The Good Life - Travel, Leisure & Fun for South Valley Adults

Articles written by Terry Ommen

Sorted by date  Results 1 - 25 of 42



 By Terry Ommen    History 

Visalia Gleaning Seniors Serving for Nearly 50 Years

Tulare County is fortunate to have an abundance of food, and that's why it is called a breadbasket to the world. Unfortunately, the county is also known for its high poverty rate.... — Updated 5/25/2023

 
 By Terry Ommen    History

When Ice Came to Town

Today it's an almost indispensible commodity, especially if you live or visit the San Joaquin Valley in the summer. It is a common staple in almost all homes, restaurants and any... — Updated 3/2/2023

 
 By Terry Ommen    History

Ground Observer Corps – Looking Skyward for America

World War II brought out love of country in so many ways in America. Thousands of young men and women joined the armed forces and, on the home front, many civilians made countless... — Updated 1/3/2023

 
 By Terry Ommen    History

The Exeter Race Riot

The Tulare County town of Exeter has many bright spots and important claims to fame in its history. It was home to the famous red Emperor grapes, was selected to have a beautiful... — Updated 11/7/2022

 
 By Terry Ommen    History

Millwood and Stagecoaching to the Timber

Stage travel in the mid to late 19th century was a common form of transportation. Even though the ride could be bumpy and dusty, it was preferred by many to riding horseback,... — Updated 7/24/2022

 
 By Terry Ommen    History

News from the Visalia Migratory Labor Camp

Over the years, Tulare County has been very fortunate to have many newspapers. Whether it was the small town of Traver that had the Traver Advocate, or the larger town of Tulare... — Updated 5/6/2022

 
 By Terry Ommen    History

Accidents - Close Calls & Narrow Escapes

Recently, the National Safety Council reported that the number of preventable injuries from accidents in our country is at an all time high. In fact, accidents are the third... — Updated 3/5/2022

 
 By Terry Ommen    History

Farmersville - An Old Town with an Interesting Past

Tulare County is a big county with about a half million people living within its boundaries. Many live in the eight incorporated cities. One is Farmersville, which happens to be one... — Updated 1/10/2022

 
 By Terry Ommen    History

Mysterious 'Black Bart' Pays Visalia A Visit

Charles E. Boles liked stagecoaches. In fact, he liked them so much that for at least eight years he was in the stagecoach business earning some $50,000. Not bad considering that... — Updated 11/10/2021

 
 By Terry Ommen    History

Inside the Visalia Ransacker Investigation

The Program: At 6 p.m. on Wednesday, September 29, at the Ponderosa Lecture Hall on the campus of College of the Sequoias, a free program sponsored by Visalia Heritage and the... — Updated 9/16/2021

 
 By Terry Ommen    History

Farm Labor and Linnell Camp

It's no secret that agriculture is king in Tulare County. It always has been. Rich soil, favorable climate, plenty of water, good farming practices, and hard-working laborers all... — Updated 7/9/2021

 
 By Terry Ommen    History

Alaskan Dog Team Comes to Visalia

The Big Creek Project in the Sierra Nevada east of Fresno is one of the early 20th century marvels. The undertaking required massive engineering, large amounts of capital and many y... — Updated 5/1/2021

 
 By Terry Ommen    History

The Life and Mysterious Death of William Clough

Some called him eccentric, while others saw him as a preacher, miner and explorer. Actually, William O. Clough (pronounced like "tough") was all those and more. He was a likeable ma... — Updated 3/3/2021

 
 By Terry Ommen    History

The Strathmore Bank Robber - Frozen with Fear

Tucked between Lindsay and Porterville lies the little community of Strathmore. It owes its beginning to the Southern Pacific Railroad and also the rich farm land that surrounds it... — Updated 1/13/2021

 
 By Terry Ommen    History

When Cattle Were Put on a Short Leash

It was inevitable...the two sides were going to clash! The cattlemen were first to come to the Tulare Valley, now called the San Joaquin, and were very pleased with the abundant... — Updated 11/1/2020

 
 By Terry Ommen    History

The Battle of the Bottle

It has been called shepherd's delight, a social lubricant and even the nectar of the gods. But despite this collection of pleasing sounding names, there have been others not nearly... — Updated 10/11/2020

 
 By Terry Ommen    History

Nelson's Camp Became Camp Nelson

The Sierra Nevada has provided people with beauty and escape for hundreds, if not thousands of years. John Muir called the 400-mile-long, 70-mile-wide mountain chain the "Range of... — Updated 7/24/2020

 
 By Terry Ommen    History

George Stockton Berry and His Harvester

The San Joaquin Valley has long been known for its highly productive agricultural land. Mention the valley and many people automatically think "bread basket." Tulare County is one... — Updated 5/10/2020

 
 By Terry Ommen    History

Great Depression Brings Community Together

Many people have heard of the nightmare of the 1930s called the Great Depression. Our country, in fact most of the world, was hit by a devastating economic downturn, and many... — Updated 4/18/2020

 
 By Terry Ommen    History

Hare Today Gone Tomorrow, Traver's Pesky Jackrabbit Problem

In its heyday, the little town of Traver had quite a reputation - not just for one thing, but several. Huge amounts of wheat were shipped by rail from there and as a result the... — Updated 4/10/2020

 
 By Terry Ommen    History

Goshen - The Land of Promise

There is something special about the little town of Goshen and I believe much of its uniqueness is connected to its history. When the railroad pushed its way through the San... — Updated 2/19/2020

 
 By Terry Ommen    History

The Short and Exciting Life of Havilah - Land of Gold

Before Kern County began in 1866, much of the area within its current boundaries was part of Tulare County. One of those areas was the mountainous region lying between the Kern... — Updated 9/2/2019

 
 By Terry Ommen    History

Staging in the San Joaquin Valley

The stagecoach was a common mode of transportation in the southern San Joaquin Valley in the 19th century. For the most part, it served its purpose in getting a traveler from one pl... — Updated 8/11/2019

 
 By Terry Ommen    History

Harnessing the Kaweah River

In 1850, Lt. George Derby, a topographical engineer with the U.S. Army, and his party explored the Tulare Valley (now called the San Joaquin Valley) looking for a good site for a... — Updated 6/11/2019

 
 By Terry Ommen    History

The Man Who Made History - Literally

Thomas Hinckley Thompson was born in Dundee, Illinois on October 1, 1841. During his life, this bright and talented man did many things and did them all well. He was an engineer,... — Updated 5/28/2019

 

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