Visitor’s Guide

Discover a spectacular array of

activities, events and attractions
throughout the year in Clovis!

The pioneer family of Stephen H. Cole Antiques and

Collectibles Guide
arrived in the area in 1872. Two years later, Stephen Visit a charming, renewed turn
gave his sixteen year old son, Clovis, four horses. Clovis of the century town filled with
antique and collectible stores,
used the horses to haul lumber from the mountains on family dining and more!
the “Early Road,” now known as Tollhouse Road.
It was soon recognized that the
grazing land would adapt well to dry
Guide to Dining Out Walk through
grain farming, and Clovis M. Cole Enjoy an appetizing selection of
began to buy land to raise grain for restaurants and eateries in every history in a
corner of Clovis. This guide
feed and seed. He eventually farmed provides more than 100 choices!
turn of the
50,000 acres and became known
as the “Wheat King of the United century town;
States.” In 1880, he purchased 480
see how Clovis
acres that would eventually become Nature’s Trails
the City of Clovis. Drive, bicycle or walk scenic
trails from Old Town Clovis began and
to the Blossom trail, the
San Joaquin River, the Sierra the historical sites that
Wilderness, Yosemite National
Park and more!
continue to live in memory.

Clovis Tourist Information and Visitors Center

at Tarpey Depot
Clovis Avenue & Fourth Street
Toll Free: (877) 7-CLOVIS
(877) 725-6847
(559) 324-2084 • Fax: (559) 324-2861
www.ci.clovis.ca.us
© 2004 City of Clovis

