Story Page, How The Purple Cow Gots Its Name! History of Building

History of the Nelson Building. . . Which is Home to The Purple Cow Mall

The building was built in 1936, but first let's catch some of the history that led to the store.

In 1901, the old Larrymore and Smith building was bought by Charles Nelson. Charles bought it from Abe Taylor. At that time, Charles was the store manager.

In 1907, Miss Elena Dyer came to Fresno Flats (now Oakhurst) to teach school. After teaching for several years, she married Mr. Nelson. From then on, she helped him manage the store.

Mr. Nelson became Postmaster in 1909, and continued that work until his death in 1915. At that time, The Civil Service was in charge of forth-class offices. Mrs. Nelson was the first to take and pass the first examination ever to be given in this state (California) for the Post Masters of that class. Mrs. Nelson now managed the store and (the) Post Office.

In 1925, Mrs. Nelson married Lee Burdell, and together they managed the old store, now know as 'Nelson-Burdell Hardware', until the opening of the paved highway in 1936, when they moved their supply of merchandise and later the Post Office to a new building on the highway we know as Highway 41. The Building became know as the Nelson Building. Mr. Burdell was the post master for three years before his heart attack. The store and Post Office then moved again, and passed out of the family of the Nelsons.

The Nelson building was than leased by Julia Dorene, who opened up a restaurant in 1939. Several old buildings were built on the back of the property to house employees, one of which is still standing. (In 1979, I witnessed personally the other buildings being torn down, and saw the old boards and nails. Paint chips were also identified.) The restaurant was a favorite stop for the loggers and truckers of that era until it closed in 1949.

After a period of vacancy, the building was leased to Bud Roberts In 1957. Bud opened a lumberyard, the first of several. In 1969 Mr. Roberts passed his lease on to Hugh Delani. Hugh also went into the lumber business. In 1970 the lease was passed to Ron Weyant, who managed a lumber yard for only a period of about a year. In late 1970, Joe Chanese and his wife took over the lease and opened a heating, plumbing, and air conditioning store. They also dabbled in lumber a bit. Their business was also short lived, as in 1974, they were out of business.

In 1972, My Grandfather, Kenneth Davis, opened what he wanted to be a plywood, roofing, and finish material store, using only a small portion the yard until 1977 when the building became available. In 1977 the building and land was known as Mountain Plywood, and was rapidly becoming a full-fledged lumber yard again. In 1980, my dad, Charles E. Davis, purchased the business, not he buildings, from my Grandfather (Kenneth passed away in July of 1980), and the business became know as Mountain Builder's Supply, Inc.

It is interesting to note that the original paneling and paint found during the extensive remodeling shows the diversities of the past history. The remodeling took place in the 1980's.

The store may be old, but I think it will be with us quite a while. Who knows what is to come? It may someday be a spaceport where people will carry on the Nelson Spirit.

This history account was compiled by Chip Davis, Cowboy Charlie's Son, as an 8th grade assignment in 1984, and is on record with the Fresno Flats Historical Site, here in Oakhurst, California.

P.S. Mountain Builder's Supply, Inc. continued in the lumber and hardware business until the Fall of 1991, when the Cowboy decided it was time for something more fun. That is when Mountain Builder's Supply, Inc. started a

D.B.A. The Purple Cow Mall, as you see it today, 17 years later.

Footnote by Cowboy Charlie

By Your Host, Cowboy Charlie

Although THE PURPLE COW is the mascot of Williams College in the Massachusetts, and the name of a delightful Ice Cream Café in Orland Park, Illinois, and the name given to a "Milka" scrumptious chocolate bar found only during the Christmas Holidays in and around Germany, our Purple Cow came from the imagination and dreams of Chip and his dad, Charlie.

Charlie, having a degree in Dairy Science, and had been working as a Dairy Specialist, left the farm to help his ailing dad in a Construction Business and a Hardware/Lumberyard in Oakhurst, California. After 18 years in the building industry, and watching Oakhurst grow, it was time for a change. The old saying about not being able to take the farm out of a farm boy, became true again. About this same time, son Chip, who wanted to become a dairy Vet, found out that he was now allergic to cows, even though cows had been a part of his life from birth. Now that Dad wanted a change and Son couldn't be around real cows, they put their heads together and decided that the only way either was going to have or be associated with cows was to create a fictional cow.

And, you guessed it, something catchy, something easy to remember, something colorful, and something cow. . . THE PURPLE COW! It was their idea to have this colorful bovine reign over a shop that promoted fine handcrafted gifts and decorating accents. What a crafty and mooooving idea! THE PURPLE COW was born of pen, paper, and signboard and was delivered by our resident "Vet" and his able "assistant" Shelly (now Mrs. Chip) in the summer of 1991. In the Fall of that year, THE PURPLE COW graced the front of THE PURPLE COW MALL.

It was a case of two derailed dreams, involving cows, finally coming true. It is proof that dreams, even derailed ones, high goals, and lots of perseverance can make great things happen, even if it's a wonderful little shop set in the Yosemite foothills called THE PURPLE COW.

And that's how it all began in the Fall of 1991!