Listen to the Interview here.

In rural Tulare County sits a small town that has a unique place in American history.

It was there in 1908, near the shore of the former Tulare Lake, that Colonel Allen Allensworth started the community that bore his name. A former slave, Allensworth's city remains unique to this day, a town founded, financed and governed by African Americans.

Today Allensworth is a state historic park dedicated to preserving his legacy and the story of African Americans in the San Joaquin Valley.

On Wednesday, Porterville College will host a special event from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. that takes a look at the history of town “Allensworth: Personal History and Recollections.” It features a talk by former Allensworth residents, including school principal George Finley, who lived in Allensworth in the 50’s and 60’s.

Finley joined us on Valley Edition to talk about the history of the town, and his experiences living there in the middle of the 20th century.