Community
A Place Called
PAGE 2A
Prior to the large major stores coming to Porterville this color photo shows Main Street in decorations from Garden Ave. looking North. In those days; Main Street was always packed.
 Local light-hearted historians 
BY JAMIE A. HUNT
There is a little known group or club of merry
men that became well known during the gold rush
time, around 1849 in California. The group was
known as “Clampers,” and they belonged to the
fraternal order of  “E Clampus Vitus.” The men
formed ECV, mainly because they couldn’t af-
ford, didn’t qualify, or didn’t have kinfolk in the
Elk, Mason, or Odd Fellow Lodges. The wide-
spread, influential, and formal fraternal, and
somewhat exclusive organizations of the 1800’s
and 1900’s.  According to Oswalt when the gold rush ceased
The Clampers poked fun and made a spoof of
the more authoritarian and privileged groups,
when they formed E Clampus Vitus and mainly
drank and had a good time. But, when times were
hard, they did help other men in their group, and
also helped “widders and orphans. But especially
the widders.” Miners in this group panned for
gold throughout the hills of California.  where the numbers came from.” But he does say
The order was very popular in California until
about 1915, states Jeff Edwards, who published
a book about ECV filled with historical photo-
graphs about the group’s revitalization in 1930.
In the old days clamper members were pri-
marily interested in mining and exploration, the
men were often also mountain men, hunters, and
explorers.
Bill Horst has been a clamper historian since
1974, and knew many of the early important local
chapter members, Joe Doctor and Bill Rogers.  cated. Not too far from that marker is a plaque
Dennis Oswalt, a clamper since 1997, is the gold
dust receiver, or treasurer of ECV Tulare County
Chapter1855, Dr. Samuel Gregg George.
Contemporary clampers are involved in keeping
California and Western history alive and the ECV is
now a historical or hysterical society. Once a year
in October, or thereabouts, they place a monument
to commemorate a historical place or a historical
event, or person either using a bronze plaque or
a large stone marker. Many of these markers can
be seen in cities throughout Tulare County, quite a
few in Porterville and surrounding areas.
Recently they placed a stone marker to com-
memorate local businesswoman Nettie Smith in
the yard in front of the Porterville Recorder on
Oct. 12, 2019.
“Clampers” wear the highly visible red shirts
and old-fashioned western garb when having a get-
together or “doin,” instead of fancy regalia.
The clothing is reminiscent of a miner panning
for gold “who has staked his claim” on a stream or
river bank.
Clampers wear all kinds of buttons and pins,
THE PORTERVILLE RECORDER
made out of tin cans, and sometimes stove pipe
hats, making fun of the staid organizations.  ing. There is also a marker for Tulare’s China-
Serving the community, the ECV primarily lo-
cates a family to help at Christmas time says Os-
walt, and showers them with gifts and a Christmas
tree. The organization also donates to the Blind
Babies Foundation, and occasionally will help
someone in need anonymously during the year.  for years.
There are several “doins” a year, or ECV events,
where the money gathered by members will pay
for the making and placement of the monument.  He has written a book with G. Andrew Miller
to exist, the ECV died out. It was revitalized by
two San Francisco professors in 1930-1931, who
thought the ECV was just a marvelous fraternal
order, and formed Chapter 1. In Los Angeles,
Chapter 2 formed, and then various ECV chap-
ters started forming in counties all over Cali-
fornia. Oswalt says with a laugh, “I don’t know
clamper chapters are named after historical peo-
ple. For instance, the Chapter 1855 Dr. Samuel
Gregg George is named after a pioneer doctor
who practiced medicine in Tulare County and
lived in Porterville.  lodges formed in nearly every town in the Cali-
George was a patriot during the civil war, a
spy, a miner, and an explorer, and served in the
Mexican War in 1946. He was buried in Porter-
ville Cemetery in 1905. There is a stone marker
on Mill St., Porterville where his home was lo-
commemorating Porterville’s bad man Jim McK-
inney, who started a shoot-out near Main Street
and Mill St. There is also a marker for the Tule
River Stage Station located on Plano St.  assemblymen, newspapermen, sheriffs, bankers,
Chapter 1855 DSGG has dedicated 45 memori-
als throughout Tulare County since its inception
in 1973, to commemorate historical events, peo-
ple, businesses, and buildings or areas relevant
in California history.  of initiation. But the fraternal order doesn’t take
A marker for The Treaty of 1851, located on the
Tule River Indian Reservation at Eagle Feather
gas station and mini mart above Lake Success
on Hwy 190 was dedicated in 2012. A memo-
rial marker on the highway to the left before
Springville, celebrates the town of Daunt, which
predates Springville. There is a marker for the
Camp Nelson homestead of John Milton Nelson
in 1886, while the marker dedicating California
Hot Springs Resort was placed in 2011.  There are chapters in California, Nevada, Ari-
A marker for the Old Tulare County Jail in
Visalia is located on the corner of Oak St. and
Church, across from the Depot Restaurant. On
Main St., Visalia there is a bronze plaque for
Visalia Saddle Company located outside Brew-
2022
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
bakers Brewing Company on the historic build-
town, on the side of what used to be Duarte’s bar
in Tulare.
Porterville Monument Works proprietor Louis
Stephen has been responsible for fabricating the
monument markers working with Horst and ECV
As Clamp historian Horst has designed the art-
work and done the research for the monuments.
about Joseph R. Walker and Walker Pass, located
on Deer Creek, which was a new trail to the Coso
and Mono mines during the 1860’s gold rush
there. Captain Walker was a mountain man, an
inveterate explorer, and a miner. The ECV DSGG
dedicated a marker for the original Walker Pass
in 2005 on Deer Creek.
Clampers were heavily involved and active in
the gold country. In a book written by Judge Fra-
zier, Vice Noble Grand Humbug, Lucinda Jane
Saunders Chapter 1881, of Elko, Nevada, “A Non
Clamper’s Guide to Clamperdom” says, “As the
popularity of E Clampus Vitus grew, Clamper
fornia mining districts. Many community leaders
and business owners found it to their advantage
to join the Order and follow the bray of the hew
gag, for Clampers were loyal and tended to vote
for their brothers and trade in Clamper-owned
establishments. Besides, there was refreshing if
ironic honesty in the Clamper philosophy. By the
mid-1850's, E Clampus Vitus numbered among its
brethren such worthies as judges, senators, state
and mayors, as well as scores of lawyers and
doctors.”
To become a clamper, a man must be spon-
sored, and usually has to go through some sort
itself to seriously, except for aiding and abet-
ting history, doing charitable works, and helping
someone in need. 
 The Ancient and Honorable Order of E Clam-
pus Vitus (ECV) is a fraternal organization
dedicated to the preservation of the heritage of
the American West, especially the history of the
Mother Lode and gold mining regions of the area
according to an article in Wikipedia.
zona, Colorado, Utah, Washington, Idaho, Or-
egon, Montana and Outposts in other western
states. Members call themselves "Clampers." The
organization's name is in Dog Latin, and has no
known meaning; even the spelling is disputed,
sometimes appearing as "Clampus," "Clampsus,"
or "Clampsis." The motto of the Order, Credo
Quia Absurdum, is generally interpreted as
meaning "I believe it because it is absurd;"[1]
the proper Latin quotation Credo quia absurdum
est, is from the Christian apologist Tertullian
(c. 160–220), who rejected rationalism and ac-
cepted a Gospel which addressed itself to the
"non-rational levels of perception."
Early history of the Clampers:
Members of note included Adam, the first
"Clampatriarch"; Philip D. Armour, the meat
packer; John Mohler Studebaker, the automobile
manufacturer; Gene Autry "The Singing Cow-
boy" who owned the California Angels baseball
team; and John Hume, a California state assem-
blyman. ECV also claims Ulysses S. Grant, Lord
Sholto Douglas,[A] J. Pierpont Morgan, Horace
Greeley, and Horatio Algers members, but claims
have also been made to Solomon, Julius Caesar
and Augustus Caesar, Henry VIII of England, Sir
Francis Drake, George Washington, Andrew Jack-
son, Ronald Reagan, and His Imperial Majesty
Joshua A. Norton, "Emperor of these United States
and Protector of Mexico". These fanciful claims
show ECV's propensity for not taking much of
anything particularly seriously, least of all itself.
 A Place Called
2022 THE PORTERVILLE RECORDER PAGE 3A

Cancer fighters step out

By JAMIE A. HUNT to oranges, plus breakfast, lunch, and dinner which Reyes has lost two members of his family to can-
FOR THE RECORDER is served to thousands of people from sponsors cer and has an aunt who is struggling against the
throughout the 24-hour period of the “Relay.” disease.
STRATHMORE — Well over 2,000 people attended
This year Relay for Life of Porterville was held at At 8 p.m. the ceremony attendees remembered
the 14th annual Porterville Relay for life, at Spartan
Strathmore High School. their loved ones while listening to Reyes describe
Stadium, according to Relay for Life event co-chair-
“This has just been wonderful event,” Manley the meaning of the Luminaria. Augie Gonzalez read
men Augie Gonzalez and Vernettie Manley.
said. “Everyone here is just marvelous, the school the poem “The Empty Table,” which describes and
As of 7:30 a.m. Saturday, the parking lot was com-
staff, teachers, and all our sponsors. Everyone has symbolizes all the people, things, hopes, dreams that
pletely full, people came and went throughout the
a reason to be here. All the booths are selling some- are involved with cancer. Next came the bag light-
day: walking around the track, visiting booths and
thing, and all proceeds go toward cancer research ing of the Luminaria with the theme “Celebrate,
friends, donating their time and energy to this very
and helping people with cancer. We are all out here Remember, Fight Back, and Hope.”
worthwhile cause.
for the same cause. Fighting cancer has brought us Jonathan Gonzalez spoke about his fight with
Relay for Life of Porterville began at 9 a.m. Satur-
together.” cancer for the past year, his mother Cindy said, “We
day and concluded at 9 a.m. Sunday. In all, 42 teams
Manley’s son, Tyler, turned 18 on Saturday, and Relay to remember all those who die too soon, and
took part and raised more than $8,000 according to
spent some of his birthday walking the track. He has will never forget those who we have lost.”
the local Relay website. The money is used to fight
spent many of his birthdays walking the track. His brother Christopher then spoke, “We hope for
cancer via research, prevention, early detection,
Augie Gonzalez, father of one-year cancer survi- a cancer free world. And we strive to find a cure for
treatment, and patient support services.
vor Jonathan Gonzalez, 19, in the “Team Jonathan” cancer.”
Many people came and dedicated luminaria; which
booth, said that this is the second year he has been Afterward Reyes addressed the audience and in-
are bags that are inscribed with patients’ names,
involved with Relay for Life. Jonathan had Stage 4 vited them all to walk a quiet lap in honor of their
survivors’ names, or honoring loved ones that have
Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, which was initially found by loved ones.
passed, that will be lit with candles in the evening.
his chiropractor Amber Bush, who has an office in Subsequently, the attendees moved onto the sta-
Michelle Moore, in charge of the luminaria booth
Porterville. dium track and walked quietly en masse to celebrate
said that many people waited until the last minute
Matthew Mingrone, Marketing Director for Eagle “the good fight.”
this year to make their donations.
Mountain Casino said the Relay is near and dear to Linda Hinojosa walked and held a candle and a
This year’s theme for Relay for Life was “Cel-
their heart. The Casino donated $7,000 in goods and photograph in honor of her granddaughter, Emma
ebrate More Birthdays”. Linda Blakely said, “More
services. Rose Moreno, 3, who is courageously fighting leuke-
birthdays is what we all want, and what we hope
Porterville High School Fabulous Studio Band mia. She said that Emma had a relapse a couple of
for.”
with Jim Kusserow playing trumpet entertained the weeks ago but she is holding her own now.
Blakely and others at the Job’s Daughters booth
huge crowd assembled for the Luminaria Ceremony. Rebecca Ybarra, the Relay entertainment chair,
had a decorated paper birthday cake. Her husband,
Monte Reyes, master of ceremonies said the Lumi- said, “It’s somber, yet joyous. People are here and
Wayne, is fighting kidney cancer, and she said, “We
naria Ceremony is the highlight of the day. it’s not about them. It’s about everyone whom cancer
are hanging in there. Knowing that we are blessed.
“There is so much happening during the event,” has touched. The camaraderie brings hope. When
We have to make the best of everyday. There are no
Reyes said, “but the Luminaria Ceremony needs cancer affects your family, you reevaluate and re-
guarantees, so here’s to more birthdays!”
to be taken extremely serious. People are looking focus.”
Everything for the American Cancer Society Re-
to the ceremony to remember their loved ones in a (Editor’s Note: This is an article that appeared in
lay for Life is donated, from the 1,000 pounds of gi-
very personal way.” The Recorder in 2011 on the annual Relay for Life).
ant plums from Golden Maid Packing of Strathmore,

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
This is a rare picture and is the only one I know of that is of
the headgate that used to be in Murry Park. You can see the
grooves in the headgate where the boards were placed to back
up the water. I do not have the identification of the two men.
Murry Park was originally Burbank Park and the name was
changed in 1911 to Murry Park after Pat Murry; a cattleman
who donated land for the park.

