When you think of Fresno, you probably don’t think of a 16th century French chateau. But then again, you aren’t M. Theo Kearney, the mysterious aristocrat, raisin baron, and self-made man who was once called the “Prince of Fresno.” The story of his remarkable estate, Chateau Fresno, today on KVPR’s Central Valley Roots.
Kearney was what you might consider a gentleman farmer. Born into poverty in Liverpool England, he created a new identity in the new world. One of immense business success, sophistication, and style, socializing with members of the aristocracy on his frequent trips to Europe…