A Message from the President
Dear Friends, Supporters and Members,
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March is always an important month for your Fresno County Historical Society as we embark on another year of serving our children, history buffs and the entire community. This year, we are turning 103 (I know, we don’t look a day over 90…) and we have never been more enthusiastic about the tools, programs and outreach we have underway! Thank you for believing in us during the pandemic and making certain we were able to provide a valuable curriculum for students of all ages.
On Friday, March 25th, we will celebrate our birthday in style at our A Night at the Cocoanut Grove Gala. This year, the theme revolves around the 1930s so I thought it would be fun to find an iconic photo or two from each year of that decade right here in Fresno. What a difficult task with so many images to choose from! We hope you enjoy this journey and, no kidding, tickets to our Gala are nearly gone so visit valleyhistory.org/fchs-gala right away if you would like to join us.
Let’s get started. Despite struggles during the Depression era, Fresno continued to grow and prosper even as those from the decimated middle part of the U.S. headed here where they could find work in agriculture. Though times were tough, prospering enterprises offered aid to the needy, as soup kitchens and bread lines fed thousands of dispossessed people from Oklahoma and Arkansas. As the nation rebounded, new construction and retail thrived – although frugal shoppers were still known for their preference for practicality over luxury.
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In 1930, the population of the city of Fresno was 52,513, up from the original 1,112 in 1880. Completed in 1875, the Fresno County Courthouse was designed by California State Architect, Albert A. Bennett. By the early
1890s, Fresno County was growing, and more space was needed for official business. Two wings were added as well as an impressive and very heavy copper dome which made a clear statement about wealth and pride of the rapidly expanding region. Sadly, a mere two years later, the magnificent dome burned and melted in a horrific fire. By 1914, the Fresno County Courthouse (with a more traditional dome) truly reflected its place as the center of government and county gatherings until its demolition in 1966. In April 1930, attractive walkways and trees made Courthouse Park a social center. Here couples courted, people visited, children frolicked, and older gentlemen played checkers. Band concerts, dog shows and many community events were also held in the comforting shadow of the landmark structure.
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More people meant the need for better transportation and attracted interest from serious aviation. In 1929, Senator W.F. Chandler pledged a tract of his farmland already in occasional use by fliers which became what is now Fresno Chandler Municipal Airport. In 1937, TWA joined the five other airlines already serving the city. Also in view from the aerial photo is the bustling Italian Entertainment Park. The picture on the right, taken June 29, 1931, shows Mr. C.R. Fuller and Miss Elizabeth Chandler dedicating a new Century Pacific Line aircraft. |
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“Akron Is As Long As Two City Blocks”
“The huge U.S. Navy airship, Akron, is 785 feet in length, the navy officials tell us. To most of us these figures are just three more numbers, but here’s what officials of the department of public works tell me about it in comparative dimensions. ‘If the Akron should decide to come down in Fresno’s downtown district and picked out one of the east and west cross streets, with its nose in the middle of Van Ness Avenue, the tip of its tail would be in the middle of Broadway.’” Tragically, less than a year after her triumphant visit to the Valley, the Akron was destroyed in a thunderstorm off the coast of New Jersey on the morning of April 4, 1933, killing 73 of the 76 crewmen and passengers. The accident involved the greatest loss of life in any airship crash.
