"Tulare was born July 25, 1872, when the long awaited Southern Pacific Railroad tracks reached this town-to-be. The population at the time was recorded as 20. In early 1874 population grew to 85 and the next year 145. The coming of the railroad division headquarters roundhouse and shops in 1875 boosted the population and it had grown to 300 in early 1876. A year later the city boasted 690 residents."
By August 16, 1886 Tulare had suffered 3 large fires and a disastrous drought. However, "with great determination a new and better business district was accomplished."
April 5, 1888 with a population of 3,250 Tulare was incorporated.
Tulare's troubles looked to be over. Then "in 1891 the Southern Pacific dealt Tulare an overwhelming blow by closing the shops and roundhouse, moving its headquarters to Bakersfield." Homes were actually picked up and pulled by teams of horses, to be relocated in Bakersfield.
"In spite of a severe lack of water for irrigation" the fertile land became Tulare's future. "The Tulare Irrigation District was formed in 1899", just before the depression.
During all of these unsure times, "one is not surprised that the type of houses built during the early years were modest and unpretentious." Consisting of two bedrooms one living room and one kitchen, in a square shape. However, "well constructed of solid redwood. Some even had floors and inside walls of maple." With steep roofs and generously angled. No indoor plumbing, no electricity (until 1891) and no gas. Cooking was done on wood ranges and homes warmed with large fireplaces.
Most of these 85 homes where built by the owners and in 1972 the following pre-1900 homes were still standing. Now in 2011 I will give you the tour of our town.....
88 W. Tulare Ave at "I" 1882 built by Southern Pacific Railroad
107 So. "I" St. at Tulare 1880 "The Cotton House" The prominet merchant A.T. Cotton lived there. He established and owned the hardware store.
219 So. "I" St. 1880 built by Southern Pacific railroad
333 So. "I" St. 1875 built by Southern Pacific railroad
347 So. "I" St. 1880 the Hern Home.
403 So. "I" St. at Owens 1890 C.S. Nicewronger house (turned into apts)
423 So. "I" St. 1890 home of LeBon and Devina Abercrombie
457 So. "H" St. at Sonora 1888 built by Andrew Neff, 1891 acquired by the Nelson Family, the owners of Nelson Furniture. Then acquired in 1969 by The Story family.
505 So. "H" at Sonora 1898 home to the Heitzeg family
435 So. "H" St. 1885 Ms. Grace Brunner Hammonds taught art there.
414 So, "H" St. 1873 built by Ezra Lathrop, Grandfather to Mildred Sturgeon Ellis who was born in it. the home was then moved
205 So. "H" St.
330 So. "H" St. 1880 Constable Losey lived there 30 years
318 So. "H" St. 1880 in 1905 Postmaster Ratliff lived there. The Jack Rollins owner of the Register in 1919 lived there with his wife and 8 boys. (The Advanced Register Newspaper)
236 So. "H" St. 1896
211 So. "H" St. 1873 built by Bachelder and once owned by Mrs. Sturgeon.
135 So. "H" St. 1885 made into apt in 1930. A few famous borders were Mayor Glass and his wife as well as Dewaine and Betty Glass.
124 So. "H" St. 1885 it was turned into apts.
138 W/ Tulare Ave at "H" 1885
200 block W. King St. 1875 there were 8 brick homes built by railroad workers. All the homes are 3 bedrooms with wood floors, full cellars, and fireplaces.
157 No. "G" St. 1885 in 1972 was apt's rented by the housing autho.
304 W. Tulare Ave. at "G" 1873 in 1972 owned by Mary Cartmill
305 W. Tulare Ave at G 1873 built by D.L. Wilson
121 So. "G" St. 1875 once lived in by Lorentzens, Granddad to Paul Lorentzen of Hamilton Peers mortuary. Later owned by the town's Dentist Todd Martin. In 1972 was apt's.
201 So "G" St. 1875 once owned by Fred Rosenthal whom owned the first stationery store in Tulare.
207 So. "G" St. 1880 it was split into a 2 resident home
217 So. "G" St. 1880
225 So. "G" St. 1890 built by banker John A. Goble. There are 3 rooms in the basement for summer living that were used by the sick to stay cool. (haunted?)
341 So. "G" St. 1895 once owned by car dealer Billy Robertson
361 So. "G" St. 1880
407 So. "G" St. 1885 has been turned into 2 apt's.
447 So. "G" St. 1900 was the home to C.W. Cobb, city clerk
535 W. Apline at E 1880 sold by Cox lumber in 1925. The wood staircase was hand carved from Oregon wood.
563 So. "F" St. 1880
515 So. "F" St. 1885
457 So. "F" St. 1895 in 1891 Lydia Zumwalt moved there after her husbands death. She lived there until her death in 1924.
354 So. "F" St. 1885 was a poultry business in the early 1900's
339 So. "F" St. 1885 was originally located at "H" & Inyo
332 So. "F" St. 1885
321 So. "F" St. 1880 the upper story removed
709 W. Tulare Ave. 1880 "fish scale" design
111 No "B" St. 1880 in 1921 the Dodson family bought the home for $1,000
205 No. "E" St. 1875 the lumber for this home was hauled by wagon team from Hume Lake.
523 No "F" St. 1885 there were 4 homes built exactly the same by Geo. Warren Kirker. The first of their kind with plaster and hard finish. Three of the homes disappeared. Warren was a Civil War Vet and his childhood playmate was Ulysses S. Grant.
329 No "H" St. 1885 built by Congdon from New York whom owned a Livery Stable in Tulare.
136 W. King St. 1880 the Pacific Improvement Co received this property form Wells Fargo & Co. in 1888, according to the Title Ins. & Trust Co. "The property was once owned by the San Francisco Brewery and part of the old brewery was found in the bak yard in 1923".
301 No "G" St. at San Joaquin 1880
223 No "F" St. 1885
152 No "G" St. 1885 built by Louis E. Schoenemann. Daughter Clara lived there her whole life until her death in 1968. Daughter Olga Pendleton was married there.
345 W. Tulare Ave. at "F" 1880 the Tarkington home. Fish scale pattern
327 W. Tulare Ave. 1875 once belong in the Burnett family and is now apt's
205 W. Tulare Ave. at "G" 1882 formerly Christian Church now (1972) Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. The steeple was removed.
220 W. Tulare Ave. at "H" 1899 The Congregational Church, was built after their first structure fell to fire.
135 W. Tulare Ave. 1880 Masonic Hall
120 W. Tulare Ave. 1885 Wooster Cartmill bought in 1907 from the Treadway Family
