History of Orange County, California : with biographical sketches of the leading men and women of the county who have been identified with its earliest growth and development from the early days to the present, Part 12

Author: Armor, Samuel, 1843-; Pleasants, J. E., Mrs
Publication date: 1921
Publisher: Los Angeles : Historic Record Co.
Number of Pages: 1700

USA > California > Orange County > History of Orange County, California : with biographical sketches of the leading men and women of the county who have been identified with its earliest growth and development from the early days to the present > Part 12

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Early in the nineties the board of supervisors called for sealed proposals for a site for the county buildings. A half dozen persons responded with offers of sites ranging in price from one dollar for a block in the Harlin tract on East Fourth Street up to $16,500 for a block on Birch Street by John Avas. None of the supervisors favored the Harlin site, notwithstanding its cheapness, because it was distant from the center of the city and was on comparatively low ground. Two, Yoch and Hawkins, favored the old Layman property, offered by Joseph Yoch for $6,000; two, Tedford and Schorn, favored the present site, offered by W. H. Spurgeon for $9,500 and afterwards reduced to $8,000; and one, Armor. favored the block immediately south of the present intermediate school site on North Main Street, offered by James Buckley on behalf of the Fruit heirs for $5,000. When attention was called to the impropriety of the chairman's support- ing his own offer, the advocates of the Layman site joined the supporters of the Spurgeon site ; and, when the advocate of the Fruit site failed to get any support for his choice, he also joined the supporters of the Spurgeon site and made the vote unanimous. Thus was the present site of the courthouse and jail selected and purchased from W. H. Spurgeon for the sum of $8,000.

Not long after the purchase of the site for the county buildings, the board of supervisors took steps for the erection of a commodious and substantial county jail. Provision was made in the tax levy to raise the funds by a direct tax; the plans of Dennis and Farwell of Los Angeles were adopted; and the contract for the erection of the building was awarded to Hulteen & Bergstrom of Los Angeles, who were the lowest bidders. This firm was hampered throughout the work by the lack of capital, certifying bills to the supervisors for payment in advance of the sums due on the building, which created friction with the board. It also quarreled with Hall's Safe and Lock Company and protested against the full payment of that company's bills for steel and iron work. The board, there- fore, quit the payment of all bills and instructed the district attorney to bring suit compelling the claimants to interplead and settle their accounts through the court. This was done and only such bills as were approved by the court were allowed by the supervisors. The contractors then stopped work and locked t11) the building, hoping to compel the board to make terms with them. Instead of doing so, however, the supervisors took forcible possession of the building and had it completed according to the plans and specifications, charging the

HISTORY OF ORANGE COUNTY

cost to the contractors. Thus were the public interests protected and the unfor- tunate complications cleared away with as little loss as possible to all concerned. The entire cost of the jail to the county was about $23,000.

Because of the cramped quarters for the county offices, the exposed condition of the county records and the clause in the deed to the site requiring a court house to be built thereon within ten years after its purchase, a movement was started early in 1899 to raise funds and commence the erection of the building. An election was called for September 5, 1899, to vote on the question of issuing $100,000 court house bonds. At this election the bonds carried by a vote of 1,414 in favor to 283 against. On the submission of competitive plans for the building by different architects, there followed a campaign of villification and vituperation by certain newspapers and mechanics to secure the adoption of the plan each was championing rather than any one of the others. To all appear- ances, some of the non-resident architects had enlisted these local influences against their competitors to help land the prize for themselves. Charges of corruption were made and denied ; the board of supervisors investigated some of the accusa- tions against its own members and seriously considered bringing suit against the worst offenders. Finally the two supervisors who were supporting the plans of C. B. Bradshaw, fearing the other three might unite on the worst plans, changed over to the plans of C. L. Strange, which were thus adopted December 20, 1899. The contract for the erection of the building was let to Chris. McNeal of Santa Ana, who carried it through to completion in a creditable and workmanlike man- ner. The cost of the court house, including a few expensive changes, was about $117,000.

On June 8, 1912, the Grand Avenue schoolhouse in Santa Ana was leased by the county for a Detention Home. Two months and a half later the super- visors bought the building and grounds from the Santa Ana Board of Education for $2,750. The purchase of this property enabled the county to make improve- ments in the buildings and grounds for the convenience of the management and the comfort of the inmates that otherwise could not have been made.

