Articles written by Terry Ommen
Sorted by date Results 1 - 25 of 42
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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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
