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Let’s Talk Clovis: Clovis Role Model, Seferina Herrera Franco (1916-2018) PEG BOS Historian/Clovis Museum Sponsor
Seferina Herrera Franco was born on Aug. 26, 1916. We celebrated her 100th birthday at the Clovis Museum on Aug. 27, 2016. We are sharing her history that documents her rich and productive life. Seferina Franco is a loving, nurturing matriarch to five generations. Her extended family numbers more than three hundred. She remains the guiding light in their lives. She still carries herself with grace and dignity. She has an inner beauty and intelligence that comforts and challenges her family and friends. Her parents (Demetrio and Maria Herrera) lived in Frontenac, Kansas when she was born. Her father was a “reenganchado” a term used for those under contract with railroad companies. The family moved to Clovis in 1919 when Seferina was 3 years old. Many Mexican families arrived in Clovis during the Mexican Revolution (1910-1920). They worked and lived on ranches, but many settled south of Old Town on Seventh Street. Migrant workers and families would camp in the eucalyptus grove along Clovis Avenue between Seventh and Eighth Streets. Seferina left school after the fifth grade because the focus for young girls at that time was to learn proper manners, cooking and house keeping that prepared them for marriage. She was also needed to drive the family truck and trailer to their campsite in San Jose. She smiles as she recalls she could barely see over the steering wheel, but they
always arrived safely. During a trip with her brother Ike Herrera (1925-2016), she remembers him telling her mother that a trailer that was passing them was similar to their trailer. It turned out to be their trailer, it had broken away from the hitch! No injuries or damages occurred as it eventually landed in a field. They retrieved the wayward trailer and continued their journey. In the early 1920s, the Herrera family built a home in the 800 block of Fulton (Clovis Avenue). Seferina remembers Contributed by Clovis Museum Seferina Herrera Franco (1916-2018) lived a rich and the dirt streets and the horseproductive life. drawn water wagons that would help keep the dust under control. Rosalie, Gilbert and Olivia worked in the Open dating was not permitted and men fields, but not during the school year. Their were not allowed to visit the home of their parents were determined that they would regirlfriend. Fiestas for baptism, confirmation, ceive an education. birthday and weddings provided courting opBy 1944, Seferina managed to save $25 portunities. Seferina loved to dance and she for a down payment to buy property at 836 celebrated her 90th birthday by dancing with Pollasky. The sale price ($200) would require her family members. $10 monthly payments (no interest charged). Luis Franco (son of Justo and Eloisa It was financed by pioneer real estate salesFranco) was a determined and resourceful man Frank Drury. The Francos moved an old suitor for the hand of Seferina. Luis (age 34) house onto the property, but the home was and Seferina (age 23) were married in 1939. destroyed by fire in 1945. They relocated to a She brought $5 to the marriage. Throughout railroad section house where rent was $1 per their married life, she would continue to month, including electricity. Frugal Seferina amaze and delight Luis with her ability to continued to put savings aside to fulfill her save and invest money. dream of someday leaving the fields. Tradition dictated that wives did not In 1948, the Francos traveled to Gardena work, but Seferina’s desire to “make some in Southern California to manage a small money” would prevail. Luis worked in the restaurant owned by a cousin who had befields and also as foreman at Wawona Farms come ill. They returned to Clovis in 1949. for Earl Smittcamp. Their children Frank, Seferina had become an accomplished cook
and remained determined to open a restaurant. They built a home on their property and also a 20-by-20-foot structure for their restaurant. They had no additional funds to open the restaurant. In the early 1950s, Luis was hired by Southern Pacific to work on the “pick and shovel” gang. It was hard work but provided a decent wage. His family continued to work in the fields. In 1958, their friend Andy Pellegrino (owner of the Buy Rite Market) encouraged them to borrow money on their home and open Franco’s Taco House. The grand opening was on Clovis Day that year. Sales approached $20. Their restaurant was only “take out” since it was located in a residential area. After a few years, the city granted permission to install three tables. Their profit margin was slim. Seferina could earn more working in the fields but she would not be discouraged. She believed someday their restaurant would be successful. The business grew with Clovis and in 1973 they increased the seating capacity to 85 by expanding into their family living room. They remodeled again in 1991 and increased capacity to 135. Seferina became famous for her salsa and tamales. The recipes remain a family secret. Her daughter Rosalie Sandoval managed the restaurant for 34 years. After serving Clovis for 50 years, the oldest Clovis Mexican restaurant closed on March 29, 2008. Seferina was the first Hispanic woman to receive the honor of being inducted into the 1994 Clovis Hall of Fame. Seferina and her family provided us a rich heritage.
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