Gertrude, California facts for kids
Gertrude (also known as String Town) was once a small community in Madera County, California. It was located right next to the Fresno River, not far from a place called Enterprise Mine. This spot was about 2 miles (3.2 km) south of Ahwahnee.
What Was Gertrude?
Gertrude was a settlement that no longer exists today. It was first known as String Town. Like many small places in the past, its name changed over time.
How Gertrude Got Its Name
The name of the settlement changed to Gertrude when a post office opened there. This new name honored a special person: Gertrude Haley. She was the very first postmaster for the town. A postmaster is the person in charge of a post office.
The Story of the Post Office
The Gertrude post office was important for the community. It helped people send and receive mail. The post office operated for several years.
- It was open from 1881 to 1893.
- Then, it reopened from 1896 to 1900.
In 1899, the post office moved to a new spot. By 1900, the mail service from Gertrude was moved completely to the nearby town of Ahwahnee. This often happened when small settlements either grew or faded away.
