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By Ramona Frances

Fairmead community organizer Barbara Nelson examines items donated by 11-year-old Albert Perez at a Saturday flea market to raise money for a new playground.

Photo by: Ramona Frances

Residents of an unincorporated area of Madera County called Fairmead believe it is a forgotten place.

"There used to be a sign pointing the way. Now, they are tearing up the freeway and we are without signs saying where Fairmead is. The area is overlooked, but its here. People live here. There is not much money here but people care and they have a concern for the community," said Barbara Nelson, a resident and community organizer.

When the playground equipment at Fairmead's only school was destroyed by an arson fire last July, there was a cry of outrage. With a desire to call attention to a real place with little to offer its children beyond a playground, a committee of residents decided to make a plan, raise awareness and raise money a quarter at a time.

Thus a flea market at the school was orchestrated Saturday to raise money for new playground equipment.

"We lost a beautiful piece of equipment," Nelson said. "Having a playground for our kids means a lot to them. Kids look forward to recess."

Serving about 600 pupils -5th and 6th graders- from the Chowchilla Unified School District, the Fairmead Elementary School has been doing without, although a few pieces of play equipment remain.

Nelson lived in Fairmead as a child, left and later returned to be close to family in her retirement years.

"I look back in the past and see no change in the present. It's the same: no store, no park, no community center, no sidewalks, no street lights and now no place for older kids to play," Nelson said.

Nelson said Fairmead has one small play area designated for very young children and two churches where meetings are sometimes held.

"I went to 8th grade here," she said. "There was a grocery store and a hamburger stand -the Big Orange stand. It's a historic landmark. They were up and down (state Route) 99. That one was the only one left and last year it sold. Chowchilla bought it. Then (mammoth) bones were found at Fairmead landfill. A museum is planned for that."

Nelson said it would help if people mentioned the name of the town in association with the landfill discovery.

"It would help," she said.

In addition to a playground, Nelson would like to see a multi-purpose community center built for people of every age.

To further this goal, Nelson joined with other community members to form the "Fairmead Community & Friends" committee to create a single voice for the community and possible solutions for its needs...

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Ramona Frances Ramona Frances is a staff columnist, writer and photographer for the Madera Tribune. You may contact Ramona at 674.8134 ext. 222 or by e-mail ramona (at) maderatribune.net The Madera Tribune online subscription To subscribe or log on, CLICK HERE. For more information first, CLICK HERE.