorded speech was truly ever given or just generated by AI. Never before was there a possibility that online photos or videos that you can watch with your very own eyes are possibly a complete fabrication. As the sophistication of the uncontrolled system has grown exponentially, we are now finding increased and unchecked capabilities that include generating convincing fake facts. It is able to change digital documents, news articles and other published material. In the hands of bad actors, artificial intelligence can rewrite our entire history, alter perceptions, and erase achievement.

“That is why the seeds of history that are stored within The Archive on Kern are so vital to the preservation of our way of life. In a world of AI, original documents, letters, newspapers, and photo negatives may be the last and best option to restore facts and reclaim truth. 

“The Fresno City & County Historical Society is poised to be able to respond to times like these and future attacks on democracy and free speech with informative exhibits and programs drawn from the primary source material within its holdings and the vast collection of journalism contained in the McClatchy Collection. With the investment of our supporters and friends, The Archive on Kern will keep truth and the first amendment strong.”

Yes, I tell Candice and all the Team, daily, how lucky we are to have them on our side – not to the left, not to the right, but on the side of reality. 

If you cannot tell, we, including our invaluable Board of Trustees, take our mission seriously. And we need your help, now more than ever before. 

Things will settle down in the government – they always do. In the meantime, the FCCHS must be there to capture and record every moment. Each day in our world is historic and we intend to keep on Making History Every Day!

Below is a calendar with all the events the Historic Preservation Commission has in store for May – including the reintroduction of three Walking Tours by the Society – the San Joaquin River Parkway, Huntington Boulevard, and the Mural District with a stop for a cold beverage. 

In case you did not remember, FCCHS members receive discounted (and sometimes free) admission to these tours. All the information and registration details are on our website – valleyhistory.org.

On top of that, learn about our Mother’s Day and Father’s Day experiences – make some history of your own this spring. 

A final plea – one thing we learn in studying history is that it does or can repeat itself, especially when the deeds of the past are not allowed to be fully explored. In The Grapevine and, in fact, in all our work, we try to bring you perspectives that provide links to the past to help us better understand what is happening around us. I ask that you support us in continuing to provide you and future generations the pieces they need to assemble a full and complete puzzle – apart, the image is often hard to discern. Together, the picture they comprise helps make sense of the jumbled world around us. 

I truly hope to be able to welcome you all in person at one of our tours or events. A very Happy Mother’s Day to all (including me) and don’t forget that Memorial Day is more than a time to picnic and shop for sales on mattresses – the holiday is to honor and remember those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for this nation. Never tell a veteran (my son included) Happy Memorial Day – they are the ones who made it back to loving arms and we get to celebrate them on November 11th each year. 

My deepest gratitude to each of you, 

Elizabeth Laval                                               

President                                                 

Fresno City and County Historical Society 

Join us and celebrate Mom on Saturday, May 10, 2025, at the Kearney Mansion Museum with a traditional tea party. This special event features your choice of seating in the Mansion dining room or on the veranda overlooking Kearney Park. Tickets for our first seating at 11:00AM are nearly gone.

Your tickets include a traditional tea service and a tour of the Kearney Mansion Museum and Gallery along with a 10% discount on store merchandise. 

Thanks so very much to the Fresno Coin Gallery for their generous support.

TEQUILA TASTING AND CIGAR NIGHT

Sip & Smoke at Kearney Mansion Museum - June 21st

Back by popular demand, Sip & Smoke will return to Kearney Mansion on June 21st - just in time for Father's Day Gift Giving.

This is sure to be a smooth evening complete with the opportunity to learn about and taste eight tequilas, enjoy savory bites, and puff a cigar at Kearney Mansion after dark, following in the tradition of M. Theo himself.

The evening will explore the uniquely Mexican spirits: Blanco, Reposado, Joven, Anjeo, Xtra Anejo, Cristalino, Sotol and Mescal. 

All guests must be 21-years-old.

