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

Berenda

"Verrendo" Spanish for Male Antelope

Photographed By Lester J Letson, January 6, 2007

1. Berenda Marker

Inscription. June 1872 a former Fresno County Sheriff Leroy Dennis erected a store and hotel. Feb. 12, 1873 the first official Post Office of Madera County opened. Service stopped on Mar. 23, 1919 and USPS renamed the town Berenda "Female Antelope". The Central Pacific Railroad came through and Berenda became a farming community with several hotels, blacksmith shops and saloons. Cattle ranchers Miller and Lux built and donated a school house. As a gateway to Yosemite, Berenda's boom days were in the late 1880's when Yosemite tourism was by stage. After a wet winter in 1885-1886 stages crossing wet range lands caused delays for tourism from Berenda to Raymond thus creating a new gateway to Yosemite. As the Madera area grew larger and more industrial Berenda began to shrink. The boom time was over and all that remains are a few buildings and this old schoolhouse.

Erected 2006 by E Clampus Vitus, Grub Gulch Chapter 41-49.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Education • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the E Clampus Vitus series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1872.

Location. 37° 2.269′ N, 120° 9.211′ W. Marker is in Madera, California, in Madera County. Marker is on Golden State

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Boulevard (Highway 99) half a mile south of Avenue 20, on the right when traveling south. The schoolhouse and a private residence are the only buildings on the Golden State frontage road to Highway 99 midway between the city of Madera and the town of Fairmead. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Madera CA 93637, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 9 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Mammoth Orange (approx. 2.8 miles away); Dixieland School (approx. 3.1 miles away); Madera to Yosemite Stage Route (approx. 7.4 miles away); Madera County Library Service (approx. 7.4 miles away); Madera Zoo (approx. 7.4 miles away); Chowchilla Union High School (approx. 8.1 miles away); Railroads of Chowchilla (approx. 8.2 miles away); a different marker also named Railroads of Chowchilla (approx. 8.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Madera.

More about this marker. In order to reach the marker, you need to exit Highway 99 at Avenue 20 and take the frontage road south. One-half mile down Golden State you will come up on the private residence driveway with the marker to the left of the driveway. The schoolhouse is visible behind the marker.

Regarding Berenda. The current school was remodeled at one time based on vintage photos of the original school.

Related marker.

Photographed By Lester J Letson, July 8, 2007

2. Berenda Marker

Highway 99 can be seen in the background.

Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. A marker placed in Raymond at the other end of the railroad spur.

Berenda School image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Lester J Letson, July 8, 2007

3. Berenda School

Berenda School as it looks today sitting in a plowed field.

Photographed By Unknown

4. Berenda School

Old undated picture of the Berenda School as it originally looked.

Credits. This page was last revised on January 8, 2024. It was originally submitted on December 25, 2012, by Lester J Letson of Fresno, California. This page has been viewed 1,299 times since then and 157 times this year. Last updated on November 1, 2023, by Ronald D. (Ron) Trigueiro of Fresno, California. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on December 25, 2012, by Lester J Letson of Fresno, California. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.