STORIES FROM VISALIA’S PAST

WE WANT YOUR STORIES!

One of the best ways to talk about history is to tell the story. Did your parents or grandparents hand down a story about early Visalia? Did they come by wagon or train? Did they live in an historic building? Maybe you have a story about eating in The Depot Restaurant. Or perhaps you have a Visalia story that happened somewhere in between.

We’re starting to collect those stories. If you think your story could be included in Visalia’s history stories on our website, email it to Alison Miniaci, miniacali@yahoo.com or Donna Orozco, dorozco1115@yahoo.com.

MRS. SPALDING’S ELECTRIC CAR

In 1904 a carriage building was constructed adjacent to the home, and complete with tack room, served as a stable for their horses and buggies. Later it was converted into a garage for their automobiles, which probably included Mr. Spalding’s Reo Roadmaster and Mrs. Spalding’s Baker, reportedly Visalia’s first electric car. Later the carriage building was made into a house with an address of 208 W. Grove Avenue.

TICKET TO RIDE

Step back in time to 1916!

This amazing photo shows the original waiting room of Visalia’s 1916 Southern Pacific Depot — complete with:

Original wooden benches
The ticket master’s cage
Milk glass pendant lighting
Hand-stenciled detailing featuring the Southern Pacific Railroad log
Period travel posters on the walls

William R. Spalding, a prominent Visalia lumberman, purchased the first ticket at the Southern Pacific Depot when it opened in September 1916. He bought a round-trip ticket to San Francisco.

Look closely and you’ll see a few men in the photo. Can anyone help identify them? It might be a long shot after a century, but we’d love to know!

Visalia Heritage is working to restore this historic depot and transform it into Visalia’s History Museum and Cultural Center.

VISALIA’S ORIGINAL SOUTHERN PACIFIC RAILROAD DEPOT

Here’s a rare look at Visalia’s original Southern Pacific Railroad Depot — a wood-frame, Victorian-era structure that once stood exactly where the 1916 Depot stands today.

As Visalia grew, this Depot was deemed too small. To make way for the new 1916 building, it was moved one block east, where it continued serving the community as a freight depot for several years.

In the lower portion of the photo, you can also spot original granite curbing — a historic feature that still surrounds our original courthouse square.

The horse-drawn buggies and waiting passengers remind us how central the railroad was to daily life in early Visalia. Though this building is gone, its story remains a key chapter in our city’s past.

Visalia Heritage is working to restore the 1916 Depot and create Visalia’s Museum and Cultural Center.

“All aboard, Visalia!”

WHERE IS IT NOW?

Visalia Heritage recently received this letter about an historical home. I’m reaching out in hopes you might be able to help me with something very meaningful to my family. My grandmother (Grammy) has often spoken about a house that belonged to her grandparents, Arthur and Emma Crowley, and then their daughter, Elsie Elizabeth Crowley. Grammy’s mother, Ruby Crowley, grew up there. The home was originally located on Lincoln Oval, but at some point before 1980 or 1990 was moved. From what my Grammy can remember, it was relocated across the railroad tracks from the Oval, near the Visalia Country Club, and that it was later converted into an apartment building. Recently, my Grammy and I came to Visalia trying to find it, but we couldn’t. She was so disappointed, and I would love to surprise her by finally locating the house she remembered from her family’s stories. What I know about it:Two-story house (likely an early 1900s foursquare/Victorian style) Belonged to Arthur and Emma Crowley Moved before 1980 or 1990 from the Lincoln Oval area The balcony may be gone or look different Reportedly converted into apartments after relocation This is a photo of the house when the Crowley family lived there. I know some things about it have been changed, such as the door. If you have any records, notes, or knowledge of this house—especially the current address or apartment name—it would mean so much to my Grammy and to me. Thank you kindly for your time and for any help you can provide. Sincerely, Ruby-Grace Martin Maine If you know anything about this house, please contact President Walter Deissler at 559 972-4872

The Depot First Dedicated on Fourth of July, 1916

Visalia Morning Delta July 4, 1916 The formal dedication of Visalia’s new Southern Pacific depot will take place this evening at 8 p.m. with B.M Maddox of Visalia [newspaper publisher and Mt. Whitney Power Company] representing the city and H.R. Judah, assistant general passenger agent, at hand for the railroad company. During the exercises the depot will be in total darkness while the Visalia band plays several selections. The first ticket will be sold to Jas T. Boyer of the Visalia Board of Trades. According to Agent Lary, the ticket will be from Visalia to New York and return, Mr. Lary insisting that Mr. Boyer return. The hour of 8 o’clock has been selected as the most appropriate, the lighting effect of the depot being quite elaborate. Visalia will readily respond to this dedication as the depot is now a reality, and they appreciate it as one of the finest in the valley. When the parking is completed and the paving done, the structure will show up even larger and more auspicious that it does now. A separate story told about the elaborate Fourth of July activities planned: The headline said rooming houses and hotels were crowded to the limit. The day would begin at 9 a.m. with the Visalia band playing. There would be a baseball game against the Bakersfield Elks and patriotic activities in the new auditorium (the Visalia Municipal Auditorium on the northwest corner of Acequia and Garden, which would be dedicated at a later date, so as not to detract from the depot opening). There would be a carnival on Center St. and a 150-mile road race with a purse of $1,800. There were 14 entries. The day would also celebrate the completion of the new state highway between Hanford and Visalia. Hanford was going to close down almost entirely so those from Hanford could come to Visalia and hold a twin-city celebration. Then there would be another band concert in the business section, the official opening of the depot, and a dance in the new auditorium. The newspaper called it “one of the best Fourth of July programs in years, despite the militia boys going away.”