A bond election for two purposes was held on July 20, 1912, viz., to vote on the issue of $60,000 bonds for a county hospital, almshouse and poor farm combined, and on the issue of $100,000 for county bridges. The returns on the hospital bonds were, Yes, 1,983 and No, 361 ; and those on the bridge bonds were Yes, 1,829 and No, 479. Notice of intention to buy seventy-two acres of land for $24,250 from the Dawn Land Company, as a site for the county hospital and poor farm, was given by the board of supervisors on October 22, 1912, and the purchase was completed November 19, following. This site is in West Orange and is a part of the U. L. Shaffer estate, west of the Southern. Pacific Railway at the end of Chapman Avenue. A contract for the erection of foreman's bungalow and four cottages was awarded to Anderson & Bolyard, on December 26, 1912, for $5,996; also one to Horton & Eaton Company to furnish a 6,000-gallon tank on a thirty-foot octagonal tower with three-horsepower motor and Bulldozer head pump, for $700. Chris McNeal was given the contract to erect the main hospital building for $45,441, on September 16, 1913, and Munger & Munger were awarded the contract for the lighting and heating plant for $5,115. November 18, 1913, A. H. Anderson secured the contract to erect three cottages, a laundry and club house for $8,450. February 17, 1914, Robertson & Packard were employed to put electrical fixtures into the county hospital for $412; and March 10 the Johns- Manville Company to put in refrigerator and ice box for $494.40. On April 14, the bid of the Western Laundry Machinery Company was accepted to put in laundry appliances for $2,232; and Fairbanks-Morse Company's bid of $65.50 for a motor was also accepted. A month later Chris McNeal was given the contract to provide sewers and sewer connections for the hospital buildings for $5,545. November 17, 1914, Fred Siefert secured a contract for buildings at the county farm amounting to $10,925. August 8, 1917, contracts were given to G. A. Bar- rows to erect a service building. including dining room and kitchen, at the poor

HISTORY OF ORANGE COUNTY

farm for $7,652, to the Anglo Range & Refrigerator Company for kitchen equip- ment for $2,357 and to the Automatic Refrigerator Company for refrigerator equipment and cold storage boxes for $3,707.

The following clipping from the Santa Ana Register is of interest :

"With the sale, announced by F. W. Slabaugh, county purchasing agent, of 5,240 pounds of lima beans, grown on the Orange County Farm property, at the end of West Chapman Avenue, it became known today that $641.90 has been added to the account of the institution, and that the farm's income from all sources this year will total slightly more than $10,000.

"The lima beans were sold to the C. C. Collins Company, buyers of this city. at twelve and one-quarter cents per pound.

"The County Farm property consists of approximately seventy-two acres. There are 1,000 six-year-old Valencia orange trees on the property, as well as 1,600 one-year-old Valencias. The income from these trees during the present year was $3,131, Slabaugh announced.

"It is estimated that the returns from the oranges next year will be at least $7,000. There is a bumper crop on the trees, and Slabaugh has recently purchased 2,000 props for use in preventing branches from breaking as a result of the great weight of fruit.

"In addition to the oranges that are sold, an ample supply is always available for use of the 80 persons who live at the farm.

"While the Orange County Farm is not a self-sustaining institution, still the cost of operation is cut down considerably by sales of fruit. There are two acres of deciduous fruit on the property. In addition, the farm raises its own vege- tables. Four cows supply milk for the institution."

Shortly after the county came into possession of the grounds now forming the county park, a cottage was erected for the use of the custodian; a well was (lug, a tank and engine were provided and the water was piped into the house and to different parts of the grounds where needed. A few years later, a neat and commodious pavilion was built for dancing and the use of assemblies. Furnaces were built for outdoor cooking; long tables and benches were stationed under the trees for large picnic parties to spread their lunches ; swings, teeters and other devices for the amusement of the children were supplied. On October 21, 1913. E. G. Stinson contracted to excavate a basin of considerable proportions for a lake in the county park for the modest sum of $3,960. Boats and a boathouse soon were added to the accommodations of the park and now aquatic sports are available for those who enjoy such pastimes. On the same date, C. M. Jordan agreed to refit and furnish the old office of the sheriff in the court house, to accommodate the new department of the superior court. for the sum of $1,529.50.

On December 23, 1919, the board of supervisors accepted a proposition sub- mitted by Florence Yoch, landscape architect of Los Angeles and daughter of Joseph Yoch of this city, with reference to beautifying Orange County Park.

Included in the services which are to be rendered are the drawing up of a picture plan of the park ; working drawings and an engineering plan for system of walks and roads, indicating the proposed planting areas and locating buildings, recreational features and park utilities : a sketch of the proposed treatment of the entrance : detailed planting plans for the entrance ; a report and recommendation concerning methods, time and amounts of development ; personal supervision of the laying out of roads and principal walks and personal supervision of such planting as may be done at this time.

