Photograph by E. M. Davidson, of Visalia. Circa 1893.
There is nothing on the photo identifying the people or the place. But I'm fairly certain this is a photograph of the Genesis Tree, which is in the Mountain Home Demonstration State Forest, about 1/2 mile from Balch Park.
This tree is somewhat of a recent discovery, in that up until the mid 1980's it was considered just one of many big trees in the Balch Park area (It didn't even have a name at that time). It wasn't until about 1985 that measurements revealed that it was the biggest tree in the Mountain Home Grove (And the 7th largest tree in the world).
I've read that there is graffiti carved into the tree dating from the late 1800's.
Apparently quite a few people stayed in this area during the summer. e.g. In Floyd L. Otter's book, The Men of Mammoth Forest, he states: "It has been estimated by people who frequented the area during these years(around 1887 to 1900) that 1000 to 2500 people could sometimes be found camping in the Mountain Home-Summer Home-Camp Lena area during the heat of the summer."; The area described here is basically the Mountain Home State Forest and Balch Park.
I've laid out most of the reasons why I think this is the Genesis Tree, on a page Here
There is nothing on the photo identifying the people or the place. But I'm fairly certain this is a photograph of the Genesis Tree, which is in the Mountain Home Demonstration State Forest, about 1/2 mile from Balch Park.
This tree is somewhat of a recent discovery, in that up until the mid 1980's it was considered just one of many big trees in the Balch Park area (It didn't even have a name at that time). It wasn't until about 1985 that measurements revealed that it was the biggest tree in the Mountain Home Grove (And the 7th largest tree in the world).
I've read that there is graffiti carved into the tree dating from the late 1800's.
Apparently quite a few people stayed in this area during the summer. e.g. In Floyd L. Otter's book, The Men of Mammoth Forest, he states: "It has been estimated by people who frequented the area during these years(around 1887 to 1900) that 1000 to 2500 people could sometimes be found camping in the Mountain Home-Summer Home-Camp Lena area during the heat of the summer."; The area described here is basically the Mountain Home State Forest and Balch Park.
I've laid out most of the reasons why I think this is the Genesis Tree, on a page Here
Close up:
Postcard photo of Traver's Southern Pacific Railroad depot, circa 1913. According to an old article, the depot was one of the first buildings in town. It was moved from Traver in the mid-1930's, and ended up a dairy barn. It was actually the last building still there at old Traver, before being moved. The present town of Traver was built on the site of the old town.
An old photo postcard, at its bottom it reads: "Goddess of Liberty July 4 - 09 Visalia Calif.". It appears to be an image of a horse-drawn float depicting a stylized airship, being piloted by the goddess. The photo is by Weissenfluh of Visalia. I believe the building the background is the Tipton Lindsay School, which was located on the NW corner of Oak Ave. and Locust Street.
Photograph of a girl, circa 1895. No photographer is listed, but apparently their studio was in the Holt Block building of Visalia. This building was on the NW corner of Court and Main Streets. The name "Bertha Rouden" is written on the back of the photo.
Photo postcard of Orosi's Methodist Episcopal Church, circa 1911.
