FIRES IN THE WEST AND OTHER OBSERVATIONS

Coming home from Colorado was almost a completely sad
experience. Smoke everywhere from fires in Utah, Nevada and
California. We saw the big fire in Utah on the first day from a
short distance when we were going to Grand Junction, Colorado. Dry
weather, and according to locals, government policies about control
of prescribed burning contribute to the fuel loads.

There was a time when the MPUD Fire Department burned the vacant lots and strips in town to cut down on accidental burning. The occasion a couple of summers ago when fire almost ringed Mariposa gave a sample of what
could happen in an especially bad dry year like the one we are
experiencing. More then twenty years ago Volunteer Fire Departments
throughout the county had enough men and women to staff the fire
fighting capacity but the equipment was junk. Surplus fire trucks
were purchased from other fire departments for $1 and placed in the
various volunteer departments. Many of the volunteer companies
raised their own money for equipment and buildings. There was no
County Fire Department, and none contemplated. Occasionally a
Supervisor would donate funds from a District Slush Fund that they
had the discretion over. This was in lieu of the county recognizing
the departments as belonging to the county. A fire chiefs
association was formed for the purpose of drawing together all the
departments for the purposes of mutual interest. This also gave the
volunteer fire service some political clout with the Board of
Supervisors.

In about 1985, it became apparent that various public services in
the emergency category were going to have to be upgraded. But it
really all started in l938 when the State of California visited with
the county about the stone jail on Bullion St.  WWII and other more
pressing matters occupied the state until the late 1950's, when they
once again asked the question about the lack of supervision and a
second fire exit for the old jail. The jailer at that time usually
was one of the Deputies, if there was one, or the Constable who had
lived next door. Creature comforts in the old jail was not a
priority and the theory was that if one became a resident, it was his
responsibility. One concession to the state concerns resulted in the
removal of the iron rings in the jail floor sometime during the
middle l940's. The pity of it was that a shackled prisoner was
unlikely to jump the jailer when dinner time came if he was on a
short leash.

When the state finally prevailed, prisoners had to be transported to
Merced by Sheriff O.M. Whitley and crew. There were few women
prisoners and when there were, Matron Alta Castagnetto accompanied
the subject to the valley. Prior to that time, women were not kept
in the stone jail as all the cells were common space. Alta would
take the offending lady home and usually court would be held quite
soon and the matter discharged.
Most of the cases, both male and female, were the result of over
imbibing, so a good nights sleep and one of Oscar Hagen's breakfasts
at the Capital Café, would revive the subject until the next Bootjack
dance.

The cost of sending the prisoners to Merced was concerning the
Board, so they formed a committee, of which I am the only living
member; so you will have to take my word for what went on. There was
Superior Court Judge Tom Coakley, Sheriff O.M. Whitley, Harold
Bondshu, Horace Meyer, and yours truly. The charge was to take a
look into the future and determine if the seat of county government
should stay where it had been since l854 and, if so, where a new jail
should be built. During the Centennial in l954, Judge Coakley had
proposed the building of a new Court House somewhere out on the edge
of town and the turning of the present Court House into a Museum.
While Judge Coakley was respected if not loved, the community
rejected the idea much in the same way that the recent attempt to
build a new courts building in Mariposa was looked on as
un-necessary. The major difference is that the Courts today are
governed and paid for by the State of California, and since Mariposa
County is a subdivision of the State and governed by the Legislature,
it was more difficult to fend them off for the present. Will not
last, I promise.

In order to put to bed any idea of moving the seat of government in
l964, the above named committee came back with a report that
determined that the seat of government for Mariposa County should,
always and forever, reside around the l854 Court House, the only item
of consistent quality belonging to the people of Mariposa County.
Then it was determined that, as property became available, Mariposa
County should acquire said property for the purpose of from time to
time expanding county functions.
Thus, first the Hall of Records was built, and then the Jail on 10St.
at Old Highway. Both the Milburn and Lind houses were acquired, then
the Vineyard house, the Bondshu property, the Cassassa property, etc,
until today the seat of county government is fixed in the center of
town.
At first the design of the new jail was to include a justice court
but the cost and lack of funds, when bidded almost 200% over the
architects estimate, causing a reduction in the final project. None
the less, Mariposa County finally had a jail that met with the States
pleasure. The only problem was that it was going to require a number
of new personal to manage and operate what was now a much larger jail
and sheriff's department.

Sheriff Whitley never got to occupy the new jail as he was voted out
of office before the county closed the one room Sheriff's Office in
the Court House. His Under-Sheriff, Norm Garrett ran for the office
and was elected. The probable reason was that Sheriff Whitley had
indicated that he was not going to run again, but with the new jail
and office, and a higher salary being set by the state ($7,000 per
annum); he decided to forgo retirement and run again. His health was
not good and he had been a wonderful Sheriff for almost twenty years:
well loved and competent, almost a native, the best for Mariposa.
But, Norm Garrett was well liked also, much younger and a little
embarrassed that he had announced his candidacy when he thought Whit
was not going to run. People urged him to remain a candidate because
they loved Whit and were afraid that being Sheriff another term would
be too difficult for him. So, Norm was elected. When Norm found out
that Whit was going to run, he resigned as Under-Sheriff and a young
family man, who had been a chicken farmer, became first a Deputy and
then Whit's Under-Sheriff. When Norm was elected, Paul Page, Whit's
Under-Sheriff became Norm's number two. As time went on, Norm and
Whit continued to be friends, although Whit passed away within a
couple of years.

What all this has to do with Fire Departments will become apparent
as we go along. So, now, Mariposa County has a real Sheriff's
Department and Jail just in time for the social revolutions of the
l960's and 70's. Lots of things changed. Paul Page followed Norm
Garrett as Sheriff, then Ken Mathys, Tom Strickland, Roger Matlock,
Pelk Richards and now Jim Allen.
During Roger Matlock's terms the new jail out Hwy 49 was constructed.
A Superintendent at the CYA Camp warned me when we were having the
committee meetings about building a new jail in l963 that "If you
build a new Jail, you will fill it." The number of prisoners now in
jail in Mariposa County is far more than the growth of population and
the costs are far greater. The Superintendent was right. (More to
come about the growth of Government and the issues about Fire
Departments)

Leroy Radanovich

Leroy Radanovich Email:
Leroy Radanovich

To Read More By Leroy Radanovich:
Leroy Radanovich's Mariposa Life Archives
 

To learn much more about Mariposa County along with
historical photos:
A signed copy of "Images of America" - Mariposa County,
By Leroy Radanovich can be purchased at his web site:
Radanovich Galleria & Books






This is a early day photo of the Mariposa Mine in
Mariposa County that is mentioned in the article to
the left by Mr. Radanovich.

This photo and others can be purchased in various sizes.
All prints are archivally printed on fiber based paper, given a selenium wash which renders the photographs permanent with a warm tone ready for framing
Radanovich Galleria & Books










Mariposa in 1920

This photo and others can be purchased in various sizes.
All prints are archivally printed on fiber based paper, given a selenium wash which renders the photographs permanent with a warm tone ready for framing
Radanovich Galleria & Books









Mariposa County Courthouse written by Leroy Radanovich and
Scott Pinkerton is a book about the oldest courthouse in California that is still in use today.
The book is signed by Leroy Radanovich.
To purchase the book:
Radanovich Galleria & Books








Mariposa in 1860


This photo and others can be purchased in various sizes.
All prints are archivally printed on fiber based paper, given a selenium wash which renders the photographs permanent with a warm tone ready for framing
Radanovich Galleria & Books