For more information or to sign up, contact:

ccipolla@valleyhistory.org | 559.777.4092

You can also register directly HERE.

PLAN A SUMMER FIELD TRIP TO THE KEARNEY MANSION MUSEUM!

DISCOVER LOCAL HISTORY THIS SUMMER

Calling all Clubs, Summer Camps, Youth Programs, and Summer School Groups!

This summer, from June through August, we invite you to explore the beautiful Kearney Mansion Museum—a unique field trip destination where students and participants can connect with Fresno County’s rich agricultural roots and the legacy of M. Theo Kearney, the “Raisin King of California.”

Guided tours bring history to life as visitors walk through the elegant mansion and experience what Fresno County was like during the early days of the San Joaquin Valley’s farming boom. Perfect for all ages, tours can be tailored to suit your group’s special needs.

Booking now for summer dates (June–August)! Spots fill quickly, so reserve your visit soon.

To schedule a tour or learn more, contact Debbie Unger at (559)777-4087 or email her at dunger@valleyhistory.org.

We can’t wait to welcome your group to the Kearney Mansion Museum!

YOUR INVITATION TO NEW WALKING TOURS

By Candice Hill, Director of Tourism & Strategic Initiatives

Neighborhood Walking Tours during the Spring and Fall will return in May this year during the City of Fresno's Historic Preservation Month.

San Joaquin River Walking Tour - $10 non-member/ members FREE

We will kick off on Saturday, May 3rd at 9:00AM with a 1.5-hour history and nature tour with Tour Director, Candice Hill, on a trail by the San Joaquin River. The starting point will be from Sumner Peck Ranch's U-Pick store to Ball Ranch. Be prepared to walk 45 minutes in both directions, wear closed-toe and closed-heel walking shoes, bring a hat, and a water container. Sign up to take part in this tour HERE.

Huntington Boulevard Walking Tour -

$10 non-member/ members FREE

Saturday, May 10^th at 9:00AM will feature the historical Huntington neighborhood with Tour Director Candice Hill. The starting point will be from Huntington and First street heading East down Huntington Blvd. A special resident of that neighborhood, Sherril Nells, will join us briefly with some personal insights. This excursion is a 1-hour history and nature tour with 30 minutes one-way and 30 minutes back. Be prepared to wear comfortable walking shoes and fill your water container. Sign up to take part in this tour HERE.

Mural District Walking Tour-

$20 non-member/ $10 members

Occurring in Downtown Fresno on Wednesday, May 21st from 7:00PM - 8:30PM. Take the time to become immersed in and internalize what the surrounding murals mean to you during this 1.5-hour tour that begins from the North/West Corner of Stanislaus and Broadway (heading West on Broadway), turning right on Sacramento, right on Fulton, and ending at the Fresno Stamp Mural. Enjoy one complimentary beverage midway of the tour at South of Shaw Brewery for a 30-minute break as you may view one of the Tour Director's favorite murals from your seat - The Field of Abundant Possibilities. There are over 15 murals that will be pointed out. You'll have a chance to see how many of these unique artistic creations your eyes can catch, besides the highlighted ones, and win Mural District Bingo! Sign up to take part in this tour HERE.

ARCHIVAL SPOTLIGHT

Demystifying Digitization - May 20, 2025

By Cami Cipolla, Director of Educational Services and Community Engagement

Hello Friends of the Archives,

We are thrilled to announce our first Cataloguing and Archiving Workshop at The Archive On Kern this month!

This inaugural workshop is designed for historical and cultural organizations looking to enhance their cataloguing and archiving skills. Participants will join us for a hands-on session focused on efficiently accessioning and managing archival collections.

This engaging workshop, on May 20th from 1PM to 4PM, will cover the fundamentals of cataloguing, archiving, and digitizing images and ephemera, providing practical, step-by-step training. Participants will learn how to properly catalog items from start to finish, create accurate and searchable metadata, and digitize, name, and organize digital content to better manage their collections.

