I grew up in Livingston. We'd go to Blueberry Hill Cafe for the pies!! We lived right nearby in some new (1992ish) housing less than a mile away. Sad it had to go. Also, remember the reconstruction, and taking down of the one stoplight on HWY 99. I did not know about the outlaws and John Muir, though! The Merced River is really close to where the Cafe was and not too far from my child home home. I haven't lived in California since I left for the Marine Corps in 2001. This made me a little homesick hehe
How about the fries? We used to go there after football games. I graduated from Livingston High in 1985. I left CA in 05. Been feeling homesick lately.
Blueberry Hill Cafe has a special place in my wife's and my history. We lived in Sacramento when we were married in the early 80's. At some point, we drove by the cafe, probably on our way out of Yosemite. We didn't have time to stop at the time, but the place stuck in our minds. Later, we went looking for it one Saturday morning. We drove further than we thought we needed to that day but were sad that we couldn't find it. (I think we turned around in Modesto.) In 1986, I got a job in Phoenix and used Hwy 99 as my primary route between Phoenix and Sacramento for several years as we'd return to see family. We finally got a chance to stop and eat at Blueberry Hill with our boys in the early '90s, just before it got torn down. I remember it being as good as we expected and am glad we got to it before it was gone forever. I also vividly remember the final stoplight in Livingston. What I always liked about driving 99 was the fact that, unlike I-5, it originally had the rural highway feel, you had lots of opportunities to stop and see places, and give the kids a break. That slowly faded as more and more of the route became freeway. It was interesting to have to get off the freeway in Livingston to stop at the light, then get back on to get where you were headed. As you say in the episode, it's sad to see so much of that era of American history get bulldozed away. Hopefully, some of what's remaining will be preserved by the move to make 99 a historic highway similar to Route 66. Thanks for the great channel!
Best biscuits and gravy I ever had was Blueberry Hill, their homemade pies were Untouchable also.....the lights that were up was a vivid memory also, keep in mind that when we used to have tule fog roll in for weeks at a time....the lights there on 99 were horrible cause of the fog and we had many accidents there....often fatal, not far from there was the old CHP scales also.......well done jeff !!
I remember the reports of the deaths all the time in the Modesto Bee. A couple of the fatalities were from the drunks who staggered out of the bar next to 99 and walk across traffic. I remember that and the Sandy Mush Road area crashes in the fog were people had to race across the lanes of freeway traffic in virtual blindness. Fortunately those hazards have been removed! Thanks for watching!
Randy Salles; If you're ever in the Ceres area, you'll have to try Sam's Cafe. It's on the corner of 5th and Camino St's. They offer the best Chicken Fried Steak I've ever had and, their biscuits and gravy are outstanding too. Of course, they're still closed because of this COVID-19 situation. Don't expect fresh linens or crystal chandeliers but, the food is Homestyle in fact, you'd swear you traveled back home to Oklahoma. The staff is friendly and right there to top off your coffee or whatever you're drinking. Stan
That fog was what made those traffic lights as deadly as they were. I wonder if the Foster Farms restaurant has survived. That was where some of best food in the region was served.
@@h2otech784 I live in Livingston and often visited the Foster Farms Cafe. Covid somewhat shut their doors. Directly across from the Town n Country Motel, the cafe should be reopening soon.
From Merced and John Wayne came yearly for opening day of duck season, they hunted out in the Livingston area... My father and Uncle went a couple years with the John Wayne hunting party.
That is amazing! Wish I had known this before I made the video! Do you folks have any photos of the Duke? FYI, Lee Majors used to go hunting outside of Oakdale and I think I heard that Andy Devine hunted outside of Hickman.
I don't know how much time you put into researching, but you take a good idea for a VLOG and make it a great one. You hit it out of the ballpark every time. Thank you guys.
Blueberry Hill was the spot we were always at in the 80's. Loved the homemade chile beans and their pies. Love my hometown, lived here sin 1976! I remember walking across the lights to get to the famous Trailor Taco Bell which was my first job. I was sitting one day at the lights (on 99) to get to the other and noticed the lights moving alot and when I got home, news said an earthquake just hit and many people died in San Francisco when the bridge and overpass collapsed. Thanks for this video....
I was 21 when the earth quack hit 1989 the light poles were shaking then I looked at the street it rolled like a tile wave and the bay water is less than 4 miles from my home. I had uncle and aunties that lived in Tracy California so we spent are younger years in the valley and all the surrounding town's
I loved the trailer taco bell... my mom worked in both the main plant, and the swan building for foster farms. And sometimes, when we (my brother and i) would stay at my grand parents house across 8th street from Campus park, wed tell our mom we wanted Taco Bell for lunch and she'd bring it then hurry back to work.
I grew up in Livingston, CA. My grandmother worked at Blueberry Hill and Rocket Cafe. I no longer live in Livingston but had great memories visiting my grandma at both of these places. Loved the video!
They're wiping away more of America's rich history everyday. Another cool video, Jeff. I remember getting a few of those enticements over the CB radio back when I was long-haul trucking. Say, if you ever make it to Livingston, Montana just north of our Nation's first national park, they have some great late 19th/early 20th century buildings still standing there.
Making it to Montana sounds wonderful! I visited Billings back in 1997 and been to Wyoming and South Dakota. I would love to see the town you are talking about!
I know what your saying I'm only light 52 year's old and I lived long enough to see all the changes we had some great burger places, even Doggie stands it was this big winner dog with a chief hat on that sold hot dog's the signs were lighted up with neon lights all those signs are gone.
Absolutely LOVED this episode! Yes! We’ve eaten at Blueberry Hill Cafe! My husband was a police officer there in the late 70’s! Thank you! Brought a tear!
I was born and raised in Merced. A couple times a month my parents would take us to breakfast on Sunday after church. Nice to read a comment about the orange hamburger stands along 99.
Jeff, I throughly enjoy your channel. You do a fantastic job of researching each area you visit. I started watching your video on Virginia City, then Genoa and eventually came across this one on my hometown! I was surprised you did a video on this modest little farming town and even more surprised that your grandfather lived there. My grandfather was one of the first Japanese to settle here when Livingston was just a train stop in the middle of a dry, barren wasteland with just tumbleweeds and jackrabbits. He lived in an area which was called the Yamato Colony where he and other Japanese settlers transformed the desert into one of the most prolific farming areas in the country. My dad regularly ate at the Blueberry Hill Cafe and especially the Rocket Cafe with the other farmers and loved to banter with the waitresses. I regret that I never ate there myself. I kind of miss the old traffic light even though it was incredibly hazardous. That traffic light was so famous that there was even a tee shirt that compared it to the world’s most famous landmarks like the Eiffel Tower, Big Ben and the Coliseum! LOL! I recall crossing Hwy 99 at those sections where there was NO traffic light in the tule fog at night....it was REALLY scary...you literally could not see past your hood...or the road for that matter! I had NEVER heard those interesting stories about the Dalton brothers (which is why I think you are a fantastic detective)....now I will have to research about them! Livingston is so different now. The original High School building was so amazing....before they tore it down because it “wasn’t earthquake-proof.” I bet it would still be standing today if they let it be. The only thing that seems to have remained unchanged is the Winton Insurance building...I haven’t driven down Main St. in years. It kind of depresses me to see how much it has changed and all the old buildings that have disappeared. But I guess that’s “progress”??🤷🏻♀️
I liked that you mentioned the beautiful high school But there was a big beautiful hotel or home in the middle of town Thanks for bringing up Rocket Cafe I had forgotten about that one.
Jeff, great video. Thank you. Been to the BBHC many, many times. I've been a subscriber for about a year or so. I just wonder how many truckers remember the old concrete slabs that were on Hwy 99 on the south side of the Livingston light on both sides of the Hwy for about a quarter of a mile. The slabs were about ten feet in length. If you were driving a two-axle tractor (or a three-axle for that matter), the slabs would rock back and forth as you drove over them and would turn your spine into a jackhammer! It would be so painful that tears would flow out of my eyes. There was also a stretch of those old slabs down in Santa Ana on the I-5. Started driving truck out of Merced in the early1970's. (Wallace Transport, Planada, CA)
I was born and raised in Merced and now live in Keyes. I love watching your history videos of areas I know well. I wish Blueberry Hill Cafe was still around. I remember it as a small child going there with my grandparents after church.
Yeah isn't it cool how the brain stores up those memories and can be brought right to the surface with photos or music? Thanks for watching and commenting. Glad you enjoyed this one!