On July 10, 1919, C. McNeill was awarded the contract to make changes in the court house, to provide better accommodations for Department 2 of the Superior Court, for the sum of $10,558. A memorial arch is being built at Orange County Park and other improvements are under consideration.

HISTORY OF ORANGE COUNTY

On September 16, 1919, G. A. Barrows was awarded the contract for build- ing a garage at the County Hospital for the sum of $2,935.

December 2, 1919, a contract was let to E. W. Smith to build a cowshed at the county farm for the sum of $1,099.65.

On March 4, 1920, the supervisors awarded a contract for building a county garage at the southeast corner of Church and Sycamore streets to R. C. McMillan for $27,000, which was the lowest of seven bids. They also awarded the contract for erecting a sheriff's office, at the southeast corner of Seventh and Sycamore streets, to the same bidder for the sum of $4,600.

While the foregoing list of disbursements does not include money spent for changes, repairs and small furnishings, it does include practically all the large constructive expenditures for sites and buildings for the county offices and public institutions. An examination of these accommodations and of the methods by which they were procured will convince any fair-minded citizen that the public funds have been judiciously expended and that the county has got value received for the money paid out.

CHAPTER XVI

PLEASURE DRIVES AND RESORTS

The title to most of the land in Orange County came down through Spanish grants. The largest of these grants is the San Joaquin ranch, which extends en- tirely across the county from northeast to southwest and contains 108,000 acres. The greater part of this vast estate still belongs to one person, James Irvine, who leases parts of the hill land for grazing and parts of the valley land for agricul- ture and occupies other parts with enterprises of his own. In the basin of San- tiago Creek, which flows across the ranch, are some fine groves of large sycamore and live oak trees. One of the finest of these groves had been used as a picnic ground by the people long before the property came into the possession of the present owner. In considering how to make the best use of his heritage Mr. Irvine conceived the idea of donating that grove to the county for a pleasure resort for the people. He accordingly conferred with the supervisors as to the best method of protecting the gift and making it effective in accomplishing the benefi- cent purposes intended by the donation. The conditions proposed by Mr. Irvine and agreed to by the board of supervisors were that the tract should be enclosed and put in charge of a keeper, thereby protecting the majestic trees from destruc- tion, and that the sale of intoxicating liquors should not be permitted anywhere on the property. All the preliminaries having been satisfactorily arranged, Orange County, through the generosity of James Irvine, came into possession, on October 11, 1897, of 160 acres of the finest wood land in the southern part of the state. as a perpetual playground for its inhabitants.

Some time during the seventies Rev. H. H. Messenger, a retired Episcopal clergyman, bought a tract of land on the mesa south of the present location of the town of El Modena and settled a small colony of members of that denomination on it. These people, having no water system provided and being without means with which to develop one, soon starved out and scattered to parts unknown. A few years later David Hewes came down from San Francisco, bought this land and set to work to improve it. One of the oracles in that vicinity warned him that nothing could be done with such land. Mr. Hewes answered that he could cover the tract with twenty dollar gold pieces, if he wanted to. "You'll have to do so, to make it worth anything," was the retort. Nevertheless, the Hewes orchards, consisting of about 525 acres, are now worth a million dollars and the Hewes Park is one of the show places of the county.

In January, 1920, the David Hewes Realty Company, representing the heirs of the Hewes estate, sold the property to a syndicate of Los Angeles and Orange

HISTORY OF ORANGE COUNTY

County people for $1,000,000, which is an average of about $1,487 per acre for the 672.54 acres of highly improved, water-stocked land. The improvements con- sist of 425 acres of lemons, 212 acres of Valencia oranges, fifteen acres in the park, two large packing houses, pumping plant and pipe lines, ranch houses, etc. The principal reason for such valuable property selling below the market price is that its magnitude prevented competition among buyers. The market price for good bearing orchards ranges from $3,000 to $5,000 per acre. In a few instances offers of $6,000 per acre have been refused.

