A Message from the President

Dear Friends, Supporters and Members and all of you who are about to become Members,
What a sweet time it is to reflect back on the first half of 2022 and take a few moments to enjoy what we have been able to accomplish – and, of course, to share some with all of you.

Besides the Gala and Tea Parties and Tours – which are really enhanced, by the way, with the addition of our Museum Gallery, I have to tell you about our ongoing Oral History projects and why their value is unparalleled, in my opinion, to anything else in our vast archive.

Pretty much everyone in the Valley comes from a family, either current generation or several back, that once lived somewhere else. Of course, you know this, but what does that really mean?

I recently found crystal clarity of the importance of this question after completing the first 12 interviews for our Italian American Heritage Project.
My interview with Michael Giovannetti and his wife, Silvana is a prime example. During his life here, Michael was a beloved educator, administrator, father, grandfather and friend to many. But imagine this – at the age of 12, Michael, one of 10 children from an impoverished part of Italy with very little hope for a better future, was invited to America by an aunt and uncle who had also come from that same part of Italy and established themselves in Fresno. Because his family was poor and very large, Michael, by the age of two, was already staying with other family members – not because his mother wanted it that way, but because she simply did not have the capacity to care for her large brood.

This was very common in families from their region – and why the statement “it takes a village to raise a child” is so very accurate in the most fundamental way.

Interview with Michael & Silvana Giovannetti for the Fresno County Historical Museum's Italian American Heritage Exhibit,
November 2020.
Michael’s parents were heartbroken to imagine him leaving home, with the very real possibility that they could never see him again – fortunately, in his case, that did not happen. But their misgivings were overshadowed by their love for this clever young boy who would at least have the chance to continue his education and find employment in our land of opportunity. Here are some of Michael’s own words about the situation.

Young Michael Giovannetti with his aunt and uncle and other family members in Italy, circa 1950s.
“The poverty level in Italy during the 1950s was exceptionally high. Work was scarce, cities and towns had been destroyed by extensive military activity just a few years before, and the Italian government was very slow at rebuilding these areas. Consequently, men and women of working age, which was then 14-15 years and older, had very limited opportunities to contribute to their families’ income. Formal schooling ended at Grade 5. Secondary (middle and high) schools, and trade schools were two options after elementary school for most young people, while others tried to continue the tradition of working the typically small family farms in order to help support a family of three-four. But what does a family with ten children do? We were clearly the exception; everyone in the village knew us as the large family who lived in the neighborhood known as “al DiVecchio.” If anyone came looking for mom or dad, immediately the “unofficial guide” would say, “Oh, you are looking for Sarina and Luigi, the ones with ten children…,” and that someone would be quickly directed to “al DiVecchio.” There was no way we could be mistaken for anyone else.”
At 12, Michael was basically considered nearly a man. When the offer came to relocate to the United States, a lot of thought, prayer, angst and hope went into the final outcome. Michael said…

"The year was 1959, the month, October, when I left my native town, my caring, loving parents, Sara, and Luigi, nine brothers and sisters, extended family, and friends. Everyone called me by my middle name, Giuseppe (named after my paternal grandfather, Giuseppe Pardini). I was 11 years old when my maternal aunt, Rosina and my uncle Adriano Nicolosi, initiated the first required documents I would need to travel to America. A year and a few months later, the Student Visa finally arrived, which permitted me to leave for Fresno, California at the very young age of 12 years. I had no idea where I was going, but it felt like the right thing to do. Fresno is a rural, fairly large city in the Central San Joaquin Valley, the center of the State of California and little did I know that it would be my adopted/new home for the next 62 years. I was particularly concerned about my journey to Fresno.