What fun to see this! My family bought the 60 acre ranch just across the river in 1948 when I was eight years old. We owned it until my dad died in 1961. It is now a trailer/RV park. There was definitely a cafe and motel there and the owners at that time were the Stevensons, I believe. They had two daughters my age and I would walk across the bridge to play at their house. The parents had a room in the motel as a playhouse for them and we had tons of fun playing "restaurant." They would walk across to our ranch also. Our family ate there often. There was a "hobo camp" under the bridge and my dad would often feed various men and so would the Stevensons. In my memory it was named Blueberry Hill far earlier than you say, but at my age, the memories get fuzzy. The memories are very distinct, however, of the many times we ate there, and the Stevenson girls, Joann and Sandy. Thank you for helping to bring back some wonderful memories.
That is my home town! Spent many hours drinking coffee with my friends. Had first meal with my future husband there! Lots of good memories! I have a match box from Blueberry Cafe with matches still in it. I do not recognize main street Livingston. There used to be a grocery store that my mom would go to and leave use in the car. Then she would bring us sugar cane to chew on while she was in the store. Been 26 years since I left there. We live in Louisiana now. My parents live there and so do my 2 brothers.
Back in the 80's, family and I used to go there for lunch. Nice memory, and of course, the pie and ice cream was the catch. Thanks for taking the time researching, and producing this video, from an "Original Transcon RR" fan.
Jeff, another well researched look at our past. Growing up in Bakersfield and now living in Merced, I can appreciate the stories you’ve researched and posted here. I spend a bit of time looking at past ones and find them catching the interest of other family members. Thanks for the work you’ve done! You’ve got a lifelong subscriber.
@@jbenziggy Yes, I do remember it. My parents used to go to it when I was young. Then, as part of my job,l traveled up and down 99 for 25+ years and often thought of what stories that old building could tell as I passed by. I was sad to see it go even though I never stepped foot inside!
LOL, I kept waiting for you to show the Bygone Cafe :-) It's very sad to see so many roadside landmarks like this being erased from history. Fortunately, you are preserving their memories on YT. Nice job, Jeff!
As always, it's a pleasure to know you enjoy what I produce! Thank you for the compliment! And thanks for all your videos I've been watching in the last weeks!
I am from Livingston and I remember when the Blueberry Hill was here and when it went away. It was around 1991. Very sad just like the day when they demolished the Livingston theater.
OMG! I had no idea they saved that annoying traffic light! Many of us were very happy when they built a new stretch of freeway and the light was gone! I remember driving by the Blueberry Hill Cafe so many many times. Now there’s a landmark I miss! I believe the many flowers John Muir stepped on had to make room for almond orchards.
We used to stop at Blueberry Hill. It was off Robin Ave. My name being Robin Williams as a kid, it always gave me a chuckle. I remember the music, pancakes, we also stopped for supper. We were going from Porterville to Stockton or back. It was the once a month visits a child endures when their parents were stupid and got divorced in the late 60s. Every couple but two got divorced during that time in their Sunday school class. That’s an evil root that’s taken hold in a church. Two other incidents happened after that. The root has never been pulled. I’ve watched it grow over the years. I seen many of those people live with many regrets also. Keep the history coming.
That was an awesome report. I grew up in Atwater, CA, 7 miles from Livingston, but I never knew about the Dalton Brothers and Livingston's history. I have eaten at the Blueberry Hill Cafe many times. Their blueberry pancakes were excellent. Maybe you could do more history on other valley cities like Atwater and/or Merced CA. Thanks.
Love this. My family is from Livingston and I have live here off and on my entire life. I am currently in Livingston and have fond memories of Blueberry Hill. I loved playing choosing songs for the jute box from our table and the small games they had on the tables.
I recall eating there a couple of times. I don’t remember much about my dining experience. I do recall the awesome pies they made. In fact my friends dad was a cook there. I do recall listing to the song playing in the radio when they advertised for the restaurant. It was a nice place and again the reason we were so sad to see it go was because it was an iconic landmark and the pies. I have lived in the Livingston vicinity for 40 years.
Growing up my dad helped build hwy 99 and later I5. We ate at BH when we were passing through all the time. Wonderful food and service. One of my favorite memories.
I used to live in Frisco and would visit Muir woods often. Such a beautiful area! Glenn Miller...I did not know he originally performed " Blueberry Hill". Thank you for that interesting bit of trivia and for all the good historic info. about Livingston. 🙂💕
Fats Domino.....one of my favotites....They couldn't have picked a better name.....never knew about the restaurant.....so once again. you have taught me some more history...I have the utmost respect for John Muir.....the Dalton's?...never heard about them until the Eagle's song, Doolin Daltons.....so you've filled in a lot of the blanks on everything...thanks, Jeff and Sarah!
I grew up in Turlock in the 50s, 60s, and early 70s. Sometimes, as kids, we got to go for breakfast at the Blueberry Hill Cafe on our birthday. There were four of us and it was always a treat to go there. They had great pancakes and waffles. The women's restroom had a machine with Chanel No. 5 perfume in it. You put money in the slot and pressed a knob and perfume sprayed out. I never got to use it, but it was a fascination. Thank you so much for covering this bit of history. It brought back lots of fond memories, including of Yosemite, one of the most beautiful places on this Earth. It was nice seeing all that flat land too. I loved seeing the horizon when I lived there. On a clear day, we could see the coast range to the west, and Half Dome to the east. I subscribed :) and look forward to exploring your episodes.
I grew up in Livingston on a 10 acre almond ranch. Went to Selma Herndon elementary school and Livingston high, class of ‘75’ such great memories of much better days. My best friend’s mother was a waitress at blueberry hill. I have memories of her in her uniform heading to work. So sad it’s all gone. Even my street where I grew up ‘liberty ave’ all looks different now with the new freeway. Also another close friend I grew up with lost her mother to an accident at the stop light on the 99 highway. Just wanted to share and say thanks for making this video. Was so awesome to see the blueberry hill cafe again with the big horse on top 😊
I ate there many times over the years. The food was good, diner type food. It's very sad to hear that they tore it down. Such a icon all of my life. I remember the stop light too. There was one in Ceres too that I remember a lot of accidents at. Thanks Jeff for doing what you do. Takes me back to younger days that I enjoy revisiting.
I had a lot of family from up there. Still have some cousins there. But I remember my aunt and uncle talk about that place when I was a kid. We lived in Fresno and Clovis. My grandparents are buried in Clovis.
I was born in Merced and grew up in Winton, Atwater and Merced. When I was about 11 years old or so, around 1961/1962 my dad to took me to Blueberry Hill several times. I recall that the portions were awesome, and the plates were oval and much bigger than a typical dinner plate. The food was great! I always ordered the turkey and stuffing dinner. What a great memory. Thank you for your great chapters on California history…
Thank you, Dennis. You saw more of Blueberry Hill Cafe than did I. I love the imagery in your comment! Sounds like Knott's Berry Farm's chicken restaurant!
thank u for all ur work,,i was born and raised in clovis in 1960,now live in oakhurst,,,my dad built packing houses since 1945,,,i been to all these towns and now i get to revisit them again thanks to you and ur wife,,,,Randy Strunk from oakhurst-Clovis
Thank you my brother was the manager for the blueberry Hill Cafe for a number of years and it was the manager when they closed it it's neat to see this
Oh yes, how I remember driving through Livingston as I did many many times driving up and down Hwy 99 back in the 70's 80's and 90's. I've always wondered why they still had you go through Livingston while every other little town was bypassed. Thanks Jeff for sharing the history.....Russell D.
I remember Blueberry Hill cafe from numerous trips up and down Hwy 99. All the food was good there but the pies were exceptional and we would stop sometimes just to have a piece of pie. It was a good midpoint to stop between Fresno and Sacramento when there weren't any rest stops on the road. I remember waiting at the traffic light there many times as well a watching trains go by on the tracks next to the highway. Thanks for highlighting this part of Central Valley history.
Born and raised in Livingston. Rode my horse around that area as I lived about a mile west on Robin Ave. There used to be an arena down there near the river and I would take my horse down there and pretend. We used to eat at Blueberry Hill occasionally. It was a real treat to eat out in those days. What made the traffic signal so deadly was the way the highway curved on both sides of the signal crossing and on the north side it went under the railroad tracks so you couldn't see whether it was red or green until you were right there, especially in the Tule fog. Thanks for the trip down memory lane.
Was Ancil from the Valley? The Daltons were known to hang out in Merced County, Cholame, Tulare, Fresno and other locations. I think I read how they also boarded the train for the Bay and went through Lathrop.
Yes Bill Dalton was married to a girl from Livingston and he was supposedly buried on the property until his body was moved later. His wife, her family, and their children are buried at Turlock Memorial Cemetery and he is also there. The ranch belonging to his Father in Law is now right in town
I live in Livingston Scotland and we don't have the same history as all we have is standing stones hundreds of years old before both towns where born and before America was there and we don't have a main street like most Scottish towns Great video and wonder how they got the name
Wow.. I been living in Livingston since early 90s and didn’t know it had so much history. I remember our school bus had to stop at that traffic light to get across freeway 99 . Love ur videos
Thank you! I enjoy hearing that people are liking my videos! Yes, I am sure there is a lot more history that I could uncover with time. I owe Livingston High School for my very existence as my mom and dad met there and later had me!
