Sheriff readies for Hells Angels

Days Gone By

Fresno Flats Research Library

(Updated: Wednesday, April 23, 2008, 6:53 PM)

Forty years ago

Week's News Capsules:

Race unrest following M.L. King death eases.

LBJ signs Civil Rights bill into law.

Gen. Creighton W. Abrams named to replace Westmoreland as U.S. commander in Vietnam.

An invitation to attend an organizational meeting by the Sierra Historic Sites Association was issued to the community at the Oakhurst Community Center. The goal is to "create an organization, which can serve to inspire and help communities take steps toward establishing and maintaining historically significant sites buildings and artifacts, especially those that can be available for the public's view and the use of scholars."

Roger Dupzyk designed a natural bough with seat and footrest added, smoothed and fashioned into a hanging chair. His artistry was noted by the Los Angeles Times with a picture and written article.

He grew up in Bass Lake and attended local schools.

He graduated from FSC and spent several years of post grad work in arts and crafts.

Thirty years ago

The Hells Angels motorcycle club has made its reservations with the USFS for the club's annual Memorial Day visit to Bass Lake. Roughly 250 club members will be staying at Willow Cove Campground. Plans are currently under way by Madera County Sheriff Ed Bates to provide additional law enforcement for the weekend, although the group has been cooperative during their past visits.

Wickes Forest Industries of Dinuba bid a record price for 26 million board feet for an astronomical $10 million. They outlasted three other firms in a three-hour auction and the final price is three times above the appraised value of the lumber. The high demand for lumber has pushed the price sharply upward.

Twenty years ago

Reunion planned at the old Raymond School for "anyone who had anything to do with the old Raymond -- Granite Union High School."

The school was open from 1918 to 1960. The Coarsegold Historical Museum now occupies the library at the old school, the only remaining building of the campus.

Jim Synder, who has been associated with Yosemite National Park primarily in its backcountry wilderness areas for nearly 30 years, will outline for the SHSA some of the history of the park and future plans to develop its historical record.

Snyder, a former college history instructor, researched old ways of trail building, including stone bridge construction methods dating back to the Romans and used these techniques to improve the trails using only hand tools and materials available naturally.

He and his wife, Ginny, have traced John Muir's travels during his first summer in the Sierra and documented, through discovery of blazes, the travels of 19th century cavalry units. He now works for the Yosemite Park Museum.