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
President Richard Nixon was an often visitor to Porterville since his aunt lived in Strathmore. This was a campaign visit in
1952 and Frank Brown has the microphone in the Mr. Nixon’s face for his listeners. On the left is Bill Rodgers, Charles Haener
(back to the camera), Richard Nixon, Frank Brown and going out of the picture is Pat Nixon. In 1923 and 1924 Richard Nix-
on was sent to Strathmore to live with his aunt and learn to play the piano. He attended school at the Sunnyside School west
of Strathmore. Not many people know this but Richard Nixon often made an overnight visit to see his aunt and his political
friends in the area. In 1954 television was coming in strong and KTIP changed hands and the new owner was a “newsman”and
Frank Brown was offered the money to purchase the station by Claude Nelson but Frank decided to leave Porterville and went
to work at the Radio Station in Eureka, CA.

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO Max Jamison, a 92 year old retired Porterville attorney is a
Dale Frost of Porterville was a city councilman and also an inventor. He invented a hydrometer that could measure the water content phenomenon in that he can write with either hand, right or
in the ground and allow the farmer to determine when to irrigate thus; saving water. He also invented the thermometer that would ring left. Also he can write with both hands at the same time and
the famers phone when the temperature neared freezing so the smudge pots and wind machines could be started.; One invention that in a demonstration at the Porterville Lanes Coffee Clatch he
became international was the airbags in automobiles. He worked with the Dunn family at the ABC Awning Co. on west Olive Ave. Both wrote Max Day’s name with both hands at the same time.
Laverne Dunn and his son Lewis perfected the airbag part of the invention.; The Dunn’s also installed the airbags in the Cadillac Lim- Max with the left hand and Day with the right hand. Max
ousine and it worked. The Mercedes Car Co. in Germany purchased the rights to the invention and they were the first to have airbags in attended the Alta Vista Grammar School and wrote on the
the cars. In this picture with the old Cadillac is Roscoe Land. blackboard with his right hand and at his desk with his left
hand.
 A Place Called
PAGE 4A THE PORTERVILLE RECORDER 2022

2010 Eagle Mountain Air

Show received high praise
THE RECORDER
recorder@portervillerecorder.com
(Editor’s Note: This is an article that
appeared in The Recorder on the
2010 Eagle Mountain Air Show at the
Porterville Municipal Airport).
Pilots and spectators alike had high praise for the Eagle
MountainAirShowheldSaturdayatthePortervilleMunicipal
Airport.
Besides old and new planes on exhibit — and daredevils
inthesky—therewasevenanamphibiousplaneondisplay.
DanandTwylaCardsaidtheirplanewasactuallyaprototype,
whichwasbuiltintheCzechRepublic.AccordingtoCard,the
aerospaceindustryfortheSovietUnionwasheadquartered
there.“Itislessexpensivetobuildplanesthere,andtheCzech
are extremely skilled craftsmen.”
Dan Card was having a great time Saturday.
“Thisiswhatthefly-inusedtobe,”Cardsaid.“Alotoflocal
peoplecomingandenjoyingairplanes.I’vebeenflyingfor40
years,andit’smypassion.Anytimeyougettoshareyourpas-
sion with others, it’s to everyone’s benefit.”
Theairshow,whichisarevivaloftheoldPortervilleMoon-
lightFly-inwhichwasheldfornearly50years,isgettingbig-
ger and better.
Among those helping organize the event were Chuck
Carson,ofVintageYearsAirShow.
 “Thisyeartheairshowhas
exceededexpectationsinbothattendanceandqualityofper-
formance,” Carson said.
DanCardagreedandsaidmanypeoplehavegreatmemo-
riesoftheearlierevent,aswell.
 “ThePortervilleMoonlightFly-
in”wasfun,”Cardsaid.“Itwasawholebunchofpeopleflying
in to a party. There was some of the best barbecue around,
andtherewereusuallyseveralbandsthatwouldplaygood
old-timecountryWesternmusic,andlotsofdancing.Theonly
agenda was “fun to be had by all.”
Newcomers had fun, too.
“I’veneverbeentoanairshowbefore,”saidElidaSuarez,of
Porterville.“It’samazinghowthepilotscanflytheairplanes
likethat,ittakesalotofeffort.Itisnotonlywonderfulformy
son, Fabian, to see the planes, but for me as well.”
“Theshowpilotsareamazing,”saidMaryKing,afriendof
JohnPugliese,whoflewinwithhisbeautiful1952Cessna.“I
can’timaginedoingwhattheydointheair.”DaveLong,afel-
lowplaneowner,walkedupandlookedatPugliese’sCessna.
“It looks like it’s off the show-room floor. It has the original
interior.Thisisthe‘PrideoftheShow.’”.Kingsaid.“Hekeepshis
plane immaculate.”
There was plenty of action overhead, too.
PilotEddieAndreiniflewhishighlymodifiedStearmanBi-
plane,witha450hpengine,inmind-bogglingaerobaticsfor
theopeningoftheairshow,whileexcitedspectatorsgoggled
from the ground.
Anotheroutstandingpilot,“Dr.D,”orDr.FrankDonnelly,
alsoperformedaerobaticfeatsinhis1946Taylorcraftmono-
plane.Duringhisperformancemanyspectatorsseemedto
beholdingtheirbreath,watchingthesoaringmonoplaneas
the pilot turned it, cut the engine, and dove straight down,
bringingtheplaneintoaloop,afterloop.Theflyingwastruly
incredible.
SeamusMcCaugleyflewhisdebutperformanceasaprofes-
sionalairshowperformerintheplanehebuilt,aChristianEa-
gle2bi-plane.McCaugleyoftencametoPortervilleMoonlight
Fly-inswithhisfather,who,unfortunately,passedawaybefore
hecouldbeattheairshowwithSeamus.Hehasdedicatedhis
flight to his father.
OtheraviatorsincludedRobHarrison,TheTumblingBear,
who flew his bright yellow Zlin; John Collver with his AT-6
Wardog; and Doug Jardine flew his Sukoi plane.
On the airport tarmac, many a pilot displayed
their planes for the public. Among them, was Oscar
Bayer, an older man, who flew his two-passenger,
open cockpit bi-plane, Starduster II, around the pe-
rimeter of the United States in 1994. Bayer is a re-
tired Air Force Colonel who lives in Arroyo Grande.

Les Lamkin, of Porter-

ville, was a pilot in World
War I, but the war was
over before he got to see
any action. Upon return-
ing to Porterville, Les
bought a Jenny airplane
and built this hangar for
the plane. It was located
southeast of Porterville
and on Teapot Dome
Avenue. Shortly after
this picture was taken,
the name of Lamkin was
painted on the front of
the hangar. Being the
only plane in the area,
everyone watched when
he flew over Porterville.

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

SRehab
ierra Valley
Sierra Valley Rehab Center has been
serving the city of Porterville for more
than 20 years, and we pride ourselves

Center
on the reputation we have built in our
community. We have been voted Best
Excellence In Caring Elder Care in our community three
years in a row, and we continue to
strive towards excellence.
• 24 Hours Skilled Nursing Care
• Specialized Alzheimer’s Program 301 West Putnam Ave., SIERRA VIEW
DISTRICT HOSPITAL

Porterville, CA 93257 PUTNAM AVE.

HWY 65

• Long Term Care Specialists

N SIERRA VALLEY
JAYE ST.

559-784-7375
REHAB CENTER

• Hospice Care Fax: 559-784-4636 OLIVE AVE.

 A Place Called
2022 THE PORTERVILLE RECORDER PAGE 5A

Murry Park has always been

a popular recreation area. But
it looks a lot different in 2013
than it did in 1905. This couple
is standing on the little bridge
that crosses the waterfall. At
this time the flour mill was
in operation and the waterfall
powered the mill and at night
it generated electricity for nine
electric lights in downtown
Porterville. If anyone knows
the people in the picture let me
know at the Edwards Gallery,
781-1225. I do suspect they are
Henry Dunning and his wife
Anna.
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO Frank Neiblas and Bill Knighten enlisted in the army after
The Flour Mill in Murry Park is seen across the lake at Murry Park. This was the second flour mill in Murry Park. The first one graduation from the Porterville High School in 1942. Bill
was a wooden structure and this one was of brick. When it was torn down in 1938 the City Manager was Charles Cummings and Knighten died in 1943.
he got the brick to build his new home on Corona Drive. This building would have made a great Museum.

In the early 1900’s,

the gold rush generated
the call for saloons where
men could sip their liquor,
spin their tales and spend
their GOLD...

Scotty’s Saloon was such a place

and it stood where our store is
today! The search for the very
best in gold, diamonds, jewelry
and even a good story still leads
people to the same place...

David Horowitz Jewelry.

175 N. Main Street

Porterville, CA 93257
(559) 784-7123
Est. 1991
 A Place Called
PAGE 6A THE PORTERVILLE RECORDER 2022

This is Olive Ave. in 1947.

On the right is the As-
sembly of God Church on
A street. The street was
continued in 1952 to join
Plano Street. At that time
Plano was Grevilla. Today
the courthouse is on the left
and a shopping center is on
the right.

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
Porterville getting ready for the November 11th Armistice Day Parade. This picture was taken in the 1940’s.

QUIK PLUMBING & CONSTRUCTION

SERVING KERN, TULARE & KING COUNTY, CALIFORNIA

Quik-Rooter and Plumbing Inc. has been loyally serving members of California’s
Central Valley for more than 30 years. Billy Ray Williford established the company
in 1976 to serve just one location in Porterville, California. We now work across five
counties and in more than eight cities to provide commercial, residential, industrial,
municipal and farming and agricultural service.