Attendees will gain invaluable hands-on experience working directly with materials from the FCCHS Archives while learning best practices for preserving and organizing historical collections, including photographs, documents, and audio/visual materials.

We are honored to collaborate with California Revealed on this workshop and on the upcoming Demystifying Digitization session. Although our cataloguing workshop is currently full, there is still space available for the digitization workshop!

Register today! Space is limited: RSVP | 2025 Demystifying Digitization Workshop

ROOTS OF THE VALLEY:

WINGS OVER FRESNO COUNTY

Excerpts from an article written by Neil Albrecht from Fresno – Past & Present

For millions of years, Fresno County has had wings. The great California Condor has the largest wings of any living creature but never managed to put them to any useful purpose – as far as man was concerned. Soon after the turn of the century man brought wings of his own to the San Joaquin valley and changes have been thick and fast ever since. The Condor is now almost extinct, but wings of linen, spruce, and metal grow more plentiful by the day.

Orville and Wilbur Wright started the change, in a sense, by proving that a man could fly. But this isn't their story; Fresno County owes its debt of gratitude to other pioneers of the air. Some of us may recall these early pioneers who taught Fresno County the value of flight. There were two men named Glenn--Glenn Curtiss who barnstormed the country with his spidery makeshift little plane and Glenn Martin a daredevil who brought crowd surging to their feet near Fresno with early demonstrations of “making like a bird” as they called it.

Lincoln Beachey deserves whole volumes of credit for his skill during these early days of flight. Young Beachy, scarcely out of his teens, came to the fairgrounds with a brand-new talent and left the citizens numb. His talent was a rare one: Beachey did things with his flimsy monoplane that no other man dared try. He was an out and out daredevil who buzzed perilously close to the crowd, leaving them with an acrid taint of gasoline fumes from the laboring engine. He rolled his plane; he hopped over trees as if his airplane was a Pogo stick and for the finale, he looped the loop. Today, this maneuver is easy. In Beachey’s time, it was a duel with death. The wooden wings took too much punishment and everyone knew it. It was only a matter of time before Lincoln Beachey forced his airplane just a little too far and he did it, trying an outside loop, near San Francisco. 

By this time everyone was excited over the coming air age. It was a time of war, however, and until World War I ended, there were few aircraft seen in Fresno County the Versailles Treaty brought an end to the need for most military aircraft and transported men of vision to the forefront, clamoring for surplus government airplanes. 

Lincoln Beachey preparing for a flight demonstration at the Fresno Fairgrounds. Photo courtesy of the Pop Laval Foundation.

Roy Mazzei was one of the first. He accepted delivery of his JN-4 airplane in San Diego in 1921 and, with the help of a friend, put it in flying shape. But their troubles were only starting; they had several 100 miles to cover if they intended to fly to Fresno, and there were precious few places where a man could land his airplane at the time. 

They flew away toward Fresno anyhow, daring trouble. It accepted the dare near Los Angeles, when the ancient liquid-cooled engine overheated and the audacious men took to the nearest open spot they could find. It turned out to be the beach which was near plenty of water, but water that would ruin an engine. It was sometime before the JN-4, called “Jenny” by her owner, bounced across the sand again to become airborne.

There were two more forced landings before Mazzei reached Fresno, one of them near Bakersfield practically on a highway. The fliers casually walked to a handy service station and bought gasoline from a google-eyed attendant. We may pardon the attendant for being startled, since he had probably never seen an airplane up close before. let alone a plane called Jenny that landed near filling stations. But after no less than three forced landings, Mazzei got the plane to Fresno. And now the County began to reap the benefits from wings.

Claude Laval, Jr. sits inside a plane named Jenny in Fresno County. Photo Courtesy of the Pop Laval Foundation.

The era of daredevils drew to a close, for the most part, as local men learn to build and fly their own planes. Stranded mountaineers were saved by mercy missions as plucky pilots dropped parcels of food to them while fighting treacherous mountain winds. Jack Schneider, in 1936, even dropped life-saving serum to an injured man and nearly lost his life in the process. That, and so much more, is all a part of “the rest of the story.”

