Covered in dust, untouched for nearly a century, 82 lost lanterns were discovered inside a locked room beneath the Belmont underpass. Contractors working on the high-speed rail stumbled upon the enormous find this past summer, unsure of what they were.
“The Belmont subway was built in the late 30’s. It was a huge thing. It connected the city at that time to Roeding Park and other places,” says Elizabeth Laval, Fresno City & County Historical Society.
Intricate metal work, red and green paint; each one stands several feet tall. The hidden lanterns quickly became a mystery of history…