FOR EMERGENCY SERVICES OR TO SPEAK WITH OUR CONTRACTORS,

CONTACT US TODAY AT (559) 781-8210
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quikrooter@yahoo.com • www.quikrooter.com
O.L.A. RAZA, Inc.
Making the
Legal System
Accessible to the
Spanish Speaking
and New Immigrants

The Organization for the Legal Advancement of Raza, Inc. is best known
in our community as O.L.A. Raza. The organization was founded in
1974 at U.C. Hastings College of the Law in San Francisco by a group
of Chicano Law Students, including Porterville’s Roberto and Teresa
de la Rosa. O.L.A. Raza’s mission is rather simple: to provide legal
information, education and services to disadvantaged students and Roberto de la Rosa
Executive Director: Recipient of
poor communities. 1993 Tulare County Bar
Association Liberty Bell Award.
During its first decade of service, O.L.A. Raza increased the number
of Public Interest Law Attorneys by assisting thousands of Law
School applicants in California, Arizona, New Mexico, Washington and
Colorado gain admission to law schools by preparing them for the
Law School Admission Test and by providing them with a Summer
Legal Studies Institute. O.L.A. Raza Law Graduates participated in its
Bar Exam Preparation and New Attorney Placement Project.

In 1978 O.L.A. Raza launched its Community Preventive Legal Education

Program as a grantee of the Legal Services Corporation, Washington,
D.C. It has provided consultant services for LSC programs in California,
New Mexico, Colorado, Georgia and New York. In response to the need
for reliable information, O.L.A. Raza began broadcasting immigration
information under its Legal Services Corporation grant in 1978. Roberto Teresa de la Rosa
Director of Development
de la Rosa continues to be a weekly guest in Radio Campesina’s Recipient of the OHTLI Award, It is the highest
honor the Mexican Government bestows upon
“Martes de Inmigracion” which is broadcast by satellite to large those who promote welfare of Mexican-origin
audiences in California, Arizona, Nevada, State of Washington to Mexico. populations outside of Mexico. May 2006

For over 45 years O.L.A. Raza’s Immigrants Rights Centers have

assisted families attain the American dream of becoming eligible for
United States Citizenship. The organization operates a Women’s and
Families Defense Project (VAWA/U-Visa), a Migrant/Rural Leadership
Project and a Social Justice Institute that operate from Porterville.
Tulare County Civic Action League Delegates
O.L.A. Raza is an affiliate member of CLINIC (Catholic Legal Immigration delivering 71,000 petitions for the extension of
Network), the National Lawyers Guild, National Immigration Project, Section 245i to Congressman Xavier Becerra in
and collaborates with the United Farm Workers of America, California Washington, D.C. September 1997.

Rural Legal Assistance (CRLA), Central California Legal Services

(CCLS), Immigrant Legal Resource Center, the Center for Migration
Studies, the National Immigration Forum, UC Santa Cruz Latin
American and Latino Studies Department Summer Institute and the
Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico.

Its Executive Director, Roberto de la Rosa and its Director of Advocacy, O.L.A. Raza Staff
2020
Teresa de la Rosa welcome invitations to deliver immigration and
citizenship information to churches, schools or colleges, clubs and
parents groups.

O.L.A. Raza, Inc. delivers community immigration and citizenship

education and services in: Porterville, Visalia, Tulare, Bakersfield,
Delano and Salinas, California. It offers youth art and culture events
at it’s Academia Juvenil de Arte y Cultura (A.J.A.C.) at the CHMA
Community Center in Porterville, California and at Veritas Art Center Michefest Rawhide Stadium
in Lindsay, California. Visalia, California
2019

ORGANIZATION FOR THE LEGAL ADVANCEMENT OF RAZA, INC.

O .L.A. RAZA, INC.

IMMIGRANTS RIGHTS CENTERS
PORTERVILLE VISALIA TULARE DELANO BAKERSFIELD SALINAS
94 West Doris Ave. 308 E. CENTER WE 195 N. “K” ST. 929 JEFFERSON ST. STE “A” 1420 19TH ST. 5 WILLIAMS RD.
(559) 784-1121 (559) 627-6291 (559) 684-1410 (661) 725-2123 (661) 324-1667 1-866-OLA-RAZA
 A Place Called
PAGE 8A THE PORTERVILLE RECORDER 2022

The Strathmore Town and

Country Women’s Club
THE PORTERVILLE RECORDER
The Strathmore Town and Country Women’s Club
has been continuously operating since its founding
1911. Members gathered in 2011 for a centennial an-
niversary meeting.
Large storyboards displayed their history through
past newspaper articles in the 1940s, 50s, 60s up
until the present day featuring photos of members
graduating from High school and at other events.
Also, a scrap book containing many of the club’s
delightfully themed and illustrated yearbooks was
available to review.
An extra special surprise for the gathering of
between 40 and 45 women was a visit by District 1
Supervisor Allen Ishida and his wife, Wanda.
To celebrate the centennial of the Women’s Club,
Wanda Bohl, STCC Club president, thanked the
club officers and previous club officers and former
presidents Nancy Baird, Jean Dill, Jean Edwards,
Iva Milam and Phylllis Garlin and gave them red
roses. She honored them for keeping the club going
and serving as presidents for two years, four years,
or even six years or more that they were in office.
Strathmore native and high school graduate, Allen
Ishida, told the gathering he fondly remembers his
days at Strathmore High School, because it was such
a “close knit group,” unlike high schools with large
graduating classes.
“Strathmore High has a very small graduating
class, and you not only remember the people you
graduate with, you remember everyone at the
school.” Also, Ishida remarked that he fondly re-
members his teachers at the school, especially when
he went as a Boy Scout and climbed Mount Whitney
in 1961. In addition, he cited the recent “Gray Mat-
ters” article in the Porterville Recorder.
Ishida mentioned as a youngster, he thought that
anything 100 years old was about the “age of the
dinosaurs,” but continued to say, “It’s amazing how
many 100 year anniversaries we’ve had lately. The
Exeter Women’s Club was 105 years old recently,
and Strathmore Women’s Club 100 years old, and the
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
Lemon Cove Club could be possibly older. But once
First District Supervisor Allen Ishida presents the Strathmore Town and Country Women’s Club with a
you get to be a “certain age”, a hundred years isn’t
signed proclamation from the Tulare County Board of Supervisors honoring and recognizing the Women’s
so old any more.”
Club for it’s civic, cultural, social, and financial contributions.
Next, Ishida read a signed proclamation from Tu-
lare County Board of Supervisors honoring and rec-
deavors.” Laura Baird, and Susan Baird Queen. Their grand-
ognizing the Women’s Club for it’s “civic, cultural,
As a former president of the club, and current V.P., mother was one of the founding members of STCC
social and financial contributions for the Strathmore
Nancy Baird said, “I’m so proud that a community in 1911.
Friends of the Library, the annual Homecoming Cel-
the size of Strathmore has a 100-years-old Women’s Autumn decorations adorned the many luncheon
ebration, the Porterville Pregnancy Center, VFW’s
Club. Our club has been of continuous service to the tables and the walls of the Veterans building, as
California Girls State Program, Clemmie Gill School
community since its organization in 1911. tempting aromas wafted out of the kitchen area.
of Science and Education (SCICON), as well as the
“We keep getting new members and they are A large decorated sheet cake commemorating the
annual support and luncheon for Strathmore High
friends of friends, or relatives of members. Word club’s centennial anniversary was presented to Bohl,
senior girls and the surrounding communities and
of mouth keeps this club alive. It is a great support who cut it, with past club presidents and the Ishida’s
wished the club continued success in its future en-
group.” Baird is a cousin of other club members gathered around.

Bill Hammond took this picture on

April 10,1939 and we do not know
the occasion but it appears to have
been taken in the Methodist Church
in Ducor. Picture was given to me
by the Porterville Sheltered Work-
shop and the people are identified
except one and she had the picture
and identified herself as “ME”.
If you know who “ME” is let me
know. Because of the names I am
thinking they are Ducor ladies.
From the top left: Mrs. Margaret
Zimmerman, Mrs. Huxtable, Mrs.
Bartholdus, Mrs.Evans, Elmore
Salisbury, Mrs. Smith, ”ME”, Bertha
Parsons, Mrs. Parker, Mrs. Simmons.
Front row: Mrs. Rickey, Mrs. Zim-
merman, Mrs. Stewart,Mrs. Hughes,
Mrs. Witt,Sally Salisbury, Mrs. Witt,
Mrs. Grigsby, Mrs. Adams, Mrs.
Owens.

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

u s t L ike Home
J
SPECIAL THANKS TO
ALL OF OUR OUTSTANDING
Transmission & 4x4 CAREGIVERS!
DONNIE WILSON 365 N. Pearson Drive,
Owner Suite #1 Porterville, CA 93257
559-781-7779 Office (559) 781-4378 • Fax (559) 781-4234
wilsonstransmission.com * Personal Caregivers * Homemakers * Respite Care
68 W. Henderson Ave. * Convalescent Care * Alzheimer’s * Hourly Care
Porterville, CA * CA License #544700004
 A Place Called
2022 THE PORTERVILLE RECORDER PAGE 9A
Build Upon the Past;
Build a Brighter Future
With a Degree from
National University
at Porterville College
• Onsite degrees offered at
Porterville College
° Bachelor of Science
in Criminal Justice
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
Monty Reyes and Jeff Edwards do a little historical skit on the history of Porterville. Monty is
Administration
Royal Porter Putnam the founder of Porterville who has been reincarnated for the Sesquicen-
tennial year of Porterville. Jeff Edwards interviews Mr. Putnam about historical events that ° Bachelor of Arts in
are funny or sensitive happenings. Jeff and Monty can perform the skit at service clubs and
gatherings under the auspices of the Sesquicentennial Committee in celebration of the 150th
Interdisciplinary Studies
year of the City of Porterville.
with an Inspired Teaching
and Learning Preliminary
Multiple Subject Teaching
Credential
• Four- Week Classes with
over 75 additional degree
programs offered online.
• Participates in the California
Community Colleges-
Associate Degree for Transfer
a (CCC-ADT) program reducing
tuition to ONLY $7,000
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
This is the Kiwanis Food Booth at the Porterville Fair in 1948. Ross Boyd; a Porterville builder per year.
is congratulating Mac Williams; the other man is unidentified. Hamburgers and hot dogs were
twenty cents and drinks just ten cents.

National University was founded

in 1971 by retired U.S. Navy Capt.
David Chigos with 26 campus
locations throughout CA. For
50 years, we’ve been putting
passion into practice by offering
accessible, achievable higher
education to adult learners. As
a pioneer in the digital space,
National University has had a
presence in the Central Valley
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
This view of the old Bartlett park is now under Success Lake. This area became a park shortly since August 1986 and has been
after the turn of the century in 1904. It was named after Pitt Bartlett who was on the Tulare
County Parks board of directors. The area had been used as a park as long as anyone could re- holding classes at Porterville
member. Mr. Bartlett was involved in the Magnasite Industry in Porterville and was one of our
prominent citizens. Bartlett School was named after Mr. Bartlett. In 1904 he had trees planted College since 2011.
on the highway north of town. He planted every tre that would grow in the Porterville area. The
Land family ran a concession stand at the park. Just a short way downstream was a spot called
Porterville Beach; that was used for swimming and parties. For more information contact:
Natalia Gaeta
ngaeta@nu.edu
Or
https://calendly.com/nuporterville

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
The Ice House on the corner of D Street and Vine Avenue was built right after the railroad
came to Porterville in 1888. Jesse Frame owned the ice house and he got his ice by the railroad
from Fresno. In those days there was no refrigeration so all of the homes had an ice box and
his son Howard Frame delivered ice to the homes in Porterville. Howard was a great help in
naming the different homes as he had delivered ice and been in most of the homes.
 31 Years!
Since 1991

Congratulations on being
selected DC of the Year –
five years in a row!

We are proud of, and grateful for,

the opportunity to serve the Porterville
community over the past 30 years.
One of the area’s largest employers with
over 1,500 associates and drivers.