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Nineteen thirty-three was a standout year for Valley sports with Raffaele (Ralph) “Young Corbett III” Giordano winning a ten-round decision against Jackie Fields to claim the World Welterweight Championship in San Francisco. That fight was his biggest payday at $35,000. In his prime, he was 5’7½” and weighed anywhere from 132 to 163 pounds. Here, he returned home for a victory visit with Walter Marty who had just established a world’s record of six feet, eight and five-eighths inches in the High Jump during the 1933 West Coast Relays. Two world champions from Fresno - quite an achievement. |
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People today often don’t recall that downtown Fresno was THE hub of the city for decades. Sometimes, it is good to recall what wasn’t! This 1934 photograph was taken at the corner of Shields and First avenues - way, way north of town. We all know it didn’t stay undeveloped for long! |
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The finest entertainment was available at a number of clubs, often located in Fresno’s snazziest hotels such as The Hotel Californian’s Regency Room and Night Club. Known as “The Smartest Place to Dine and Dance in the San Joaquin Valley,” the Club promised “Charming Music in a background that would provide enjoyable evenings of entertainment.” This July 31, 1935 photo captured Clarence L. Nelson and his friends enjoying the big band sounds of Jack Clawson “And His Music.” |
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Built under the auspices of the Works Progress Administration in 1936, the Fresno Memorial Auditorium was, for several decades, Fresno's most significant cultural facility. All of the individuals connected with its design and construction were notable architects, engineers, artists and contractors. The grand opening was held on December 31, 1936. Originally seating 2,000 people, the building's Art Deco exterior was outstanding for its time. Many political and entertainment personalities appeared before its audiences. Other than the interior alteration in the auditorium space, the building has largely remained unchanged. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1994 under Criterion A for contributions to the community due to important Entertainment and Political Events that occurred during its formative years. The current layout of the building includes a 500 seat theatre within the original auditorium. The rear of the auditorium is now the National Legion of Valor Museum. |
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One of the Valley’s most longed-for memories revolves around a mainstay of our region for over a century…Gottschalks Department Store. Especially during the holiday and back-to-school seasons, shoppers flocked to their downtown location to find that perfect gift for everyone special. German immigrant Emil Gottschalk came to Fresno in 1890 to work in the dry goods business. While getting his daily shave at a barber shop, he overheard a conversation that would change his life. Developer T.W. Patterson was looking for a tenant for the ground floor of the four-story Forsyth building he was constructing at Tulare and J (now Fulton) streets. Gottschalk seized the opportunity to lease the 30,000-square-foot space. With great fanfare, he launched his own business, E. Gottschalk & Co., on September 17, 1904. His motto was "the store that cares." The emporium quickly became known for quality merchandise and exceptional customer service. It would remain open often, sometimes until midnight, until the last customer went home. Horse and carriage delivered even the smallest item to a customer's front door.
Emil's flourishing business quickly outgrew the space, and he envisioned something bigger: a full-fledged department store providing a shopping experience unlike anything outside of San Francisco. Gottschalk raised enough money to buy property at the outskirts of the business district, a quarter block at Kern and J streets.
Display windows were cased in English Circassian walnut, and the store boasted elevators and the first air conditioning system in Fresno -- coiled water pipes and huge electric fans. Gottschalk died in 1939 at age 77, but his legacy lived on and the company grew for decades, with family members, including beloved nephew, Joe Levy, carrying on in leadership roles.
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In the late 1930s, automobiles were changing rapidly with lots more amenities and windows that closed! If you were looking for a deal, J.E. Rodman Chevrolet at 1400 Fulton was always ready to serve a new customer. Pictured on the right, a night race from the 1938 West Coast Relays. Conceived in 1927 by an ambitious group of Fresno civic leaders and the Fresno State Athletic Department, the Relays quickly became the West's most visible track and field extravaganza and attracted some of the world's finest athletes onto the hallowed ground at Ratcliffe Stadium. In fact, the Stadium’s track was dubbed “the place where world records are broken!” In the 76-year history of the meet, 40 world records were broken or tied. The meet was also the first to be held under lights in the stadium. |
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The end of the decade brought both excitement and tears to Fresno, The photo on the left shows Ratcliffe Stadium, host to spectacular sporting competition and one-time home to the mighty Bulldogs. That dusty two lane road on the left side of the picture is Blackstone Avenue-so named after a famous English jurist, Sir William Blackstone, because a lot of attorneys were among the early residents in the area.
On a sad note to those of us who wax nostalgic, the picture on the right shows one of the last trolley rides for the College Elementary students who spent the day on a field trip. Buses replaced trolleys for good in 1939 and changed public transportation in the city forever.
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Warmest wishes,
Elizabeth Laval
President, Fresno County Historical Society
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THE DOCTOR IS IN: Early Medicine in Fresno County |
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Our newest exhibition is now open at the Kearney Mansion Museum & Gallery. Visitors will take a historic journey through medical practices and treatments dating back to the first days of Fresno County. Featuring photographs by acclaimed photographer, Pop Laval, and items from the Fresno County Historical Society Archives, you will learn about the opening of our first sanitariums & hospitals. Meet turn of the 20th century medical practitioners who worked to keep the community healthy, missionaries who brought western medicine to Native American tribes and the good deeds of the Red Cross in the Valley from as far back as WWI. This exhibit will be on view through May 2022. Don't miss it! |
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TICKETS ON SALE NOW FOR FIELDS OF FRESNO AG TOURS |
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On Saturday, March 12th, the Society will host our monthly agricultural tour, Fields of Fresno.
Fields of Fresno Ag Tours provide engaging, educational and fun excursions to farms and agribusiness locations in and around Fresno County. The goal of the project is to help residents and visitors alike come to understand what farming entails in this region and, in some cases, simply how certain crops grow.
