Party Time in Madera
Sharon and I attended a community party in Madera this past Saturday, and we had a blast.
For starters, we dressed up as early 20th century folks. We did that with the great help of Karen Elmore, curator of the Madera County Historical Society. She’s an expert on how men and women dressed back then, and she made us (and herself) look like a group right out of the early 1900’s.
Then, we joined Karen and her friend Lydia on one of the stagecoaches that, about 150 years ago, took riders from Madera to Yosemite. Back then, that trip took two or three days.
Our trek this past Saturday took us about a half-hour, down Yosemite Avenue in Madera. We were riding as part of the community’s annual celebration of Old Timers’ Day.
We needed a ladder to help us get into the stagecoach — but after that, it was smooth sailing (staging?) We had two fine horses — with excellent drivers — in control.
As we made our way down Yosemite Avenue, all of us waved, continuously, at the crowds lining both sides of the street. I made a point of pointing, as well as waving, at children. I’d also yell greetings to them, and they responded with friendly waves. If I could have made a living doing this, I might have done it forever.
We were at the head of the annual parade that’s been marking Old Timers’ Day in Madera since 1931. Our coach belongs to the Historical Society, and we were dressed up not just for our ride down Yosemite, but because we were about to docent for the open house celebrating the 50th anniversary of the County Museum.
The grand opening for the Museum — which is in the Old Madera County Courthouse — took place exactly a half-century ago this past Saturday. On that day back then, as many as 3,000 people turned up in Courthouse Park to see something that had long been dreamed of — the historical Museum.
This past Saturday, the parade ended in front of the Old Courthouse. And afterward, as always, those who had lined the street to see the bands and marchers and antique vehicles poured into the park, where vendors of all kinds had set up food booths.
Courthouse Park was packed.
And on this day — a ceremony honoring the 50th anniversary of the Museum took place in front of the Old Courthouse. Rob Poythress of the county Board of Supervisors anchored it, beginning with a tribute to the museum and those who made it possible.
State Assembly member Esmeralda Soria presented a proclamation, as did a representative from Congressman John Duarte’s office.
Historical Society president Sheryl Berry received those proclamations, and a reporter from the Valley’s top-rated TV station, Channel 30, was there to record it all.
Then we — the museum’s docents — opened the doors to the public for the afternoon. And the response was gratifying. At least a couple of hundred people came inside — many of them young families who had never been there before.
We charge no admission at any time. All we said (and say, on Sunday afternoons when we’re open on a regular basis) is that you go and have a good time.
The museum has 21,000 curated items on three floors of what was the Old County Courthouse. It had been built in 1902 — burned by an arsonist on Christmas Eve 1906 — then rebuilt the following year.
It was in use for another half-century until — in the mid-1950’s — it was determined to be too small for county needs and possibly unsafe in an earthquake.
So the building was largely abandoned. The supervisors did not know what to do — “fix it” at an estimated cost of $400,000 (the equivalent of more than $4.5 million today) — tear it down — or leave it to sit.
They left it to sit.
But through the insight and energy and perseverance of a group of folks — things started happening. First, Marcia Putney of North Fork and Guy Crow of Madera created the Historical Society in 1955. Then Maud Lindemann began “saving” things for a future museum. And, finally, in 1972, Bill Welton — who had lost a bid to become county sheriff — turned his attention to putting a museum in the old, abandoned courthouse.
And it was because of those Big Four that the Madera courthouse was not torn down (as Fresno’s majestic old courthouse had been in the early 1960’s) — but, instead, lives on, to this day, as a magnificent reminder of the people who created Madera County — and of the tools and furnishings and clothing they used to get through their lives.
The museum has 24 rooms on three floors. It provides a wonderful look at life in the area in the late-1800’s and early-1900’s. If you’re ever in Madera, do yourself a favor and come see it.
Anyway — back to our story. Those of us docents who “dressed the part” did our best to entertain and inform those folks who came to see the museum on Saturday. All of us had a fine time.
And, yes, at the end of the day, we were tired. It had been quite a journey, getting us to this day. Along the way, we wrote a book on the history of the county, the Society and the Museum. We presented our books, in person, to the City Council and the Board of Supervisors and the city school board and the county school board and all the libraries in the county and the chamber of commerce and more.
We sent out press releases — along with copies of the book — to various news media.
We spoke to groups and presented books to various other organizations.
And we spiffed up the museum. Oh, my, did we work hard on that. We had to overcome a gigantic water leak that had flooded our basement and forced us to close for several months earlier this year.
But this past Saturday — all that work paid off, big-time. We had a great day. And that night, Channel 30 gave us two stories on their early evening newscast — one about the museum, and one about Old Timers’ Day.
They did us well — and so will the Madera Tribune, which had its editor and a photog out to cover our festivities. I’m looking forward to seeing their next print edition, this coming Wednesday.
And Sharon and I were so proud to be part of all of this. After all, we’re newcomers to this Old Timers’ celebration. We were both born and raised here in the Valley, but we’ve lived in Madera only three years.
But we’ve been welcomed wonderfully and warmly by the Historical Society — so much so that, there we were, on that stagecoach in the Old Timers’ Day parade.
I’ve heard many folks say — and seen many write, on social media — that things “aren’t the same” in Madera as they used to be.
I’m certain that’s true. Everything changes. Everywhere.
But I hope that those kids along the parade route whom we waved at and pointed to — and those kids who came in, excitedly, with their parents to see our museum — will maintain their youthful enthusiasm and excitement all their lives — and use it to help keep Madera moving ahead.
Don’t complain, kids. Please. Work hard to make Madera the proud place you’d like it to be.
Maybe if you do, some of you will be able to ride a stagecoach in yet another Old Timers’ Day Parade, this one in 2074 — and be able to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Madera County Museum in grand style.
I hope that’s the case. Truly I do. Godspeed to you, kids.