Fresno's Wilson Island and Rosanna Cooper Wilson, the Woman Behind It (eBook)

Jeannine Raymond Ph.D. (Autor)

eBook Download: EPUB

2019
202 Seiten
Jeannine Raymond (Verlag)
9781641113519 (ISBN)

Infos

The story of Fresno's Wilson Island begins with its creator, Rosanna Cooper Wilson. She is an example of the often-forgotten role of women in the early development of California's Central San Joaquin Valley. A descendant of Alta California land grant families, Rosanna was a diminutive woman born in 1859 who was proud of her Spanish heritage. She left a legacy to Fresno, California, that is today one of only four registered historic districts in Fresno. It played a pivotal role in the northern expansion of the town and is noted today by nationally recognized architectural experts for its collection of museum quality homes. Developing land was in her genes. She was the granddaughter of Juan Bautista Rogers Cooper and grandniece of General Mariano Vallejo, two famous figures of power and influence in Alta California in the 1800s who would have been proud of her accomplishments had they lived to see what she achieved. Throughout her adult life, she was haunted by the knowledge that someone close to her had her father's name secretly redacted from her baptismal record at the Cathedral San Carlos Borromeo in Monterey to hide her existence as her father's eldest daughter by his first wife. Pushing through the adversity, she became a land baroness worth over $3.6 million when she died in Fresno in 1947. This is her story, and the story of the Wilson Island.

Inhalt

Foreword

Preface

Acknowledgements

Chapter 1: The Early Years, 1859 to 1879: Monterey – Santa Cruz – Castroville 

Chapter 2: Adventure and Growth, 1886 to 1911

Chapter 3: Losses and Rebirth, 1915 to 1947

Chapter 4: Her Vision: A Secluded Neighborhood within an Easy Commute to Downtown

Chapter 5: 1910: Construction Begins

Chapter 6: A Who’s Who of Fresno: Who Bought into the Neighborhood in the Early Years?

Speculators

Nob Hill Residents Invest Early

The Bankers and Businessmen Who Stayed

The Attorneys and Judges

Realtors, Insurance Brokers, and Newspaper Moguls

The Architects and Builders

Descendants Move In

Conclusion

Postscript: And Today? 

Appendices:

A.   Map of Monterey and Santa Cruz arc around Monterey Bay

B.   California Registered Historic Landmarks Related to Rosanna

C.  Map of Pajaro Valley Consolidated Railroad

D.  Wilson’s North Fresno Tract Map (Rosanna’s)

E.   Alhambra Tract Map (Delfina’s)

F.   Streets in the Wilson Island that Changed Names

G.  Rosanna’s Maternal and Paternal Ancestors, Children and Grandchildren

Endnotes

Bibliography

Index

About the Author

Produkt-Details

• Erscheint lt. Verlag: 26.2.2019
• Sprache: englisch
• Themenwelt: Geisteswissenschaften ► Geschichte ► Regional- / Ländergeschichte
• Schlagworte: 1930s architecture • Alta California • California • Fresno • General Mariano Vallejo • Rancho Bolsa del potrero y Moro Cojo • Residential 1920s • Spanish/Mexican women in California history • Spanish revival architecture
• ISBN-13: 9781641113519 / 9781641113519