Where The Palm Meets the Pine

Just south of Madera, 1.75 miles south of Ave 12, and 2.1 miles north of Ave 9 (or more specifically at 06-MAD-99-05.7), there lies a pine tree and a palm tree in the median of Highway 99. It has been there since the 1920’s and marks the former halfway point in California. The Palm Tree, a Canary Island Date Palm, represents Southern California and the Pine Tree, a Deodor Cedar, represents Northern California. In 2005, the pine tree fell down but was replaced by Caltrans in 2007 as this is a somewhat historic marker. In the next couple of years, Caltrans District 6 intends to remove the Pine and Palm for a highway widening project. New trees are planned to the west of the current site but no marker at this time. For more information about this Caltrans project, please go to the link below:

https://dot.ca.gov/caltrans-near-me/district-6/district-6-projects/06-0h220

We, the Historic Highway 99 Association of California, intend to have signs placed in both directions at this location to mark the historic site. While it might not exactly be the “halfway” point in California, it is close enough and has been there since the 1920’s. We are looking to work with local agencies such as the County of Madera, Caltrans District 6, City of Madera, and others to gain support and assistance with this effort. We already have a tentative design for the sign and cost estimates for its fabrication.

Donations

If you would like to be involved in this project (03-MAD21002), let us know! We can use help either through donations of labor or money. Any donations are likely tax-deductible as we are a 501c3 organization.

Our Project Documents

Board Update – Need Your Help!

Greetings All!

We are looking for a new Treasurer for our board of directors. Ideally, we would like to have someone with experience with the forms required to be submitted by non-profit organizations such as ours. At a minimum, we are seeking help with our forms to ensure this organization remains up to date with the State and Federal governments.

We look forward to hearing from you soon! Thank you all for your continued support!

Ridge Route Project Update

The Ridge Route Preservation Organization officially launched their “Pothole Project” on Saturday, May 18, 2024. Check out their website for more details and how you can get involved!

Pothole Project Launch Day!

New Video – Piru Gorge and Pyramid Lake

Check out our new video on Piru Gorge and Pyramid Lake. See what lies beneath the surface of Pyramid Lake and the many other features of Piru Gorge!

99 Alert – Red Bluff Chinatown Structure

One of our Highway 99 Partners needs your help! For reference, they gave a wonderful presentation in July 2022 on the historic Red Bluff Chinatown. Help show them the 99 Association is there for them by signing their petition to save this historic building!

From The Helen & Joe Chew Foundation:

Dear Beloved Friends and Family, we have an update. We still urgently need your support, no donation necessary, just your kind signature, to protect a significant piece of California’s Gold Rush era heritage: 202-206 Walnut Street in Red Bluff, the Chew family’s birthplace and the last standing structure from their Historic Chinatown. This site is being purchased by the Resource Conservation District of Tehama County (RCDTC) which has communicated they are now in escrow to purchase the property for office use.

Petition Link: https://chng.it/c7FxGKN2y8

please spread the word, no donation is necessary

Despite RCDTC’s mission to manage and conserve Tehama County’s natural resources, this plan disregards the immense cultural and historical value of the Chew family’s birthplace. Following a face-to-face meeting with Joe Chew’s granddaughter on February 7th, the RCDTC submitted an offer to purchase the property on February 8th, coincidentally the same day she informed them via email of her intentions to submit an offer for her grandfather’s birthplace. We are rallying for your help to prevent this sale and ensure the preservation of this irreplaceable landmark goes back to the hands of the Chew family.

By signing our petition, you’re not just supporting a building; you’re honoring the legacy of a family that contributed immensely to the local community through their Traditional Chinese Medicine practice and cultural heritage. We aim to secure the right of first refusal for Joe Chew’s granddaughter, offering a chance to protect and celebrate our shared history.

Join us in this critical effort to preserve the Chew family’s birthplace and keep the story of Red Bluff’s Historic Chinatown alive for future generations. Together, we can make a difference.

Your friends from The Helen & Joe Chew Foundation

https://www.redbluffchew.org/chewhistory

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