Eastern Fresno County Historical Society

06/01/2026

Congratulations to the graduates of 2026!

A century ago, Mary Kneeland wrote a history of Sierra High School’s graduating class of 1926. She and her classmates were the first to experience four full years at Sierra. They first met in tents when Sierra opened in the fall of 1922. Here are some excerpts from Mary’s writings: “In the fall of 1922 there were 27 freshies starting on the first lap in the race for a high school education. Many of the these came for only a short time. Most of those who did this, came only to see what school life would be like in the tents. At the beginning of the second year, there were 20 sophomores. Alas, the runners in the race were slowly but surely dropping out. Perhaps the mountain air was too light for them. At the end of their year of high school there were eight juniors. Eight out of 27 – these are the victors and all of us know what their rewards are. Those who came down the last lap and are pronounced winners of the four-year race are Doris Moline, Edward Spence, Mary Kneeland, Ira Page, Georgia Yancey, John Armstrong, Ruth Lancaster, and Mary Van Vleet."

05/31/2026

05/25/2026

Philip "Bud" Olson (1944-2016)

As we think about teachers of the past, we will always remember Bud Olson as a great educator, leader, coach, and friend.

In 1991, a group of local community members of the Foothills of Eastern Fresno County, met at the home of Bud and Carol Olson in Auberry. The small group encouraged life-long resident and local historian Bud Olson to take the reins with the group's assistance and create a venue that showcases and safeguards our history for the future. It was their dream to ensure our local history was preserved, cataloged, displayed and restored for all to see, learn, and enjoy. This was the beginning of the Eastern Fresno County Historical Society and Museum.

05/20/2026

As the school year closes, it’s a good time to remember teachers and schools of the past.

Sentinel School was formed during the United States’ centennial year of 1876. The school’s name was to mark that auspicious event, however, centennial was mistakenly spelled as sentinel and the school was forever known by that name. The school was located two miles north of the Morgan Canyon and Tollhouse Roads intersection.

Mary Storer, a teacher at Sentinel School, is pictured preparing for a special school event in May of 1894. Mary graduated from Fresno High School in 1889, the same year that school was founded. Mary’s older sister, Eva, had been teaching at Sentinel and Mary followed in her sister’s footsteps and began teaching at Sentinel immediately after earning a teaching certificate in 1894.

In 1901, Mary was employed by Fresno City Schools. She taught at Lincoln School in Fresno for 32 years. She never married. Mary was known for her musical talent as well as her dramatic readings. She died in Fresno at the age of 87.

05/18/2026

Notes on the backs of these photos: (left photo) Mr. Francis Riemers, Miss Hazel Dean, teachers of Sierra Grammar School May 28, 1937. (right photo) Mr. Records, Janitor of Sierra Grammar School. May 28, 1937.

The school building in the background was located near to where the playground by the school entrance is today. From EFCHS Archives.

05/12/2026

A description of the stagecoach road from Trimmer to Fresno in 1891: "The road to Trimmer Springs passes through fine country. No large forests of pine are passed through, as it is not elevated enough for that, but in places there are 'pine flats,' as they are called, where a growth of small pines grow. In other places the road passes through forests of oak that grow in all their native luxury. The flume that terminates at Sanger passes through this region, and affords a means of sending wood to town by water."
And now you know how Pine Flat Lake got its name!
Quote from The Expositor. Fresno Ca. July 22, 1891. Accessed via Newspapers.com.
Photo from EFCHS Archives. Date Unknown.

05/05/2026

The Pages' store, bar, and gas station were all located where Tiny Mart is now in Prather CA. It was destroyed by fire sometime in the 1960's. George Carrol Page was the owner and his home was directly behind the business. The 'Y' in the road in the video is where Auberry Road and Hwy 168 (Morgan Canyon Road) once intersected.

04/27/2026

Who could have guessed that a makeshift barber shop could be set up in the forest?! Such is the life of a logger back in the day. From Lumen Logging Collection. Date Unknown.

04/27/2026

A Watts Valley murder occurred exactly 135 years ago today (April 27, 1891). It all started with a girl, Alpha Hole. Both Adam York and George W. Mercer fell in love with Alpha. To York’s dismay, Alpha chose to marry Mercer. After that, the two men never got along, so when there was a dispute over the fenceline of their adjoining properties, things got out of hand. York was described as a man who “drinks to excess” and “it was only when he was intoxicated that the fence bothered him anyway.” One day, Mercer pulled down a section of York’s fence. The men got into an argument. Then York took aim and shot Mercer through the heart. Alpha Hole Mercer became a young widow with a one-year-old son.

Info from The Selma Enterprise May 2 1891 (accessed via Newspapers.com) and Ancestry.com

04/21/2026

In memory of David E. Thornton who recently passed. As a 1964 graduate of Sierra High School, David has deep roots in our community. He milled the lumber to construct the museum's Sugarpine House, using wood from local sources in Pine Ridge. David was a valued contributor to the EFCHS. He will be greatly missed.