Wanderers in Wonder

Extending 450 miles from Redding, California (CA) in the north to Bakersfield, CA in the south between the Sierra Nevadas to the east and the Coastal Range to the west, California’s Central Valley provides more than half the fruits, nuts and vegetables consumed by Americans every year.

Statue of Festus Hagen beloved bumbling deputy sheriff from Gunsmoke in his adopted town of Clovis, CA in the heart of the Central Valley.

Clovis Cole arrived in the Central Valley in the 1870’s to dry farm hay. By the 1890’s he was planting and harvesting over 50,000 acres of wheat. 

The San Joaquin Valley RR came to town in the early 1890’s and named the station they built Clovis Station after Clovis Cole. The mid-1890’s brought three years of drought and Clovis Cole went bankrupt. He ended up owning and operating a farm machinery service and repair shop. Irrigation came to the Central Valley after the turn of the 20th Century.

Chukchansi Park, home to the Fresno-Clovis Grizzlies. What else does one do on Mother’s Day but go to a ball game. ‘Momosas’ were the drink special of the day. Before the start of the game some fun loving moms were gathered at home plate for a Momosa drink off. Got to love the Minor Leagues. Great game…Grizzlies went into the bottom of the ninth down by two, rallied and scored three runs to win the game.

Of course with a water splash park in the stadium next to right field not much ball game watching from the younger set.

Back to Ken Curtis. Born Curtis Wain Gates in Lamar, Colorado (CO), Curtis grew up ranching with his family. He went to CO College intending to be a doctor but left after two years to pursue a musical career. After serving in WWII Curtis was selected by Tommy Dorsey to replace Frank Sinatra as the band’s lead singer. Tommy Dorsey recommended Curtis change his name and Ken Curtis was born.

Ken went on to be the lead singer with The Sons of the Pioneers. He was the lead singer for two of the group’s biggest hits, Ghost Riders in The Sky and Room Full of Roses.

Peace…Wanderers in Wonder.