Pam-----Since I had never heard of the Sierra Sky Ranch so I did a quick net search I see it is a wonderful place- Makes me want to take a ride right over there! Photos: http://www.yosemitefilm.com/sierra.htm The only history I saw was this blurb---.I hope you might be able to tell us more!! Some History of the Sierra Sky Ranch---- http://www.sierrastar.com/past/10-27-99/1027ghost.html It all began in 1876. The property was rough like a camp. The owner’s name was Caster. By 1898 the ranch was the largest cattle ranch in California. The main ranch house was then built and still remains today. This ranch was the main supplier of vegetables, fruit and meat to the surrounding area. The owners had more than 7,000 acres, 4,000 head of cattle and more than 200 ranch hands. At this time of the century their home was like a mansion. Hard times fell on Mr. Caster in the late 1920s and he sold quite a lot of land off. By 1934 the ranch was down to a few hundred acres. At this time the kitchen was outside. A ranch hand named Elmer was still working the ranch. He had been a hard-working, loyal hand. The ranch was sold to the state to be a tuberculosis sanitarium. Elmer was so depressed about this that he committed suicide by cutting himself and bled to death on the ranch. The state put a small kitchen in with a very small eating area. This sanitarium was set up for all ages from children with tuberculosis to adults. There was an older nurse named Sarah who was about 50 years old. Sarah took her job very seriously. Most of the patients were very ill with the advanced stages of the disease and Sarah had taken a special interest in two child patients. They were critical. These two children died downstairs in her room. Shortly after their deaths, Sarah died, too. They say she died from tuberculosis. In 1942 the Army bought the property. It was set up for WW II patients who needed to rest. Some of the men were amputees and very wounded. The Army built a large mess hall which became the present steak house. A huge kitchen was built. Pam, The 100 year anniversary (2003)of Teddy Roosevelt's trip to the area is coming up as you probably know- there is much excitement about the reenactment of his visit- I know historical wagon masters are making plans for duplicating his route into the park- from Raymond on up===Some of Our Historic Sites and Records Preservation Commission members are involved- I wonder if the folks at the Yosemite Research Center may have the history and location of the Roosevelt stops?! In Mariposa we have an extensive survey of historical properties in our inventory- Does Madera have such an inventory? Best, Carolyn -----Original Message----- From: Pam Jeans <jeans@sierratel.com> To: CAMARIPO-L@rootsweb.com <CAMARIPO-L@rootsweb.com> Date: Saturday, April 21, 2001 4:46 AM Subject: [CAMARIPO] Just a question >I am working on a history of the Sierra Sky Ranch and of course doing a >genealogy project for the Pendola and Lindsey families. As it happens, >I am in a waiting mode and just thinking about some things that maybe >the group could help me with. > >We are having a controversy at the Ranch about Teddy Rosevelt. Our >owner says that Teddy Rosevelt came to the Ranch and dedicated a >bridge. I spoke with some locals that say no he stayed at the Wawona >Hotel. Any of those papers have anything about that story? Would love >to know for sure. > >In case anyone is interested the owers are going to have the Sierra Sky >Ranch declared an official historical place. That is if we meet the >criteria. > >Pam >North Fork > > >==== CAMARIPO Mailing List ==== >Bob Norris, forever in our hearts. > >

Sierra Sky Ranch- Up until about 10 years ago it was a fun place to golf. When a golfer hit his ball in the rough, it was _definitely_ in the rough!