Poso de Chane, California facts for kids

Poso de Chane, also known as Poso Chane, was a small community that used to exist in Fresno County, California. It was built around a natural waterhole, or "pool," near where two creeks, Jacalitos Creek and Los Gatos Creek, joined together. This spot was about 6 miles east of Coalinga.

History of Poso de Chane

Poso de Chane was named after a natural pool of water on Los Gatos Creek. It was sometimes called Arroyo Pasajero or Arroyo Poso de Chane in the past.

Early Life at the Pool

This natural pool and the swampy land around it were once home to a village of Native Americans. The Spanish called these people the "Chane," while the Native Americans called themselves the "Udjiu."

Later, the area became a small farming community for Spanish and then Mexican families. It was the only settlement nearby and served as a stopping point on El Camino Viejo, an important old road.

In 1854, Juan Huiguera, one of the Huiguera brothers, settled at Poso de Chane. The brothers were well-known mesteñeros, which means they were skilled at herding wild horses. Juan raised cattle between the pool and Tulare Lake. Over time, American settlers also arrived, building stores and homes in the area.

A Busy Crossroads

Poso de Chane was a central point for many trails. Besides the Old Road, it connected paths from the Salinas, San Juan, and Santa Clara Valleys. These trails led to wilder parts of the San Joaquin Valley, like Pueblo de Las Juntas and Rio Bravo.

The Poso also marked the end of La Vereda del Monte, or "The Mountain Path." This path was used by mesteñeros to move large herds of wild horses, called mustangs. They brought the horses south from Point of Timber in eastern Contra Costa County, through the Livermore Valley, and then through the remote Diablo Range to Poso de Chane.

From Poso, the mustangs were then driven further south. They traveled on different routes of La Vereda del Caballo through Southern California. These routes continued across the Colorado and Altar Deserts into Sonora, Mexico.

After the American takeover of California and the California Gold Rush, this trail was sometimes used by people who stole horses and cattle. They would move the stolen animals to markets in the north and south. The trail was also a favorite route for outlaws who wanted to travel without being seen. The small communities along the way, especially Poso de Chane, sometimes became places where these outlaws would hide.

The Great Flood and New Beginnings

Poso de Chane was severely damaged by the Great Flood of 1862. The flood created a deep channel that drained the natural pool. The surrounding land, including gardens, grapevines, and trees, died. The area became dry and desolate, needing wells for water.

Despite the damage, the settlement continued for a while. It became a center for sheep herders and sheep shearing into the 1870s.

In 1875, a man named Gustave Kreyenhagen arrived at Poso de Chane. He opened a small store and a hotel there. At that time, only about half a dozen American families lived in the area. Most other residents were Californios or Mexicans, living in the mountains or in camps near water sources.

Gustave also started a sheep and cattle business. He built a sheep-shearing station that could handle as many as 150,000 sheep in the public pens. He was also the first person to start growing grain on the west side of the San Joaquin Valley in Fresno County.

Gustave's sons grew up working on the family land. They later started their own cattle company, Kreyenhagens, Incorporated. This company became the largest cattle company in Fresno County. They raised both sheep and cattle, but later focused only on raising cattle south of Coalinga.