In 1909, the Madera County Board of Supervisors saw the need for a courthouse park, and they became involved in some heavy negotiations. They were attempting to purchase the east side of block 25, which was that area that lay between the newly erected courthouse and F Street.
Las conversaciones no iban bien. Las partes no lograban ponerse de acuerdo en un precio. En disputa había una hilera de negocios a lo largo de la calle F, comenzando con la Casa de Huéspedes Japonesa, cuyo propietario era conocido solo como “George”. Estaba ubicada en la esquina de las calles Sexta y F. Conocida como el “Rincón Sombrío”, la estructura fue uno de los primeros edificios comerciales construidos en Madera y en una época albergó el Hotel Lucca, operado por una rama de la familia Simi.
At the other end of the block, on the corner of F Street and Yosemite Avenue, stood McCluskey’s saloon and barber shop. In between were the Chinese store of Lee Sam, his two story lodging house, and the Yosemite Livery, Feed, & Sale Stable operated by W.B. Coffman.