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They Came From Paradise . . .
Born of the need for expansion of the railroad through the great Central Valley of California, Modesto began its existence with populations from smaller towns along the Tuolumne River - Paradise and Tuolumne City. Their populations not only moved lock, stock and barrel to the new village laid out by the Central Pacific Railroad, they carted their buildings along, too. The dusty village soon became the center of Stanislaus County, dethroning Knight's Ferry by becoming the county's sixth seat of government since 1854. | ||||||||
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Front Street - 1880. Almost in the center of the photograph are the towers of the Modesto Water Works. At the extreme right is Modesto's first meeting place, Rogers Hall. | ||||||||
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I Street in 1890. Ross House, originally located in Paradise, is in the distant center. Behind Ross House is the Turner and Wood Building. To the right, across Front Street, is the Southern Pacific Station. | ||
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Modesto was not unlike other towns of the Old West. Front Street boasted saloons and rowdy cowboys. There was Chinatown with opium dens and other exotic experiences. Shootouts were common, and vigilante justice prevailed when law and order couldn't be handled in any other way.
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