Monday, November 7, 2016


Richgrove,  circa 1914
 An image of the town of Richgrove, circa 1914.    This is a scan from the original glass negative.
Annie R. Mitchell, in her book 'The Way it Was'  (1976),  states that the Reid Land and Development Company started this town in 1909.  The company built this store and the hotel (on the right side of the image) as well as put in streets and sidewalks.    In 1913,  a freeze killed most of the young citrus trees planted in the area; which was one reason  why the town never grew very much.       The photograph was taken by the Cheney Photo Advertising Company.
 Close up:
Richgrove Hotel, circa 1914
Close up of the Hotel Richgrove.   This building still stands, its on the south side of Chaney Drive about 200 feet east of  Richgrove Drive (Route J35).


A small photograph by Hammond's Studio of Porterville  (Photographer: Eschol M. Hammond).   Circa 1923.     It appears to be an image of some campers taking  time-out to pose for the camera.



Photograph by Doran Studio of Tulare, circa 1893.


Postcard image of Orosi, circa 1910.
(Update 5/8/20) The Culter-Orosi Courier published a printed postcard using this same image.  They described it as "Looking east on El Monte from Road 127 about 1908."


Postcard image of Lindsay's First Church of the Nazarene, circa 1923.    
The church still stands, it's located on the corner Samoa St. and Gale Hill Ave.


Visalia's Southern Pacific Railroad depot, circa 1906.   Photo postcard by Ramsey.
According to local historian Terry Ommen:   This depot was built in 1893 and served as both the passenger and freight depot.    It was on the southeast corner of  Church St. and Oak Ave.     In 1915, the depot was moved one block to the east so that a new passenger depot could be built on that corner (Which is now the Depot Restaurant).    This old depot was destroyed by arson in 1982.


A postcard view of some groves and fields near Orosi,  circa 1909.


Postcard  of Lindsay's Presbyterian Church, circa 1912.


Photo postcard of Porterville's Main Street,  near the street's intersection with Garden Ave.   Circa 1909.    This is a view looking north.    The Morton Street School can be seen at the northern end of Main St.       The theater building, at the right-center of the image, also housed photographer A. R. Moore's Opera House Studio.      
Close-up:



Photo postcard image of Tulare, circa 1908.   This is a view from Kern Ave, looking down K  St.    The First National Bank is at the left edge of this image,  directly accross K Street from it is Linder's Hardware.   Both these buildings are  still standing.


Photo by A. R. Moore of  Porterville,  circa 1908.
Most likely this is the family of  William Samuel Lawson (aka  Sam Lawson)  of  Plano and Porterville.     His wife's name was Anna and his daughter is Florence.


 
Photograph circa 1914.     On the back of this photo someone has written what looks like: "Chet,   343 S. Mirage"  (or it could possibly be 243 S. Mirage).     The person who sold the photo to me stated that this is an image of Chet Tienken of Lindsay.    I'm guessing that "Chet" is Chester R. Tienken (1910-1993) of Lindsay.   He was the child of Albert C. Tienken and Alberta Mae Cox.   The "343"  matches the street number for his family's house in the 1920 U.S. Census.