Wishon, California facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Wishon
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 Wishon
Location in California
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| Country | United States |
| State | California |
| County | Madera County |
| ZIP code |
93669
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| Area code(s) | 559 |
Wishon was once a small community in Madera County, California. Today, it is covered by the waters of Bass Lake. This means the original settlement is now underwater.
Contents
History of Wishon
Wishon started in 1923. It became an important stop for the Minarets and Western Railroad in the 1920s. This railroad was 53 miles long. It belonged to the Sugar Pine Lumber Company. The tracks ran from the western end of Bass Lake Dam all the way to Pinedale.
The Railroad's Purpose
The main job of the railroad was to carry logs. These logs went to a big lumber mill in Pinedale. Another private railroad also brought logs to Wishon. Wishon was like a train station where tracks could be switched. For a short time in the 1930s, people could also ride the train from Wishon to Pinedale.
How Wishon Got Its Name
Wishon was named after A. Emory Wishon. He was a very important person in developing hydroelectric energy. This is a way to make electricity using the power of water. He used water from Bass Lake to do this. Later, he became a top leader at Pacific Gas & Electric Company. This happened after they bought the Bass Lake operations.
The Post Office and Miller's Landing
The Sugar Pine Lumber Company closed down after eight years. However, the Wishon post office stayed open much longer. It served the community until 1986. The post office was located in a place now known as Miller’s Landing. This store was started in 1928 by John McDougald. He was Wishon’s first postmaster.
