Clovis in Fresno County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Tarpey Depot

Photographed by Lester J Letson

1. Tarpey Depot Marker

Inscription. Built in 1892 as one of the three depots along the line of the San Joaquin Valley Railroad, this structure was originally located on the Tarpey Ranch just southeast of what is now the intersection of Ashlan and Clovis Avenues. In the span of its exisence, it has served as a freight and passenger depot, the La Paloma Winery office, a post office, a polling place and as the office of Billings and Fine, real estate agents for the Tarpey Village development. It is the last remnant of the San Joaquin Valley Railroad, a 26 mile route from Fresno to present day Friant built in 1891 and sold to Southern Pacific Railroad in 1893. The combination of the railroad and the 42 mile flume from Shaver Lake, built by the Fresno Flume and Irrigation Company and completed in 1894, provided the imputus for the founding of the City of Clovis.

Erected 2000 by E Clampus Vitus, Jim Savage Chapter 1852.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Notable Buildings • Railroads & Streetcars. In addition, it is included in the E Clampus Vitus series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1892.

Location. 36° 49.517′ N,

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119° 42.017′ W. Marker is in Clovis, California, in Fresno County. It is at the intersection of South Clovis Avenue and 4th Street, on the right when traveling north on South Clovis Avenue. The back side of the very large granite monument can be seen from Clovis Avenue, but to read the monument you have to park and enter the courtyard next to the Tarpey Depot visitor's center. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 399 South Clovis Avenue, Clovis CA 93612, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in California’s San Joaquin Valley,

specifically in the Central Valley,

and in the Sierra Nevada.

It is also on the American Pacific Coast.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Ring of Fire,

in the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 6 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Clovis Veterans Memorial (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct

Photographed by Mandy Kirby, January 4, 2019

2. Tarpey Depot Marker

line); Ken Curtis (1916-1991) (about 600 feet away); September 11th California Memorial (approx. 2.7 miles away); Korea "The Forgotten War" (approx. 5 miles away); French Merci Train Boxcar (approx. 5 miles away); French Merci Train Boxcar Cover (approx. 5 miles away); Fort Washington (approx. 5.3 miles away); Christmas Tree Lane (approx. 6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Clovis.

Another marker is no longer nearby. The San Joaquin Valley Railroad (was approx. 0.3 miles away).

More about this marker. The huge granite rock used for the monument itself was once known as the "climbing rock" and at one time sat about 100 yards south of this location directly across from a sporting goods store. It was placed there by the sporting goods store and was used by rock climbers to test out rock climbing equipment until the store closed down.

Regarding Tarpey Depot. A related monument to the San Joaquin Valley Railroad sits in Treasure Ingmire Park about a mile north on Clovis Avenue.

Photographed by Mandy Kirby, January 4, 2019

3. Tarpey Depot Marker

Photographed by Mandy Kirby, January 4, 2019

4. Tarpey Depot Marker

Photographed by Lester J Letson

5. Tarpey Depot Marker

Originally used as a climbing rock to test out rock climbing equipment.

Photographed by Clovis Independant Newspaper (defunct), circa Jan 2000

6. Tarpey Depot Marker

Picture of the 38,000 pound rock as it is being offloaded to be used as a monument for the Tarpey Depot. The rock itself was once the "Climbing rock" well known by Clovis old timers.

Tarpey Depot before it was moved back to Clovis image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Lester J Letson

7. Tarpey Depot before it was moved back to Clovis

The depot as it looked before being moved back to Clovis. It was in such bad shape that some engineers believed it would fall apart if it was moved. Thankfully they were wrong.

Tarpey Depot as seen through some trees image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Lester J Letson

8. Tarpey Depot as seen through some trees

The depot as it looks today

Tarpey Train Depot as it looked around 1905 image. Click for full size.

circa 1912

9. Tarpey Train Depot as it looked around 1905

Credits. This page was last revised on January 31, 2019. It was originally submitted on January 2, 2010, by Lester J Letson of Fresno, California. This page has been viewed 5,005 times since then and 163 times this year. Last updated on March 15, 2017, by Rus Stolling of Fresno. Photos: 1. submitted on January 2, 2010, by Lester J Letson of Fresno, California. 2, 3, 4. submitted on January 4, 2019, by Mandy Kirby of Clovis, California. 5. submitted on January 2, 2010, by Lester J Letson of Fresno, California. 6. submitted on March 9, 2017, by Lester J Letson of Fresno, California. 7, 8. submitted on January 2, 2010, by Lester J Letson of Fresno, California. 9. submitted on January 8, 2010, by Lester J Letson of Fresno, California. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.