New Courthouse Museum exhibit takes a photographic walk down Merced’s memory lane in 1973

Inflation, energy crisis, building slowdown, and labor unrest...It was 1973.

Building permit increase, retail growth, downtown revitalization, college campus expansion, and a successful purchase of a water company...It was Merced 1973.

Merced’s resilient economic growth during those difficult times is best illustrated in Merced County Courthouse Museum’s newest exhibit, “Remember 1973?”

Opening on March 9 at 5 p.m., this exhibition is a special walk down memory lane with 1973 photos from the Merced Sun-Star.

Merced, a quintessential valley town, had a population of 25,000 in 1973. One of the top priorities of the city was to improve the quality of life for its residents. In addition to Applegate and McNamara parks, there were several neighborhood parks, including Stephen Leonard Park, Circle Drive Park, East Merced Park, and Macready Park.

Within different neighborhoods, mini parks were created to provide more public spaces and enhance the aesthetic and living standards of their surrounding communities. The mini-parks system was developed in Merced in the 1970s, according to the former Merced Parks and Recreation Director Craig Smith.

Pat Nolet Park on Rambler Road, for example, was dedicated in May 1973 to memorialize Nolet’s contributions as a civic leader in Merced.

Cleaveland Mini-Park was created in November 1973 on Main and Canal streets, which was a joint effort between the city and the Merced Downtown Improvement District. Not many Mercedians remember this park because it was used as a placeholder for further development that became Bob Hart Square.

Besides parks, other recreational facilities included several theaters, Lake Yosemite, Merced Golf Course, swimming pools, tennis courts, a roller-skating rink, ballparks, and a well-stocked public library. The public library was housed in the Old High School Building on M Street. The County of Merced made several capital investments in 1973, including allocating $700,000 to construct a 45,000-square-foot, $1.8 million new library.

Another investment the county made was the current Administration Building on M Street for $3.4 million. This multi-million-dollar project was the biggest development in Merced in 1973. It broke ground on May 29, and the prefabricated side walls went up by the end of the year. The construction of the County Building was not without controversy.

The original plan was to take down the trees in the southeast section of Courthouse Park, where the Veterans Memorial is today, and construct the county complex at that site. This led to the “Save the Courthouse Park” campaign. The county complex battle ended in the State Supreme Court. On February 2, 1971, the Merced County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously not to build the county complex in Courthouse Park. The current site on 22nd and M streets was eventually selected.

Back to investment, Merced College was another community asset that Merced County residents supported when they voted for the continuation of a 25-cent tax override for capital improvements on February 6, 1973. In June, the expansion of the Merced College Administration Building began while the trustees took the first step toward the future football stadium. Then in October, a new entry road and parking facilities for 225 cars were completed.

Merced College’s phenomenal growth was also seen in its enrollment, up 21 percent, as Chowchilla Union High School became part of the Merced College District. In June, Merced College trustees adopted a resolution accepting Los Banos Unified School District as a full partner pending voter and state approval.

Educational opportunities continued to improve for Merced youth. There were 12 schools in the Merced City School District and two parochial schools in 1973. Merced had one high school on two campuses. The G Street Campus built in 1920, also known as the East Campus, was demolished in the summer of 1973 due to the Field Act, and new structures were being built with a planned reopening for the Fall of 1974.

Infrastructure investments were seen in many areas in the City of Merced. On May 1, the city purchased the Merced Water Company for $3,185,000; on May 18, the four-lane M Street Bridge was completed and opened for traffic. The Merced Planning Commission approved annexing a 956-acre industrial subdivision in East Merced in April and a 260-acre industrial park on Snelling Highway in July.

Merced’s business climate remained amicable despite gas rationing, labor unrest, and a meat boycott. In fact, retail merchants reported a better year than in 1972. While several businesses opened in 1973, like the Wine Cellar and Prairie Market, are now gone, others, like Dr. Jeffery Lee’s Optometry and Baskin-Robbins, are still in business.

Resilient spirit and sound investments are the two main characteristics of Merced throughout the “Remember 1973?” exhibit. Among the 150 photos on display, other cities and towns featured in this exhibit include Atwater, Dos Palos, Gustine, Le Grand, Livingston, Los Banos, Planada, Santa Nella, and Winton.

Come to relive Atwater High School Falcon Band’s Austria trip, join the national Campvention at Santa Nella, and make one last stop at Los Banos’ Old Depot during our exhibit opening on March 9.

At 6 p.m., Jim Cunningham of Merced, Greg Olzack of Atwater, and Tony Whitehurst of Los Banos will give a PowerPoint presentation titled “50 Years Ago.” For more information about the free exhibition and program, please contact the Museum office at (209) 723-2401. A special thanks to Merced Sun-Star for this wonderful collection of photos.

Sarah Lim is director of the Merced County Courthouse Museum.