I already knew my “zio” Adriano, and “zia” Rosina well. In fact, I had lived with them for almost three years in Pieve di Compito, during a time that was to be the much-deserved retirement life for my “zio and zia,” after many years of work in America, without children, always dreaming of returning home and spending the last years of their lives in their native village. Finally, they did: work, sacrifices, savings, and at last in 1955, right after their retirement, “Goodbye, America; Ciao, Italia.” Once in Italy, however, they realized that it was not easy getting used to this new way of life, which was very different from the one they had experienced in California, and other parts of America. They were getting older, they needed help, and therefore many young relatives were asked to spend time with them, helping with housework, gardening, etc. Unfortunately, the needs of the uncle and aunt were greater than the experiences and habits of the young relatives, and thus after a few days they returned to their homes. One Sunday afternoon, after Church services and a delicious lunch, my mom asked me to go with her to visit “zio” Adriano and “zia” Rosina. It was during that visit that I was asked if I wanted to spend a few days with them. I did not hesitate; no more sleeping four in a bed like “sardines.” I would finally have my own room, the dream of every nine-year old, right? I apparently made it; I passed the test because I happily lived with them in Pieve for more than two years. Then in 1958, Adriano and Rosina decided to return to America for a short visit; they missed their adopted country of many years. At that time, I returned home to live with mom and dad, and the large, growing family. Once back in Fresno, Adriano and Rosina decided to stay for an extended time. Why, one might ask? Well, they had the bright idea of ??bringing me to America, thinking of sending me to school, giving me the opportunity to learn English, to earn a high school diploma, and perhaps even a college degree; a wonderful experience for their nephew, but also to support them, as well as the large family of Luigi and Sara Giovannetti.

Michael Giovannetti's Passport
So, it happened; after much effort, they were successful in obtaining a Student Visa for me. The Visa announcement arrived at the beginning of June 1959, finally providing me the opportunity to make my first voyage to New York on October 17, 1959. I was very happy and at the same time sad to move away from my big family, poor but rich in love and faith, always hoping/planning to return home soon; the same wish of many, if not all immigrants. The Visa initially provided me a four-year stay in America, enough time to learn the new language, and then return to Pieve di Compito with my uncle and aunt, and the rest of my family. As already stated, I left on October 17 from Genova, one of the main departure ports for Italian immigrants and did not say goodbye to my family but rather “arrivederci” because my plan was to return home to Pieve after a few short years.”
What Michael doesn’t articulate in this statement is that he, a 12-year-old Italian-speaking boy, was going to embark on a ship alone, arrive on the East Coast and find his way across the country by train to his loving family in Fresno. He has a cardboard suitcase, no food, no English, but he had the burning responsibility to make his family proud. View an excerpt we use for curriculum of Michael’s Oral History HERE

There is so much more to this story – and this is ONE person’s experience. Imagine the millions of people from all over the world who made the agonizing decision to leave their homelands for OUR shores. If you had Mr. Giovannetti as a teacher, you simply would not know what he had been through as a child. I am sure I speak for most of us parents today who barely let our pre-teens walk to the mailbox and back without a watchful eye upon them.

Michael's cardboard suitcase

Tony Petrosino during his interview for the Italian Heritage Exhibit, 2020
These are the tales – so much more compelling than any television drama – that made this country grow. In another Italian interview, we learned about Mr. Petrosino – another highly regarded educator – who was still in Italy during the bombing raids in WWII. Remember, Italy was on the other side. Years later, he met a former pilot, “Tink Kastner,” who had flown missions over the hometown of Tony Petrosino. The bond led to a lifelong friendship and helped pave the way for Tony to become a teacher and administrator of high standing.

At the Fresno County Historical Society, we believe in our hearts that by telling the life stories of as many of our residents as possible – particularly those who either started out as immigrants or have firsthand knowledge from parents or grandparents, we can foster a culture of understanding unlike anything done before. One cannot help but be touched by the experiences and journeys of families who believed so much in the promise of our nation, that they used any means necessary to find a way to our shores with the binding hope that their children would HAVE A CHANCE FOR A BETTER LIFE.

On this Independence Day weekend, how could there be a more poignant point to recall. From the initial non-native settlers more than 250 years ago, to every day in every way, how incredible is it that the American dream lives on and thrives? Our founding fathers couldn’t have possibly conceived what was to come, and, certainly, there are many roadblocks, tremendous issues and problems that come with opening our doors. BUT we cannot forget that, aside from the Native American peoples, everyone came from somewhere else. My commitment to all of you is to capture as many of their unique histories as possible because, before real change can take place, understanding beyond the present must be known. The amazing result is that people who are seemingly so different, find their backgrounds and stories are uncannily similar in many critical ways.