I went though that intersection many times as a truck driver.. honestly in was glad it was replaced by an overpass but sad at all the history that was lost to obtain that improvement and save lives! As always Jeff another Outstanding video! And History Lesson
Wow I really appreciate this video, being a fellow Livingstonian myself and history buff. I love learning more and more history about my home town. The blueberry hill was such a great place to eat. Sad that it isn’t as popping as it used to be.
I did eat at the Blueberry Hill Cafe several times in the late 50’s and early 60’s. It was always a nice place to eat and they had good food. My Dad also worked part-time second job at the gas station next to it.
When I was stationed at Castle AFB in 1970-1972, I lived in Livingston. Rented a house at 135 First St for about $125. Used to take Winton Rd to get to the base. Never ate at Blueberry Hill. Yes the traffic light was there. The chicken plant was there, all businesses on main street.
I really enjoy your videos, always interesting and informative. In addition to that, viewer comments add bits and pieces of history to your videos that I look forward to reading. I love history and it's sad that we destroy so much of our heritage, our history and almost, our memories.
Thank you Jeff.' When we visited our cousins in Modesto in the late 60s and 70s. We would cruise McHenry in our cars and then drive to Ceres and Turlock We would go to the A& W on the outskirts of Turlock and have a root beer. Of course, are parents did not know we were cruising down old "99".
Great video! I currently live in Livingston for the past 30 years. You were looking for evidence of the old location, that location used to be where the current freeway runs. That was my exit to get home. Looking forward to more great videos! Thanks
Keep up the good work it is important to see history done different way. With the both of you keep up the good work .You are becoming the new Huell Hauser.
Ate there many times " biscuits and gravy" it was darn good lots of it they made sure you were happy you just missed Delhi. we live 2 1/2 miles East of Delhi. Have friends native to Livingston 60 plus years . Now you know why I like your channel so much. Central California watching
I was raised in Waterford and have been to many of places you visit including Blueberry Hill. I really enjoy your videos, brings back a lot of good memories. Thanks.
Glad you enjoyed it! Yeah times definitely move on. You can't go back, as they say. I think we'd be too spoiled and pampered today to make it like John Muir did!
I remember the stoplights on Hwy 99, including the one at the Blueberry Hill location. I don't miss those, just like I don't miss the cross traffic exits on the Modesto to Fresno section (at least) especially during tule fog season - back when it used to actually rain in California. Thanks for sharing!
In the autumn of '83, I had to make the round trip drive between March AFB in Riverside and Castle AFB near Merced once a week (for six? weeks) for a school I was attending at Castle, northbound on Sunday night and southbound home on Friday evening. One of the welcome landmarks that told me the lonely, five-ish hour Sunday night drive back to Merced was just about over was a lighted billboard for the Blueberry Hill Cafe along Route 99 just south of Merced. The billboard said it was (fill in the blank) miles ahead, which put it north of Merced, so I'm assuming it was for the cafe by that name in Livingston. I never went north of Merced on those drives so I never actually saw the cafe, but that lighted billboard on 99 has always stuck in my mind. Every time I hear the Fats Domino version of the song it reminds me of making those weekly drives that fall, so I decided to ask the Interwebs if the cafe still exists. It doesn't, but this video and other mentions of it I found online show that it's not forgotten.
I used to take the Winton Parkway exit to go to Livingston every weekend. Glad that's over. Lol. However, I didn't know that this roadside diner ever existed. It was a long time gone by the time I was going out there, unfortunately. You mention John Wayne having stopped in to Blueberry Hill and it reminded me of Slim Pickens and the Hollywood Cafe, in Lodi, story . According to a waitress there, back when hwy 99 ran right thru town on what is now Cherokee Lane in Lodi, actor, Slim Pickens, stopped in to eat and remarked that the diner reminded him of one he ate at in Hollywood and with that, the name change came about and the Hollywood Cafe was born . Anyway, great video. Keep 'em coming.
Slim Pickens was born in the Hanford area and actually lived in Sonora and died in Modesto so it was not unusual to see him here. I saw him twice myself! Thanks for watching and commenting!
Sad to see so many places of Americas beautiful history disappear. When i first came to America from England via Ireland to san Diego back in 1986 there was an old drive in movie theater I loved to go to now it's apartment buildings. Thanks Jeff ive learned so much California history looking at these videos. Great job on this one as usual my friend.
Thank you, Johnny. Around our Valley we had a lot of recreational outlets, such as water parks and water slides and roller skating rinks. All were eliminated. It seems like with the generations people are doing less outdoors activities and staying inside playing video games, which I think is sad and a waste of time. I appreciate your expression of appreciation for my work. Thanks! Jeff
In the 1970s we did summer family trips to the Gold Country. Blueberry Hill was a must stop for us. I remember the rock work, the round windows, and I probably still have a keepsake or two bought in the small gift shop. Thanks for sharing the story and location with us. Chris
Very cool! I'm finding more people who stopped there. I guess I always considered Livingston and most of the Valley to be "pass through" country but millions have been observing things too as they travel through. Thanks for watching, Chris!
just ran into your channel. Gee, you are great. I was raised in Fresno and cannot tell you how many times I've been up and down HWy. 99. I'm Estelle Walts' wife. Anyway I have been to Blueberry Hill cafe many times. I actually ate there in Oct. 89. We have since moved out of CA. You didn't mention the Giant Orange roadside attractions. They dominated 99 at one time. Are any still left. I think the last one was in Livingston. We ate there in 2002 before we moved out of the state. I enjoy your videos. You do a great job,
Wow, Walter, thanks for the very nice comment! Glad you found our channel! No, there are no giant orange stands left anywhere although I heard that one is preserved at a museum near Chowchilla. I have not verified that yet. I appreciate you leaving your interesting message!
Like many commnters here, I too traveled 99 many times through Livingston. The lights of Blueberry Hill were always a welcome sight and a must stop. Waitresses called you honey and never let the coffee cup go empty. Apple pie and ice cream was my go to, but all the food was terrific. A great stop on a long drive. It was said, at the Mexican border and the terminus of 99, if you wanted to go to Livingston, just head north on 99 to the first light. You're there.
James Dobson was my Sunday School teacher in 1968 in Pasadena, California. Enjoyed your video and most of the other s you have done. I remember well that traffic light on highway 99. Since 1965 I have traveled 99 as the preferred route between Washington state and Southern California.
Back in the mid 70’s my family move to a farm not to far from Blueberry Hill. I remember getting off the freeway onto Robin Ave many times in my life and always looked over at the restaurant as we drove by. I took my wife there after our senior prom for some of the wonderful pie’s they made. When the building was being torn down the rocks that covered the exterior of the building were being sold to anyone wanting to buy a piece of history. My mom & dad purchased of few of the rocks and brought them back home.
1977- 1987 I was 17 yrs old- 27 yes old my parents would treat us kids at the BlueBerry Hill Cafe. The food was great! We lived in Modesto at the time. I was a senior at Modesto High School & graduated in 1978. It was sad to see that it no longer stands there. The city of Livingston should of at least put a Landmark on the site where it once stood. And I do remember that traffic light in the middle of HWY 99 southbound and northbound how treacherous it was. Especially during the foggy seasons. Oh how dangerous and deadly it was. But now with the reconstruction it's very safe. Do a story on Manteca California if you can. Thank you very much for this video. And I will subscribe. Brought back many memories! Take care!
This is cool, If you ever get a chance you should do a story about sutter buttes just outside yuba city (smallest mountain range in the world). There's not much about it on youtube and think a history video about it would be awesome. I'm from the San Juaquin valley and it's history fascinates me, love your vids!
I remember Blueberry Hill Cafe the food was great. The stoplight. It was removed in 1996 but there are still stoplights on Hwy 99 between Sacramento to Chico. Keep up the great work.
Dear Jeff and Sarah, Friday 29 May 2020. It's the 84 yo Australian again. The two Dalton towns we visited in 2000 are in Georgia and Pennsylvania. There is at least one more in the USA. I just read more of your COMMENTors. It's the same in Australia. History being pulled down. But in the past three or four decades there is a lot of opposition and many places have been saved. One in particular is the Rocks area in Sydney, just near the Harbour Bridge. So Jeff, it's people like you who do bring the subject of preservation to peoples notice and hopefully in some small or large way helps to save the worlds historic places. God Bless. Juan.
