Monthly archives: November, 2015

John Jay Cook – 1837 – 1904

John Jay Cook

John Jay Cook, the first of a number of family members to be associated with Yosemite, was an entrepreneur who was instrumental with his brother-in-law, Henry Washburn, in building up what is now the Wawona Hotel. But later he and his son, John Bruce Cook, took on management of Black’s Hotel in the Valley Floor and later the Stoneman House (which burnt down in 1896). His grandson was elected to the state house and used his influence to help the family business.

J.J., as he was sometimes called, was born June 4, 1837 in Dutchess County, New York. He……


More Posts at Yosemite Tales Coming Soon

Tenaya Lake Frozen - Posts Coming Soon to Yosemite Tales

I have been working on a number of tales and they are all in various states of incompleteness. The subject matters of these posts, for the most part, are very much intertwined with each other. As I unveil a fact for one tale, it reveals issues with another. Additionally, I really need to get back to Yosemite to pick up more information. So, while I continue to work on these details, I’ll share with you some “previews” of what those tales are.