ll About
the Past
of Old Town Clovis!
The first thoughts of settlement by a As the railroad The San Joaquin Valley Railroad was eventually In 1900, the Hoblitt Hotel, now the Clovis Hotel,
non-native in the area are credited to trusts began charging purchased by the Southern Pacific Railroad and was built on the northwest corner of Fourth and
Padre Martin, who explored the area in higher rates, Valley continued to operate profitably for decades. Pollasky, three stories in height and very attractive.
1806 while searching for a mission site. farmers sought an At the same time the railroad was being constructed, a It had a small lobby, a nice dining room and boasted
Some of the first permanent settlers were alternative to shipping group of Michigan lumbermen began acquiring thousands a bathtub and a lavatory on each floor.
gold rush miners of 1849, displacing the their grains to market. In 1890, a 26 year old Chicago of acres of timber in the Since its incorporation in 1912, Clovis has been
many Native American tribes settled in railroad developer named Marcus Pollasky and a group mountains east of Clovis. known as the “Gateway to the Sierras.”
the foothills and near the rivers. As the of prominent Fresno citizens raised more than $100,000 Eventually, they built a Today, few structures besides the Clovis Hotel still
gold ran out, they established small farms to build the independent San Joaquin Valley Railroad. dam on a creek and created exist from the rough-and-tumble town that Clovis
in the foothills. After the Civil War, large The tracks extended from near downtown Fresno, north Shaver Lake. From the foot was in 1900. The building that houses the Clovis
cattle grazing lands were developed. One to Millerton (now Friant), and were planned to go on to of the dam, they built a 48-mile, 25-foot high, V-shaped Big Dry Creek Historical
prominent cattleman was Jesse Blasingame, Truckee and the world markets. flume to carry timber to the Valley floor. Society was built in 1912
whose descendants are Clovis area Clovis Cole donated most of the land that would be A huge lumber industry grew in the empty fields of and served as the first
ranchers to this day. used by the railroad, including a site for a depot. As the Clovis. A planing mill, box factory, warehouses, dry kiln, bank in Clovis. Other
first tracks were being lain, Pollasky and his investors offices, workhorse stables, pastures buildings of historical
founded the city in 1891 and named the new city after and cottages were built. Saloons and interest, including
other entertainment venues followed. numerous beautiful
This activity attracted more and homes, are listed in this special Historical Tour of
more developers. The Shepherd and Old Town Clovis.
Teague Land Company was formed and gained control of
much of the land around Clovis, which was subdivided
and sold by the company’s salesman, H.G. DeWitt.
In 1894, the first school opened in the waiting
the man who gave so much to the Valley, Clovis Cole. room of the Tarpey Depot. The next year, Clovis’ first
Cole’s ranch headquarters were located near what is now schoolhouse was built on the northeast corner of 2nd
the intersection of Third and Baron Streets. and Pollasky.
You are about to enjoy an adventurous journey into
8. Whiton Home 14. Clovis M. Cole Home 19. Clovis Union High School
the past of Clovis. Remember that almost all of these 446 Woodworth 304 Harvard 901 Fifth
sites are private homes or businesses – please do not This property was first subdivided by the Clovis Cole farmed 50,000 acres of Designed and built in 1920 by
Shepherd and Teague Land Company and wheat and in 1891 donated land to the William Henry Weeks, this was the
disturb the residents. This tour of historical sites can the first Abstract of Title was recorded on San Joaquin Valley Railroad for right only high school in Clovis until
be accomplished at a steady pace in one or two hours. January 15, 1892. This home was built by Harry and Kate of way for the first railroad in this area. 1969. It is now the San Joaquin
Whiton in 1926. The Whitons arrived in Clovis in 1906 and in Cole was a school trustee and public- College of Law.
1918 opened Whiton’s Cyclery at 631 Fifth. Harry was a civic spirited citizen. Railroad officials named the growing city
Please note that some sites do not have sidewalks, leader and Fire Chief of the Clovis Voluntary Fire Department for Clovis in honor of his donation and civic leadership. This 20. Clovis Water Tower
so be careful when walking on or near the street. 18 years until his death in 1944. home was built in 1903. Southeast corner of Clovis
and Fifth
9. Burke Home 15. Blasingame House
The structure was built in 1913 and
1. The Tarpey Depot 460 Woodworth 406 Oxford
remains in use with a capacity of 60,000
Clovis Tourist Information and Visitors Center Clovis merchant John E. Good Alfred “Sonny” Blasingame gallons. Hot rivets in the entire structure
Northeast corner of Clovis and Fourth bought this property in 1907. His owned a large cattle ranch were hand-driven.
This original railroad depot was brother, Robert Good, had opened east of Clovis where he worked
once located on the southeast the first Clovis grocery store in and lived. In 1918 he built this 21. Nestor Freitas Hall
corner of Ashlan and Clovis 1894. John C. Burke married the house for his wife and two 500 Club
Avenues. Built in 1891 by the sister of the Good brothers and lived daughters. Alfred continued to Southwest corner of Clovis and Fifth
San Joaquin Valley Railroad, in this home. Burke was elected Justice of the Peace in 1922. It live on the ranch during the week but on weekends he would
is believed that this home was moved to this location from the drive a horse-drawn carriage to this home to be with his Built in 1900 by Nestor Freitas,
the Tarpey Depot has also the second story housed the Clovis
served as a schoolhouse, a post Burke’s southeast Clovis ranch in the early 1910s. family. The carriage house and horse stable still stand behind
the house. Concordia Chapter of the Eastern Star
office, a winery headquarters and a real estate sales office
for Tarpey Village. This unique and irreplaceable Victorian 10. United Methodist Church in 1913. Their rent was $5 monthly.
structure was saved from destruction by the Fresno Historical Valley Community Church 16. Richard Norrish Home Downstairs was one of Clovis’ many
pool halls.
Society in 1967. In 1998, the Historical Society moved and Southwest corner of Woodworth and Fifth 36 Pollasky
restored the structure. In 2000, the building was reopened as
the Clovis Tourist Information and Visitors Center.
Early-day Methodists John Wesley Potter Richard Norrish emigrated from 22. John Good Building
and J.W. Cate purchased the four lots England and founded the First Northwest Corner of Clovis and Fifth
that this church sits on for $10 each. A National Bank of Clovis in 1904. He
2. First National Bank of Clovis wooden structure was erected and the served as president of the bank for 30 This 1900 building replaced
Clovis Historical Museum first sermon was preached in 1894. Grain years. This home was built in 1923 at the Good store that had
Southeast corner of Pollasky and Fourth fields surrounded the entire area, and the the extravagant cost of $25,000. previously burned down.
Fresno County Historical Landmark church was the only building west of what is now Clovis Avenue. The Good family remained