About a quarter of a century ago a nine-hole golf course was laid out in the valley southeast of the El Modena grade. Among those interested in the sport. the following names have been recalled: James Irvine, Dr. J. P. Boyd, W. H. Burnham, R. H. Sanborn, James Fullerton and Henri F. Gardner. Golfing parties would be made up in the different communities from time to time as in- clination prompted and the cares of business permitted until the inclination was overborne by the cares and the sport languished. Then in 1910 the club revived and increased its membership to about 100, drawing in such members as F. B. Browning, J. R. Porter, A. J. Klunk, Kellar Watson, C. F. Newton, H. T. Ruther- ford, C. G. and A. C. Twist, J. F. Parsons, J. W. Tubbs, and George B. Shat- tuck. In 1913 Messrs. Browning, Porter and Shattuck looked up the present grounds, containing about 160 acres adjoining the city of Newport Beach west of the bay, which the club leased for ten years with the privilege of renewal for another like period. The name "The Santiago Golf Club," was dropped and June 4, 1914, the organization was incorporated as The Orange County Country Club. An eighteen-hole course was laid out and a club house built. A tennis court and croquet grounds were also provided. A professional is employed to give instruction and look after the grounds, which are kept open the year round for the use of members. The membership has increased to 278 and the present officers are: Charles G. Twist, president; F. B. Browning, vice-president ; George B. Shattuck. secretary; Harry L. Hanson, treasurer ; and board of directors as fol- lows: C. G. Twist, F. B. Browning, C. S. Gilbert, Lew Wallace, W. A. Huff, Edward McWilliams, C. D. Holmes, Hugh G. Smith and George B. Shattuck. With automobiles and good roads, groups of players come to the grounds from anv distance for an afternoon's sport in the open air ; besides special features are provided at intervals in the club house for the entertainment of the members.

In 1910 C. E. Utt and Sherman Stevens bought about 600 acres of hill land northeast of Tustin and the following year commenced to set out orchards and build roads and drives. The eminence was christened "Lemon Heights" and early attracted the attention of Mr. Marcy, one of J. Ogden Armour's lieutenants. He bought the original purchase of Messrs. Utt and Stevens, and later added to his holdings over a thousand acres, purchased from others. Much of this land is unfit for cultivation ; but with water it is susceptible of improvement as a park, like Smiley Heights at Redlands. However, Mr. Marcy is already developing about three hundred acres, building scenic roads, setting out orchards and con- veying water to the tract. The water is supplied from three wells near Tustin. and is forced to the heights through two twelve-inch steel pipes, by electric power. which convey 240 inches into a large reservoir on the very top of the heights, from where such water can be delivered through pipes by gravity to all parts of the tract. He also has a well on his own land which yields thirty inches of water. Mr. Stevens disposed of all his interests in the enterprise some time ago, but Mr. Utt still retains about 200 acres of the land and a large share in, if not com- plete control of, the main water supply. Other former Chicagoans who are financially interested, are Robert M. Simons, who has over ninety acres set to oranges and lemons, and Doctor and Mrs. Bartholomew, who have about sixty-five acres. Of local people besides Mr. Utt there are Arthur Lyon, who recently refused $108,000 for his thirty-eight acre orange and lemon orchard; Doctor Waffle, who has about thirty acres of lemons, and a number of others with smaller holdings. A fine view of the valleys and plains, constituting the central and south-

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ern portions of the county, may be had from these heights; and doubtless many palatial residences will be erected there in the near future, whose occupants may thus perennially enjoy the beauties of nature enhanced by the arts of civilization.

From time immemorial San Juan Hot Springs in the canyon of that name, has had quite a reputation as a health resort. Water may be obtained there at any temperature desired, without artificial heat ; but whether it has mineral ingredients that give it medicinal value we are not advised. It is well attested, however, that hot baths at these springs have relieved patients afflicted with different diseases, and that the tepid mud baths have been very helpful in the treatment of rheu- matism. Hence, if any one wishes to get rid of his rheumatics while enjoying a pleasant outing, let him camp at these hot springs for a few weeks, taking a regular course of warm baths and spending the rest of the time in exhilarating exercise and refreshing sleep.

