Yokohl, A History of Its People and Their Culture

Although I haven't finished reading my advanced copy yet, a new local history book looks like it provides a comprehensive look at the Yokohl Valley and the pioneer life of its residents, including the Yokut Indians.

The book likely will generate a growing interest as work on a planned community, the Yokohl Ranch, a J.G. Boswell Co. planned community, inches ahead.

“Yokohl, A History of Its People and Their Culture” by Scott Barker is making its way to area bookstores and several book signings are being scheduled.

Barker, who makes his home in Springville, has put together a book which so far seems to make learning about local history a fun thing. I liked most of my grade school, high school and college history classes but not all them. I learned a lot and can at least remember major events, and still like to do a little reading on selected subjects.

This book includes stories of some colorful characters and events with dramatic humor, generating an entertaining yet informative read.

Although I'm only about halfway through Barker's book, I've learned a few things about early days in Tulare County, the Yokuts and some characters who seem to make delving into local history so much fun.

For instance, how many of you pholks know about the county's war on squirrels in 1901? County Supervisors authorized a bounty for squirrels with 3 cents paid for each bushy rodent tail delivered. The author tells how young Patrick Daly, son of Yokohl Valley pioneers, harvested 100 squirrel tales by training his family's six cattle dogs to fetch the rodents. Patrick took a mule stuffed the saddlebags and headed for Visalia to collect his $3 bounty, a tidy sum at that time. I can't picture that happening today.

The bounty ordinance worked well in ridding the squirrel infestation but other unforeseen problems brought it to an abrupt end when the courthouse janitor, given the added duty of burning the tails after they had been counted, couldn't keep up with the chore. Reportedly thousands of tails stacked up in or around the courthouse before they could be fed into the improvised squirrel tail crematorium.

Barker cites the June 8, 1901 Daily Morning Delta, “The discomforting odor emanating from desiccated squirrel tails, which for months have been coincident with the meeting of the board of supervisors will, after the third of July, cease to pervade the courthouse.”

Air quality around the courthouse was only part of the reason to junk the tail bounty caper. According to a news account, “clerk of the board of supervisors received affidavits Saturday from the justice of the peace at White River certifying to claims for 32,000 squirrel tails. The White River country must be especially adapted for the squirrel family. Possibly each squirrel grows two tails. At the present bounty, $960 will be required to pay for the 'batch.'”

Realizing that they were paying for Kern County tails (from the White River area) the board lopped off the tail payment pretty quickly.

There are lots of interesting and humorous nuggets in Barker's book, along with quite a few pictures blended together for those who want to have a little fun while learning about days long past.

Terry Ommen, the county's current history guru, also has been impressed with Barker's work. “In the course of Scott's research, he talked to scores of people, perused many publications and did extensive site visits. The result is a well-referenced history about a place oftentimes forgotten in Tulare County history. I am pleased his work is finished and grateful that someone of his caliber chose to do it. His story-telling style makes it easy to read.”

Books are available at: Valhalla, 314 W. Center, Visalia; Tulare History Museum, 444 W. Tulare Ave., Tulare; Book Garden, 179 E. Pine, Exeter; Edwards Gallery, 248 N. Main St., Porterville; Three Rivers Historical Museum and Visitors Center, 42268 Sierra Dr., Three Rivers; and Patton House, 35680 Hwy 190, Springville; as well as at www.foothillwater.com and www.bearstatebooks.com.

Miles can be reached at mshuper@valleyvoicenewspaper.com