Here are several momentous memories from our local flying past, including the aforementioned Glenn Martin, dubbed “The Pioneer of the Skies,” in an incredible story.

Glenn Martin in his bi-plane, April 13, 1912. Photo courtesy of Pop Laval Foundation

In the early morning of April 13, 1912, young Glenn Martin took the controls of a home-made airplane that he had built in Santa Ana, California. He made the nation’s first air express flight, leaving the Fresno Fairgrounds with a bundle of Fresno Morning Republican newspapers destined for the city of Madera. Twenty-four minutes later, his cargo was parachuted to waiting newsboys and cheering crowds, and a world record was set. As he began his return trip, strong headwinds caused the aeroplane to run out of gas, and Martin glided the final 3/4 mile to the Fairgrounds, establishing another world record; this for the longest reported glide distance without a motor. His historic flight was reenacted in 1948 when Martin flew one of his own company’s twin engine commercial airliners on the original route, delivering 1,450 copies of The Fresno Bee after a seven-minute flight.

Displays of the alien aeroplanes and aviation related events were as mysterious and exciting as space shuttle launches in the latter half of the 20th century. The Fresno Morning Republican reported in 1914 that "Miss Katherine Stinson, the schoolgirl aviatrix, flew over the city and then made several successful flights at the Fairgrounds, proving that she was the master of her aircraft when everything was in working order." 

In early aviation, mishaps proved a constant worry. During the 1916 Fresno Fair, aviator Joe Mattingly reportedly met with a slight accident. During his landing rollout, he had to swerve to avoid an obstacle, blew a tire and crashed headlong into the fence. Fair directors reported the huge military aircraft was able to fly the next day, gliding gracefully above the crowds and dropping smoke bombs. By 1919, commercial air transportation possibilities were being explored. Race driver, Earl Cooper, his pilot, Dan Davidson, and William L. Hughson, arrived at the fairground in Cooper’s Curtiss Oriole in a "routes and facilities" survey. Throughout the Fair, demonstration and exhibition rides were conducted by Davidson and pilot Shirley Brush of Fresno, to great public acclaim.  

Pilot Dan Davidson proudly displays his Curtiss Oriole on September 30, 1919. Photo courtesy of the Pop Laval Foundation.

On May 14, 1919, Pop Laval captured this historical moment…

FRESNO TERMINUS AIR PASSENGER SERVICE

Al Wilson Pilots First Ship to Fresno to Map Aerial Route

Airplane to Be Stationed Here to Carry Passengers on Long Trips

First Passenger Air Service Between Los Angeles and Fresno, May 14, 1919. Photo courtesy of the Pop Laval Foundation.



“Fresno last night was made the terminus of the first passenger carrying airplane service on the Pacific Coast, when Al Wilson of Los Angeles, general manager of the Mercury Aviation company, piloted a 150 horsepower Canadian Curtiss biplane to this city and landed on Forkner Field at 7:30. The actual flying time between Fresno and Los Angeles was 3 hours and 30 minutes. 

“With Wilson as the first passenger on the trip was Clem Pope, who has been stationed at the naval flying school at San Diego. Construction of an Illuminated landing field much nearer Fresno than Forkner Field, and establishment of regularly scheduled taxi-plane flights with 12-passenger machines are planned as an eventuality by the quarter million-dollar corporation which is headed by Cecil De Mille. 

“For the present, five Curtiss planes equipped with the Canadian Curtiss engines will provide the means of transportation and single passengers will be carried from this city to Los Angeles for $200 one way.

“As soon as the business warrants it, General Manager Wilson says that the big 12-passenger ships will be put on the run and the Los Angeles to San Francisco schedule will be established. 