In many instances, old buildings are allowed to fall into such a state of disrepair for a lack of money. Some of the renovations are extremely expensive. We can only hope to excite people about saving our history rather than tear it down. I thank you Juan for watching and your message!
Yep, those crazy Dalton boys were supposed to be well behaved while in Livingston and always paid their bills on time. I wonder what made them go sideways. What they did in Coffeyville, Kansas, was extraordinarily stupid and got Grat and Bob Dalton. Of course Bill Dalton had his own day of reckoning!
I remember in the 1960s and 1970s stopping to eat there when I was a kid. My Mom's family lived in Merced and we lived north of Sacramento so we were driving up and down Hwy 99 quite a lot. Had completely forgotton about it until I stumbled on this video!
In the 1970s my Father & I stopped at Blueberry Hill. It eas a good diner. In the 1980s, I was a driver for Wallace Transport of Planada and later Save Mart stores. When I could, I would stop there for a meal. My favorite was hot beef sandwich, thinly sliced beef piled high, open face, with mashed potatoes, all completely covered with brown gravy. I really enjoyed hamburgers and the incredible flavored french fries. I truly miss being able to share a piece of history with my grandchildren. Note:. There was a sign, for the cafe near the grapevine pass, that read. "Blueberry Hill Cafe. 1 mile north of the 1st stoplight on hwy 99.". The sign didn't tell you how far it was to that stoplight. 😁
What a wonderful commentary on the History of Blueberry Hill and the interesting little town of Livingston Ca!!! It was nice to hear of the people who passed through. Merced River has always been a great stop for a picnic or just fun to ride inner tubes down from Cressey to Hagamen Park. Lots of fun and interesting things to do and places to explore around there!!! A great place to grow up!!! (Never met any of the Dalton Bros.)...
Our family used to stop there for breakfast on the way to Atwater where we had family. It was always a big treat to eat there! I would always have blueberry pancakes. Good times and great memories!! I really like these location videos! Keep up the good work!!
Oh my goodness, I can't believe I'm the first to comment. Good morning Jeff, and thank you for uploading this video. Like you, many times I drove past The Blueberry Hill Cafe and never took the opportunity to eat there. I sure wish I had taken the time to do so but, coming from Modesto, I usually had already eaten. Have you visited Apple Annie's in Tulare? I believe it's close to being original. The last time my wife and I traveled down to Bakersfield, we stopped in and had a delicious lunch with, a baked apple ala mode. You owe it to yourself to try it IF, you've never been. I love these History Views of yours, please, give us more. Stan
I just recently discovered your channel and am enjoying it so much! I probably went past the Bleberry Hill cafe once or twice but don't really remember it. I grew up in Marin Co and we would go on road trips every summer. Thanks for making these videos!
Well welcome to our channel! Glad it appeals to you. We have a lot more coming so I hope you subscribe Suzanne! PS you wouldn't want to be in the Valley today. I swear it was close to 110 and it's not June yet. Yikes!
In 1975-76, my dad's job with what was then called the Division of Highways (now Caltrans) took us to Mariposa for a couple of jobs on Highways 140 and 49. On weekends, we went home to Fairfield, passing by the Blueberry Hill Cafe twice a weekend on Hwy 99. We stopped there a couple of times and had lunch. Sometimes, my parents would punch up KOSO on the radio, which in those days played "Beautiful Music," and we heard an ad once for the Blueberry Hill. Each table had its own little jukebox. And yes, we stopped at the red lights on Hwy 99...both of them. Yes, in those days, there were 2 traffic lights in this area. By the way, Jeff, KMJ in Fresno had 5,000 watts, not 50,000. KRAK does have 50kW. Anyway, Stephen Provost in his Hwy 99 book also makes the same mistake.
Great show Jeff! Only a year ago? Diesel was only $2.89??? I love to see the vintage automobiles in these photos. Before John Muir, what was the name of Yosemite Nat'l Park? Who named the park? The Daltons were a busy bunch there in Livingston. (Almost done binge watching all your wonderful videos!)
Dear Jeff and Sarah, 24 May 2020. I'm the 84 yo Australian whose surname is "D'Alton". Notice the apostrophe and capital "A". My descendants are French. So it's interesting that the "Dalton gang" lived in Livingston. On our drive around the USA in 1997 we visited two "Dalton" towns in I think Pennsylvania, would be that correct? When our son was a schoolboy he named his model railway (we Australians don't say railroad), D'Alton. It's so wonderful that you do your "History Hunters". Keep em coming Jeff. Juan. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Wonderful to hear from you and knowing our show is being seen down under! I am not familiar with the Dalton towns you mentioned. There is so much history to cover that it's almost like drinking from a fire hose! LOL. Thanks for watching and liking what we do!
I used to live here, on Liberty Ave just outside of Livingston. Left in 1987 for the East coast. Don't miss the goat heads and swimming in the irrigation canals. I do remember the signal light though.
Oh yes. I remember the BlueBerry Hill cafe and the two lane Highway 99. Right close to it was an underpass of 99 (went under the Southern Pacific Railroad0 and I think that was where all those people had accidents. i was born in Merced, Summer of 1944. Me old. I left in 1968 to attend San Francisco State University and visited back to the old family plantation ever so often. I am subscribing. I hope you do a show on what is left of the Yosemitr Valley Raiload, and the extension of the southern Pacific to Oakdale. Both long gone. So sad. Thanks. Regards: Patrick Cassell (of the Heacox clan that pioneered Merced County).
Thank you for this piece! My dad grew up in Fresno in the '50s and could still quote me the radio commercial for the BHC - fond memories - I can't recall the exact words but about enjoying a slice of pie and coffee - if anyone remembers the wording please let me know... dad passed last year 😪 or I would ask him.
![Megan Thee Stallion - Roc Steady (feat. Flo Milli) [Official Video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/HozPPyqW0dY/mqdefault.jpg)
I grew up in Livingston. We'd go to Blueberry Hill Cafe for the pies!! We lived right nearby in some new (1992ish) housing less than a mile away. Sad it had to go. Also, remember the reconstruction, and taking down of the one stoplight on HWY 99.
I did not know about the outlaws and John Muir, though! The Merced River is really close to where the Cafe was and not too far from my child home home.
I haven't lived in California since I left for the Marine Corps in 2001. This made me a little homesick hehe
Thank you for your service. Semper Fi
How about the fries? We used to go there after football games. I graduated from Livingston High in 1985. I left CA in 05. Been feeling homesick lately.
Blueberry Hill Cafe has a special place in my wife's and my history. We lived in Sacramento when we were married in the early 80's. At some point, we drove by the cafe, probably on our way out of Yosemite. We didn't have time to stop at the time, but the place stuck in our minds. Later, we went looking for it one Saturday morning. We drove further than we thought we needed to that day but were sad that we couldn't find it. (I think we turned around in Modesto.) In 1986, I got a job in Phoenix and used Hwy 99 as my primary route between Phoenix and Sacramento for several years as we'd return to see family. We finally got a chance to stop and eat at Blueberry Hill with our boys in the early '90s, just before it got torn down. I remember it being as good as we expected and am glad we got to it before it was gone forever.
I also vividly remember the final stoplight in Livingston. What I always liked about driving 99 was the fact that, unlike I-5, it originally had the rural highway feel, you had lots of opportunities to stop and see places, and give the kids a break. That slowly faded as more and more of the route became freeway. It was interesting to have to get off the freeway in Livingston to stop at the light, then get back on to get where you were headed.
As you say in the episode, it's sad to see so much of that era of American history get bulldozed away. Hopefully, some of what's remaining will be preserved by the move to make 99 a historic highway similar to Route 66.
Thanks for the great channel!
Best biscuits and gravy I ever had was Blueberry Hill, their homemade pies were Untouchable also.....the lights that were up was a vivid memory also, keep in mind that when we used to have tule fog roll in for weeks at a time....the lights there on 99 were horrible cause of the fog and we had many accidents there....often fatal, not far from there was the old CHP scales also.......well done jeff !!
I remember the reports of the deaths all the time in the Modesto Bee. A couple of the fatalities were from the drunks who staggered out of the bar next to 99 and walk across traffic. I remember that and the Sandy Mush Road area crashes in the fog were people had to race across the lanes of freeway traffic in virtual blindness. Fortunately those hazards have been removed! Thanks for watching!
Randy Salles; If you're ever in the Ceres area, you'll have to try Sam's Cafe. It's on the corner of 5th and Camino St's. They offer the best Chicken Fried Steak I've ever had and, their biscuits and gravy are outstanding too. Of course, they're still closed because of this COVID-19 situation.
Don't expect fresh linens or crystal chandeliers but, the food is Homestyle in fact, you'd swear you traveled back home to Oklahoma.
The staff is friendly and right there to top off your coffee or whatever you're drinking.
