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A Message from the President
Dear Members, Supporters, and Friends,
With the Olympic Games in full swing across France (with surfing in Tahiti – I definitely picked the wrong sport!), I thought we could hop across the pond to learn a little history – although, technically, it should be about the Greeks, I suppose, I found the roots of our month ahead even more interesting. Hope you do as well.
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August, a word that means “inspiring reverence or admiration,” is the name of the eighth month of the year in our Gregorian calendar. It’s the sixth month of the ancient Roman calendar used by the Roman kingdom and republic. Back then, the month of August was known as Sextilus, Latin for “sixth month.” In 8 BCE, the month was named in honor of Augustus Caesar, the first Roman emperor.
When Augustus Caesar came to power, he wanted a month named after himself, similar to how Julius Caesar had named July after himself. To make August 28 days long, Augustus took a day from February, and also changed September and November to 30 days and October and December to 31 days.
The emperor was a man of many names. He was born Gaius Octavius, the grandnephew of Julius Caesar. He took the extended name Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus in 44 BCE after Caesar’s assassination. Though in English texts, he was often referred to simply as Octavian.
Then in 31 BCE, he defeated Mark Antony and Cleopatra to gain control over the empire. Finally in 27 BCE, when he was named emperor, he was given the honorary title Augustus.
Now, if you’re lucky enough to be in Europe, maybe after the Olympics, it’s likely you’re planning an extended holiday during the month of August. If you’re anywhere in the Northern Hemisphere, you might just be trying to stay cool.
Who knew that a day was stolen from February!
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FIELDS OF FRESNO AG TOUR - FORESTRY
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 28TH - FULL DAY EXCURSION
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Did you know that the Kings Canyon National Park is managed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture?
On Saturday, September 28th, 2024, come with us and learn how the vital services that our forest provides can sustain a precious ecosystem within Fresno County. The biodiversity found in our Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Parks, within the Sierra National Forest, directly affects agriculture in the Valley, in a myriad of ways, which
we will discover on this excursion. Reserve your seats now for this incredible jaunt to the forest on September 28th.
Join the Fresno City & County Historical Society and Tour Director, Candice Calderon, in this full-day Ag Tour which will include two stops. The first, you will visit Welker's Custom Cut Lumber, where you will hear from owner, Kristopher Welker, about the connection between agriculture and forestry with examples of sustainable timber and lumber practices. Then we will head up to the Kings Canyon National Park, to take a walking tour to the iconic General Sherman Tree, led by Alexis Newlin, owner of Authentic Adventures Central CA. The walking tour is two hours, round trip, so be sure to wear comfortable shoes for the paved pathway.
Parking at the Kearney Mansion Museum, breakfast snacks, coffee, water, and lunch are included in the ticket price. It is going to be amazing; you do not want to miss it so get your tickets today!
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ARCHIVAL SPOTLIGHT
By Cami Cipolla, Director of Educational Services
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Hello Friends of the Archives!
Before sharing the exciting developments happening with the Archives, I want to express my most sincere thanks and utmost gratitude to our newest Archives Ally Program supporters. Archives Ally sponsors contribute directly to the restoration, re-accessioning, and relocation of the vast collections we protect and care for. They play a vital role in safeguarding our past for our present and future generations.
Sincerest thanks to:
● Tamsen Munger
● Lynn Baldwin
● Christina Perryman
● Jacob Beardsley
We appreciate your support!
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These initial sponsorships have enabled us to begin work on one of our most notable compilations: The James Porteous Collection. This assemblage, significant for its contributions to early Fresno agriculture and entrepreneurship, is often overlooked by many of our friends. I chose Porteous to pioneer this process because it was the first collection I utilized for research before joining the FCCHS team.
Although I had previously cataloged the Civil and Criminal Justice of the Peace dockets for a California Revealed project as an independent contractor, the Porteous Collection marked my initial direct, physical review of primary source material. During my research for my Master’s thesis on the Forestiere Underground Gardens, which included extensive background on the evolution of Colony Farm Systems in Central California, the growth of the Valley's agricultural industry, and immigration, I delved into this treasure trove. The excitement and anticipation I felt as I carefully examined the ledgers, literary journals, Porteous’ satchel, and photographs are unforgettable. This experience ignited my passion for the Archives, making this program incredibly meaningful to me.