SAVE MONEY • LIVE BETTER

Walmart Distribution & Transportation Center Porterville
Proud to be a part of this wonderful community

1300 S F St, Porterville, CA 93257 • (559) 783-1109

 A Place Called
2022 THE PORTERVILLE RECORDER PAGE 11A

Springville Chamber
celebrating its 70th anniversary
BY Springville CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

This year marks our 70th anniversary!

The Springville Chamber of Commerce was established in
1952 and we’re still going strong.
Our objective is to promote our member businesses. In do-
ing so, we aim to uplift our town and those around us.
The Chamber Board is comprised solely of volunteers: lo-
cal men and women and local business people who give their
time to serve our community. The Chamber has no paid staff.
Our work is a labor of love.
There, perhaps, have been many changes over the years as
to how the Chamber has been run, who has sat on the board,
the goals set for the year, and how those goals have been
achieved.
But despite any possible operational differences, Spring-
ville has a long history of hosting lively events that bring
people together.
The Chamber hosted Cellars and Chefs for 20 years;
from1999-2019.
The Chamber has hosted: Annual Mixers; Halloween Cos-
tume Contests; Holiday Decorating Contests
Dances; Mail Run Downtown Event and Queen Contest; An-
nual Awards Nights; Paint Nights; Family Game Night; Writ-
ing and Photography Contests; and Casino Night.
We have sponsored such events as Christmas in Springville,
the Springville Sierra Rodeo and Concerts in the Park.
In 2022 we held the Dinner on the Docks, a three course
meal with drinks and live music, amid twinking lights, a
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
beautiful sunset and gorgeous full moon surrounded by the
awesome scenery of Success Lake. Springville, at the time of World War I, had a big attraction. People flocked to Springville by train and car for a
We also hosted the Springville Wine Walk, which was a fun weekend jaunt to visit the Soda Spring. There was swimming in the river and picnicking by thee Soda Spring and
filled time walking and mingling through Downtown Spring- other activities including baseball games, tennis horseshoe, hiking and fishing. The three main buildings in town were
ville, seeing our local member downtown businesses shine Wilkerson Hotel on the left and the Elster Building and Livery Stable on the right. Only the Livery Stable is gone.
while everyone enjoyed tasting a variety of great wines, fan- One major building not in the picture is the Springville Hotel and the tree you see on the right of the picture was in
tastic foods, and did a little shopping when something struck front of the Springville Hotel.
their fancy. We also introduced two new businesses that day,
and did ribbon cutting ceremonies.
We]’re extremely proud of our downtown, and our town in
general! We have had a multitude of businesses this year that
have either expanded, opened their doors for the first time,
or continue to prepare their new spaces to be opened soon!
Both events were well attended, and extremely successful,
and the Chamber Board has heard lots of requests to repeat
them.
The Chamber has plans in the works to host events in con-
junction with the upcoming Springville Apple Festival...stay
tuned.
And we will be hosting our first Trombone Christmas! It
will be held Saturday, December 3 at the Springville Veterans
Memorial Building. Come Enjoy an absolute treat for the sea-
son with massive musical talent coupled with holiday spirit!
The Chamber is proud to continue to hold both the Spring-
ville Farmers Market and the Springville Arts Council under
its umbrella. Both groups are driven by passionate indi-
viduals who are improving Springville in their own beautiful
ways.
The Farmers Market is located in Downtown Springville
every Saturday with a variety of delicious foods and clever
crafting. Come on out!
And the Art Council tirelessly works on their masterpiece
mural, located directly across from the Springville Chamber
of Commerce office in the Historic Elster Building in Down-
town Springville. Check out the amazing transformation of
the wall!
After many years without a home base The Chamber
opened an office in May of 2022! We’re located in Downtown
Springville in the Historic Elster Building.
Our unit is on the ground floor, for easy access and visibil-
ity. It was the starting point for our Wine Walk in May and
has been a perfect, centralized location. We look forward to
utilizing the space for many more projects, moving forward.
While our Chamber office hours are still sparse, our Cham-
ber telephone is answered 7 days a week. We take a variety
of calls, as we’re the only official number in Springville. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
It’s a smart move to become a member, and have such The coming of the railroad prompted many changes in the area and in springville the lumber business came alive.
inquiries addressed in real time, and new opportunities di- Now they could shop their lumber all over the United States. It also brought more people and in 1890 the Spring-
rected to your business. Our phone number is 559-744-3810. ville Hotel was opened for business. It was located on the southwest corner of Soda Springs Drive and Highway
We have also redesigned the Chamber’s website in 2022,
190. Eschol “Bill” Hammond took this picture and that is his car in the right side of the picture. Bill had Ham-
and continue to make improvements that will serve our mem-
monds Studio in Porterville and the picture was taken about 1920.
bers. Check us out at www.sprinville.ca.us
It’s also a long standing tradition for the Chamber to take
action to better the town in ways such as beautification proj-
ects; revamping our official sign at the entrance of town; or
by sitting down to write a complete document depicting a
community plan that serves the town’s residents as well as
our nature.
We have been in a wonderful position this year to have con-
tact with our politicians, and be able to present the opinions
and ideas stemming from our local community members. It
has been an honor representing our community.
We’re happy to support the bipartisan bill that was pre-
sented by Kevin McCarthy’s office, “Save Our Sequoias Act.”
This bill addresses the tragic fires we have experienced, and
promotes healthy forests.
We were also happy to meet, in our office, with Assembly-
man Vincent Fong, who will be representing our district after
December. A variety of topics were discussed, and mostly, we
walked away feeling heard and cared about. It was a great
feeling to listen and pay attention to our community, and then
be able to represent our community.
In August, some of our board members were able to at-
tend the groundbreaking ceremony for the new spillway at
Success Lake Richard Schafer Dam. It was very powerful to
hear our politicians and our elected officials,talk about the
importance of water storage, and the fact our local commu-
nity will soon benefit from increased water storage, as well
as increased safety, because of the foresight and hard work
that started more 30 years ago, to make this new spillway pos-
sible today. It was a moment of pride and gratitude.
Seventh years can’t be explained in a blurb, but is, in itself,
a picture of continuity and strength.
We’re still going Strong after 70 years!
Go to our website, www.Springville.ca.us
Become a Member! We’re well-established and we’re
Growing! Grow With Us!
Sign up for our Newsletter!
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
Make a Donation!
This rare view of Springville was taken down hill and the Livery Stable is on the left and you can see the Elster
Contact Us! — chamber@Springville.ca.us
We look forward to the next 70 years, and we look forward Building.The Springville Hotel cannot be seen but it was where you see the tree on the left. This view was taken
to working with you! shortly after the Elster Building was competed in 1912. The generator fro Springville Power Station was freighted
The Springville Chamber of Commerce: Happy People Pro- from Porterville to Springville by team and wagon but the generator for PG&E was hulled in by the train that came
moting Happy Businesses! to Springville in 1912. It was thought at the time that these power plants could furnish electricity for all time to
come. Little did they realize the future use of electricity.
 A Place Called
PAGE 12A THE PORTERVILLE RECORDER 2022

“Music loving community thrills

to organ music and opera 
Restored silent film “Phantom” surprisingly involving and elaborate
By JAMIE A. HUNT there are also pipes behind the walls to an opera star, or “diva” who de- ber, which is familiar to contemporary
jhunt@portervillerecorder.com that can’t be seen. The organ literally mands to be “onstage” all the time at audiences.
has to be built into the church, and the Paris Opera house.
(Editor's Note: This is an article
needs to be regularly maintained, that Unbeknownst to the audiences, be- “I really appreciate having the musi-
that appeared in The Recorder on
is where Moreno comes in. He not only low the old opera house are old dun- cians come down from the Sacramen-
First Congregational Church's Night
plays the organ, but he builds theater geons, and cellars, that are “haunted” to area to entertain us here at First
of “Phantom of the Opera” in 2019).
organs and designs them, and travels by an insane and deformed man who Congregational Church,” said Claudia
An audience of almost 100 people
throughout California. was badly hurt during the revolution Gutherie and Kathleen George. Other
sitting in the pews at the elegant Arts
The 1925 film, one of the very first in France. enthusiastic audience members like
and Crafts style First Congregational
“technicolor” silent films with Lon He has fallen in love with Daae, Joe Faure, and Sue Janoko and friends
Church on Saturday, October 5, to
Chaney, and a large cast, was filmed and the story begins, with Daaé’s boy- were enthralled.
enjoy a 1925 silent film “Phantom of
at what was then Universal studios friend, and his brother, who is killed
the Opera” accompanied by acclaimed
on their large backlot. Most of the set by the phantom, and other’s. When explaining about the organ
organ player Dave Moreno from Sac-
from the “1925 Phantom” which was When Daaé sings during the movie, Moreno said, “It is a full orchestra at
ramento, who Aplayed for First Con-
quite elaborate no longer exists, due to surprise quest and opera singer Kerri your fingertips.”
gregational last year.
a fire, unfortunately. Chaney the star, Lyn Scott, sang opera music written And Janoko said,  “the pure sounds
Kathleen George organized the si-
was called “the man of 1000 faces,” by the composer Gounod in French, to of emotions” and some classical ex-
lent film extravaganza, and had pop-
and was in many horror and other si- the delight of the audience. She sang cerpts” make the organ such an amaz-
corn available for guests to enjoy.
lent films of the time. “Ange Pur”, “Je re de mei voir”, and ing instrument. “You forget that the
George spoke about the fabulous or-
The “Phantom” is based on a very “Il ne revient pas,” during the film, film is a “silent movie” it is so excit-
gan at the church and told the audi-
old story, about a young opera singer and after the film concluded she sang ing.” She said, “We’ve stepped back
ence that all the pipes that are visible,
Christine Daaé, who is the understudy “Christine” from Andrew Lloyd Web- in time.”

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
Peddlers were prominent in the early days and in this case Mr. Gruninger not only had to
bake his bread and pastries he then had to go out and sell it all over town. Milk and Veg-
gies were also sold in this fashion and Mr. Wong delivered his veggies to Mountain Home
in the summer time.
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
One of the notoriously steep grades in the mountains was the Fraizer Grade; on the way to
Mountain Home. Many of the Model T Fords would have to back up the grade. The gas was
fed to the engine by gravity and when the motor was higher than the gas tank the engine
would quit.; Coming down; the hill was so steep the old Fords would lose their brakes so to
prevent a run-away; the driver would cut a small tree and drag it behind the car as a brake.
Here you see the tree behind the old car about 1913. Mr. Wong sold his vegetables tot the
people working in Mt. Home lumber mills and once his wagon and team lost control amd
Mr. Wong was killed on the Frazier Grade.

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 Town &
Country Market
Your Local Independent Grocer
Since 1953

The Wong family has been serving customers in Porterville

for more than six decades. Through the years Town &
Country Market has become a staple of the community,
giving back for over 69 years.
Teddy, Norman, and Henry were in their early to late twenties
when they opened Town and Country Market in 1953.
There are now five generations of the Wong family serving
O
the community of Porterville for over 69 years.

This 1950s photo commemorates the first carload of

Procter & Gamble products to be delivered to Porterville at Town and Country Market.
Standing in the foreground next to boxes of laundry detergent are
Town and Country employees, including owner Ted Wong (right).