Stan
That fog was what made those traffic lights as deadly as they were.
I wonder if the Foster Farms restaurant has survived. That was where some of best food in the region was served.
You just reminded me of the scales right you are.
@@h2otech784 I live in Livingston and often visited the Foster Farms Cafe. Covid somewhat shut their doors. Directly across from the Town n Country Motel, the cafe should be reopening soon.
Would be interesting to learn more about the Giant Orange stands that we’re on 99.
Always stopped at one on our way to grandparents house in Fresno as a kid...
From Merced and John Wayne came yearly for opening day of duck season, they hunted out in the Livingston area... My father and Uncle went a couple years with the John Wayne hunting party.
That is amazing! Wish I had known this before I made the video! Do you folks have any photos of the Duke? FYI, Lee Majors used to go hunting outside of Oakdale and I think I heard that Andy Devine hunted outside of Hickman.
I don't know how much time you put into researching, but you take a good idea for a VLOG and make it a great one. You hit it out of the ballpark every time. Thank you guys.
I appreciate that, Peter! Thanks. We try to learn what we can before we visit a place to make it interesting! Thanks for watching!
Blueberry Hill was the spot we were always at in the 80's. Loved the homemade chile beans and their pies. Love my hometown, lived here sin 1976! I remember walking across the lights to get to the famous Trailor Taco Bell which was my first job. I was sitting one day at the lights (on 99) to get to the other and noticed the lights moving alot and when I got home, news said an earthquake just hit and many people died in San Francisco when the bridge and overpass collapsed. Thanks for this video....
The Pepsi lid is 70's
I was 21 when the earth quack hit 1989 the light poles were shaking then I looked at the street it rolled like a tile wave and the bay water is less than 4 miles from my home. I had uncle and aunties that lived in Tracy California so we spent are younger years in the valley and all the surrounding town's
I loved the trailer taco bell... my mom worked in both the main plant, and the swan building for foster farms. And sometimes, when we (my brother and i) would stay at my grand parents house across 8th street from Campus park, wed tell our mom we wanted Taco Bell for lunch and she'd bring it then hurry back to work.
They had the best chili burgers around. Their pies were awesome. Latif’s in Turlock shut down too and their pies were so good.
I grew up in Livingston, CA. My grandmother worked at Blueberry Hill and Rocket Cafe. I no longer live in Livingston but had great memories visiting my grandma at both of these places. Loved the video!
They're wiping away more of America's rich history everyday. Another cool video, Jeff. I remember getting a few of those enticements over the CB radio back when I was long-haul trucking.
Say, if you ever make it to Livingston, Montana just north of our Nation's first national park, they have some great late 19th/early 20th century buildings still standing there.
Making it to Montana sounds wonderful! I visited Billings back in 1997 and been to Wyoming and South Dakota. I would love to see the town you are talking about!
I know what your saying I'm only light 52 year's old and I lived long enough to see all the changes we had some great burger places, even Doggie stands it was this big winner dog with a chief hat on that sold hot dog's the signs were lighted up with neon lights all those signs are gone.
Absolutely LOVED this episode! Yes! We’ve eaten at Blueberry Hill Cafe! My husband was a police officer there in the late 70’s! Thank you! Brought a tear!
Oh wow! Maybe it was the sad music at the end of it?
History Hunters nah...just get a little homesick from time to time. We’re so glad we found you guys! Thanks!
I was born and raised in Merced. A couple times a month my parents would take us to breakfast on Sunday after church. Nice to read a comment about the orange hamburger stands along 99.
Seems like the places that meant most to me in my childhood live only in my memory now thank you for taking us along
You are very welcome! We love making videos like this! We'd love to have you as a subscriber!
Jeff, I throughly enjoy your channel. You do a fantastic job of researching each area you visit. I started watching your video on Virginia City, then Genoa and eventually came across this one on my hometown! I was surprised you did a video on this modest little farming town and even more surprised that your grandfather lived there. My grandfather was one of the first Japanese to settle here when Livingston was just a train stop in the middle of a dry, barren wasteland with just tumbleweeds and jackrabbits. He lived in an area which was called the Yamato Colony where he and other Japanese settlers transformed the desert into one of the most prolific farming areas in the country.
My dad regularly ate at the Blueberry Hill Cafe and especially the Rocket Cafe with the other farmers and loved to banter with the waitresses. I regret that I never ate there myself. I kind of miss the old traffic light even though it was incredibly hazardous. That traffic light was so famous that there was even a tee shirt that compared it to the world’s most famous landmarks like the Eiffel Tower, Big Ben and the Coliseum! LOL!
I recall crossing Hwy 99 at those sections where there was NO traffic light in the tule fog at night....it was REALLY scary...you literally could not see past your hood...or the road for that matter!
I had NEVER heard those interesting stories about the Dalton brothers (which is why I think you are a fantastic detective)....now I will have to research about them!
Livingston is so different now. The original High School building was so amazing....before they tore it down because it “wasn’t earthquake-proof.” I bet it would still be standing today if they let it be. The only thing that seems to have remained unchanged is the Winton Insurance building...I haven’t driven down Main St. in years. It kind of depresses me to see how much it has changed and all the old buildings that have disappeared. But I guess that’s “progress”??🤷🏻♀️
I'd love to have the recipe for there Pineapple pie😍
I liked that you mentioned the beautiful high school
But there was a big beautiful hotel or home in the middle of town
Thanks for bringing up Rocket Cafe I had forgotten about that one.
Jeff, great video. Thank you. Been to the BBHC many, many times. I've been a subscriber for about a year or so. I just wonder how many truckers remember the old concrete slabs that were on Hwy 99 on the south side of the Livingston light on both sides of the Hwy for about a quarter of a mile. The slabs were about ten feet in length. If you were driving a two-axle tractor (or a three-axle for that matter), the slabs would rock back and forth as you drove over them and would turn your spine into a jackhammer! It would be so painful that tears would flow out of my eyes. There was also a stretch of those old slabs down in Santa Ana on the I-5. Started driving truck out of Merced in the early1970's. (Wallace Transport, Planada, CA)
I was born and raised in Merced and now live in Keyes. I love watching your history videos of areas I know well. I wish Blueberry Hill Cafe was still around. I remember it as a small child going there with my grandparents after church.
You would not be happy with Merced these days
highway 99, driving miles and miles for so many years in the early 80s, it brings back beautiful memories, Wow....it feels like yesterday..!!
Yeah isn't it cool how the brain stores up those memories and can be brought right to the surface with photos or music? Thanks for watching and commenting. Glad you enjoyed this one!
What fun to see this! My family bought the 60 acre ranch just across the river in 1948 when I was eight years old. We owned it until my dad died in 1961. It is now a trailer/RV park. There was definitely a cafe and motel there and the owners at that time were the Stevensons, I believe. They had two daughters my age and I would walk across the bridge to play at their house. The parents had a room in the motel as a playhouse for them and we had tons of fun playing "restaurant." They would walk across to our ranch also. Our family ate there often. There was a "hobo camp" under the bridge and my dad would often feed various men and so would the Stevensons. In my memory it was named Blueberry Hill far earlier than you say, but at my age, the memories get fuzzy. The memories are very distinct, however, of the many times we ate there, and the Stevenson girls, Joann and Sandy. Thank you for helping to bring back some wonderful memories.
That is my home town! Spent many hours drinking coffee with my friends. Had first meal with my future husband there! Lots of good memories! I have a match box from Blueberry Cafe with matches still in it. I do not recognize main street Livingston. There used to be a grocery store that my mom would go to and leave use in the car. Then she would bring us sugar cane to chew on while she was in the store. Been 26 years since I left there. We live in Louisiana now. My parents live there and so do my 2 brothers.
Liberty Market
Serv-All Market
Back in the 80's, family and I used to go there for lunch. Nice memory, and of course, the pie and ice cream was the catch. Thanks for taking the time researching, and producing this video, from an "Original Transcon RR" fan.
Jeff, another well researched look at our past. Growing up in Bakersfield and now living in Merced, I can appreciate the stories you’ve researched and posted here. I spend a bit of time looking at past ones and find them catching the interest of other family members. Thanks for the work you’ve done! You’ve got a lifelong subscriber.
Wow, thanks, Mark! I am currently working on a video of the Tagus Ranch near Tulare. Have you heard of it? I bet you have! Nothing remains!
@@jbenziggy
Yes, I do remember it. My parents used to go to it when I was young. Then, as part of my job,l traveled up and down 99 for 25+ years and often thought of what stories that old building could tell as I passed by. I was sad to see it go even though I never stepped foot inside!
LOL, I kept waiting for you to show the Bygone Cafe :-) It's very sad to see so many roadside landmarks like this being erased from history. Fortunately, you are preserving their memories on YT. Nice job, Jeff!
