The Public Library

“The Public Library presents a wide selection of Dawson's photographs— from the majestic reading room at the New York Public Library to Allensworth, California's one-room Tulare County Free Library built by former slaves.”

The above quote is from the Amazon description of Robert Dawson’s new book The Public Library: A Photographic Essay. The library at Allensworth is one of the many libraries Dawson photographed over the last eighteen years. The little wooden one-room building began life as the town’s first schoolhouse. Thanks to the Allensworth family, after the town’s new two-room schoolhouse opened in 1913, the building was reincarnated as the Mary Dickerson Memorial Library. Named in honor of Ms. Allensworth’s mother, it became the first branch of the Tulare County Free Library.

In the book’s introduction Dawson writes about the influence books and libraries had on Oprah Winfrey, Malcolm X, and others.

"For me, those dreams started when I heard the stories of my rich heritage. When I read about Sojourner Truth and Harriet Tubman and Mary McLeod Bethune and Frederick Douglass, I knew that there was possibility for me." (Oprah Winfrey)

"My alma mater was books, a good library. I could spend the rest of my life reading, just satisfying my curiosity." (Malcolm X)

Over the years the mission of libraries has changed from simply a place to borrow books or read a newspaper, to a place for free internet access, job-hunting assistance, or shelter from adverse weather. In her essay Ms. Dorothy Lazard of the Oakland Public Library talks about the role of today's librarians:

"We know we are hopelessly unqualified to treat what ails many of the people who pass through our doors… There is deterioration all around us, yet we carry on, providing service to the underserved, a patient ear to the unheard. We are acting as the last outposts of community space."

There is an excerpt of The Public Library on NPR, which covers how Dawson began the project and the extended road trips he took with his son Walker.

Dawson feels that “In a culture that is increasingly privatized, libraries are among the last free spaces we have left. Public libraries are worth fighting for, and this book is my way of fighting.”

Mrs. Sarah Hindsman became custodian of the Allensworth library’s collection in 1926.  The books were moved from the library in 1931 and shelved in the northeast corner of the Hindsman store, until the library branch closed in 1943.

Lantern Light “Ghost Tour”

The Porterville Ghost Society and the park staff will lead a Lantern Light “Ghost Tour” of Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park on Saturday, March 15^th.  This is a chance to see the park after the sun goes down. 

These special nighttime tours are only conducted four times a year, so pack your flashlight and walking shoes and make your way to the park for this special tour. 

This event is not recommended for children under 12.

For more information about the tour or Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park contact Steve Ptomey at 661-849-3433 or email steven.ptomey@parks.ca.gov.  

Date:	Saturday, March 15, 2014
Time:	8:30 pm
Where:	Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park  Star Route 1, Box 148  Earlimart, CA 93219
Cost:	$10.00 per person

Black History Month

Come join the Friends of Allensworth and the staff of Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park as we celebrate Black History Month on Saturday, February 8, 2014. Come out and enjoy docent led tours of the town’s historic homes and businesses, purchase food and crafts from the vendors, watch “Allensworth: A Piece of the World” a video that retells the story of Colonel Allen Allensworth and the town he founded.

Sites are still available at the campground, to reserve your campsite go to the Reserve America website or call 1-800-444-7275.

When:  Saturday, February 8, 2014

Time:    10:00 am – 4:00 pm

Where:  Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park               

This year’s national Black History Month theme “Civil Rights In America” is a tribute to the fiftieth anniversary of the 1964 Civil Rights Act.

After years of sit-ins, boycotts, marches, and freedom rides into the heart of the deep South.

After the murder of civil rights workers Medger Evers and William L. Moore, and the death of Addie Mae Collins, Cynthia Wesley, Carole Robertson and Denise McNair, the four young girls killed in the bombing of the 16^th Street Baptist Church. 

After the U.S. Senate debated for 83 days, over 730 hours, and almost 3,000 pages in the Congressional Record, on July 2, 1964 President Johnson spoke the following word during a nationwide television broadcast from the White House:

We believe that all men are created equal -- yet many are denied equal treatment…. The reasons are deeply embedded in history and tradition and the nature of man. We can understand without rancor or hatred how all this happens. But it cannot continue. Our Constitution, the foundation of our Republic, forbids it. The principles of our freedom forbid it. Morality forbids it. And the law I sign tonight forbids it....

The 1964 Civil Rights Act barred unequal application of voter registration requirements, outlawed discrimination in hotels, motels, restaurants, theaters, encouraged the desegregation of public schools, and outlawed discrimination in employment in any business exceeding twenty five people.

Come join us as we celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of the 1964 Civil Rights Act

AmeriCorps Team comes to Allensworth

AmeriCorps Team Blue 6 started their six week stay at Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park on November 15, 2013.  The eight young men and women are the third AmeriCorps team to come to the park; one in 2012 and one earlier this year. Some of the projects completed by the other two teams are:

•          Painting the hotel
•         Installing signs for the cell phone tour
•          Staining and assembling an interpreter shelter
•          Fixing fences
•          Painting the campground armadas
•          Painting the Hackett house
•          Refinishing the floor in the Hackett house
•          Repainting a display case
•          Fixing and painting entrance gates

Stop by the Allensworth AmeriCorps FaceBook page and view photos of the AmeriCorps teams in action. While you are there let Ashvin, Elena, Mattie, Heather, Rick, Joe, Hannah, and Angela know how much you appreciate their hard work.

Board Approves Allensworth Bypass

At their November 7^th meeting, the California High Speed Rail (CHSR) Authority adopted the staff recommendation for the Fresno to Bakersfield alignment, which includes the Allensworth bypass.  Unlike the BNSF (Burlington North Santa Fe) Alternative through Allensworth, the Allensworth Bypass does not impact Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park or the Allensworth Ecological Reserve. Both the park and reserve are Section 4(f) properties, which are protected by the Federal HighwayAdministration.

On October 10^th the CHSR Authority issued a request for qualifications to companies interested in bidding on the 60-mile Fresno-Allensworth section of the rail line. This is the second section of the rail line and will run from the south end of Fresno to the Tulare-Kern county line just south of the community of Allensworth and Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park. 

Contractors have until December 6th to submit their qualifications, then only contractors that the CHSR Authority deems qualified are able to bid on the contact for the Fresno-Allensworth section.