“The airplane left Los Angeles at 1:30 yesterday afternoon and landed in Bakersfield at 2:15 p.m. After taking on gasoline and water there the flight to this city was continued. The air route to Bakersfield was 128 miles and from Bakersfield to this city 112 miles. The greater part of the flight was made at an altitude of about 8,000 feet. 

“Mr. Pope, who was a front seat passenger, described the trip as follows:” 

‘We left the Mercury aviation field at exactly 1:21 p.m. and at 1:30 were crossing the Hollywood hills at 8000 feet altitude. We came up Bouquet canyon and across Antelope valley, this being the best air route. 

‘At one point along the route Wilson saw men hunting and we dropped to within a few hundred feet of the ground out of curiosity to see what they were doing. They were hunting deer out of season. 

‘As soon as we hit the San Joaquin Valley, we noticed a great change in the landscape. From the barren country over which we had been passing, we came to the fertile fields near Fresno. The wonderful country around here looked like a checkerboard of green fields from the air. 

‘The entire trip was without incident.’ 

“Wilson will fly tomorrow morning over this city and will leave for Los Angeles about 11 o'clock. 

“A ship will be brought here soon from Los Angeles and will be stationed in Fresno as the northern terminus of the line, ready for flights to Los Angeles, San Diego and intervening points.” 

“Leaves Los Angeles”

“LOS ANGELES, May 13-Two airplanes, piloted by Al Wilson, general manager of the company, and C.V. Pickup, formerly an army aviator, departed from Los Angeles shortly after noon today on the first trip between this city and Bakersfield and Fresno, of recently organized aerial navigation company, which has entered the business of carrying passengers between these cities. 

“Two passengers were carried, one in each machine. The first stop was to be made at Bakersfield, the machines continuing on Fresno where they will spend the night."

The lore of the early days of flying was that those best prepared to tinker with these air-machines of marvel were none other than farmers who were under constant pressure to fix their equipment of the fly, so to speak, because of the pressures of harvest. There is no wonder, then, that the San Joaquin Valley, and especially Fresno County, played such a visible and intrinsic role in the development of early aviation for the entire United States. 

Look for more of the story in future issues of The Grapevine newsletter.  

MAKING HISTORY EVERY DAY:

From a refugee camp to City Hall, Fresno’s newest councilmember takes the reins after emotional ceremony

Written by Omar S. Rashad with Fresnoland Reprinted from The Business Journal, April 10, 2025

This story was originally published by Fresnoland, a nonprofit news organization.

In a tearful speech after taking his oath of office Thursday, Brandon Vang thanked the people who came before him. 

That included his father and eldest brother — who were both among the thousands of Hmong people recruited by the Central Intelligence Agency to fight in the Secret War, which spanned 1964 to 1973 in Laos. 

“To my father and other veterans who fought in the Secret War in Laos, I thank you for your courage, for your sacrifice, so a Hmong refugee boy born in Laos can be sitting here on the dais at Fresno City Hall,” Vang said in his inauguration speech.

After three months without a councilmember, southeast Fresno finally has its representative on the council. Vang far outpaced the competition during the District 5 special election and won the seat outright, garnering 50.19% of all votes cast. 

He thanked all who voted for him in southeast Fresno, including the Hmong community — which Vang said is an extension of his family. 

He also thanked his wife, May Lee. 

“It’s true that wherever I go — my wife is not behind me — my wife has always been with me and sometimes ahead of me,” Vang said Thursday, adding that he wouldn’t be there without his wife’s support. 

Vang also thanked his family and extended relatives. 

“We faced adversity. We overcame challenges. We are stronger today because of you,” Vang said. “This is vindication. This is the result of truth and hard work.”

Vang’s presence on the dais can be decisive moving forward: while it’s unusual for city councilmembers to sharply disagree with each other, a fierce debate ensued in March over cracking down on smoke shops in Fresno. 

Councilmembers Miguel Arias, Annalisa Perea and Nelson Esparza attempted to advance a policy that would close at least three dozen smoke shops in Fresno, but it failed in a 3 to 3 vote, with the District 5 council seat vacant.