1310 W. Olive Ave., Porterville • (559) 784-6428

 A Place Called
PAGE 14A THE PORTERVILLE RECORDER 2022

“Making Porterville A Better Place to Live”

BY JAMIE A. HUNT
jhunt@portervillerecorder.com

Janice Castle, who is the

Market President at Bank of
Sierra in Porterville, has also
been a member of the Porter-
ville Breakfast Rotary Club
for 20 years.
There are multiple dis-
tricts of the Rotary Club lo-
cally, and there Rotary clubs
all over the U.S. and interna-
tionally. The club also hosts
foreign exchange student
programs.
The PBRC is 25 years old
and they recently celebrated
the club's anniversary. An-
nually the club sponsors the
Run For Life, which is dedi-
cated to Club members, col-
leagues or friends who have
lost their lives to cancer, and
all the funds raised go di-
rectly to the Roger S. Good
Cancer Treatment Center in
Porterville. There are never
any overhead costs because
all of the event organizers
are local volunteers. All the
time is volunteered by local
people and businesses in the
community.
The Breakfast Rotary
touches the lives of people in
the community, and the com-
munity in general because
we are such a small com-
munity here, said Castle, and
"It's always nice that we can
help."
A lot of what PBRC does
focuses on the community
and people in it. The Rotary
motto "Service above Self."

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
These men were employed by the Sunbeam Bakery. They are from left; Dom Spallina; Dean Hahn; Irvin Christl and Laverne Kunert.

Your Happy Place

(559) 333-2656
559-539-2341
Since 2015
hornsby@ocsnet.net
www.successlakemarina.com LICENSED, INSURED and BONDED
 A Place Called
2022 THE PORTERVILLE RECORDER PAGE 15A

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
In 1950 Drive Inns were popular and Porterville had about five drive inns and Delaney’s was the most popular. It was located on West Olive Ave, Service as by a pretty girl and you never had
to get out of your car, Draggin Main was popular and kids would drive from The Anslemo Drive near Gang Suesand turn around at Coleman’s at the high school. Today the Chinese Buffet
Restaurant is on the same location and a portion of the Delaney Drive is was used in the construction of the Chinese Restaurant.

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
From the left is Roland Croslin, organizer. Herb Bonds, master of ceremonies , John Gobel,
President and John Hobbs from the United Way.

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
J.R. Francis is adjusting hie digital equipment prior to starting the show that he worked on for
almost a year prior to the 55th Reunion of the Class of 1954.
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
How did Mill Ave. get its name? There was a flour mill in Burbank Park, that is now Murry
Park, and this was the street that lead directly to the mill. Mr. Bunker has a load of the grain to
be ground and is headed to the mill. Mr. Bunker lived in the Poplar area.
Take notice of the building on the right. That was the Majestic Theater on the northwest cor-
ner of Mill Ave. and Third Street. When the theater was torn down for the French Laundry.
The granite not used for the Morton Street School was put in the hole. If you dig down a foot
or so you will hit rock.
 1961

2022
61 years still
Porterville’s Finest
place for your
Home Furnishings
HARRIS HOME
FURNISHINGS
214 N. 2ND ST. • PORTERVILLE, CA 93257
(559) 784-1746
Education
Health
 Lorem
A Place Called
PAGE 2B THE PORTERVILLE RECORDER 2022

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
In 1962 Buck Shaffer stood the Porterville High School Band to the Seattle World Fair and represented the State of California. Governor Edward Brown complimented the band on
their conduct and performance. Bill Rodgers lined up the band of this picture and the Needle and Jeff Edwards took the picture. The occasion was California day at the fair and Bill
Rodgers used this picture in his Farm Tribune Newspaper. A bus load of local people made the trip to be at the celebration.

PORTERVILLE B.P.O.
ELKS #1342
(SINCE 1917)
386 N. MAIN STREET (Main & Morton)
Porterville, CA 93257
Our regular membership meetings
are on the second, and fourth
Thursdays at 7:00 PM.
Exceptions: (November & December second Thursdays Only.)
(July & August, 4th Thursday only.)
Our Lodge members are encouraged to attend these sessions.
Host your meetings, social events,
fundraisers and more with us!
Questions
Call for more information 559-784-1342
We are accepting applications for new memberships
 A Place Called
2022 THE PORTERVILLE RECORDER PAGE 3B

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
After World War I all of the schools had a Cadet Corps and Porterville was no exception. Frank Howard was the first musical director of the Porterville High School. In 1925; when
this picture was taken by Bill Hammond. Mr. Knott was the musical director and Miss Noyes was the choir director and taught violin for the orchestra. The drum is lined with; Por-
terville Union High School with HSC in the middle. HSC stands for High School Cadets. The band played for celebrations.

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
Clyde Edwards and his best frien; Clarence Futoza went to school together from the first grade until they graduated There’s no place like

‘‘Home”
fromj Tulare High School. Clyde is in the center of this Oakdale School class picture and Clarence is on Clyde's right
side.; After graduation they both went into the service. It was during World War II. Clyde joined the Army and Clarence
the Navy. Iwo Jima was one of the most costly and hard fought battles of the Pacific and Clyde was on a landing craft
getting ready to land on the beack. The landing craft was circling in the bay when Clyde noticed the piolot of the land-
ing craft had Frutoza on the back of his shirt. Sure enough it was his school buddy Clarence taking him to the beach of
Iwo Jima. Both Clyde and Clarence survived the war. Both have died of old age.
Opening in 1985 as
Home Realty and
Appraisal
we have been continuously adapting to the
changes in our industry, while growing our
business and supporting this community
where we are deeply rooted.
In 1991 we changed our name to “Home Realty and
Land Co” to be more representative of who we are
as your hometown real estate company. In 2015 we
renovated an office building at 120 N. Main Street,
so we can be located in the heart of downtown
Porterville.
With a focus and pride on being locally owned,
our agents do business in all areas of real estate -
home, commercial and agriculture.
Home Realty and Land Co. takes pride in being an
active member of the Porterville community we
have called home for more than 35 years. We are
looking forward to the next 35 years and continuing
to serve the needs of our community who have
become friends, family and neighbors.

As Your Home Town Real Estate Company

Our agents come from diverse
backgrounds dedicated to the same goal
Providing High Quality Service to our Clients.

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
This is the Dr. Henrehan Home and was just east of the Senior Center in Porterville. Dr. Henrehan was a veteran
of the Civil War and came to Porterville right after the Civil War ended and was the only Dr. in Porterville until the
coming of the railroad in 1888. The tree was called the hanging tree because the Indians who killed Mrs. Jesse
Bonsell and her two children; Charles and Walter; were hung there. In 1916; the Santa Fe Railroad; came to Porter- 120 N. Main Street - Porterville, CA 93257
ville and the tree was in the right of way and was cut down. 559-784-4000
home-realty.com
@HomeRealtyandLand | @HomeRealtyandLand
 A Place Called
PAGE 4B THE PORTERVILLE RECORDER 2022
 A Place Called
2022 THE PORTERVILLE RECORDER PAGE 5B
 PORTERVILLE
COLLEGE

We Make it
Easy to get
Started
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school, books,
food, supplies,
& more while you
go to school!
Porterville College
has over 40 degree
and
Job Skills Certificate
programs to help
you on the path to
YOUR FUTURE!

REGISTER NOW
for Fall Classes!
ALL NEWLY ENROLLED STUDENTS RECEIVE:
• A NEW Windows Laptop to keep!*
• 24/7 Access to Mental and Medical Health Care with
PC Telehealth**
• Financial Aid Support (for those who qualify) to help with
tuition and other costs.
• Easy Access to tutors, mentors, and other instructional
support programs.

All STUDENTS may be eligible for access to:

• Up to $1500 in Grants (based on the number of units
taken)****.
• Support services for Foster Youth, Veteran Students,
Native American Students, Alaskan Native Students,
Undocumented Students, and many others.
• Support programs like EOPS, CARE, NextUp, The Disability
Resource Center, the Veteran’s Resource Center.
• A FREE Student ID
• A FREE Parking Permit

So what’s holding you back?

Apply Today!
Scan this QR code
with your phone to
get started.

www.PortervilleCollege.edu
*You must complete a full semester to keep the laptop. See Financial Aid website for details. **Paid for by student health fee.
Visit www.PCTelehealth for more information. ***Depends on program eligibiltiy. Visit individual program websites for details.
*****Earn up to $1500 in grants based on the number of units taken.
Must be enrolled in at least 6 units to take advantage of offer. See financial aid website for details.

There’s NEVER been a better time

to become a Pirate!
 A Place Called
2022 THE PORTERVILLE RECORDER PAGE 9B

Groundbreaking for PC
Allied Health Building held
BY JAMIE A. HUNT
jhunt@portervillerecorder.com

The groundbreaking
ceremony for the long-
time planned Porterville
College Allied Health
Building took place to
great acclaim on Thurs-
day, February 24.
Dignitaries from the
Tule River Tribe, Por-
terville College district,
City, State representa-
tives attended the cer-
emony.
Vice Chairman Shine
Nieto of the Tule River
Tribe of Yokuts acknowl-
edged the land, and said,
“I’m very happy for you
guys, and thank you for
how you are helping
everyone with cancer,
and the diseases that
we all get. Welcome to
this land; It’s not just on
the reservation, it’s all
of us together. “We are
all Yokuts, “The People.”
Thank you for all you do
to help us.”
Dr. Claudia Habib,
Porterville College RENDERING CONTRIBUTED BY PORTERVILLE COLLEGE
President welcomed ev- This Computer Rendering illustrates the main entrance of the Allied Health building at Porterville College.
eryone to the grounding
breaking ceremony and Measures J and G, and State funds, and working the architects who he worked with, the size and the
spoke about how near-and-dear to her heart the with Randy Rowles, the architect and his team. cost of the building, and praised all the people he
project  for the Allied Health building was, and This groundbreaking marks a new beginning for worked with. He said the new health care building is
how it was the first project she championed as PC our college, and the Allied Health students of the fu- targeted to be completed by December 2023.
president.  ture. The AH Program Building will set itself apart. Gabriel Garcia represented the students from
She thanked KCCD chancellor Sonya Christian, There are not enough words to thank the people of the Allied Health program at PC and spoke about
KCCD Board of Trustee John Corkins,and said his Porterville and Tulare County. 
how he felt when he began working in the program
support was invaluable, and thanked Porterville Thank you for putting your trust in us to educate and how supportive they’ve all been. The journey
Mayor Martha Flores, and Sierra View Medical the Allied Health professionals of the future.”
of the program and completing the clinical hours,
Center KCCD trustee John Corkins spoke about the de-
CEO/President Donna Hefner for being at the cer- velopment of the building and welcomed the ground and the support of health care staff, he’s excited
emony, as well as Randy Rowles, everyone at Teater breaking. He said it would go a long way in helping for the students and professionals. The new build-
Architecture Firm, the students and staff from the to create and educate the nursing, paramedic, and ing will provide opportunities for health careers
Allied Health Center. health care professionals not just in Porterville, but and nursing in Porterville, and possibly paramed-
“This is a big day for us,” said Habib, “after all all the surrounding communities in Tulare County.  ics and a nursing program. 
the years of planning the wait is finally over. The KCCD Assoc. Vice Chancellor, and Construction Also students and nurses would not have to
project that started as a vision has now been made and facilities planning Randy Knowles spoke about travel to Fresno or Bakersfield to continue their
possible by the KCCD trustees, with monies from the design of the building, studies with the new state-of-the-art building.

a 501(c)(6) non-profit organization of businesses

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COMMUNITY LEADERS
 A Place Called
PAGE 10B THE PORTERVILLE RECORDER 2022

“Measure J Bonds at Work”

