A new marker above 21st Street denotes the Historic District of Spaghetti Acres in Merced.
The 23rd Street Pool is the largest neighborhood pool in Merced with BBQ pits, basketball court, horseshoe pits, picnic tables and more.
A Row of Cypress trees hides a Roman Pantheon styled home at the end of 20th Street.
Fremont School was once the starting point for the Yosemite Valley Railroad.
There are about 470 mostly Minimal Traditional homes in Spaghetti Acres with a few ranch style and a few other architectural styles.
There are about 470 mostly Minimal Traditional homes in Spaghetti Acres with a few ranch style and a few other architectural styles.
There are about 470 mostly Minimal Traditional homes in Spaghetti Acres with a few ranch style and a few other architectural styles.
By Jim Cunningham & Flip Hassett
Special to the Times
New street signs this past year were placed to designate a new Honorary Historic District in Merced.
The area is referred to as “Spaghetti Acres.” The area is roughly between Bear Creek to the west, R St on the east, 16th St on the south and 26th St and Bear Creek to the north.
This area has many years of history dating back to the early 1920s when the Pregno Brothers, John and Peter, started farming on the rich and fertile soil. The farm was located on what is now 20th and T Streets. The history of the area is summarized by a statement from Sarah Lim the Merced Historical Society Executive Director: “As the Italian immigrants passed the torch of success to their American-born children and grandchildren, the later generations are building a community that is full of possibility. Italian arts and culture are woven into our American fabric. Many Italian Americans hold leadership positions in business, government, as well as civic organizations. Their story of struggle, perseverance, and triumph is a shared experience of the immigrants who show that America is the land of opportunity.”
Also, the Yosemite Valley Railroad built its line along R Street in 1907. With the main station located between 17th and 18th Streets and the turntable and construction area was where the John Fremont School is now located. Those wishing to go to Yosemite would board the train in Merced and ride along the Merced River to El Portal.
This ride was considered one of the most scenic in the world and was ridden by the likes of Franklin Roosevelt, William Howard Taft and Winston Churchill.
The railroad closed in 1945 and the property was purchased by Gene Mondo. Mondo donated land for the construction of the Fremont school and developed Merced’s first strip mall called the Westgate Shopping Center. Mondo also founded Mondo Brothers Produce.
It was around this time that Merced was starting to develop and some of the land was starting to be subdivided. This caused the loss of farming land in the Spaghetti Acres area but many of the families that had farmed in the area chose to build homes and live in the area. Today the area is filled with nicely maintained homes of Minimal Traditional Architecture. The streets are lined with fully mature Modesto Ash trees providing lots of shade for the area.
Many of the longtime local residents will tell you that they had a charmed life growing up in the area in the ’50s and ’60s. With many children in the area to play with and Bear Creek close by to swim and fish during the hot summer months. Neighbors would be out on their porches and if you were out for a walk you would always stop and visit and greet each other with a friendly hello. The area was very safe for the children while out playing and they might even be offered a cookie from Mrs. Puglisevich. Those that had personal gardens or chickens would take vegetables or eggs around for the neighborhood to utilize.
There are about 470 mostly Minimal Traditional homes in the area with a few ranch style and a few other architectural styles.The area also includes the well maintained 23rd street pool. It is the largest neighborhood pool in Merced with BBQ pits, basketball court, horseshoe pits, picnic tables and more. The uniquely designed crescent shaped apartments on 19th St., the Italo-American Lodge on 18th St., a Roman Pantheon styled home at the end of 20th St and the barn house also at the end of 20th St.
This historic designation is richly deserved. It represents a unique place where strong relationships still exist between family and friends. Marc Medefind who served on the Merced Downtown Neighborhood Association and the point person to get this special designation accomplished says, “It was a special place where many memories were created with deep loyalties to family and friends.”
Walking through Spaghetti Acres today will still provide a glimpse of what life was like back 1950s.
Jim Cunningham and Flip Hassett are both retired, but they remain active in Merced County as community advocates, local history buffs and photographers.