The Merced River is not only the cradle of the county, but also serves as inspiration for a love song.
MERCED Ever since the beginning, Central Valley inhabitants followed rivers and streams to establish their settlements.
As long as there has been a Merced County, there has been an east-west split.
It was not a coincidence when a group of local history enthusiasts came together to establish the Merced County Historical Society Advisory Committee in 1955 -- the year the county celebrated its centennial.
For the past several years, you have read about historic Merced in this column. Maybe these columns have led you to imagine and think about Merced in these earlier times. Now you will have a chance to see old-time Merced images in historic photographs and even own them. Reproductions of historic photos of old Merced are some of the auction items at Merced County Historical Society's annual barbecue fundraiser at Lake Yosemite next Tuesday. These still images give a glimpse of old Merced.
The freight business has always been an important part of the Merced County economy no matter how transportation evolved.
At the age of 90, Jay Anderson was still walking the halls of our museum and giving tours to visitors. In his golden years, Jay did not slow down as he volunteered as a docent at the museum.
Last column, we ended the walking tour at the Central Presbyterian Church on the southwest corner of 20th and Canal Streets. Today, we start at the Mansion House cater-cornered from the church. Built in 1906 by the firm of Froetch and Boney, the house was built for Oscar Alexander Baker, the assistant manager of Merced Lumber Co.
I recently returned from Palm Springs. Palm Springs is filled with many internationally renowned buildings. As I toured the city, I felt that I was in a charming Spanish colonial village.
Columnist note: The following article is contributed by Luna Jamero, editor of "Talk Story" and treasurer of the Central Valley Filipino American National Historical Society.
"Greetings from Fountain City: Historic Postcards of Merced" was published by the Merced County Historical Society in 2002 to celebrate the 130 years of Merced's existence. Merced was also known as Fountain City in the late 19th century. The following is an excerpt of book that explains the origin of the name.
We know times are hard. But, you can count on us to continue providing excellent exhibitions and educational programs at the Courthouse Museum. We recently awarded six minigrants totaling $1,500 to schools in Merced County to cover their transportation expenses to visit our "Bear In Mind: The Story of the California Grizzly" exhibit.
He is furry, huggable, and cute; he is also big, wild and scary. He is the legendary California grizzly bear. There were about 10,000 grizzlies once living in California. The California grizzlies exemplified the "untamed" wilderness of the west. Because they were seen by the settlers as a dire threat to human existence and settlement, they were hunted and killed in large numbers. As a result, they are now extinct in California.
With the beginning of a new year which promises to be a time of sacrifice and struggle, it is important to look back to remember moments of difficulty and accomplishment in Merced County history. These different events tell the story of westward expansion and settlement, the birth and demise of a river town, the development of a world famous product, the incorporation of a city, and a historic presidential visit.
Columnist Note: The 2nd edition of Cooking in Merced County: A Taste of History is now available for sale in the Museum Store for $14.95. The following story and recipe was contributed by Bunny Robinson Busby of Merced.
