Minarets – The Town Minarets, or Media as it was also known, was located near the intersection of Road 400 and Road 406. In the mid 1890s, as Madera County was being carved out of Fresno County, Minarets was considered as a candidate for county seat. Some mountain folks didn’t like the idea of having to travel all the way ...
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The History Mystery #74
This photograph is a Tungsten Mine operation somewhere in Madera County taken in August of 1954. Tungsten has the highest melting point of any metal and was used in incandescent light bulbs and over 15,000 products during WWII. It makes any alloy much stronger and is credited with helping the USA to victory in WWII. Where was this particular mine ...
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This month’s History Mystery came to the North Fork History Group via an anonymous donation to the Grace Community Church Thrift Store. A History Group member spotted the odd-shaped bottle pictured below and purchased it for the History Group. The bottle is 14 inches high and 3 inches in diameter. The little knobs on top and bottom are 2 inches ...
Read More »The History Mystery #72
The Coarsegold Historical Society is looking for any information on the named area BROWLEY that is in the middle of the map below. Any information on who this family was, or any further details would be appreciated. Please leave your comments here or our Facebook page, or leave a message at 559-642-4448. Submitted by Karen Morris Coarsegold Historical Society Followup ...
Read More »The History Mystery #71
In our historic photos files at the Sierra Historic Sites Association (SHSA) research library, we found this photograph, with very little information. On the back there is a note that says: “Picnic at ‘Blue-Bell’ on Taylor Mt. Grey ranch.” The name A. Burget is written on the front. Does anyone know where this “Blue Bell” was located, where the Grey ...
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This photo is in the collection of the Sierra Mono Museum. The photograph was taken by Alexander Hood. The man with the baby is Mike McDonald holding his son Wally. Any help with identifying the woman and children in the photo would be appreciated. Thank you, Christina McDonald Sierra Mono Museum Follow-Up on The History Mystery #69 We were ...
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This month’s History Mystery is submitted by George Raymond, Historian, E Clampus Vitus Chapter 41-49 Subject: Southern Pacific Railroad – Berenda Branch Question: Do any of the readers have or know how to obtain a map showing the route of the Berenda Branch of the Southern Pacific Railroad? It ran from Berenda to Daulton to Raymond. Over time this stretch ...
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RAYMOND – The building in the photograph burned in the early 1990s in Knowles and was a boarding house for many granite quarry workers over the years. But our History Mystery is not about the building but concerns the two stone bears crouched along either side of the stairs leading to the porch. The two bears, which some folks think ...
Read More »History Mystery #67 – Mystery Solved!
It’s not often that one of the History Mysteries gets solved so completely, but when it does happen we think it should be highlighted. Thanks to diligent research of North Fork History Group member Kathy Ellis, and preservation of historic information in the past by Margie (Jeppson) Hensley and Doris Scovel, every person in History Mystery #59 was identified. The ...
Read More »The History Mystery #66
Submitted by Karen Morris – We have many military uniforms on display at the Coarsegold Historic Museum and we need more information about them. This is a picture of one from WWI. We’re not sure what the patches on the sleeves are for and are hoping someone out there may be able to help. Any information would be appreciated. Please ...
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