The iconic pillar in the Fresno High historic neighborhood that was demolished by a drunk driver in December is slated to be rebuilt in the coming weeks.
Fresno City Councilmember Annalisa Perea said the Department of Public Works has given the OK for the project to proceed.
The 10-foot-tall pillar that stood at the northeast corner of Palm and Simpson avenues for more than a century was crushed in a Dec. 18 crash that sent two people to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries. The driver was arrested on suspicion of driving while intoxicated.
Neighbors in this central Fresno neighborhood have lamented the loss of the pillar, one of several in the area constructed a century ago as markers for home builders. Neighbors say the pillars, made of river rock, brick and mortar, are unique landmarks for the community.
Two Fresno High neighborhood stone pillars stand at Michigan Avenue at Van Ness Boulevard on Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2025. CRAIG KOHLRUSS ckohlruss@fresnobee.com
Many wanted to see the pillar rebuilt. Perea agreed and took on the project.
Initially, Perea was hoping to find a local craftsman to reconstruct the pillar, but the public works department has an in-house staff member who is an experienced mason and currently part of the concrete crew.
Perea said the employee worked professionally as a mason before joining the city.
“He expressed full confidence in his ability to reconstruct the damaged pillar,” she said.
The city will buy the materials and the mason will build a “miniature test pillar” at the Belmont Yard, where it will also serve as an address pillar for the site. Once the design and building construction are approved, the mason along with the help of two additional staff members will help build the pillar at the site.
Perea estimated the rebuilding of the pillar will take several weeks to complete to allow for drying and setting time.
Although Perea is not sure what the final cost of the project will be, she said it won’t be on the city’s dime.
“We got confirmation,” she said, “that the person who hit it will be covering it through their insurance.”
A city barricade stands over what once was one of the Fresno High neighborhood stone pillars after it was struck and destroyed by a vehicle at Palm and Simpson avenues on Dec. 18. CRAIG KOHLRUSS ckohlruss@fresnobee.com
An illustration by former Fresno Bee artist Doug Hansen shows the various subdivision boundary markers including the Fresno High neighborhood stone pillar erected in 1921. Doug Hansen The Fresno Bee
Two Fresno High neighborhood stone pillars stand at Michigan Avenue at Van Ness Boulevard on Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2025. CRAIG KOHLRUSS ckohlruss@fresnobee.com
This story was originally published February 25, 2026 at 12:15 PM.
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A Valley native, Robert has worked at The Fresno Bee since 1994, covering various topics including education, business, courts and agriculture.