Please take some time to view and/or listen to our increasing Oral History collection at valleyhistory.org and help us continue this work by becoming a member of the Society. We will be holding workshops on how you can learn more about your ancestors later in the fall.

Until then, bear in mind the wisdom of our forefathers, at least for this weekend, that all men may be created equal but come together with vastly different perspectives. Ask someone to share their journey to America with you or, even better, start the project for your OWN family.
Warmest wishes to all,
Elizabeth Laval
President, Fresno County Historical Society

FIELDS OF FRESNO AG TOUR TRAVELS THE FRUIT TRAIL
Friday, July 29th

Our Fields of Fresno Ag Tours are not just about showing off the beauty of agriculture; but are about leaning forward into an experience that allows our Valley Ag sites to be a place for leisure, peace, commerce and conversation.

On July 29th we will be taking guests along the Fresno County Fruit Trail. In March, we guided guests through sites along the Blossom Trail. This July, see the sweet fruits that have ripened from the blossoms of the Spring.

Starting with check-in at the Kearney Mansion Museum at 7:15AM, you’ll hear the Ag history of the 6,800-acre Fruit Vale Estate and of M. Theo Kearney’s vision. Guests will board our spacious motor coach, provided by Classic Charter for a comfortable ride to four different Ag sites beginning with Hudson Farms in Sanger for a 45-minute stop. Second, a quick 20-minute stop at the Blossom Trail Fruit Stand for a chance to wash hands at their Washing Well before we land at Friesen Family Farms, our third stop in Kingsburg. We will end the day at Kings River Winery in Sanger for lunch first, wine tasting and then a tour of their barrels. As we head back to the Mansion we’ll enjoy wrapping up Ag trivia and prizes as we reflect on highlights.
TICKETS

KEARNEY MANSION GROUP & PRIVATE TOURS
NOW AVAILABLE

Plan to bring your group and spend a hot summer day inside the cool historic Kearney Mansion Museum & Gallery and on the grounds of beautiful Kearney Park.

Treat your office, club or class to a memorable day learning about the history of Fresno County through the lives of M. Theo Kearney and the Frizzelle family on a private tour of the Kearney Mansion Museum and Gallery. Guests will have the chance to explore inside the Mansion and enjoy scenic Kearney Park.

Bookings are available Monday - Thursday at 9AM or 11AM. Tickets include a docent-led tour of the Kearney Mansion Museum, the Ranch Kitchen and access to the Gallery featuring a rotating exhibition of objects and photos from the Society Archives.

Tours can accommodate groups of 10 to 100.

Register Now

FROM THE ARCHIVES:
FRESNO MUSICAL CLUB SCRAPBOOK

Fresno’s cultural life during the early years of the 20th century was thriving. A group of women who were passionate about the arts and culture, especially music, came together to create a club for musical expression that was meaningful and impactful to the local community. In 1905, they drafted a constitution for this club which became known as the Fresno Musical Club. The stated purpose in this constitution was, “... to cultivate the musical taste of the community, to raise the standards of music, to encourage local talent, and to attract artists from abroad.” The club’s active members were musicians and associate members that contributed to the concert series that developed. Due to Fresno being the midpoint between Los Angeles and San Francisco, it allowed for some of the most talented musicians of the time to perform in locally.

The first concert season began in 1906 at the Barton Opera House and featured the Earnest Gamble Concert Party. Quickly the interest of the local community and surrounding areas blossomed, increasing the number of subscribers causing the Fresno Musical Club to move their concerts to larger auditoriums including the White Theater and the Fresno High School Auditorium. Growing interest also meant more well-known performers accepting invitations from the Fresno Musical Club including cellist Jean Gérardy, Gershwin’s famous opera, Porgy and Bess, the Ballet Caravan, soprano singer Hizi Koyke, contralto singer Marian Anderson, and ballet dancer Anna Pavlova amongst many other famous acts.

The scrapbook records of the Fresno Musical Club were donated in the 1990s to the Fresno County Historical Society. Because these scrapbooks and records were kept by the former presidents, we are able to look into the past accomplishments of the Fresno Musical Club and see the impact they had in the community over the years, paving the way for the future.

