Lemon Cove in Tulare County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

The Pogue Hotel

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 25, 2014

1. The Pogue Hotel Marker

Inscription. On this site, in 1879, a large two story thirteen room hotel was constructed, known as “The Cottonwoods,” by the partnership of C.W. Crocker and J.B. Wallace of San Francisco, and J.W.C. Pogue. The Pogue family came to this lime kiln area in 1865 and eventually owned over 10,000 acres here. Mr. Pogue planted citrus here in 1877.

He became sole owner of the hotel and partnership in 1881 and this was his home until his death in 1907. The building remained in the Pogue family until 1936 when Nora Pogue Montgomery, the youngest of the nine Pogue children, who was born in this house, gave it to the Lemon Cove Women’s Club. It was remodeled to become a clubhouse and community center. It was the first house in the Lemon Cove townsite laid out by Mr. Pogue in 1894.

Erected 1977 by Tulare County Historical Society.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • Fraternal or Sororal Organizations • Industry & Commerce • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1879.

Location. 36° 22.963′ N, 119° 1.485′ W. Marker is in Lemon Cove, California, in Tulare County.

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It is at the intersection of Sierra Drive (California Route 198) and Pogue Avenue, on the right when traveling north on Sierra Drive. Marker is mounted on a rough-hewn obelisk, directly in front of the building. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 32792 Sierra Drive, Lemon Cove CA 93244, 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 11 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Ben Harris (approx. 0.4 miles away); Woodlake (approx. 4½ miles away); Venice School (approx. 8.4 miles away); The Electric Railroad (approx. 8.4 miles away); Kaweah Post Office (approx. 8½ miles away); Tulare County Election Tree (approx. 8.6 miles away);

Lemon Cove Woman's Club and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 25, 2014

2. Lemon Cove Woman's Club and Marker

The marker is to the right of the stairs.

San Joaquin Roller Mill (approx. 8.8 miles away); Mineral King Wagon and Toll Road (approx. 11 miles away).

Also see . . .
1. Pogue Hotel (Wikipedia). It is historically significant as the home of James William Center Pogue (1839-1907), pioneer settler who built the hotel and lived there during 1880-98 and 1904–07. Pogue developed the lemon industry in Tulare County, and founded Lemon Cove, and served as a county supervisor. (Submitted on August 24, 2020, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

2. The Pogue Hotel. For 133 years, the Pogue Hotel building has been a private home, a hotel, a community center, and a branch library. It has served the Red Cross, the Woodmen of the World, the American Legion and has been home to the Lemon Cove Women’s Club for 76 years. (Submitted on August 24, 2020, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

3. Lemon Cove Women’s Club works to preserve town’s local history. Nora Alice Pogue was born at the Pogue Estate in 1886. Along with her husband, Dr. R.B. Montgomery the couple lived on the property until 1920 when they built their own home. Montgomery

National Register of Historic Places image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 25, 2014

3. National Register of Historic Places

Pogue Hotel, 1879-1993. National Register of Historic Places #91000927. Lemon Cove Woman’s Club, founded in 1924.

deeded the home to the Women’s Club with one condition, that they continue to care for the historical building. In 1934, the home was remodeled to become a community center and in 1936 the home was officially given to the Women’s Club. (Submitted on August 24, 2020, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

<i>Nora Pogue Montgomery at Pogue Hotel, Lemon Cove, Calif</i> image. Click for full size.

courtesy the Tulare County Library

4. Nora Pogue Montgomery at Pogue Hotel, Lemon Cove, Calif

Nora Pogue Montgomery stands by the historical marker commemorating what originally was called the Cottonwoods Hotel, built in 1879 in Lemon Cove, CA. Mrs. Montgomery's ancestor, J. W. C. Pogue, partnered with two San Francisco men, C. W. Crocker and J. B. Wallace, to build the hotel. Pogue bought out the partnership in 1881 and made the building his home from then until his death in 1907....

Credits. This page was last revised on May 4, 2025. It was originally submitted on August 23, 2020, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 621 times since then and 27 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on August 24, 2020, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. 4. submitted on August 24, 2020.