Saturday, December 14, 2013



Orosi football team from 1898.
A photo of Orosi's football team, from 1898.
There's a poster in the window at the left side of this image,  and it's possible to make out some of what's written there: "CHRISTMAS SPORTS",  "REEDLEY",  "SATURDAY DECEMBER 24TH  1898"...
The 12/29/1898 issue of  The Reedley Exponent  has an article about these "Christmas Sports" events, which included a football game between Orosi and Selma  (Selma won 22 to 6).

Close-up:
Orosi football, 1898.
This team seems pretty well equipped.  e.g.  Some of the players here have nose armor  which was state-of-the-art stuff for football in the 1890's.


Irene Emily Antrim
Photograph by E.R. Higgins of Fresno,  circa 1890.   The name "Irene Antrim" is written at the bottom of the photo.    I believe this is Irene Emily Antrim (1882-1917).   Her family lived in the Orosi, CA area at this time.  She was the daughter of  Dr. Hiram Antrim and Isabella M. Furtney.  They moved to California from Iowa  sometime around 1888.   Her father,  Hiram,  died of pneumonia in 1891.   Irene died at the age of 34,  in Dinuba.      She was married to Edwin Burdette Chase and  they had two children.


Calvin Hiram Antrim
Another photograph by E.R. Higgins of Fresno,  circa 1890.   I bought this from the same person who sold me the photo of Irene Antrim (above).    Written on this photograph:  "C.H. Antrim  Jr.".   I believe that this is an image of Irene's little brother  Calvin Hiram Antrim (1889-1961).       Most likely  his grandfather was the 'senior'  C.H. Antrim being referred to (His name was Calvin Hackney Antrim,  e.g.  Apparently he sometimes just went by "C.H.").    C.H. Jr.  was born in Orosi and died in Fresno at the age of 72.   He was married to Cora Rodeck  and they had at least one child.


Tulare in 1908.
Photo postcard of Tulare Avenue, Tulare CA.  Circa 1908.    I believe that his was taken looking east on Tulare Ave.,  from J Street.