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The Porteous Collection, generously donated by Mrs. Agnes Porteous Walker in 1976, spans from 1877-1947. It is maintained in nine archival boxes containing images, negatives, journals, and papers. The collection includes correspondence, financial records, patents, legal documents, printed materials, Fresno Agricultural Works' catalogs, photographs, a scrapbook, news clippings, the manuscript, and one hard-bound copy of Death and the Reporter. Donors to the Archives Ally Program receive quarterly updates on the collection they are helping to preserve, which includes research, images, and status reports. Each sponsorship level provides information and images of the sponsored collection.
All of our collections have specific requirements for their unique preservation care. The Porteous Collection is multi-faceted, containing journals, photographs, negatives, objects, scrapbooks, and ephemera. Each item in this collection is currently being processed and re-accessioned to prepare for its eventual move.
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What does 'being processed' mean? Processing involves measuring, describing, and photographing each item to gather as much information as possible. This detailed data will eventually be entered into a software program, making it accessible to the public. We gather any relevant data about individual ephemera that can aid researchers in their quest for knowledge and understanding.
In some cases, such as with the Porteous Collection, we have access to additional information provided by the donor. For example, James Porteous' daughter has shared valuable history and background about the items. This enriches our understanding and enhances the overall value of the collection.
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You may be wondering when the collections will move to their new home and become available for research. This is exciting! We are currently working on state and federal grants, as well as local sponsorships, to fund our Comprehensive Climate Action Plan. This extensive blueprint involves developing The Archive on Kern to be climate-safe and sustainable, disaster-proof (with fire, water, earth, and air control HVAC systems), energy and climate efficient, and cost-efficient. Additionally, we need to consider shelving, scanners, boxes, and other necessities. The plan to retrofit and relocate the Archives is extensive, expensive, and time-consuming, but your support is making it happen!
For information on becoming an Archives Ally, please click HERE or contact me at ccipolla@valleyhistory.org | 559.777.4092
Cheers Friends!
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Have you heard the hottest gossip? Our sold-out Stitch & Sip event was a hit! Norla Kitch, our expert demonstrator, supplied a mini knitting kit for each attendee to create their own adorable little bird, with her guidance and direction. Bottomless Mimosas, snacks and vintage newspaper gossip columns were on hand to fuel creativity (and laughs).
Our next Stitch & Sip will take place on December 12th and will feature a tutorial on a holiday-themed embroidery project, as well as libations and treats of the season. Included is a guided tour of the Kearney Mansion, with its opulent yuletide decorations and sixteen Christmas trees, and a 10% discount in our gift shop (hint hint - only 13 days until Christmas).
Act fast! We anticipate this event will sell out quickly.
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ROOTS OF THE VALLEY: A Firebug On The Loose | |
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With all the fires sweeping the Golden State, we thought it would be fascinating to look back at that fateful day in 1953 when the City of Fresno was plagued by a firebug of its own…
Friday, July 10th was a typical summer day in Fresno, clear and hot. The temperature reached 102 degrees by early afternoon. At 1:45pm, a fire alarm was received from Tulare and Broadway and when the firemen arrived, a major blaze was in progress in the sixty-eight-year-old Hughes Hotel.
When built by Thomas E. Hughes, the four-story building was given little thought to fire prevention. However, in later years, a sprinkler system had been installed in the basement. Fire had spread rapidly up the light well from the first floor and had reached the upper floors before the fire department had arrived. Additional equipment was called for and all off duty firemen were called back.
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Hughes Hotel burning, July 10, 1953. | Hughes Hotel Fire Exterior, July 10, 1953. | Hughes Hotel Fire - Exterior ladders bring firefighters into the burning building, 1953. | Fireman guides rescued survivor down ladder from the Hughes Hotel, July 10, 1953. | First Aid area is set up at the site of Hughes Hotel Fire to treat victims, July 10, 1953. | Front lobby of Hughes Hotel was a sea of water and mass of charred wood after fire swept through the four story structure, July 10, 1953. | |
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Numerous vertical openings and lack of attic separations made the fire difficult to control. The entire roof, top floor, and the center core on the lower floors were rapidly involved with fire. For the first hour and one-half, offensive firefighting techniques were used, i.e., firemen with 2 ½” hose lines working inside the building.
Subsequent alarms from other parts of the city requiring the dispatch of men and equipment did not seriously change the strategy until 3:27pm, when an alarm from the Brix Apartments at Fresno and M streets was received and it was determined that another major fire was in progress.
