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Author Archives: Don Grove

History Mystery #92: The Case of Gabby’s Place

Image of the wooden sign that used to be in front of Gabby's Place.

Prepared by Dan Carrion, Historian, E. Clampus Vitas Grub Gulch 41-49 Chapter While driving on Highway 41 about three miles above Coarsegold Village, there is a curve in the highway with turnouts on either side of the road. On the north side of the road, there is a flat spot about a half-acre in size, nestled in front of a ...

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History Mystery #91: The Case of the Cold-Blooded Cavalry

Image of old west wagon wheels.

Article submitted by Lynn Northrop, Raymond Museum This letter (see below) was sent to me by ex-Raymondites Bob and Trina Quinn via a friend of theirs. We are hoping someone knows this Ducker name in our area and may have a family history or story about what happened to the cavalry soldiers that perpetrated this crime. In Raymond’s history we ...

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History Mystery #90: The Case of the Perplexing Pumitile

Image of a pumitile brick.

By Connie Popelish, North Fork History Group Some of the special features of North Fork architecture include the unique buildings made of blocks of pumice and cement, known as pumitile. Pumitile concrete bricks were manufactured by the Jourdan Concrete Pipe Company of Fresno, beginning around 1931. Initially, the company made concrete pipes for sewage systems, but eventually branched out, designing open-interior ...

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History Mystery #89: The Case of the Mystery Mining Machines

Image of old mining machinery.

By Karen Morris, CHS President COARSEGOLD — The Coarsegold Historical Society has three pieces of mining machinery on display at the Coarsegold Historic Museum. They were donated quite a few years ago and we need help with the names and how they were used. We think the middle one was possibly some kind of rock crusher. If you can help ...

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History Mystery #88: The Case of the Missing Hospital

Picture of an operating room.

Submitted by Debby Carter, SHSA Librarian (Fresno Flats) MOUNTAIN AREA — An article on the front page of the October 29, 1970, Sierra Star reads: “Bass Lake Receives 200 Bed Hospital: On Tuesday, Oct. 27, a full 200-bed hospital will be delivered to Bass Lake. According to Supervisor Lonnie Cornwell and Chairman of the Board Herman Neufeld of Madera County, ...

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Grace Community Church of North Fork Announces New Ministry

Collage painting of Christian saints.

By Don Grove NORTH FORK — With the shutdown of non-essential businesses in force, Grace Community Church has continued weekly Sunday services on their web page. Grace Community feels church services are essential and have a remarkable new minister to step up to fill this service. Kim Williams is a candidate for ordination for the Northern California Nevada Conference, United Church of ...

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The History Mystery #87: Who is This Mystery Person?

Picture of an old school bus.

By Christina McDonald, Sierra Mono Museum The Sierra Mono Museum is asking for a little help in identifying the individual riding this North Fork School bus, and the approximate decade. As the museum begins to move back, we would like more information on our photograph collections.  If anyone can identify this individual on the bus, maybe it’s the bus driver ...

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The History Mystery #86: Mammoth Orange

Picture of Mammoth Orange Food Stand.

By Dan Carrion, E Clampus Vitus Historian One of the Valley’s most famous landmarks was located on Highway 99 at Fairmead. The “Mammoth Orange,” and its sister across the highway the “Whoa Boy Giant Orange,” served voyagers on Highway 99 for over 50 years. The Whoa Boy was built in 1941 on the west side of Highway 99 near the ...

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History Mystery #85: Raymond Lumber Flume

Antique picture of truck driving under water flume.

By Don Grove We have had several folks visiting the Raymond Museum lately that have been interested in the lumber flumes in our area. This photograph is labeled “Lumber Flume on Madera Road to Yosemite.” We would love to know exactly where this flume crossed the road and exactly which road it is — and if anyone still has pieces ...

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History Mystery #84: North Fork Lumber Mill Teepee Burner

Picture of a North Fork Lumber Mill teepee burner

By Don Grove This is a photograph of the teepee burner at the North Fork lumber mill. Sawdust and scraps of wood from the milling process were burned in the teepee burner. In the June 1951 newsletter of the Associated Lumber & Box Company sawmill — The American Eagle — the teepee burner and mill pond were operational. On what ...

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