Do you keep a scrapbook? Though not many of us do now, these records are a reminder that we make history every day and should keep materials, scrapbooks and our thoughts documented because we never know what could be important to future generations.

ARCHIVES DONATION RECEIVED
Fresno Passenger Air Terminal Grand Opening, 1962

This week, the Fresno County Historical Society received an unexpected donation to our archives from a generous individual by the name of Carl Diangelous. The donation came in a large, padded envelope, which held a wide collection of photographs documenting the evolution of what is now the Fresno Yosemite International Airport. One item stood out above the rest – a poster advertising the dedication of the then new Fresno Passenger Air Terminal. This year marks the 60th anniversary of the building, which opened its doors for travelers on March 25, 1962.

The terminal unveiled its shiny new exterior, adorned with artist Raymond Rice’s “Sky and Ground” mosaic which can still be admired today.

Other features of the new terminal included a coffee shop, ladies' lounge, restaurant, barber shop and even a swanky cocktail lounge. The 3.9-million-dollar project, roughly $37 million today, also introduced a seven-story high Air Traffic Control Tower which continues to house flight operations.

However, the 43,800 sq. ft. passenger terminal was not the first of what natives of Fresno and world travelers alike now know the Fresno Yosemite International Airport to be today. Also experiencing an anniversary this year is the Fresno Army Air Base, which opened in June of 1942.The 80-year-old Air Base was named Hammer Field after California’s first soldier lost in the First World War, Lieutenant Earl M. Hammer. The land was utilized as a training facility for the United States Air Force, namely the Fourth Air Force, which also made use of the Chandler Field Municipal Airport.

The airfield operated as such until the end of the Second World War in 1945, and the City of Fresno began plans on the Fresno Passenger Air Terminal shortly after. The opening of the new passenger terminal accommodated thousands of travelers from all around the nation, including then President John F. Kennedy in August of 1962. The terminal continues to be a success as it now hosts flights all around the United States and Mexico. The 1962 poster commemorating the dedication of the terminal reads, “Tomorrow Arrives Today… With the dedication of the new Fresno Air Terminal, we take our place among the nation’s major air capitals” and that, it did.

EARLY BIRD TICKETS ON SALE NOW
September 24, 2022

The Fresno County Historical Society is excited to host the Central Valley's premiere barbeque competition on September 24, 2022. The Great Kearney BBQ Smoke Out is a KCBS-sanctioned Master Series event.

Get your tickets today and plan to join us for a full day of mouth-watering BBQ along with side dishes and desserts that showcase the bounty of the Valley. We anticipate more than 30 competitors from around the country and many more from right here in Fresno County. All will be competing for a prize purse of $8,000, awarded over four categories and a Grand Champion.

Guests will see professionals and amateurs at work on the grill, feast on BBQ and all the fixings along with beer and wine tastings all while watching live music and enjoying a stroll through our "Fields of Fresno - A Century in the Soil " outdoor agriculture exhibition; all presented in the lush shade of historic Kearney Park.

TICKETS

MAKING HISTORY EVERY DAY:
Central Unified School District Votes to Rename
Polk Elementary School

Central Unified School District will rename James K. Polk Elementary, following a contentious year-long debate over the school’s namesake’s purported racist views and actions. The school board voted 5-2 on Tuesday to rename Polk, but also voted 7-0 against renaming Houghton-Kearney Elementary, another school being considered. The board voted 4-2-1 to change the current logo of Madison Elementary, which depicts a Native American wearing a headdress. Trustees Jeremy Mehling and Jason Paul voted against renaming Polk and changing Madison’s mascot. Trustee Phillip Cervantes abstained from the vote on the mascot. The renaming committee submitted new guidelines for the naming of schools for the board’s approval Tuesday, which trustees tabled, while passing the committee’s recommended 15-year moratorium on renaming schools on a 4-3 vote. Central student Malachi Suarez, 11, spearheaded the movement to rename Polk Elementary via a school project in July 2021 and an accompanying Change.org petition which has garnered over 3,000 signatures to date.