College improvements help students & community thrive
There are all kinds of improvement and modern-
ization projects
taking place at Porterville College from day to
day, and Maintenance and Operations Director
John Word is involved in all aspects of them.
The construction crew had just poured the west
half of the foundation of the new Allied Health
building and would be pouring the east foundation
as of the 30 of June. Groundbreaking for the build-
ing was February 24.
"The permanent structure will combine a skills
lab, that is a simulated hospital setting together
with instructional space, that will give our stu-
dents a real world experience when they go out
for their nursing and health care jobs," said Word.
Teter is the architecture company, and the lead
architect is Vivek Harris. And the construction
project manager is Joe De Rosa, and projected
Allied Health building completion is January 2024.
There are many current maintenance and reno-
vation projects at PC taking place. They are
remodeling the men's and women's restrooms in
the Student Center building which contains the
Cafeteria and the Barnes and Noble bookstore.
They are adding a lactation room to the women's
restroom, and they are modernizing the fixtures
and lighting in the restrooms. There will be touch-
less paper towels, touch-less water bottle filling
stations, and new drinking fountains.
The operations and maintenance crew have been
steadily modernizing the restrooms at PC since
2018, but the process takes time, with plans, ap-
provals and code requirements, especially since
the pandemic, said Word.
"We are finishing a roofing project at the fit-
ness center, and we've recoated the roof and made
repairs to the library and to the learning resource
building."
They are installing all LED lighting fixtures in
the theater along with a whole new control system, CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
and they will be trained to use it. "You'll need a Kern Community College District, Porterville College purchased the 20.5 acres south of Jamison Stadium using Mea-
doctorate to learn how to use it," he said humor- sure J Bond funds.
ously.
Operations and maintenance also installed new home bleachers and they've installed new visitor They've also remodeled the restrooms and there
dimmable LED's in the science and math forum. bleachers.  is new asphalt in the parking and all around the
To improve the classroom experiences for dis- The field has been widened to accommodate soc- stadium.
tance learning students they have installed cam- cer games, and the track has been resurfaced. The Part of the Porterville College facilities master
eras, microphones, speakers, and monitors into announcer and press booth has been modernized plan is to realign College Avenue taking the traf-
dozens of classrooms on campus. with wifi and a P.A. system. fic away from the K-12 schools and away from the
They've also made many improvements to There will be a new video scoreboard installed, front of the college.
Jamison Stadium.  and the field lights will be upgraded to LED, which The plans are currently at the City for final re-
Like painting the tops and bottoms of the stadium will make them less expensive to run. view according to Word.

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO BY JEFF EDWARDS

Burton School was moved from Olive Avenue where the Town and Country Market is today. This was the first group at the new location. At the old location it was used as a church
on Sundays and a school during the week.
It was the start of the Baptist Church in Porterville and the cross is seen the front of the school.
 A Place Called
2022 THE PORTERVILLE RECORDER PAGE 11B

build and improve PC

To that purpose PC has purchased 20 acres of munity bonds at work," said Word, "And we are put- and the work force.
land from an old farm south of the college. ting it to good use." We are so excited to see our students graduate
All of the funding for remodeling, improvements, "We are striving to help our community, our stu- and transfer to four year colleges."
and more comes from Measure J, which are "com- dents and the pathways from high school to college

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
PC Allied Health Building and College Ave. Realignment plans.

The CG7200 is a keyboard operated display photo-typsetting machine designed to produce continuous photographic paper output copy with a 14-72 point size range, top aligned for all
point sizes, that was purchased by The Recorder in 1969.
When a key on the input keyboard is depressed, it generates a STROBE signal and locks down through a mechanical interlock system incorporated into the keyboard. The STROBE signal
sets flip flop-LKOUT on the lead edge, which generates a pulse. At the same time, the code generated byu the key being held down is impressed upon the keyboard decoder. This card
decodes all the space codes and control functions used to operate the typesetting unit.
 2019 to
present
65 N.
Hockett St.
in downtown
Porterville.
Ag - Business
 A Place Called THE PORTERVILLE RECORDER 2022
PAGE 2C

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
From the 1930’s into the 1950’s Cotton Center; west of Porterville was the asparagus capital
of California. Fred and Raymond Williams were the big growers but other families like the
Bunkers and Postens were also involved in the growing of asparagus.; This photograph
shows two men and a mule harvesting asparagus. The men would cut the asparagus and
use the same mule and sled. The mule was trained to pull up when he heard the word
hay and to stop when he heard the word; Haw.; Asparagus grew quickly and had to be
cut practically every day. The Williams brothers had a packing shed and refrigeration shed
in Cotton Center and held their harvest until the price was right and then they dumped
everything on the Los Angeles Market and killed the market for the smaller growers. This
photograph was taken in 1947.

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

This was the last money transport in the JC Penny's in Porterville. The cashier sat in the This harvest of ducks and geese was at Tulare Lake in 1900. Professional hunters timed the
mezzanine and the money was transported from the clerk to the cashier who would put hunt so the birds could be put on an ice car when the train arrived in Pixely. The birds were
the change in the jar and return to the clerk. There was also one of these money transports destined to San Francisco. There are more that fifty birds displayed and in the middle of
in the Bullard Department Store. the bottom row is one lonely rabbit.

Porterville has always been a place called

home for Carroll’s Tire Warehouse!
It all started in 1974 when Randall Carroll
and his high school friend, Kevin Burford
started selling used tires out of his truck. They
would recycle used tires found at dumpsites.
After a process called recapping them they
would sell them at swap meets up and down
the Central Valley. It didn’t take long before
1990 Randall realized that selling tires could be a
good business!
In 1977 Randall sold his 1965 Corvette to
make a down payment on the property located
on North Grand Avenue and Hwy 65. He
put out a sign that said “Carroll’s Tire
Warehouse - Now Open” and the
2014 rest is history!
In 2006 CTW was
recognized as the 39th
largest independent tire
dealer in the United States.
After 45 years in business Carroll’s Tire
Warehouse has 9 stores: including two stores
in Porterville – Visalia – Tulare – Hanford -
Delano and three stores Bakersfield.
It’s all been possible because Carroll’s Tire
Warehouse believes in customer service. It’s
the foundation of our business. We appreciate
every one of our customers and major tire
suppliers because you have helped make our
success!
Carroll’s Tire Warehouse will always guarantee
every day low prices on thousands of name
brand tires and wheels, custom lowering kits
- suspension lift kits and complete auto care
services to keep your vehicles safe for you and
your families!
We invite you to visit our website at:
carrollstire.com or simply stop by and say hello
at the place we call home in Porterville USA.

2016

Kevin Burford aka “Tireman”

1974 1977

Randall Carroll Kevin Burford an

d Randall Carroll

2018
Randall & Susie Carroll

Customer Appreciation sale

1995
8 Valley Locations
Porterville:
Corner of 65 & North Grand • (559) 781-5040
45th
677 South Plano • (559) 266-5040
CARROLLSTIRE.COM
2022
A Place Called THE PORTERVILLE RECORDER PAGE 3C

The Porterville Recorder: a voice for

southeast Tulare County since 1908
The Porterville Recor

One of the reasons we have a good accounting pers and claimed to have once been the youngest managing editor in
of the last 110 years of Porterville history here the country. The Deans ran The Recorder until Freedom Newspapers
at The Recorder is that we have been around for bought the paper in 1974, at which time Graham Dean retired as its
most of it — 113 years, to be exact. editor and publisher.
Estha Mae Hinton went to work at The Recorder in 1963 as society
The first issue of The Porterville Recorder was published on May
editor: she was a natural at it.
21, 1908. The lead story introduced readers to staffers such as Percy
“In my position, I met people at all the most emotional times of their
F. Adelsback, who was pulling double duty at the time as managing
lives — births, school events, graduations, engagements, weddings,
editor and publisher, and bragged on the “up-to-the-minute” equip-
receptions and the deaths of loved ones,” said Hinton years after her
ment (like the Linotype typesetting machine) that was being used to
retirement when she was 92. “By being one with the family at the
produce the new newspaper. It was evident at the very start that The
happy, proud and sad times, I became very fond of a wide section of
Recorder wanted to be the community’s hometown paper.
Porterville.”
In that first story, Adelsback practically threw open the front doors.
Hinton maintained The Recorder’s strength is in its emphasis on local
“We will be glad at all times to have our friends come in and inspect
news.
the plant,” he wrote, adding a special invitation to “our out-of-town
“Our paper is the best because it’s the only one in position to tell the
friends, especially the farmer people who make only occasional trips
world what’s going on here,” Hinton said. “If we don’t toot our own
to the city.”
horn, nobody else is going to toot it for us.”
Feel free, he said, to make The Recorder office your “headquarters”
One milestone in The Recorder’s history was the move to its current
and spend with us your “idle time.” Adelsback was being neighborly,
office at 115 E. Oak Avenue. The building was extensively remodeled
starting a tradition that has continued to this day.
and had its grand reopening in 2001. Publisher Tom Conner noted at
“When you pick up a copy of The Recorder, you become more con-
the time that some visitors said “they could not recognize the place —
nected with your community, from developing issues about local
the change is that dramatic.”
government and schools to human interest stories that chronicle the
When Rhode Island Newspapers purchased the Recorder in 2013,
experience of living in Porterville,” says current Recorder editor Matt
Rick Elkins was named publisher. Elkins was at the helm until his
Sarr. “I feel that the more a person reads about the happenings in their
retirement in September of 2017. Bill Parsons became publisher in
town, the more likely they are to take ownership and get involved in
February 2018. In the news story introducing Parsons he said if a pa-
making that town a better place to live. We try every day at the Re-
per does not serve its community it has no reason to exist.
corder to tell your stories and the stories of your friends and neigh-
“We are here to serve this community and bring to our many read-
bors.”
ers the very best newspaper each day that we can possibly be,” said
Rhode Island Suburban Newspapers purchased The Recorder in 2013
Parsons. “It has been a pleasure to be part of the Recorder staff and
from Irvine-based Freeedom Communications, who had owned the
to lead such a talented, hard-working group of newspaper profession-
paper since 1974. Prior to 1974, the paper’s ownership had changed
als,” Parsons continued. “Our goal each day is to bring the community
hands quite often.
news and sports that our readers want. Covering local events and the
In 1909, John T. Goodrick Jr. and Leslie McAuliff acquired control-
people of this community is what we do best.
ling interest, promising to “give the news accurately and impartially,
“No one covers Porterville and Southern Tulare County the way we
without discriminating (and) regardless of its effect on friends or
do”, continued Parsons. “The Recorder has served this community
enemies.”
faithfully for over 110 years. The challenge of continuing that out-
In 1920, John R. Bell, formerly of Storm Lake, Iowa, bought The Re-
standing coverage is one we accept and will do our best to make all
corder, bringing to Porterville “wide newspaper experience.”
those staff members that have called the Recorder home over the
In 1923, Will H. Hornibrook, described as a new arrival in the city,
years proud of our efforts. Just as it was back in 1908, we invite you
became the paper’s owner. The announcement heralding his arrival
to come visit and spend some time with us. The Recorder is your
noted that Hornibrook had successfully published newspapers in
hometown newspaper.”
Oregon and Vancouver, Washington, and had “served in the American
Even today in the Internet age, The Recorder still employs 20 people
diplomatic service in the capacity of United States Minister to Siam.”
in Porterville and publishes papers six days a week.
In 1924, The Recorder became the property of C.L. Day, former pub-
“Even in modern times when people have so much information avail-
lisher of the San Luis Obispo Daily Telegram.
able to them in an instant through their smart phones, The Recorder
In 1927, readers opened their papers to read, “Folks, meet Homer W.
remains a publication where you can read stories about Porterville and
Wood.” Wood, a lawyer who was said to be the “father of the Rotary
surrounding neighborhoods that you can’t find anywhere else,” said
on the Pacific Coast,” had bought The Recorder. He ran the newspaper
Sarr. “If we continue to be an active and caring member of this com-
until 1960.
munity, and as long as readers know they can walk in our door at any
In 1960, Mr. and Mrs. Graham M. Dean bought The Recorder from
time and tell us what’s on their mind, I think our paper will continue
Mr. Wood. Graham Dean had an extensive background in newspa-
to be an important part of Porterville life for years to come.”