As always, it's a pleasure to know you enjoy what I produce! Thank you for the compliment! And thanks for all your videos I've been watching in the last weeks!
I am from Livingston and I remember when the Blueberry Hill was here and when it went away. It was around 1991. Very sad just like the day when they demolished the Livingston theater.
OMG! I had no idea they saved that annoying traffic light! Many of us were very happy when they built a new stretch of freeway and the light was gone! I remember driving by the Blueberry Hill Cafe so many many times. Now there’s a landmark I miss! I believe the many flowers John Muir stepped on had to make room for almond orchards.
We used to stop at Blueberry Hill. It was off Robin Ave. My name being Robin Williams as a kid, it always gave me a chuckle. I remember the music, pancakes, we also stopped for supper. We were going from Porterville to Stockton or back. It was the once a month visits a child endures when their parents were stupid and got divorced in the late 60s. Every couple but two got divorced during that time in their Sunday school class. That’s an evil root that’s taken hold in a church. Two other incidents happened after that. The root has never been pulled. I’ve watched it grow over the years. I seen many of those people live with many regrets also. Keep the history coming.
That was an awesome report. I grew up in Atwater, CA, 7 miles from Livingston, but I never knew about the Dalton Brothers and Livingston's history. I have eaten at the Blueberry Hill Cafe many times. Their blueberry pancakes were excellent. Maybe you could do more history on other valley cities like Atwater and/or Merced CA. Thanks.
Love this. My family is from Livingston and I have live here off and on my entire life. I am currently in Livingston and have fond memories of Blueberry Hill. I loved playing choosing songs for the jute box from our table and the small games they had on the tables.
I recall eating there a couple of times. I don’t remember much about my dining experience. I do recall the awesome pies they made. In fact my friends dad was a cook there. I do recall listing to the song playing in the radio when they advertised for the restaurant. It was a nice place and again the reason we were so sad to see it go was because it was an iconic landmark and the pies. I have lived in the Livingston vicinity for 40 years.
Growing up my dad helped build hwy 99 and later I5. We ate at BH when we were passing through all the time. Wonderful food and service. One of my favorite memories.
Love the history of the valley and mountains that you show.
Thank you very much, Tim! I don't want to focus solely on the Valley but right now we can't get out very far from home with this coronavirus lockdown!
Sad that History disappears and down the road forgotten. Thank You for showing us the lost past.
I used to live in Frisco and would visit Muir woods often. Such a beautiful area! Glenn Miller...I did not know he originally performed " Blueberry Hill". Thank you for that interesting bit of trivia and for all the good historic info. about Livingston. 🙂💕
Fats Domino.....one of my favotites....They couldn't have picked a better name.....never knew about the restaurant.....so once again. you have taught me some more history...I have the utmost respect for John Muir.....the Dalton's?...never heard about them until the Eagle's song, Doolin Daltons.....so you've filled in a lot of the blanks on everything...thanks, Jeff and Sarah!
I grew up in Turlock in the 50s, 60s, and early 70s. Sometimes, as kids, we got to go for breakfast at the Blueberry Hill Cafe on our birthday. There were four of us and it was always a treat to go there. They had great pancakes and waffles. The women's restroom had a machine with Chanel No. 5 perfume in it. You put money in the slot and pressed a knob and perfume sprayed out. I never got to use it, but it was a fascination. Thank you so much for covering this bit of history. It brought back lots of fond memories, including of Yosemite, one of the most beautiful places on this Earth. It was nice seeing all that flat land too. I loved seeing the horizon when I lived there. On a clear day, we could see the coast range to the west, and Half Dome to the east. I subscribed :) and look forward to exploring your episodes.
Glad you enjoyed! Thanks for watching ... and for subscribing! I've been a lifelong resident of the Valley!
I grew up in Livingston on a 10 acre almond ranch. Went to Selma Herndon elementary school and Livingston high, class of ‘75’ such great memories of much better days. My best friend’s mother was a waitress at blueberry hill. I have memories of her in her uniform heading to work. So sad it’s all gone. Even my street where I grew up ‘liberty ave’ all looks different now with the new freeway. Also another close friend I grew up with lost her mother to an accident at the stop light on the 99 highway. Just wanted to share and say thanks for making this video. Was so awesome to see the blueberry hill cafe again with the big horse on top 😊
I grew up in Livingston and didn't know it had so much history. Thank you!
Thank you! It's sad how history just gets buried with time! That's why I like digging it up and presenting it on RUclips! Thanks again for watching!
I ate there many times over the years. The food was good, diner type food. It's very sad to hear that they tore it down. Such a icon all of my life. I remember the stop light too. There was one in Ceres too that I remember a lot of accidents at. Thanks Jeff for doing what you do. Takes me back to younger days that I enjoy revisiting.
I had a lot of family from up there. Still have some cousins there. But I remember my aunt and uncle talk about that place when I was a kid. We lived in Fresno and Clovis. My grandparents are buried in Clovis.
I was born in Merced and grew up in Winton, Atwater and Merced. When I was about 11 years old or so, around 1961/1962 my dad to took me to Blueberry Hill several times. I recall that the portions were awesome, and the plates were oval and much bigger than a typical dinner plate. The food was great! I always ordered the turkey and stuffing dinner. What a great memory. Thank you for your great chapters on California history…
Thank you, Dennis. You saw more of Blueberry Hill Cafe than did I. I love the imagery in your comment! Sounds like Knott's Berry Farm's chicken restaurant!
thank u for all ur work,,i was born and raised in clovis in 1960,now live in oakhurst,,,my dad built packing houses since 1945,,,i been to all these towns and now i get to revisit them again thanks to you and ur wife,,,,Randy Strunk from oakhurst-Clovis
Very cool! We went through Oakhurst two years ago and ate at a pizza place there! Thanks for watching our channel! We really appreciate it!
I drove (or rode on a motorcycle) through here dozens of times in the 70's and 80's. The one stoplight on Hwy 99, great video
Thank you very much!
Thank you my brother was the manager for the blueberry Hill Cafe for a number of years and it was the manager when they closed it it's neat to see this
Oh yes, how I remember driving through Livingston as I did many many times driving up and down Hwy 99 back in the 70's 80's and 90's. I've always wondered why they still had you go through Livingston while every other little town was bypassed. Thanks Jeff for sharing the history.....Russell D.
I remember Blueberry Hill cafe from numerous trips up and down Hwy 99. All the food was good there but the pies were exceptional and we would stop sometimes just to have a piece of pie. It was a good midpoint to stop between Fresno and Sacramento when there weren't any rest stops on the road. I remember waiting at the traffic light there many times as well a watching trains go by on the tracks next to the highway. Thanks for highlighting this part of Central Valley history.
Born and raised in Livingston. Rode my horse around that area as I lived about a mile west on Robin Ave. There used to be an arena down there near the river and I would take my horse down there and pretend. We used to eat at Blueberry Hill occasionally. It was a real treat to eat out in those days. What made the traffic signal so deadly was the way the highway curved on both sides of the signal crossing and on the north side it went under the railroad tracks so you couldn't see whether it was red or green until you were right there, especially in the Tule fog. Thanks for the trip down memory lane.
My Dad was a truck driver. We use to stop there every time we passed by it...typical truck stop/diner food. Coffee was a dime. Good memories!
I very much enjoy your history lessons on the Central Valley. Please keep it up!
Thanks, will do!
I heard a story from relatives that my great great grandfather knew the Dalton Brothers before they went bad. His name was Ancil Rupe.
Was Ancil from the Valley? The Daltons were known to hang out in Merced County, Cholame, Tulare, Fresno and other locations. I think I read how they also boarded the train for the Bay and went through Lathrop.
Yes Bill Dalton was married to a girl from Livingston and he was supposedly buried on the property until his body was moved later. His wife, her family, and their children are buried at Turlock Memorial Cemetery and he is also there. The ranch belonging to his Father in Law is now right in town
I live in Livingston Scotland and we don't have the same history as all we have is standing stones hundreds of years old before both towns where born and before America was there and we don't have a main street like most Scottish towns Great video and wonder how they got the name
America was always here. It just took the europeans to find it. The Norse found it first before crazy Chris. After that it went to pot.
Named after Dr David Livingstone, the British explorer.
Wow.. I been living in Livingston since early 90s and didn’t know it had so much history. I remember our school bus had to stop at that traffic light to get across freeway 99 .
Love ur videos
Thank you! I enjoy hearing that people are liking my videos! Yes, I am sure there is a lot more history that I could uncover with time. I owe Livingston High School for my very existence as my mom and dad met there and later had me!
