For The Madera Tribune General Waldo Sims, Madera’s first black police officer. The first recorded African-American resident of Madera was Dexter Hunt, a 31 year-old porter who worked for Captain Russel Perry Mace in his hotel. He arrived here in 1880. For the next 20 years, Madera continued to grow, from 217 residents in 1880 to 2,500 in 1900. By comparison, the African-American population of Madera grew from that single individual in 1880 to 42 in 1900. For the next two dec

For The Madera Tribune George Gruber, shown here second from the left, was the owner of the Fountain Saloon. He lost his liquor license after being accused of running a “disorderly business.” When Madera turned the corner into the 20th century and voted to incorporate in 1907, it had to elect a city council to pass the ordinances that would regulate life in the county seat. Chief among the concerns in those early days were the saloons that lined Yosemite, and at the top of th

For The Madera Tribune Lena Northern, second from the left, was voted Madera Raisin Queen two years before this photo was taken. Maderans in the early part of the 20th century weren’t completely preoccupied with politics; after all there was going to be a contest to choose some local high school girl to represent Madera in the California Raisin Day Celebration in Fresno. April 30, 1914 was set as the day for pulling out the stops and raising three cheers for raisins. Although

For The Madera Tribune William Saroyan. William Saroyan didn’t seem to need anyone’s approval. He almost never went to a college or university to speak because, as he said, “I can’t be bothered; it’s too much trouble and just a little silly.” However, on Jan. 27, 1977, he came to Madera High School to speak. Let me tell you how that came about. It just so happened that Brenda (Najimian) Magarity was teaching English and drama at Madera High, and it also just so happened that

For The Madera Tribune Major Jim Savage. As difficult as it may be for the 21st century mind to grasp, there once was a time when Major James Savage was thought to be a hero in Madera. In fact, on April 23, 1951, more than 100 local folks held a California Centennial program at his grave, which was then located on land that is now covered by Hensley Lake. Guy Crow presided over the gathering, which featured Walter Chandler, Madera County District Attorney, as the guest speake

For The Madera Tribune Captain Russel Perry Mace. “Pioneer’s passing sent Madera into mourning” Madera Mercury — April 26, 1894 “At 3:15 A.M. Tuesday, the Grim Messenger came and called from our midst that noble and grand, good old man, Captain Russel P. Mace. Mr. Mace had been in comparatively good health most of the winter, and up until recently no immediate danger was apprehended. At 3:15 o’clock this morning his family was awakened by a noise in his room.  They went to hi

For The Madera Tribune The first Lucca’s restaurant in Madera. An inferno of flames stabbed at the darkness on Monday, Sept. 10, 1973. Lucca’s restaurant was ablaze, and according to retired Fire Chief, Alden Potter, it was the worst fire in town since the Madera Theater burned in 1941.  Losses from the restaurant fire were estimated at $250,000. Bystanders could hardly believe their eyes. There had been a Lucca’s on the corner of Third and Gateway since 1934, when Giorgio an

For The Madera Tribune Hard work by Madera firefighters saved lives when the Alta Hotel burned in 1931. As Maderans neared the end of the 1920s, they were full of optimism. Prospects of oil wells on the outskirts of town danced in the heads of some local capitalists, while others dreamed of raising the funds to build a brand new, four-story hotel on Yosemite Avenue. In the end, however, both schemes failed, and the town entered the 1930s rather tentatively as the nation’s eco