The upcoming tour this month will include a unique tour starting at the Kearney Mansion Museum & Gallery at 7:15 AM with a brief history of M. Theo Kearney and his legendary Kearney Ranch and Fruit Vale Estate.
Next, our comfortable and spacious coach bus will depart for its first stop along the Blossom Trail, Simonian Farms, before re-boarding for a scenic ride to Hillcrest Tree Farm in Reedley for lunch and an open-roof train ride along the Blossom Trail.
The final stop of this trip will be at the Kings River Winery in Sanger for a guided tour and barrel tasting before returning to Kearney Mansion by 1:15 PM.
Fields of Fresno Ag Tours are scheduled by the Fresno County Historical Society to be held eight times in 2022. Each adventure will feature a different route that focuses on what is in season at that time. Visit valleyhistory.org/ag-tour for updates and schedules. All proceeds will benefit educational programs at FCHS.
Space is limited so secure your tickets today!
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MAKING HISTORY EVERY DAY:
FRESNO METRO BLACK CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
RIBBON CUTTING
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A new feature of The Grapevine will be to showcase an important current event or happening that has long-term significance. This month, we would like to honor the Fresno Metro Black Chamber of Commerce. It was a historic day in downtown Fresno on February 25th when the Fresno Metro Black Chamber of Commerce cut the ribbon on their new offices at the corner of Calaveras and Fulton streets. What a grand accomplishment! For the first time, the 21 year-old Chamber has a building of their own from which to provide support to Black-owned businesses in Fresno County. Within the building, the organization also operates the TLG Biz-Werx Innovation and Mobility Hub, a resource center for business owners and entrepreneurs who are served by the Chamber. In addition to the current FMBCC staff and their CEO, Dr. Cassandra Little, the event was also attended by past CEO, Tara Lynn Gray, whose vision and tenacity laid the groundwork that made the new facility a reality as well as former mayor, Ashley Swearengin, a key proponent of the project, and current mayor, Jerry Dyer among others. Congratulations to the FMBCC, a proud and loyal partner of the Fresno County Historical Society. You are truly MAKING HISTORY EVERY DAY!
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ROOTS OF THE VALLEY: The Flood of March 1938
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Please click "View Entire Message" at the end of this story to enjoy the full history. |
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In 1938, the entire Fig Garden was underwater. Adobe houses melted, a plane crashed in the mountains and damage was widespread and tragic. As much of the attention was turned to the Fig Garden, the missing TWA plane with nine souls onboard was believed to have gone down in the Bass Lake area. An excerpt from that search… |
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“Hunt By Air, Land Swings To Bass Lake – 15 Planes Fight Mist, Clouds Above Skyliner Ground Searchers – ARMY BOMBERS AID – Big War Craft Circle Over Fresno Port, Turn To Mountain Task” |
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“Ground crews bent before driving rain and sleet toward Bass Lake in their search for the missing TWA airliner believed to have crashed with nine persons aboard. Above the searchers, fifteen airplanes from Chandler Field hovered over the rough mountain area trying to pierce mist and clouds to aid them. … The swing in the hunt toward Bass Lake follows ineffectual searching from both ground and the air for three days confined principally to the San Joaquin River Canyon. … The new area of search is blanketed in snow and is from 4,000 to 5,000 feet in elevation. Benedict, forest supervisor, has charted one mythical course of the plane ranging from near The Falls resort east of Bass Lake and another west toward Goat Mountain. His rangers are equipped with powerful binoculars, but the rain and sleet left them with scant hope they would be effective.” |
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Sadly, despite heroic efforts by all, the wreckage was discovered three months later near Yosemite National Park.
Historically speaking, this disaster brought back shades of Henry Miller who had always claimed he had traversed a greater portion of the present San Joaquin Valley in a rowboat, and thus obtained water rights and other claims, later legally approved, to the acreage which became the Miller & Lux holdings. There is definitely more to THIS important story!
As far as the flood goes, this was big news and The Fresno Bee offered extensive reporting for more than a week. The following are excerpts from some of their stories…
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“Water Swirls Into Rural Fresno Homes – Irrigation Officials Warn Break In Ditch Banks Is Imminent
Rise is Expected – Boats Used In Rescue of Marooned Residential Area Refugees”
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“Weakening banks of the Herndon Canal, only bulwark against an on-rush of waters from the flooded Fig Garden district into the northern residential sections of Fresno, late this afternoon, were seen as an additional menace as damage already mounting in hundreds of thousands of dollars continued to pile up as waters rose in the area north of the canal.
