Cuando los habitantes de Madera se acercaban al final de la década de 1920, estaban llenos de optimismo. Las perspectivas de pozos petroleros en las afueras del pueblo danzaban en la cabeza de algunos capitalistas locales, mientras que otros soñaban con recaudar los fondos para construir un flamante hotel de cuatro pisos en Yosemite Avenue. Al final, sin embargo, ambos planes fracasaron, y el pueblo entró a la década de 1930 con bastante cautela a medida que la economía del país se desplomaba.
One of the first indications that the 1930s would not be Madera’s most cherished decade was a fire that hit the downtown area at 6 o’clock on Sunday morning, Sept. 27, 1931. The town was aroused by a woman who frantically ran to the window of the Alta Hotel on Yosemite Avenue, threw it open and yelled for all she was worth, and it’s a good thing she did. Otherwise, she might have been burned alive. The woman in distress was Miss Nellie McSweeney, an instructor at Madera High School.
Fire Chief John Brammer was quick to reach the scene and was soon directing the fire-fighting efforts. He was the first to see the imperiled teacher. The Chief yelled for Joseph Cappelutti, who was on the roof, and the fire captain carefully made his way to McSweeney’s window.