During the construction of the Putnam Pioneer Store in 1888, Por-

ter Putnam died and the store was opened by the McFarland fam-
ily. In 1904 the Putnam family sold the store to the Price family and
Price Hardware was one of the major store in Porterville.
In 1959 the Hodgson’s purchase the store and Virgil Hodgson
owned the building and after Virgil’s death Babe Hodgson remod-
eled the store for the Thrifty Drug Store and took off the second
story. Since that time there have been many renters and today is
a jewelry store. During the management by the McFarland Family
John MeFarland developed a drinking problem. His father Abe Me-
Farland told his son to do something about this problem so John
committed suicide. I am sure that was not the solution Mr. McFar-
land was think of .as a cure.
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
 A Place Called THE PORTERVILLE RECORDER 2022
PAGE 4C

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
This is the Club House that was three miles above Springville. It was built by some prominent business men from Porterville. In the month of April the men would spend a week at the
clubhouse drinking and parting. However people going to Camp Nelson would spend the night there. They could get to the clubhouse from Porterville but from the clubhouse to
Camp Nelson it was by pack train and Jim Akin had a ranch across the road and he rented livestock for the journey. Pearle Zalud spent the summer of 1902 in Camp Nelson with two of
her girl friends Martha McFarland and Gladys Mc Donald. Pearle said they crossed the Tule River 18 times between the Akin Ranch and Camp Nelson. The Club House was torn down in
1930 and became the CCC camp (California Conservation Corp)

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
Many new businesses were started soon after the end of World War II and the King's Ga-
rage was one of them. Wayne and Aphus King started their garage in the early 1950's and
featured service and would help people get their cars started at no charge. At the time the
King brothers went in business in the 500 block of West Putnam the Sierra View Hospital
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
The Billingsly home was next to the Livery Stable on the west side of Main Street between
Putnam Ave and Cleveland Ave. The Billingsly family owned the entire half block between
the alley and Main Street. All of the Livery Stables in Porterville were owned and operated
by southern people who were confederates in the Civil War.; Billingsly Livery Stable had the
contract to grease the whiskey wagons when they came to town with their whiskey bar-
rels. The grease job was done at night and the next morning Mr. Billingsly seemed drunk
and they knew he was stealing whiskey but could not figure out how.; Mr. Billingsly would
drill a small hole in the barrel and then insert a wheat straw and fill several jugs of whiskey
and seal the hole with a small stick or match. He was never caught. Later the home was

100 Years
was in construction across the street. moved to Hockett Street and was eventually torn down.

From Downtown
Porterville’s
Hardware Store...

Family legend has it that our founder Frank Lalanne, the

to Downtown
son of French immigrants, originally started in business
in 1916 after winning a bicycle shop in a poker game.

Porterville’s
Whether that’s true or not, we do know that about that
time Frank opened Lalanne’s Vulcanizing Works on the
corner of Main and Olive, in Porterville California. It

Fabric Store
wasn’t long before Frank’s company became one of the
first in Tulare County to receive shipments of rubber tires.

This historic building has always

inspired the creative spirit
Calico Mermaid
64 South D Street • Porterville, CA 93257
Porterville’s Quilt Fabric Shop
122 N. Main Street, Porterville, CA 93257
559-784-2248
Monday – Friday, 7:30 am to 5:00 pm. • Saturday – 8:00 am to 12:00 pm 559-793-2510 • www.CalicoMermaid.com
Georgia Goode • georg@calicomermaid.com
Follow us on
2022
A Place Called
THE PORTERVILLE RECORDER PAGE 5C

In 1947 Porterville had a

foundry that made parts for
the farmers to keep their
farm equipment running.
It was located on Fourth
Street beside the Porter-
ville Slough. Today the
land is vacant. In the old
days equipment was used
and when it broke it was
repaired. Sharpening and
rebuilding plow schears was
one of the major things the
foundry did.

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

The railroad built the Por-

terville hotel so their em-
ployees would have a place
to stay when they had a
lay-over in 1888. At first the
hotel didn’t extend to the
alley in back. In 1914 they
extended the hotel to the
alley and in 1927 they con-
structed the third story on
the hotel. Originally it was
called the Arlington Hotel
and they had an Arlington
Stable on the north side, I
don’t know the date they
changed the name but it
was shortly after the turn of
the century and probably
when the town of Porter-
ville incorporated in 1902.

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

You could say this

was from the good
old days at the Ser-
vice Station on the
southwest corner of
Main and Olive Street;
especially when you
look at the price of
gasoline.

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

Locally owned and Under

operated for 42 Years New
Ownership
24 S COBB STREET • 559-781-3792
 A Place Called
PAGE 6C THE PORTERVILLE RECORDER 2022

Lindsay’s Orange Blossom Festival

The Lindsay Orange Blossom Fes-
tival has been a mainstay of the City
of Lindsay and the surrounding com-
munities since 1932, and generations
of families have been involved since
then.  the food, and the whole event. Now
In 2022 the festival resumed after a
hiatus of 2 years because of the Covid
pandemic, and the joy and entertain-
ment was in full force again.
The OBF is a wonderful family
event, and the festival tradition and
history begins at the height of the
depression, in 1932 when it helped
hundreds, if not thousands of people
with festivities and entertainment.
That joy is still reflected in the fes-
tival extravaganza today.
Mr. R. I. Clearman, then secretary/
manager of the Lindsay Chamber of
Commerce, aoriginated the Orange
Blossom Festival on April 23, 1932
to counteract the depression blues.
Each year since then, with a few
misses, Lindsay has celebrated with
an Orange Blossom Queen and her
court, an Honored Couple, a Saturday
parade, and a celebration in the city
park.
The first two Orange Blossom Fes-
tivals featured “The Pageant of the
San Joaquin,” a gigantic historical
play written by Valda Prizer. It had a
cast of more than 400 people and was
performed in the foothills between
Lindsay Peak and Elephant’s Back.
Hundreds participated, including the
community of Strathmore in the play,
as various episodes of the past were
unfolded: ¬the time the Yokuts Indi-
ans roamed the Lindsay plains, the
days of Mexican rule, the Gold Rush,
the planting of the orange groves
and, finally, the completing of Shasta
and Friant dams. The finale includ-
ed children in colorful capes form-
ing a “Rainbow of Promise,” ending
with carloads of oranges being re-
leased down the foothills for the 4,000
guests to enjoy as they returned to
their homes.
The extravaganza has continued
on a practically yearly basis for the
City of Lindsay, and hundreds of vol-
unteers donate their time and energy
to celebrate the joys of the Orange
harvest and the City of Lindsay.
During the 2022 OBF festival Re-
nay Frias said she had been attend-
ing for 53 years with her parents and
she’s always enjoyed the music and
she is bringing her grandchildren
and family.
Maryann Bolanos was at the OBF
Bake-off booth and said she was so
glad, “we are back.” I hope that ev-
eryone is enjoying the festival. It’s
great to be back and enjoying each
other. Fun. Fun. Fun.”  She said it’s so
nice to see everyone out and enjoying
themselves. So wonderful, and such a
beautiful day.``
Danny Salinas took over as OBF
chairperson from Bob Kissling over
25 years ago, and Salinas, his wife
Lisa, and friends and family have
been involved ever since.
He says 2023 will be the Lindsay
Orange Blossom’s 91st year, and it is
one of the longest running festivals
in Tulare County. The volunteers all CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
have many years of involvement, 2022 OBF Committee: Front Row: Nicole Chavez, Mary Ann Bolanos, Diane Hernandez,
I myself and a few other members Frances Loyd, Paula Dunbar. Back Row: Danny Salinas, Lisa Salinas, Kathy Rivas, Hope
have approximately 30 years. The Poteet, Keeka Zamora, Jayne Denni, Jason Bond, Starr Warson. Not Pictured: Kristen Wag-
commitment of our committee is goner, Gabby Munoz, Virginia Loya, Megan Salinas.
overwhelming year after year. Also
the City of Lindsay has always been a
great partner in our event 
His wife, Lisa Salinas, says OBF
has been a Lindsay Tradition for 90
years and is still going on strong! We
enjoy being a part of such a long run-
ning festival for our community. We
are always looking for volunteers to
join our committee, as it takes a vil-
lage to put this event on. We will be-
gin gearing up for next year’s event
in September. 
Besides Lisa and Danny, Megan
Salinas is in charge of social me-
dia, with many volunteers managing
all the various OBF responsibilities
from the OBF Board to OBF du-
ties and responsibilities. Some of the
main volunteers  are Jayne Denni,
Mary Ann Bolanos, Reeka Zamora,
Frances Loyd, Kathy Rivas, Hope Po-
teet, Virginia Loya, Dianne Hernan-
dez, Paula Dunbar, Stephanie Orosco, CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
Kristen Waggoner, and Gaby Munoz. The 2022 Orangle Blossom Festival Queen and her Court.

Imperial Ambulance
FUNDRAISER FOR THE ZALUD HOUSE MUSEUM

Voted 2021 Business of the Year!

FREE TO ATTEND

In 1960 Charles Hargis along with business partners Orville and Hazel Loftin purchased
the ambulance transport service from the City of Porterville Fire Department. Together they
created Imperial Ambulance with two vehicles, a 1956 Cadillac and a 1958 Pontiac. The
Loftin’s converted their back residence into the business property so they could operate
the business from home. In 1962 Myron and Miriam Wilcox bought out Charles Hargis to
become partners with the Loftin family at which point they incorporated the business.
Shortly after creating the corporation, the families went on to add a funeral coach and
limousine business along with a medical supply company.
OCTOBER DOWNTOWN
8TH
In the beginning, ambulance personnel were only required to retain a current CPR card
to attend and transport patients. In 1974 ambulance personnel were required to take a

PORTERVILLE
6-month EMT-I course to be eligible to operate as an ambulance attendant and driver.
In 1981 it was required for ambulance attendants to be certified as EMT-II’s and drivers to
continue to be certified as EMT-I’s. As the company continued to grow, Imperial Ambulance
provided the city of Lindsay with an ambulance.
In 1993 Trent Fiori was hired as a parttime EMT-I. Shortly after Trent started the EMT-II program,
was moved to fulltime and later became the youngest EMT-II in Tulare County at the age RIB COOK-OFF I PAGEANTS I VENDORS
of 19. Trent has worked for Imperial Ambulance for 29 years and he continues to work for
Imperial Ambulance as the President of Operations. LIVE SHOOT OUT I HISTORICAL DISPLAYS
Imperial Ambulance continues to be involved with its local community by providing
service to parades, various city events and vaccine clinics. Imperial Ambulance is active
REENACTMENTS I KIDS CORRAL
with the local schools by providing scholarships at Porterville College and Porterville
High School’s Academy of Health Sciences. Imperial Ambulance also provides safety
OLD WEST GAMES I MUSIC & MORE!
Presented By:
demonstrations at local elementary and preschools, standbys at high school sporting
events and graduations.
Imperial’s family legacy continues to this day. The company is
now owned by Orville and Hazel Loftin’s daughter Emily Thiroux,
granddaughters Abby Auffant, Pamela Galbraith and Theresa Hall.

