MADERA'S NOTABLE FIRSTS 

Most everyone knows by now that Madera is nearing the centennial of its incorporation. On March 27, 1907, the town officially became a city. In keeping with this momentous milestone, here are some historical nuggets from Madera’s distant past. They contain some of those little known twists—the kind that makes one say, “Well I’ll be, I didn’t know that.”

First Hotel
After Madera was founded on October 11, 1876, Captain Russel Perry Mace bought the first lot and built his Yosemite Hotel where Heilig-Meyers now stands. Despite the name Mace’s first “hotel” was really not much more than a shanty of a saloon that measured 24 feet by 56 feet. It wasn’t until the spring of 1877 that the Captain made the improvements that raised it to a first class hotel.

First Schoolhouse
There are some folks still around who remember the huge brick school house that stood where the National Guard Armory is now located. It was called the Eastside School, and is often referred to as Madera’s first schoolhouse. Actually, that beautiful old building was Madera’s third school.

The first was built on that site in March 1877, but it was just a simple frame building, 30 feet by 50 feet. In 1885, Maderans replaced it with another wooden structure with two stories. When the second one burned, it was replaced by the brick edifice that many know as the Eastside School.

First Teachers
Madera’s first teachers were J.W. Martin, who was also the principal, and Ms. Sarah Hooper. They were apparently held in high esteem. The Fresno Expositor reported that “the budding graces of the little ones are being instructed in a proper manner and the parents are well satisfied.”

First Stagecoach Schedule
Madera’s first stagecoach schedule had nothing to do with tourist travel to Yosemite Stage and Turnpike Company was hauling passengers to the Big Trees from Madera, they had a regular line to Gilroy that made three round trips a week. The stage left Gilroy at 2 o’clock in the afternoon and arrived at Mace’s hotel at 7 a.m. the next morning.

First Friends of the Library
Madera’s first Friends of the Library began right away to raise money for a library in Madera. Their first fund raiser was in 1877—a St. Valentine’s Day serio-comic drama entitled, “Miriam’s Crime.” A dance was held after the play, and all the proceeds went to the Madera Library fund.

First Women’s Improvement Club
Madera’s first Women’s Improvement Club was really the “Ladies Sewing Society” established in November 1877. Mrs. Vellie was the treasurer, improving the “religious, moral, and social climate of Madera.”

First Yosemite Tourist
Madera’s first tourist was W.M. Cooper, a civil engineer from Sydney, Australia. This first tourist over the new line of road from Madera to Big Tree Station via Fresno Flats declared that “it is a good line from end to end and a very good road to travel.” The round trip fare was $45 dollars.

First Baseball Team
Madera’s first baseball team played its first game in November 1879. They were called the Yosemite Baseball Club and lost to the Central Baseball Club of Fresno, 56 to 18. The captain was Cornelius Curtin, who also played third base. The Madera team played a rematch in December 1879, but there is no mention of how they made out.

First Presidential Visit
Madera’s first presidential visit occurred in December 1880. Although President Ulysses S. Grant visited Madera in 1879, he had been out of office for three years at the time. Rutherford B. Hayes was the first (and perhaps) only sitting President to visit Madera. He was on his way to Yosemite.

First Jail
Madera’s first jail was built in March 1883. It was a branch of the Fresno County jail; therefore the Board of Supervisors paid for it.  Madera was part of Fresno County at the time.

First Graffiti
Madera’s first graffiti didn’t appear on buildings. In July 1883, it was horse owners in Madera who were plagued with a rash of vandalism. A group of young hoodlums were sneaking around at night painting local horses red. Before the month was out, however, the ringleader was caught. Dave Watson was fined $5 for malicious mischief.

First Chinatown Raid
Madera’s first Chinatown raid occurred on August 8, 1883. The Chinese community, which was located west of the Southern Pacific Railroad tracks, was viewed with suspicion by the Anglo settlers who lived east of the tracks. “The principle cause of the arrest made by Constable Cramer was that a number of boys between the age of 15 and 20 years have been in the habit of visiting the gambling halls and opium dens of Chinatown and the people thought it was about time to commence trying to break up these sinks of iniquity.”

First History of Madera
We could go on for pages: Madera’s first recorded crime, Madera’s first house of prostitution; Madera’s first fire, etc. Space, however, dictates that we stop. Not to worry though. The rest of the story—the first history of Madera—will soon be out for all to read. In the meantime, enjoy this year’s celebration … and be a part of history yourself.

This information published courtesy of the Madera Tribune and Staff Writer, Bill Coate

PG & E... proud sponsor of all Madera Chamber of Commerce Centennial Events and sponsor of all Centennial web pages on this website.  PG & E... supporting the City of Madera in it's Centennial Celebration.