Question: What is the history of Baskin's Auto Upholstery in downtown Fresno?

-- Jeff Dippel, Fresno

Answer: According to Richard Baskin, his grandfather and grandmother, Hyman and Dora Baskin, immigrated to New York from Russia in 1903.

They came to Fresno in about 1910 and Hyman Baskin bought out a wrecking yard at 729 Broadway in about 1917 and started Baskin Auto Wrecking.

In the late 1940s, Hyman Baskin changed the business to auto parts and accessory sales.

When Baskin died in 1949, his sons, Samuel, Julius and Max Baskin, took over the family business. In 1950, Samuel Baskin -- Richard's father -- bought out his brothers.

In 1957, Samuel Baskin added auto upholstery to the business. Richard Baskin took over the business in 1975.

In 2002, Richard's son, Bruce Baskin, took over Baskin's Upholstery. Richard Baskin continues to run Baskin Auto Parts, specializing in vintage car parts.

Their vintage neon sign was erected in 1956 and refurbished in 2002. It was added to the city's Local Register of Historic Resources in 2008.

Q: The Canal Farm in Los Banos built by pioneer cattle rancher Henry Miller was later a beautiful resort. What is it used for now?

-- Louis Steck, Fresno

A: According to the Los Banos visitor's guide online, Henry Miller built the headquarters of his expansive farming operations in 1873 on Pacheco Boulevard. He founded the town of Los Banos in 1890.

The headquarters' original name was Farmer's Camp, but the name was changed to Canal Farm in 1876.

The main building now houses Espana's Southwest Bar and Grill. According to a history on the restaurant's website, Miller had just $6 when he came to San Francisco from Germany in 1850.

Miller and Charles Lux, who owned a string of ranches, formed a partnership in 1858. Eventually, they owned more than 1 million acres of land in the San Joaquin Valley, Oregon, Nevada and Idaho.

When Miller died in 1916, he left an estate valued at $48 million.

The property was bought by Martha Goni in 1931. According to a 1967 Bee story, "The main hotel and restaurant were built in 1932 on the charred foundation of the old division superintendent's residence, which in turn had been constructed on the ruins of the ranch house erected by Miller."

Former Los Banos Mayor Robert Puccinelli bought the inn in 1945. In 1952, a fire destroyed 12 rooms in one of the inn's units.

The inn and six acres around it were named a State Historical Landmark in 1956.

In 1967, then-Los Banos Mayor John Amabile Jr. purchased the inn from Puccinelli. A fire in 1969 heavily damaged the bar, which contained a collection of photographs of early-day Los Banos.