"The Fig Garden suburb, flooded throughout most of last night and today by waters from the Clovis district, also faced the threat of additional damage as the water continued rising and was expected to reach a depth of from six inches to a good more late this afternoon."
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“Warning Is Issued”
“A warning instigated by officials of the Fresno Irrigation District was issued this afternoon by the Fresno County sheriff’s office informing residents, sightseers and others in the territory immediately south of the flooded Fig Garden district, the Herndon Canal banks might give way. This would allow the water from Fig Garden to flow southward.
“’I think we are holding our own,’ said one official of the irrigation district, ‘but it may be several hours before it can be determined how much more water will flow across the country and back up against the Herndon Canal banks.’
“He said the capacity of Herndon Canal is 600 second feet and that a slight drop in the flow was recorded at about 2 o’clock this afternoon which permitted the diversion of some flood waters into the stream from a point east of Fresno. Added danger of more water pouring into the Fresno area also was attributed to debris which has piled up against head gates to block some of the water. If this debris clears away, a larger volume will rush through and may break."
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“Poignant Drama Marks Fig Garden Flood Scene” |
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“A boat starts out. A man on the shore asks to be taken to inspect what is left of his home. He is taken aboard. The spectators bandy comments. They are having a good time but there are many who have friends in the Fig Garden area who ask questions. Have so and so gotten out all right? How deep is the water at their house? Is it rising?
"One of the boatmen volunteers that it has come up a couple of inches in the last hour. It may come up more – there is no telling. Through the crowd rushes a man who looks woebegone – he asks quickly for transportation. ‘My home is in there,’ is all he says. The crowd quickly parts. The smiles on the faces of the onlookers quickly fade. They recognize tragedy – are eager to help.
“Property owners in the Fig Garden district and nearby residential areas north of Fresno inundated by flood waters which swept about twelve miles across country from lowland overflows near Clovis suffered losses definitely in excess of $1,000,000.”
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“Adobe Homes Hardest Hit”
“Greatest damage was done to individual homes at the dwellings of Gilbert H. Jertberg, Fresno attorney and president of the Fresno County Chamber of Commerce at Wilson and Saginaw Avenues, and Stanley Surfield, Bank of America employee at the southeast corner of Maroa and Sussex Avenues. Furniture was strewn about by the rising tide.
“Adobe walls of the former home crumbled after they became water soaked and were unable to withstand the flood pressure and weight of the roof was upheld by timbers, and part of the walls remain.
“The entire tile roof of the Surfield home plunged into the wreckage after the adobe walls collapsed. Losses suffered by these two owners have not been estimated, since it is impossible to determine the cost of rebuilding or the damage to furnishings and personal property.”
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A pictorial dramatization of the disastrous flood in the Fig Garden area is shown in these photographs snapped by Claude Laval, Jr. (Pop’s son), in a motorboat furnished by the Borden Company.
No. 1 shows William Stockburger, center, supplying a bottle of milk to Henry Biehl, reaching out at the left from under the eaves of his home on Van Ness Boulevard. No. 2 is of the H.C. Gibbs residence at 4305 Wilson Avenue, with members of the Gibbs family rescuing a house guest from a second story window. No. 3, P.K. Craighead’s automobile submerged in water which surrounds homes on Lansing Avenue, east of Wilson Avenue. No. 4, a typical Fig Garden flood scene, looking north on Wilson Avenue.
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Dr. F.L.R. Burks, waist deep in flood water, is shown receiving am extra edition of The Fresno Bee containing latest news of the flood situation and pictures of the district including aerial views in which the Burks home at 4801 Van Ness Boulevard stand out conspicuously. Alex Seher, The Bee circulation manager, is shown in the boat from which papers were delivered throughout the district.
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The flood resulted from immense pressure in the Clovis area, inundating the Herndon Canal and Dry Creek. Most people have always believed that when the Friant Dam went online, it prevented this type of flooding. But, as you have read, the San Joaquin River was NOT the source of the inundation of Fresno in 1938. There is documented proof that forty years prior, in 1898, geological engineer, C.E. Guernsey, had demanded in an official bulletin to the U.S. government, that immediate steps be taken to “control the seasonal overflow waters of the Kings River and drainage of the foothills.” He predicted floods would result in serious damage to lands westward from where the river channel emerges from the Sierra Nevada mountains. By the 1930s, these very lands were covered with countless acres of vineyards and orchards and thousands upon thousands of valuable homesites that were now sitting under water. After this tragedy, it was agreed that “forty years of talks had failed to solve the flood problem and the dilly-dallying over control plans had to stop.” |
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THE FRESNO COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY
valleyhistory.org
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