I went though that intersection many times as a truck driver.. honestly in was glad it was replaced by an overpass but sad at all the history that was lost to obtain that improvement and save lives! As always Jeff another Outstanding video! And History Lesson
Wow I really appreciate this video, being a fellow Livingstonian myself and history buff. I love learning more and more history about my home town. The blueberry hill was such a great place to eat. Sad that it isn’t as popping as it used to be.
I did eat at the Blueberry Hill Cafe several times in the late 50’s and early 60’s. It was always a nice place to eat and they had good food. My Dad also worked part-time second job at the gas station next to it.
That's a very cool story. Is your dad still around?
When I was stationed at Castle AFB in 1970-1972, I lived in Livingston. Rented a house at 135 First St for about $125. Used to take Winton Rd to get to the base. Never ate at Blueberry Hill. Yes the traffic light was there. The chicken plant was there, all businesses on main street.
My uncle was stationed there, too. Of course he grew up in Livingston as well. Another uncle still lives there!
AFB in Atwater and Foster Farms in Livingston
I really enjoy your videos, always interesting and informative. In addition to that, viewer comments add bits and pieces of history to your videos that I look forward to reading. I love history and it's sad that we destroy so much of our heritage, our history and almost, our memories.
Thanks for that, Suzanne!
Thank you Jeff.'
When we visited our cousins in Modesto in the late 60s and 70s.
We would cruise McHenry in our cars and then drive to Ceres and Turlock
We would go to the A& W on the outskirts of Turlock and have a root beer.
Of course, are parents did not know we were cruising down old "99".
After 3 generations...all is forgotten
Oh my god, They went down and gone at all! I used to come in there for many times and I loved it there. I never forget it and I miss them so much!
Great video! I currently live in Livingston for the past 30 years. You were looking for evidence of the old location, that location used to be where the current freeway runs. That was my exit to get home. Looking forward to more great videos! Thanks
Keep up the good work it is important to see history done different way. With the both of you keep up the good work .You are becoming the new Huell Hauser.
Thank you! Will do! Thanks for the nice compliments!
California Gold..loved it
Thanks for the memories, retired driver miss this place, great food, looked forward to stopping there on trips south.
As always, another great video. Please keep up the great videos you are doing, look forward to them all.
Thanks, will do! And we appreciate you watching!
Ate there many times " biscuits and gravy" it was darn good lots of it they made sure you were happy you just missed Delhi. we live 2 1/2 miles East of Delhi.
Have friends native to Livingston 60 plus years . Now you know why I like your channel so much.
Central California watching
I was raised in Waterford and have been to many of places you visit including Blueberry Hill. I really enjoy your videos, brings back a lot of good memories. Thanks.
Thanks for watching! I recognize you having been an old Waterford boy myself. LOL
Hi Jerry I was raised in Waterford also in the 70's 80's. 👍
Thanks for the video. I saw movies on the Dalton brothers . River was nice to see. Time moves on .I like Western history , old cowboys and wranglers .
Glad you enjoyed it! Yeah times definitely move on. You can't go back, as they say. I think we'd be too spoiled and pampered today to make it like John Muir did!
I remember the stoplights on Hwy 99, including the one at the Blueberry Hill location. I don't miss those, just like I don't miss the cross traffic exits on the Modesto to Fresno section (at least) especially during tule fog season - back when it used to actually rain in California. Thanks for sharing!
You’ll be happy to know Caltrans took out all those dangerous cross traffic exits from Merced to Fresno!
@@jbenziggy Caltrans sure did and that was a good thing! Thanks!
In the autumn of '83, I had to make the round trip drive between March AFB in Riverside and Castle AFB near Merced once a week (for six? weeks) for a school I was attending at Castle, northbound on Sunday night and southbound home on Friday evening. One of the welcome landmarks that told me the lonely, five-ish hour Sunday night drive back to Merced was just about over was a lighted billboard for the Blueberry Hill Cafe along Route 99 just south of Merced. The billboard said it was (fill in the blank) miles ahead, which put it north of Merced, so I'm assuming it was for the cafe by that name in Livingston. I never went north of Merced on those drives so I never actually saw the cafe, but that lighted billboard on 99 has always stuck in my mind. Every time I hear the Fats Domino version of the song it reminds me of making those weekly drives that fall, so I decided to ask the Interwebs if the cafe still exists. It doesn't, but this video and other mentions of it I found online show that it's not forgotten.
I used to take the Winton Parkway exit to go to Livingston every weekend. Glad that's over. Lol. However, I didn't know that this roadside diner ever existed. It was a long time gone by the time I was going out there, unfortunately. You mention John Wayne having stopped in to Blueberry Hill and it reminded me of Slim Pickens and the Hollywood Cafe, in Lodi, story . According to a waitress there, back when hwy 99 ran right thru town on what is now Cherokee Lane in Lodi, actor, Slim Pickens, stopped in to eat and remarked that the diner reminded him of one he ate at in Hollywood and with that, the name change came about and the Hollywood Cafe was born . Anyway, great video. Keep 'em coming.
Slim Pickens was born in the Hanford area and actually lived in Sonora and died in Modesto so it was not unusual to see him here. I saw him twice myself! Thanks for watching and commenting!
Sad to see so many places of Americas beautiful history disappear. When i first came to America from England via Ireland to san Diego back in 1986 there was an old drive in movie theater I loved to go to now it's apartment buildings.
Thanks Jeff ive learned so much California history looking at these videos. Great job on this one as usual my friend.
Thank you, Johnny. Around our Valley we had a lot of recreational outlets, such as water parks and water slides and roller skating rinks. All were eliminated. It seems like with the generations people are doing less outdoors activities and staying inside playing video games, which I think is sad and a waste of time. I appreciate your expression of appreciation for my work. Thanks! Jeff
I am so glad that I discovered your videos! I love learning about the history of the great state of California! Thank you!
Our pleasure! Glad you like them!
In the 1970s we did summer family trips to the Gold Country. Blueberry Hill was a must stop for us. I remember the rock work, the round windows, and I probably still have a keepsake or two bought in the small gift shop. Thanks for sharing the story and location with us. Chris
Very cool! I'm finding more people who stopped there. I guess I always considered Livingston and most of the Valley to be "pass through" country but millions have been observing things too as they travel through. Thanks for watching, Chris!
just ran into your channel. Gee, you are great. I was raised in Fresno and cannot tell you how many times I've been up and down HWy. 99. I'm Estelle Walts' wife. Anyway I have been to Blueberry Hill cafe many times. I actually ate there in Oct. 89. We have since moved out of CA. You didn't mention the Giant Orange roadside attractions. They dominated 99 at one time. Are any still left. I think the last one was in Livingston. We ate there in 2002 before we moved out of the state. I enjoy your videos. You do a great job,
Wow, Walter, thanks for the very nice comment! Glad you found our channel! No, there are no giant orange stands left anywhere although I heard that one is preserved at a museum near Chowchilla. I have not verified that yet. I appreciate you leaving your interesting message!
Born and raised in Livingston. I remember Blueberry Hill. Nothing compares to what it once was. Thanks for some of history. Subscribed
Thanks for the sub!
@@jbenziggy Totally classy, completely thorough and very knowledgeable. I appreciate you for bringing history to our area in this vast land.
Like many commnters here, I too traveled 99 many times through Livingston. The lights of Blueberry Hill were always a welcome sight and a must stop. Waitresses called you honey and never let the coffee cup go empty. Apple pie and ice cream was my go to, but all the food was terrific. A great stop on a long drive. It was said, at the Mexican border and the terminus of 99, if you wanted to go to Livingston, just head north on 99 to the first light. You're there.
James Dobson was my Sunday School teacher in 1968 in Pasadena, California. Enjoyed your video and most of the other s you have done. I remember well that traffic light on highway 99. Since 1965 I have traveled 99 as the preferred route between Washington state and Southern California.
Back in the mid 70’s my family move to a farm not to far from Blueberry Hill. I remember getting off the freeway onto Robin Ave many times in my life and always looked over at the restaurant as we drove by. I took my wife there after our senior prom for some of the wonderful pie’s they made. When the building was being torn down the rocks that covered the exterior of the building were being sold to anyone wanting to buy a piece of history. My mom & dad purchased of few of the rocks and brought them back home.
Thanks Jeff for another great video. Beautiful scenery and very interesting history as always.
Glad you enjoyed this one as well!
1977- 1987 I was 17 yrs old- 27 yes old my parents would treat us kids at the BlueBerry Hill Cafe.
The food was great! We lived in Modesto at the time. I was a senior at Modesto High School & graduated in 1978.
It was sad to see that it no longer stands there. The city of Livingston should of at least put a Landmark on the site where it once stood.
And I do remember that traffic light in the middle of HWY 99 southbound and northbound how treacherous it was. Especially during the foggy seasons. Oh how dangerous and deadly it was. But now with the reconstruction it's very safe.