The dispatch of men and equipment to the Brix Apartments made it necessary to work largely on a defensive basis at the Hughes Hotel. The entire roof of the Brix Apartments was destroyed, about 50% of the third floor was gutted, and the lower floors were seriously damaged. Part of the rear wall weakened and had to be pulled down to prevent collapse.
In the two hours and eleven minutes following the first alarm, ten more alarms were received and two of these were major blazes.
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The alarms and the times were:
- *Hughes Hotel - Tulare and Broadway at 1:45pm
- Golden Hotel - Kern and Broadway at 1:55pm
- Gottschalk’s - Fulton and Kern at 2:06pm
- Hotel California - Van Ness and Kern at 2:07pm
- Sequoia Hotel - Van Ness and Kern at 2:29pm
- Alta Apartments - Kern and M at 2:40pm
- *Brix Apartments - Fresno and M at 3:27pm
- *First Christian Church - Tuolumne and N at 3:49pm
- Mission Hotel - 1200 Block Broadway at 3:45pm
- Art Gallery - 1200 Block Broadway at 3:56pm
*Major Fires
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The Hughes, Brix Apartment and First Christian Church became major fires, and the resources of the Fresno Fire Department were heavily taxed. A call was made to the Mid-Valley Fire District and the North Central Fire District under a mutual aid agreement for assistance. The men and equipment from those agencies manned some of Fresno’s fire stations and were instrumental in controlling the fire in the First Christian Church and assisted fighting the fire in the Brix Apartments.
As the fires progressed, calls were made to various towns within fifty miles of Fresno for possible assistance, if needed. Offers of help came from as far away as Bakerfield and Sacramento. In all, thirty-one pieces of equipment and 133 firemen from outside agencies gave aid to Fresno.
As alarms continued to come in, theaters and other public places were closed, and the people sent home. Fresno was put on Martial Law until all danger of additional fires was over.
The 102-degree day combined with the heat and smoke from fires posed a serious threat to the firemen. Fortunately, there were no fatalities, however twenty-five firemen were overcome by heat and smoke. Some were treated at first aid stations on the scene, but others needed hospitalization. None were declared serious.
Fire Chief Gayle Coger directed the firefighting at the Hughes Hotel. The fire at the Brix Apartments was managed by Assistant Chief Grant Reid and the First Christian Church fire was under direction of retired Fire Chief Ralph Williams.
The fires on that day were considered by the Fire Prevention Bureau of the Fresno Fire Department to be arson fires. Extensive investigation by Fresno as well as outside agencies failed to apprehend the culprit or culprits responsible for the fires that tested the courage and stamina of the Fresno Fire Department on that day in 1953.
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“Guest Is Loser In Seventh Hotel Fire”
“The Hughes Hotel fire was the seventh hotel fire in which Charles Bruce Potter, 86, a mining engineer of Manila, PI, has lost all or part of his possessions in the last 51 years.
“Porter left the hotel 15 minutes before the blaze broke out and did not learn the structure was in flames until an hour later.
“’The first one was in Gloverville, NY, in 1902,’ Potter said. ‘I was the last person alive out of that hotel. I remember crawling down the hallway on my hands and knees, one shoe off.’
“Potter lost all his belongings in San Francisco, in the Imperial Hotel in Tokio, Japan, in 1912 and in the 1923 earthquake and fire in Yokohama.’
“’In the Yokohama conflagration,’ he said, ‘all that was left of the Grand Hotel was a porcelain bathtub, one of the first in the Orient.’
“As a guest in the Hong Kong, China, hotel in 1924, Potter said he calmly completed his breakfast while the other end of the long, five story building burned. He also lost all his possessions in a fire in Yokohama in 1926.
“Potter had been in Fresno for a week and was planning to return to Manila the latter part of July.”
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“Broken Hydrant Douses Spectators”
“A note of humor was injected at the Hughes Hotel fire yesterday afternoon when a hydrant at the northwest corner of Tulare Street and Broadway broke loose, spewing water on scores of spectators.
“And a barber whose shop was on the street floor of the hotel was seen gathering up his equipment. Then, with a shrug and a look of resignation, he dropped the gear and walked outside.”
