Madera County’s first birthday celebration

For The Madera Tribune

When Robert Stockton spoke of Mace’s Hotel, this was the building he remembered.

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Saturday was a red-letter day for Madera. It marked the 95th anniversary of the first time the County ever celebrated its birthday, and it all took place because of one man.

In just so happened that around April 1, 1925, W.S. Hillis, president of the chamber of commerce, suddenly realized that Madera was going to be 32 years old on May 23, and the County had never celebrated its birthday!

There had been no celebration of Madera County’s Tin (tenth) nor its silver (25th) anniversary. Hillis, as the community leader who should have known about these things decided to correct the situation post haste. He would see to it that not one more year passed without a suitable observance of Madera County’s creation. Hillis went to work and formed a celebration committee. What they came up with brought thousands to town and an anniversary party that will probably never be matched. In 1925, the people threw a fabulous 32nd birthday party for the county.