If the bronze statue of the 1930s-era peach picker outside the Hughson Historical Museum isn’t enough of a clue, the large mural on an interior wall serves as a reminder that the history of this small city is rooted in its soil.
“Hughson was the peach capital of the world at one time,” declared museum docent Jean Henley.
“Now it’s all almonds and walnuts,” added Tess Camagna, another docent.
The Hughson Historical Society rents the first floor of the former Central Valley National Bank from Braden Farms to celebrate the community’s history. The museum, located at 6944 Hughson Avenue since 2004, showcases photos, relics, and memorabilia about Hughson’s past. Open the first Saturdays of each month from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., visitors can explore the collection, including Hughson High School memorabilia, cheerleader uniforms, yearbooks dating back to the 1940s, and 4-H and FFA jackets. A large 1940 photo of Pat Scranton Bava in a Girl Scout uniform is featured in the scouting section, while portraits of community icons, including Grant Jacobs, who served as Hughson schools superintendent from 1953 to 1981, are displayed.
Though the museum has little memorabilia on Hughson’s namesake, Hiram Mark Hughson, and his wife, Luella Rosalie Avery Hughson, that’s set to change. The museum is in the process of revamping its exhibits, and new president Cindy Bava Spiro is focused on highlighting the Hughson family’s legacy. Hiram and Luella arrived in Stanislaus County in 1882, buying land that would become the Hughson township. The town was later named after them when their land was sold to the San Joaquin Railroad. In 1911, Hiram died, leaving a fortune, and his widow Luella built the six-story Hughson Hotel in Modesto, which stood until 1998.
Recent efforts have uncovered more details about the Hughson family, especially after the society helped place a grave marker for Hiram’s great-grandson, Howard Hiram “Hi” Hughson. The museum displays Hi’s WWII uniform, donated by Kenneth and Carol Lundell of Hughson 18 years ago.
Other notable items include memorabilia from the Tomlinson pioneer family and a 1909 wedding dress, illustrating how people were shorter back in the day. Camagna joked about the size difference: “It’s funny how you go to museums, and everything is smaller than we are with good nutrition and genetics.”
The museum also features a vintage fire hat, fire equipment, and uniforms, including a tribute to local servicemen like Tony Lema, who was killed in the Vietnam War, and Clarence Aldrich, who carried shrapnel from injuries sustained in clashes with Bolshevik forces.
While interest in the museum can be sporadic, the museum sees the most traffic during the annual Hughson Fruit & Nut Festival. Third graders, who study Hughson’s history, often visit and are fascinated by old appliances like a ringer washing machine and an ironing board. The military uniforms are also a popular exhibit.
The Hughson Historical Society has 47 lifetime members and 40 annual members. Since 2002, it has honored long-standing citizens and families with an annual dinner, and it also offers scholarships and supports local FFA and football programs.
The museum also has a less celebrated chapter of Hughson history: a 1970 bank robbery that led to the death of Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Detective Billy Joe Dickens. Two bank robbers, Leonard Ellsworth Miller and Ross Neal Porter, attempted a robbery at the Central Valley National Bank on January 27, 1970. When Detective Dickens attempted to intervene, he was fatally shot. Miller was eventually apprehended, and Porter was killed in a gun battle. A yellowed copy of the Turlock Journal reporting the crime and the original bank vault are on display.
For more information on the Hughson Museum, call Jean at 209-883-2483 or Doris at 209-606-8360.
