Several weeks ago I traveled to the Mendota area of California's Central Valley to do research for an upcoming book I'm working on. While there, I had the good fortune to meet two gentlemen who worked at the Mendota Wild Life Hunter Check Station. Both had lived in the area for some time. My main purpose of the visit was to gather information on the terrain; basically, trees, marshes the names of the native plants in the area and where everything was in relation to nearby landmarks that a reader could identify with. They were gracious in offering their home-spun take on the surrounding area and "how is was."
One of the men said that his father collected old maps and he would be happy to share them with me. I gave him my address and thanked him profusely.
A few days ago those maps arrived in the mail. To say that I thought Santa Claus had popped in, would be an understatement. I was thrilled. The maps depicted everything I wondered about. The huge tule forests that I had read about. The names of the ferry crossing during the time period I was researching, which is the 1870's, the extent of Tulare Lake and how far north it went, stage routes and cattle ranches. On some of them I will have to get out my magnifying glass, but I think I'll be able to glean a wealth of information. I shall cherish them and keep them safe for future reference.
I offered to pay the man for the copying and postage, but he said no, just send him a copy of the book. I did one better, I sent him a copy of my Western, "Winds of Time," and will send him a copy of Cantua Crossing when I get it finished. Goes to show you never know what you'll find when you "go a-lookin'."
No comments:
Post a Comment