A number of the cities and towns in the county have a plaza or public park, a breathing place, as such places are called in the large cities. The land for this purpose is sometimes donated to the public by the person or company that lays out the town, and in other cases it is donated by some public-spirited citizen or association of such citizens. In the former case the land often lies neglected for several years, a sort of "No Man's Land." while in the latter case the improve- ment generally follows immediately after the donation. The plaza at Westminster is an example of the former class, and is specifically mentioned because it has come under the care of the board of supervisors. The Stearns Land Company donated about four acres to the community for a plaza and two acres each to the Presbyterian Church and the public school for building sites in the year 1871. No improvement was made on the plaza grounds for forty years. Then the com- munity had to chip in and buy the property back, for through its own inattention it had allowed it to be illegally assessed and sold for taxes past redemption. Nearly $400 was raised for this purpose and for sinking a well. This well flowed for a while: but, with the capping and the light rainfall, it has ceased to flow, in common with all the wells in that vicinity. In 1914 the care of the park was committed to the board of supervisors and in 1916 trees were furnished by the forestry commission. January 8, 1919, the supervisors appointed James A. Mc- Fadden caretaker of this park and he has bought an engine and pump ; so the prospects for better care are brightening. This example illustrates the difficulty of a community in having any public improvements without a local government to take care of such improvements. It also shows that the community has the right spirit at heart in recovering its plaza and taking steps to improve the same. Doubtless this spirit will push the improvement until the Westminster Plaza will rank with similar "beauty spots" in other cities. Santa Ana's Birch Park is almost as popular as the County Park in attracting small groups of people for an outdoor lunch and a quiet social time. The Plaza at Orange forms a picture in the minds of the beholders that never can be forgotten, to say nothing about the pleasure it affords citizens with leisure to enjoy its comfortable seats and grateful shade while discussing the questions of the day. Anaheim was willing to pay six per cent interest per annum on a twenty-acre orange orchard, valued at $60,000, during the life of the owner, to acquire the property at his death for park pur- poses ; but the governor vetoed the legislative act designed to legalize such a deal. Since the blocking of that deal the board of trade has secured options from every property owner in the library block, to purchase that property at an estimated cost of $75,000 for a public park. Fullerton has a five-acre park now ; but the board of trade and the city trustees are advocating the purchase of the twenty acres known as Reservoir Hill for park purposes. They are also proposing to lay out a skyline drive, one and one-eighth miles long, on the nearby hills, which will give a fine view of the entire coastal plain.

At a meeting of the city trustees of Newport Beach on or about April 19, 1920, J. P. Greely, president of the board, and Lew H. Wallace, city treasurer,

ARDEN, THE HOME OF MADAME MODJESKA

LAGUNA BEACH SCENE

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were made a committee to negotiate with the owners of a tract of land for a city park. A tract has been offered the city for $4,000 on an easy payment plan, which is suitable for that purpose ; it lies between Bay and Central avenues, fac- ing Island Avenue, directly across the street from the East Newport Garage. The tract has several big trees on the grounds and has long been used by visitors to the beach for a camping ground.

Reference is made in the chapter on Orange County's Good Roads to the con- struction of a road in Trabuco Canyon from the schoolhouse up to the forks by the United States Bureau of Roads, Orange County bearing half the expense. Trabuco Canyon is said to be one of the most beautiful in Southern California. and to have a very fine camping ground near the Forks. The Forest Service pro- poses to lay out this ground and lease the lots to campers, for whom it will furnish tables and other equipment, including public toilets. Several applications have already been made for lots on which to erect cabins. This will add another pleasure drive and resort to the many within the county.

"Modjeska's Home and Inn" is the business name of the idyllic retreat in the Santiago Canyon which belonged to Madame Modjeska for a number of years and to which she would return for relaxation and rest after finishing a season's engagements on the stage. The place was selected in the early days by J. E. Pleasants, when all the sites were unoccupied. He built a commodious house with wide porches, developed a water system and added such other improvements as would help to make a comfortable and tasteful home for himself and family. After Madame Modjeska bought the property, we visited the place over thirty years ago and were shown all about the premises by the housekeeper, in the absence of the owner. The house was elegantly furnished with antique furniture made of mahogany and other rare and costly woods; the floors were covered with rugs of intricate patterns and skins of wild beasts; and every nook and cranny was filled with expensive articles of vertu, curios, ornaments and various kinds of relics. On the walls and easels were paintings of noted actors and actresses, among which were some of Madame Modjeska in different poses in stage attire. About the grounds were some good-sized trees that suggested to the actress the "Forest of Arden," one of the scenes of Shakespeare's play, "As You Like It," as a romantic name for her sylvan retreat. The flowers, shrubbery and decorations were so placed as to add to the artistic effect of the landscape. Now, however, the large tract originally held under one ownership is being rapidly sold off in lots and acreage tracts which, of course, means more homes and more com- munity interests, without impairing or lessening the grandeur of the mountain scenery.

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History of Orange County, California : with biographical sketches of the leading men and women of the county who have been identified with its earliest growth and development from the early days to the present, Part 12

Author: Armor, Samuel, 1843-; Pleasants, J. E., Mrs Publication date: 1921 Publisher: Los Angeles : Historic Record Co. Number of Pages: 1700

Author: Armor, Samuel, 1843-; Pleasants, J. E., Mrs
Publication date: 1921
Publisher: Los Angeles : Historic Record Co.
Number of Pages: 1700