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