Isaiah W. Taber
Mess House and Reading Room for Help, Forsythe's Vineyard, Fresno, Cal, 1880s
Albumen print
10 x 8 inches
With photographer's credit and title in negative recto
With photographer's credit and title in negative recto
This seemingly-unknown image shows the diverse staff of the vineyard of William Forsyth, posed outside of the mess house and reading room. From Paul E. Vandor’s 1919 “History of Fresno...
This seemingly-unknown image shows the diverse staff of the vineyard of William Forsyth, posed outside of the mess house and reading room.
From Paul E. Vandor’s 1919 “History of Fresno County:”
The name of William Forsyth is inseparably connected as its pioneer with the seeded raisin business. He had the title of "Colonel" derived as commissary on the military staff of Gov. Geo. Stoneman. A Canadian by birth, he had been a resident of the States since his nineteenth year. He was a hotel man and in his California career was the landlord of Bartlett Springs when it was one of the celebrated summer resorts. His Fresno investments dated from 1885 ; the first state guard company in Fresno was named for him, the Forsyth Guard. After retiring from active business he joined T. W. Patterson in the construction of the Forsyth building at Tulare and J, first notable large business structure in the architectural modernization of Fresno. The Forsyth vineyard in Nevada Colony was a model and one of the most beautiful and delightful homes. The widow, nee Verdenal, later married Dan Brown, the bank cashier.
From Paul E. Vandor’s 1919 “History of Fresno County:”
The name of William Forsyth is inseparably connected as its pioneer with the seeded raisin business. He had the title of "Colonel" derived as commissary on the military staff of Gov. Geo. Stoneman. A Canadian by birth, he had been a resident of the States since his nineteenth year. He was a hotel man and in his California career was the landlord of Bartlett Springs when it was one of the celebrated summer resorts. His Fresno investments dated from 1885 ; the first state guard company in Fresno was named for him, the Forsyth Guard. After retiring from active business he joined T. W. Patterson in the construction of the Forsyth building at Tulare and J, first notable large business structure in the architectural modernization of Fresno. The Forsyth vineyard in Nevada Colony was a model and one of the most beautiful and delightful homes. The widow, nee Verdenal, later married Dan Brown, the bank cashier.
Courtesy of Daniel / Oliver Gallery
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