Read more at: https://www.fresnobee.com/news/local/education-lab/article262987158.html#storylink=cpy

ROOTS OF THE VALLEY: Right in your OWN Backyard

Click "VIEW ENTIRE MESSAGE" below to read this complete story

Final pack trip, 1929. Courtesy of the Pop Laval Fondation
As much as we want to get away to cooler climes on this long holiday weekend, there are still a myriad of reasons why long-distance travel just might not be the best move right now. So perhaps this is a good time to visit or revisit some of the most gorgeous spots in the world – right in our own backyard!

In his July 1958 article for the Fresno Guide, Pop Laval recounts his own adventures in the Kings River Canyon and reminds us all that, sometimes, the best places are already within sight. A little-known fact is that his findings during this 1928 pack trip and several others in subsequent years, were used to determine where the roads into the now-National Park should be and the route of their construction to showcase the wonders of the region in the best possible way. This was accomplished at the behest of the state and federal governments. Additionally, and highly significantly, his images inside the Boyden Cavern were the first evert taken. That is another fascinating story for a different day. In the meantime, let’s see what “Pop Says…” As always, Pop’s spelling and grammar are his own.

“I often wonder just how many of you good people realize just WHAT YOU HAVE in YOUR OWN BACKYARD. It is often said that sometimes we get so close to the forest that we can’t see the trees, and do you know that after talking with quite a number of people regarding just where they were going to spend their vacation, I have come to the conclusion that there is something to that saying.

In so many cases I was told that they just couldn’t afford a long trip, or that they just had a few days off. When I mentioned the mountains, in many cases I received the reply that the family couldn’t take it, that pack trips were too rugged and besides they couldn’t ride a horse, unless it was a wooden one on a merry-go-round. All these people were folks that are living so close to the forest they can’t see the trees. 

By that I mean they don’t seem to be aware of what is in their own back yard. Each time I met and spoke with those kinds of folks, I just couldn’t help but reminisce a bit.

It was just thirty years ago, June 3rd, 1928, to be exact, that I had an opportunity to really get in our own backyard with orders to photograph and bring out pictures of the scenic beauties along the South Fork of the Kings River. Guided by Ione Napoleon Kenawyer, better known as “Poley,” one of the best packers in the high Sierras, along with Dick Down from the Fresno County Chamber of Commerce, we packed out of Big Meadows, stopped on our way in to take our first picture, a view of this wonderful scenic Canyon from the top of Lookout Mountain.

We camped that night near the River at Cedar Grove, and for the next eight days I reveled in the beauties of this SCENIC WONDERLAND. I took picture after picture, North Dome rising up on the one side, the Sentinel Ridge on the other; beautiful Roaring River Falls; McKinley Rock; just to mention a few of them. We returned with some hundred and forty pictorial views of this wonderful country.

I would love to have the opportunity to describe each and every one of them to you. But remember, these were taken some thirty years ago and used to prove what a beautiful scenic wonderland we had right in our own backyard. That we PROVED IT is backed up by the fact that instead of having to laboriously pack in, you can just get in
your car and, driving over one of the finest mountain highways in the country, in a matter of three hours or less you can have a picnic in the shadow of the towering North Dome on one side and the gorgeous Sentinel Ridge on the other. You can drive or walk up to the base of Roaring River Falls. On your way in you will get a marvelous view of the junction of the South and Middle forks of the Kings River, with towering Tehipiti dome in the center of the picture; you can stop and view the gorge at Horseshoe Bend, which is just a short distance from the famous Boyden Caves that are in the base of a towering mountain which we named the Irish Castle due to its resemblance to an old castle of the Medevial Days.

I must stop right here, although I would enjoy describing to you each and every one of these interesting and beautiful spots, all of which are located right in your own backyard where, whether you have one day or just a weekend, you can gather the family together in the car and let the young folks see what the Man Upstairs has created and left for you to enjoy and wonder at.

People have traveled a long way to come and have a look see at this BEAUTIFUL KINGS RIVER CANYON COUNTRY, which as I said before and repeat again, is part of YOUR OWN BACKYARD.”

“‘Bye, now, I’ll be seeing you.” “POP”