The simultaneous, yet conflicting, demoralization and romanticism of the Native Peoples of the Americas throughout modern American history is a fascinating and sad phenomenon. They were often portrayed as savages, attacking the pioneers heading west to claim their virgin land under Manifest Destiny. Yet, many amateur genealogists lay claim to Native American inheritance.
The first time I went inside the Reedley Museum was with my daughter's class in elementary school many years ago. When I worked for the Reedley Exponent I was there often as they are a fountain of information about Reedley's interesting past. Recently I sat down for a chat with their current Curator, Karey Olson, to touch base with all they have to offer. Karey has been a volunteer with the museum for six year.
Back in 1976, the year our nation celebrated its bicentennial, we looked around locally and realized that many of Reedley’s historic building landmarks had slipped away.
Gone was the headquarters ranch house of the town’s namesake, T.L. Reed, along with the bunkhouse and barn that once housed harness and tack for hundreds of draft animals needed for a farm operation of close to 30,000 acres. These buildings were demolished in the name of progress--to make way for the expansion of Reedley College.
Lincoln School celebrates its Centennial year for Reedley. In 1912, it was decided the town needed a school on the East side of Reedley so children did not have to cross the R.R. tracks to get to and from the only school, which is now Washington. In 1913, Eastside School opened. It was a two-story brick building which was torn down in the 1960s, when many buildings were considered unsafe during earthquakes. The schools were then renamed.
America may have been a late comer to the industrial revolution, but the country had the advantage of possessing the raw materials needed to excel in manufacturing. The only thing imported was cheap labor. The industrialization of transportation began with the "horseless carriage." These vehicles were propelled by three types power.