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“Police Hunt For Firebug In $430,000 Downtown Fires”
“13 Blazes By Elusive Arsonist Touch Off Intensive Investigation”
“The Fresno police and fire prevention authorities today are pressing their arson investigation in the wake of a series of fires which destroyed the historic Hughes Hotel, caused irreparable damage to the Bix Apartments, gutted the basement of the First Christian Church, and exhausted the fire fighting facilities in the Fresno district…
“Twenty-six firemen and volunteers suffered smoke inhalation, heat exhaustion, or minor injuries.
“Fire Chief Gayle V. Coger directed about seventy pieces of equipment in fighting the fires---some of the trucks from as far away as Merced, Visalia, and Tulare.
“Seven suspects were questioned last night but were released.”
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“Police Arrest Two Fresno Men On Arson Charges”
“Felton Perkins, 34, of 3571 Fig Avenue and Conrad Fries, 62, of 259 D street today are in jail accused of arson, but investigators said they are unable to link them with the incendiary fires which caused $430,000 damage in Fresno on July 10th…”
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CHRISTMAS IS ONLY 147 DAYS AWAY! This holiday season, the Society will once again bring magic back to the Kearney Mansion Museum & Gallery with our annual Christmas at Kearney display. The Mansion will be filled with 16 decorated trees, each representing a local decorator's interpretation of a favorite Holiday dessert.
From November 29th through January 5th, guests will learn the history of treasured family recipes and how they came to be holiday favorites around the world; from sugarplums to Buche De Noel and from candy canes to gingerbread men. Additionally, guests will tour the Kearney Mansion and learn the story of M. Theo Kearney and the Fruit Vale Estate. Special events are planned during the month, including a Meet & Greet with Santa on December 7th & 8th and our Holiday Tea Party on December 14th.
To celebrate we are holding a SUMMER SALE with special discount pricing on event tickets through August 15th. This sale wont last long so don't wait. Secure your tickets now!
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MAKING HISTORY EVERY DAY
Reprinted from The Business Journal, July 29, 2024 by Frank Lopez
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A local fruit grower is expanding its product selection with the launch of a new blueberry brand.
AC Foods, based in Tulare County’s Richgrove community, recently launched betterful, a line of regenerative, organic-certified blueberries.
The betterful blueberries are grown using practices that focus on rebuilding working landscapes and restoring natural resources. Their approach emphasizes soil health, with the berries deep root systems holding carbon dioxide that would otherwise be released into the air, said Kristin Jacobs, sustainability manager at AC Foods.
“In simple terms, we’re farming in a way that’s good for the berries, good for the soil, and good for the planet — it’s like giving back to nature while growing delicious fruit,” she said.
The vertically integrated producer operates nurseries, farms, packing facilities and sales on more than 20,000 acres across California, Oregon, and Australia.
AC Foods are producers of the popular Sumo Citrus, which is originally from Japan. They have been growing blueberries since 2014, but never had their own brand until the launch of betterful.
“As we look at the strategy of other brands in our portfolio like Sumo Citrus, we wanted to figure out a way to disrupt this commodity category and really bring some excitement to the blueberry aisle,” said Sunnia Gull, vice president of marketing.
Gill said the company had a story to tell with regenerative farming, which was a big spur for AC Foods to launch its own blueberry brand.
Their farms utilize cover crops, compost, mulching, and weed matting to protect from soil erosion, feed soil microbes, and build soil health.
With careful management of their pollinator habitats by removing weeds that allow beneficial native plants to thrive and the monitoring of beneficial insects to maintain natural pollinator papulations, there has been a 25% average increase in betterful’s soil organic matter since 2016.
As with any fresh produce, Dan Bowden, senior vice president of blueberries and tree nuts, said there are always challenges to be expected including high rain levels and high temperatures close together.
“Being vertically integrated, we are able to be in constant communication with farms to manage quality and plan for weather impacts,” Bowden said.
Betterful’s regenerative farming practices create habitats for insects and many bird species, which is beneficial for both the habitat, as well as the crops.
The efforts have resulted in 170 acres of habitat planted and maintained for insects and wild pollinators and a 267% increase of wild pollinators on their farms. The birds allow for the farms to naturally manage pests that may invade crops, giving betterful the chance to provide consumers with healthier, more sustainably grown blueberries.
Betterful’s blueberries are mainly grown between Fresno and Bakersfield, as well as the Delta regions. In California they have farms in Fowler, Sanger, Richgrove, Delano, and near Stockton.
Central Valley consumers can find their products in select stores including Whole Foods. They can also be found at New Leaf Community Markets, Berkeley Bowl marketplace, and Oliver’s Markets.
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