22 North Cottage, Porterville, Ca 93257

559-784-8500
WWW.CI.PORTERVILLE.CA.US
 Home

Sports
“A Place Called Home” is a trademark of Parsons Publications and can only be used with consent of the trademark owner.
 A Place Called
PAGE 2D THE PORTERVILLE RECORDER 2022

In 1952 Porterville High

School had a champion-
ship Golf team and won
every match they com-
peted in. From left in
the back is coach Mark
Wilson; Dick Freeman;
Garp Koop; and George
Martin. In the front is
Ernie Gililland; Jack
Wright and Andy Ad-
ams.; The next year And
Adams won the Cali-
fornia State Juniro Golf
Championship in Sac-
ramento. The final day
of play Andy defeated
both Dave Stockton and
Al Geiberger who both
became professional
golfers on the PGA tour.

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

Porterville High School

had its first cross coun-
try track team in 1952.
The coaches were
Mr. Gillette and Mr.
Angelitch. They com-
peted against the other
schools in the county
and were the winning
team. In the picture
from the left is J. Puett;
Pasquie; J. R. Francis;
Glen Davis; Garcia; Bob
Donaldson; Eduardo
Guevaro; P. Puett and
Ray Camarena. Ray was
the best runner and the
smallest.

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

Porterville was on the Im-

migrant Trail that extended
from San Francisco to St.
Joseph, Missouri. When the
railroad came to the west
in 1869 the immigrant trail
was still used but not as
much. You can imagine the
large Concord stagecoaches
coming and crossing the
Tule River on their way to
San Francisco and all the
towns in between.
This particular wagon was
photographed in Plano
after 1890. We can tell be-
cause the sign on the build-
ing in the back is advertis-
ing the Arlington Hotel on
the northeast corner of
Main Street and Olive Ave.
The Arlington later had a
name change to the Porter-
ville Hotel.

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

The first venture of

the canon crew was in
Kernville at “Whiskey
Flat Day” From the left
is Loren McDonald, Bill
Horst, Gene Spellman,
Bill Rodgers and Donald
Jones.

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
 Weisenberger’s Ace Hardware

Home
CALLING PORTERVILLE

Since 1944

As the helpful “helping you is

hardware the most
folks in your important
comm unity, thing we have to
we promise that, do today.”

875 W. Olive Ave, Porterville CA 93257

(559) 784-3292
 A Place Called
PAGE 4D THE PORTERVILLE RECORDER 2022

It seemed that Porterville

was a racing town and
raced everything from bi-
cycles to automobiles as is
seen in the race car coming
down Main Street. Note that
the car is a right hand drive
and they used two men in a
car so when they cornered
to the left the man in the
left seat could hang out and
conteract the force created
in the turn. The St. James
Hotel is the building on the
right and the large building
on the left is the North Tay-
lor block.

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

Little is written on the Dillonwood

area. It was founded in 1870 by
Nathan Dillon and later James
Hubbs. It was named Dillonwood
after Nathan Dillon It was lo-
cated over the hill from Mountain
Home to the north and was also a
lumber camp. In the picture you
can see the trails leading to the
mill. The logs were dragged to
the mill in chutes. The logs were
cut into boards and loaded on a
small wooden railroad and hauled
down the hill to the Dillon Dump
where it was loaded on wagons
and hauled to either Springville or
Strathmore. The old railroad was
all wood but they never had an
accident on it.

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
“Freeman’s Resevoir” on the Freeman ranch near the Saucelito School southwest of Porterville. This was where all the neighbors and their children swa,. The Freeman family moved her
from Santa Monica, Ca. Mr. Bill Freeman soon after built this “swimming hole” for swimming and irrigation.

Believers Church
"Then and Now"
Love God. Love People.
Serving our Community since 1981

Pastor Sonjia Braun

222 N. Second Street (559) 782-0531
Services: Sundays 9 am, 11 am
Youth: Wednesday 7 pm
bcporterville.com

GRACE / FAITH / HOPE / LOVE

 A Place Called
2022 THE PORTERVILLE RECORDER PAGE 5D

DROUGHT
RESPONSE Phase III
Mandatory Odd/Even Watering Schedule, based on address.
Residents will be allowed TWO days a week to water lawns
and landscapes. No watering allowed on Mondays,
Thursdays, and Fridays.

Watering is prohibited between the hours of 5:00 AM to

10:00 AM and 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM.

No watering outdoor landscapes during and within 48

hours after measurable rainfall.

Excessive water runoff is prohibited.

The washing of sidewalks and driveways is prohibited.

Vehicles shall only be washed on designated watering days

and with a hose equipped with a shut-off nozzle.

The operation of ornamental water features is prohibited

unless the fountain uses a recycling system.

Non-compliance with Phase Ill water conservation regulations

could result in citations with fines up to $500.

DROUGHT
RESPONSE
PHASE lll
The City of Porterville has adopted Phase Ill of its
Drought Response Plan. As part of the Phase Ill plan,
the City has restricted watering days to two days per
week, based on address.

Mandatory Odd/Even Watering Schedule

MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY SUNDAY

DO OK OK DO DO OK OK
NOT TO TO NOT NOT TO TO
WATER WATER WATER WATER WATER WATER WATER

--- ODD EVEN --- --- ODD EVEN

Odd Address Even Address

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
This is the old Southern Pacific Freight Depot at Olive Ave. and D Street. The worker is
unknown but the interesting thing is the freight he is working with. He has some sacks ODD NUMBER ADDRESSES
of seed on his hand truck and barbed wire is coiled by him but stacked near the wall are
some black smudge pots that would be used to keep the citrus from freezing in the winter If your address ends with
time. After a serious freeze the air above Porterville and the foothills would be black from an “odd” number, 1, 3, 5, 7,
burning oil and old tires in the citrus groves.
or 9, your watering days are
Tuesday and Saturday only.

OR
EVEN NUMBER ADDRESSES
If your address ends with
an “even” number, 0, 2, 4, 6,
or 8, your watering days are
Wednesday and Sunday only.

Mandatory Excessive
Odd/Even Watering water runoft
Schedule prohibited
The washing of sidewalks and
driveways is prohibited
Vehicles shall only be washed on
designated watering days and
with hoses equipped with a
shut-oft nozzle
Ornamental water
features are prohibited
unless the fountain uses
a recycling system

WATERING
PROHIBITED BETWEEN
THE HOURS OF
5:00 -10:00 AM • 5:00 -10:00 PM

NO WATERING ON
CONTRIBUTED BY SHIRLEY PERRY POLANEC MONDAYS, THURSDAYS,
AND FRIDAYS.
My mother and father, Earl and Clotes Perry, took all six of my siblings, in the summer of
1954, to Bartlet Park for a picnic and swimming. I did not like to get in the water so no
bathing suit. I enjoyed walking on the rocks.
 A Place Called
PAGE 6D THE PORTERVILLE RECORDER 2022

This picture
was taken at
the Grand
Opening of the
Zalud House
on April 29,
1977.

CONTRIBUTED
PHOTO

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
How did Mill Ave. get its name? There was a flour mill in Burbank Park, that is now Murry Park, and
this was the street that lead directly to the mill. Mr. Bunker has a load of the grain to be ground and
is headed to the mill. Mr. Bunker lived in the Poplar area.
Take notice of the building on the right. That was the Majestic Theater on the northwest corner of
Mill Ave. and Third Street. When the theater was torn down for the French Laundry. The granite not
used for the Morton Street School was put in the hole. If you dig down a foot or so you will hit rock.
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
In 1961 Lupe Haun on the right was Woman of the Year for her work in starting
the Sheltered Workshop and was awarded a certificate by Maxine Hodgson
who was the 1960 Woman of the Year. The Sheltered Workshop has continued
to grow and employ the handicapped and proved services to the community.

Drive Inn’s were the thing

in the 1950’s High School
kids would drag Main Street
in their folk’s car and stop
at a drive inn for a coke
or a hamburger. The food
would be served to your car.
They dragged Main Street
from the Anselmo Dairy on
the north and to the high
school. In that space there
were at least five drive inns.
The Main Drive Inn was just
north of Morton Ave.

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

Happy Hearts Children’s Center

started in January 1996
by Holly Oliveira on Newcomb Street as a home based day care with 14 children. In
1998 it expanded to a center with 24 children. Happy Hearts again relocated in 2001
to the current location on
111 N. Villa St. with a license for 106 children.

• Collision Repair
• Complete Paint Jobs
Happy Hearts • Towing Available
Children‛s Center Lifetime Guarantee on all repairs & paint!

111 North Villa St. • 788-0483

M ILINICH BODY WORKS
631 Sunnyside Ave., Porterville, CA 93257
(559) 784-8827
 A Place Called
2022 THE PORTERVILLE RECORDER PAGE 7D

CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS
Above: The Van Doorman tree was such a large redwood tree that it could not be hauled
out of the mountains in one piece and had to be split into sections and then put together at
another location. People would not believe a tree could be so big and having been split into
sections only increased their doubt. One of the men doing the splitting is John Talley. He
worked with a partner, Earl McDonald and it could be him in the picture.

Right: John Talley and Earl McDonald were premier tree fallers in the Mountain Home are in
the 1900’s. The cut in the tree is the direction the tree was going to fall. The redwood trees in
our area are brittle and they tried to fall the trees up hill so it was a shorter fall. The redwood
tress has a thick bark and when Earl McDonald died his lungs were like fur because of all the
bark that he inhaled. The ladders went to spring boards that the men stood on and swung
their axes or pulled their saws.

Left: This person is unidenti-

fied but this is the entrance to
one of the magnesite mines in
the foothills east of Porterville.
Magnesite mining played an
important part in the early
history of Porterville. One min-
ing site was northeast of Por-
terville and the other was in
the success valley. The mining
ceased about 1940 when mag-
nesite was being shipped from
Chile as ballast in the bottom
of the ship. We still have the
ore in the mines but it is too
expensive to mine.

CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS

Right: Pat McDonald of Springville invented this wedge to use in the processing of the red-
wood trees in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Today the wedge is on display in the Springville
Museum.
Pat McDonald was a pioneer lumberman and served in the U.S. Army during World War II. He
was a heavy equipment operator and got the idea of using a wedge to split the large redwood
logs in the Sierra Nevada Mountains.
At the end of the war in 1947 Pat went to work with the Jordan family to harvest the large
redwood logs that had been abandoned because of their size. Pat designed this wedge that
would be attached to the blade of a caterpillar tractor. There was some slack in the shaft of the
wedge. The wedge was placed on the log and then the tractor would pop the clutch and split
the redwood stump wide open. Now the stump would be small enough to be handled.
The Jordan Family offered to pay Pat on a percentage of stumps harvested or to work on
salary. Pat chose the salary and had he chosen the percentage he would have made a lot of
money.
Soon limits were placed on the use of redwood so the next year Pat McDonald went to the Or-
egon and Washington states and remained in the lumber industry. I never saw Pat McDonald
after he left Porterville.

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

“GATEWAY POST ACUTE,

WHERE OUR FAMILY IS DEDICATED TO YOURS!
PROUDLY SERVING OUR COMMUNITY FOR OVER 40 YEARS!”

Gateway Post Acute is a premier skilled nursing facility

located in Porterville, California. We have been providing
compassionate and personal skilled care for over 40 years.
Our 62-bed facility specializes in providing rehabilitation
services onsite to help you regain your independence and
return to your highest level of function.
We take pride in offering the highest level of skilled nursing
and therapy services in the industry. Our first priority is
providing you with outstanding care and attention to all
your healthcare needs.

661 West Poplar Ave

Porterville, CA 93257
559-784-8371