Do a story on Manteca California if you can.
Thank you very much for this video. And I will subscribe. Brought back many memories! Take care!
I'm loving your channel 😍 I've lived in Modesto for 45 years, and always wondered about the history & surroundings. Thank you!
Thank you, Christie. We appreciate you watching. Have you subscribed?
@@jbenziggy Yes ☑️! I also turned my husband on to your channel.
This is cool, If you ever get a chance you should do a story about sutter buttes just outside yuba city (smallest mountain range in the world). There's not much about it on youtube and think a history video about it would be awesome. I'm from the San Juaquin valley and it's history fascinates me, love your vids!
I remember Blueberry Hill Cafe the food was great. The stoplight. It was removed in 1996 but there are still stoplights on Hwy 99 between Sacramento to Chico. Keep up the great work.
I think the old Hwy. 99 has signals but pretty sure the current freeway has no stop lights. Thanks very much for watching!
Dear Jeff and Sarah, Friday 29 May 2020.
It's the 84 yo Australian again.
The two Dalton towns we visited in 2000 are in Georgia and Pennsylvania. There is at least one more in the USA.
I just read more of your COMMENTors. It's the same in Australia. History being pulled down. But in the past three or four decades there is a lot of opposition and many places have been saved.
One in particular is the Rocks area in Sydney, just near the Harbour Bridge. So Jeff, it's people like you who do bring the subject of preservation to peoples notice and hopefully in some small or large way helps to save the worlds historic places.
God Bless. Juan.
In many instances, old buildings are allowed to fall into such a state of disrepair for a lack of money. Some of the renovations are extremely expensive. We can only hope to excite people about saving our history rather than tear it down. I thank you Juan for watching and your message!
Nice piece about John Muir,. I remember the Fats Domino version of Blueberry Hill and "love blueberries". So the Daltons were active in that town.
Yep, those crazy Dalton boys were supposed to be well behaved while in Livingston and always paid their bills on time. I wonder what made them go sideways. What they did in Coffeyville, Kansas, was extraordinarily stupid and got Grat and Bob Dalton. Of course Bill Dalton had his own day of reckoning!
Thanks, Jeff. Always love Old West history.
Thank you, Tresi. I appreciate it!
I remember in the 1960s and 1970s stopping to eat there when I was a kid. My Mom's family lived in Merced and we lived north of Sacramento so we were driving up and down Hwy 99 quite a lot. Had completely forgotton about it until I stumbled on this video!
Glad to know it stirred some memories! Thanks for watching!
In the 1970s my Father & I stopped at Blueberry Hill. It eas a good diner.
In the 1980s, I was a driver for Wallace Transport of Planada and later Save Mart stores. When I could, I would stop there for a meal. My favorite was hot beef sandwich, thinly sliced beef piled high, open face, with mashed potatoes, all completely covered with brown gravy.
I really enjoyed hamburgers and the incredible flavored french fries. I truly miss being able to share a piece of history with my grandchildren.
Note:. There was a sign, for the cafe near the grapevine pass, that read. "Blueberry Hill Cafe. 1 mile north of the 1st stoplight on hwy 99.". The sign didn't tell you how far it was to that stoplight. 😁
What a wonderful commentary on the History of Blueberry Hill and the interesting little town of Livingston Ca!!! It was nice to hear of the people who passed through. Merced River has always been a great stop for a picnic or just fun to ride inner tubes down from Cressey to Hagamen Park. Lots of fun and interesting things to do and places to explore around there!!! A great place to grow up!!! (Never met any of the Dalton Bros.)...
Glad you enjoyed it! Folks just zip on by not knowing much of the history there. But that's life, isn't it?
Our family used to stop there for breakfast on the way to Atwater where we had family. It was always a big treat to eat there! I would always have blueberry pancakes. Good times and great memories!!
I really like these location videos! Keep up the good work!!
Thank you so much for sharing your precious memories, Tim! We will keep on keeping on!
I’ve been trucking for 40 years and I remember that place. 👍
Did you get to eat there? And if so, was it good?
Oh my goodness, I can't believe I'm the first to comment.
Good morning Jeff, and thank you for uploading this video. Like you, many times I drove past The Blueberry Hill Cafe and never took the opportunity to eat there. I sure wish I had taken the time to do so but, coming from Modesto, I usually had already eaten.
Have you visited Apple Annie's in Tulare? I believe it's close to being original. The last time my wife and I traveled down to Bakersfield, we stopped in and had a delicious lunch with, a baked apple ala mode. You owe it to yourself to try it IF, you've never been.
I love these History Views of yours, please, give us more.
Stan
Thank you. I will have to try Apple Annie's in Tulare next time we go through. Hopefully life will resume to normal shortly!
" Time has a way of trashing our treasures", that could'nt be the best quote ever, especially since I was born
So true, isn't it?
I just recently discovered your channel and am enjoying it so much! I probably went past the Bleberry Hill cafe once or twice but don't really remember it. I grew up in Marin Co and we would go on road trips every summer. Thanks for making these videos!
Well welcome to our channel! Glad it appeals to you. We have a lot more coming so I hope you subscribe Suzanne! PS you wouldn't want to be in the Valley today. I swear it was close to 110 and it's not June yet. Yikes!
I worked in Livingston for 12 years. Getting out of there was the greatest day of my life!
I get it. LOL
In 1975-76, my dad's job with what was then called the Division of Highways (now Caltrans) took us to Mariposa for a couple of jobs on Highways 140 and 49. On weekends, we went home to Fairfield, passing by the Blueberry Hill Cafe twice a weekend on Hwy 99. We stopped there a couple of times and had lunch. Sometimes, my parents would punch up KOSO on the radio, which in those days played "Beautiful Music," and we heard an ad once for the Blueberry Hill. Each table had its own little jukebox. And yes, we stopped at the red lights on Hwy 99...both of them. Yes, in those days, there were 2 traffic lights in this area. By the way, Jeff, KMJ in Fresno had 5,000 watts, not 50,000. KRAK does have 50kW. Anyway, Stephen Provost in his Hwy 99 book also makes the same mistake.
Great show Jeff! Only a year ago? Diesel was only $2.89??? I love to see the vintage automobiles in these photos. Before John Muir, what was the name of Yosemite Nat'l Park? Who named the park? The Daltons were a busy bunch there in Livingston. (Almost done binge watching all your wonderful videos!)
My wife and I went there on our first date in 1986. Good memories! New subscriber here.
Thanks for the sub! Glad you found us and that our video brought back good memories!
Dear Jeff and Sarah, 24 May 2020.
I'm the 84 yo Australian whose surname is "D'Alton". Notice the apostrophe and capital "A". My descendants are French. So it's interesting that the "Dalton gang" lived in Livingston. On our drive around the USA in 1997 we visited two "Dalton" towns in I think Pennsylvania, would be that correct? When our son was a schoolboy he named his model railway (we Australians don't say railroad), D'Alton. It's so wonderful that you do your "History Hunters".
Keep em coming Jeff. Juan.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Wonderful to hear from you and knowing our show is being seen down under! I am not familiar with the Dalton towns you mentioned. There is so much history to cover that it's almost like drinking from a fire hose! LOL. Thanks for watching and liking what we do!
I used to live here, on Liberty Ave just outside of Livingston. Left in 1987 for the East coast. Don't miss the goat heads and swimming in the irrigation canals. I do remember the signal light though.
Thank you very much for watching! We really appreciate you viewing and hope you will subscribe!
Yes. Those dang goat heads. Always had them stuck to the bottom of my shoes.
Oh yes. I remember the BlueBerry Hill cafe and the two lane Highway 99. Right close to it was an underpass of 99 (went under the Southern Pacific Railroad0 and I think that was where all those people had accidents. i was born in Merced, Summer of 1944. Me old. I left in 1968 to attend San Francisco State University and visited back to the old family plantation ever so often. I am subscribing. I hope you do a show on what is left of the Yosemitr Valley Raiload, and the extension of the southern Pacific to Oakdale. Both long gone. So sad. Thanks. Regards: Patrick Cassell (of the Heacox clan that pioneered Merced County).
👍🏻Good Ol’History👍🏻... State CalTrans Busting Down History - Let’s See Whats Next With The HighSpeed Rail To Nowhere...
Cancelled due to Covid-19
@@mrshiney2 how much money did that slimey skank Diane Feinstein's husband make off of that giant waste of tax dollars?
Thank you for this piece! My dad grew up in Fresno in the '50s and could still quote me the radio commercial for the BHC - fond memories - I can't recall the exact words but about enjoying a slice of pie and coffee - if anyone remembers the wording please let me know... dad passed last year 😪 or I would ask him.