Irvington, Fremont

Images of America: California

by Philip Holmes, Jill M. Singleton

Before there was a city of Fremont, there was the town of Irvington, and earlier still a busy crossroads called Washington Corners. Fields of grain once spilled over an open landscape, spurring production here of the first wheat harvesters in California. After local landowners built the Washington College of Science and Industry in the 1870s, they renamed its host town Irvington. By 1890, it boasted the largest, most advanced winery in the state and had earned the title, "Beautiful Irvington," home of gracious estates, apricot orchards, baseball, and first-class, high-bred trotters. Cows from Swiss dairy farms populated its green fields by the 1920s, and experimental airplanes dotted its blue skies soon after. In 1956, the City of Fremont absorbed Irvington, and its muddy sloughs were transformed into Central Park and lovely Lake Elizabeth.

128 pages, Paperback

First published October 24, 2005

Reviews

[Natalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another pictoral history by philip holmes and jill singleton, irvington, fremont like its counterpart, niles, fremont brings stories together about a unique historic district with wonderful photos, many from bygone eras, on every page this is a wonderful book that brings a unique place to life for outsiders and keeps the old stories alive for newcomers.