by Stephen H. Provost
Before it was a modern freeway, California’s State Highway 99 was “the main street of California,” a simple two-lane road that passed through the downtowns of every city between the Mexican border and the Oregon state line. “Highway 99: The History of California’s Main Street” turns back the clock to those days when a narrow ribbon of asphalt tied the state’s communities together, with classic roadside attractions and plenty of fun along the way.
“Highway 99” documents the birth, growth, and transformation of the highway; the gas stations, motels, restaurants, and attractions that flourished and declined by the roadside; and the communities, personalities, and historical events that made their mark on the highway. From the migrations of the Dust Bowl to the birth of the Bakersfield Sound to the foundation of America’s fast-food culture, the history of California has happened around Highway 99, and “Highway 99: The History of California’s Main Street” brilliantly depicts that history.
$24.95 $14.97 |
Subtitle: "Building a Tradition of Excellence in Clovis Unified Before, During and After Unification" Celebrating the 50th anniversary of the founding of Clovis Unified School District, 50 Unified Years is the authoritative history of the district?s growth and transformation from a group of small rural schools to one of the finest public education systems in the nation. The history of Clovis Unified School District is a dynamic story of teachers, administrators, and parents working together to fulfill a vision ? to equip every child to be the best they can be in mind, body, and spirit. 50 Unified Years includes the history of every school in the district, from the one-room schoolhouses of the 1870s whose names still live on, to the schools you attended as a child, to the state-of-the-art facilities your children attend today. 50 Unified Years is more than the story of a school district. It?s your story and it?s our story. It?s a story of unparalleled achievement. It?s a story about building a community and a way of life that is the heart of why Clovis is a great place to live.
$25.00 $15.00 |
In this collection of firsthand accounts by those who knew Cesar Chavez best, a portrait of an uncommonly complex man, both driven and focused, yet humble, empathic and exceedingly principled, emerges. The reader gains an understanding of the yoke Chavez chose to place upon his own shoulders, as well as the ideals he employed to accomplish for the migrant farmworkers what many predicted would be impossible. The more than 45 contributors range from the famous--Edward James Olmos, Henry Cisneros, Martin Sheen, Coretta Scott King, Jerry Brown and others--to members of the Chavez family, to UFW staff, to the farmworkers themselves. Illustrated by the compelling black and white photographs of George Elfie Ballis, who began photographing the farmworker movement in the 1950s.
$12.95 $7.77 |
“I’ve labored long for bread For honor and for riches But on my corns too long you’ve tread You fine haired Sons of Bitches” —Black Bart, the Po8
$15.95 $9.57 |
California Badmen is a exploration of little-known Western frontier gunfighters. Billy Mulligan, Sam Temple, Peter Olsen, Joe Dye, Bob McFarlane and those responsible for the Rancheria killings are brought back through the pages and taking their stand in Californian history. The riotous lives of these unique collection of mean men with guns spill over the California frontier and rival the likes of “Wild Bill” Hickok, Billy the Kid, and the Earp Family.
$24.95 $14.97 |
Stories of Service is a remarkable collection of stories by veterans and civilians of the San Joaquin Valley who lived and fought during World War II. Gathered primarily from author Janice Stevens? memoirs class for military veterans, these stirring recollections include riveting tales of combat, such as a sailor caught in the open on the docks when the first wave of Japanese warplanes bombed Pearl Harbor, to the harrowing dash across the sand during the Utah beach landings on D-Day. Other stories are poignant remembrances of pain and loss by those who remained on the home front, and depict the privation and sacrifice that characterized their lives. The authentic voices within speak with simple unvarnished honesty about fear, bravery, boredom, and love. Augmented by almost 100 period photos, their compelling stories represent a powerful and unfiltered look back into a time of terrible conflict, pain, courage, and patriotism.
$10.95 $6.57 |
The True Story of Sierra Summit in Words and Pictures. Written by an old timer who has been schussing the nooks and the crannies, the steeps and the deeps, for 50 years, Ski Tales: The History of China Peak and Sierra Summit reveals the unique, dramatic, and often humorous history of Sierra Summit, from its beginning as China Peak to the present day. Illustrated with dozens of vintage and new photos of colorful personalities and breathtaking snowscapes, Ski Tales will take you on a nostalgic journey through decades of perfect snow, sunny days, fun and friendship.