Richard Norrish was born in In 1900, the first church was destroyed by fire and a second 17. Agnes G. de Jahn House prominent merchants and
civic leaders for many years.
England in 1844 and moved church was built. The present sanctuary replaced it in 1920. 6 Pollasky
to Clovis in 1904. That same
year, he founded Clovis’ first 11. Mayo/Flume House Agnes de Jahn was Richard Norrish’s step- 23. McFarland Building
daughter. She had this home built in 1910. Southeast Corner of Fifth and Pollasky
bank. It was originally located 406 Fifth Street
In 1923, Mr. Norrish moved this house from
in a boarding house on the The Shaver Mill and Flume was its original location at 36 Pollasky to make Early-day rancher George
alley just east of this location. established in 1891. This home, and room for his new home that still stands. McFarland built this brick
This structure was built in several like it, was originally located on Ebert and Catherine Franck then purchased building as a garage in
1912 and was declared a the 48-mile flume that started at Shaver the home in 1934. Mr. Franck served as 1919. During the 1940s and
Fresno County Historical Site Lake and ended in Clovis. These “flume Clovis City Clerk for many years. Legend has it that no 50s, this building served as
in 1987. Mr. Norrish served as bank president for 30 years. houses” served as dormitories for children have ever been born to couples living in this house. the Clovis Movie Theater.
employees who monitored the flume. After the Clovis mill closed
On February 5, 1925, two men, Griffen “The Owl” and Sloper,
robbed the bank at gunpoint and made off with $31,000. in 1914, the flume was shut down and Mayo Redford relocated 18. Gibson Home 24. Lewis Gibson Store
this home to this site. Parts of the original flume are on display 940 Third Street Northwest corner of
Local merchants pursued them, but the robbers were able to
at the Clovis Historical Museum. Fresno County Historical Landmark Fifth and Pollasky
slow them down by tossing nails onto the road as they drove
off. One of the guns used in the robbery is on display at the Built in 1900 by Lewis Gibson as
Clovis Historical Museum. 12. Masonic Temple This home was built in
1912 for Lewis Willis a general merchandise store. Carl
Northwest corner of Fifth and DeWitt Merriman purchased it in 1920.
The building was declared a Fresno County Historical site in 1987. Gibson, who was
Formed in 1898, the Presbyterian elected mayor of Clovis
3. Carnegie Library Building congregation built a church nearby that in 1921. The original 25. Ingmire House
no longer exists. They built this church carriage house/stable Seventh and Pollasky
Clovis Chamber of Commerce
325 Pollasky during the early 1900s. The first minister still stands on the Built in 1882 and eventually
Fresno County Historical Landmark was Ed Underwood, a veteran of the Civil property. It is believed relocated to this site from
War and the first well driller in Clovis. The church was sold to the that the crepe myrtle the west side of Pollasky
Clovis’ first library was founded in 1906 Clovis Lodge #417 Free & Accepted Masons in 1931. and aleppo pine trees are the largest in California. Katherine between Third and Fourth
and originally located on Fourth Street Bell purchased the house in 1920. She served as postmistress streets.
east of Pollasky. Under endowment by 13. The Jackson/Brandon Home of Clovis from 1909 until her death in 1926.
the Carnegie family, this building was
built in 1914 and served the community
406 DeWitt 26. Macias House
This home was built by Perry Rockwell 931 Pollasky
until 1979. It was declared a Fresno
County Historical Site in 1967. Jackson in the early 1900s and sold in Pete Macias was born
1936 to Samuel Brandon, a high school in Guadalajara, Mexico
4. Hoblitt/Clovis Hotel science teacher. It is known as “The
Christmas Wish House” because
in 1895. He emigrated
Northwest corner of Pollasky and Fourth to Clovis and in 1913,
it houses a holiday boutique at the age of eighteen,
The hotel was built by Joshua Carmen each December. purchased this house
Hoblitt in 1902. Hoblitt was born in 1832 for $800 cash. In 1930, he became the foreman on the
in Ohio. He served in the Civil War and Harry Balfe ranch. He managed 1,000 acres and helped
boasted that he had lived long enough to raise thoroughbred horses. The ranch was purchased in
vote for 17 different presidents. The hotel 1942 by movie star Victor McLaglen.
was originally three stories tall, making
it the tallest structure in Clovis. Fire
destroyed the third floor in 1927. In 1942,
Dr. Wilbur Lose converted it to the Sierra Vista Hospital. It
was later reconverted to a hotel.

5. American Legion
Southeast corner of Fourth and Woodworth
The American Legion building was built
in 1924 and was named in memory of
Clovis’ first World War I fatality,
Cecil Cox.

6. Dr. McMurtry Home

431 Fourth
Dr. Milton Scott McMurtry was born Choose Your Walking Tour
in Batesville, Oklahoma in 1880. He These sites can be visited in about
visited Clovis in 1904 and decided 30 minutes
to relocate and establish a practice here. He was an appointed Add these sites for a total tour of
physician for the Southern Pacific Railroad and helped about 60 minutes
establish the first hospital in Clovis in 1916. In 1914, his wife
Add these sites for a total tour of
Lucrecia and Bessie Merriman started the Hometown Family about 90 minutes
Festival that later became the Clovis Rodeo. This home was
built in the early 1920s and the McMurtry family purchased it Old Town Clovis streets without
sidewalks
in 1927. Many items from Dr. McMurtry’s first practice are on
display at the Clovis Historical Museum. Public Restrooms

7. May Case Home Map not to scale.

420 Woodworth
This home was built in the early 1900s
and was purchased by May Case in
1922. As a child, May knew Apache
Chief Geronimo and other historic Travel time
western figures such as the Dalton to Clovis by car:
Gang, the Doolins, and Belle Star. May Case started the Clovis San Francisco - 3.5 hours (197 miles)
Independent newspaper. In 1964, after 75 years of service, she Monterey - 2.5 hours (161 miles)
was honored as the world’s oldest active newspaperwoman. Los Angeles - 3.5 hours (232 miles)