History of Riverside County, California, Part 16

Author: Holmes, Elmer Wallace, 1841-
Publication date: 1912
Publisher: Los Angeles : Historic Record Co.
Number of Pages: 845

USA > California > Riverside County > History of Riverside County, California > Part 16

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Total acreage and improvements thereon, $979,052.55.

Respectfully,

HORATIO N. DOYLE, Assessor.

The board of directors unanimously passed a resolution en-

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dorsing and accepting said report and ordered same spread on the minutes of the board.

They said further: "No question can now be raised against the work done in the past, and we need fear nothing as to the final outcome of the water question, for the bonds will be sold, and work will then begin, and in the not very distant future Bear Valley water will come rippling down our avenues, and flowing through our orange groves, and Perris valley, from Moreno to our own thriving town, will be dotted with groves and beautiful homes, for all the fruits and flowers for which Riverside and Redlands are celebrated can be raised here to perfection. For natural beauty there is not a valley in all Southern California which excels, if it equals the Perris valley. Our climate is truly an anomaly. In all the seasons, including the rainy days of the winter months, sunshine is the rule; and we only know it is the time of winter by seeing his white mantle glistening in the bright sunlight on the distant mountain peaks. We close this report with an invitation to our eastern friends to come and be one of us, 'for the Lord hath spoken good concerning this fair land, and his smile is upon us, for it is in very truth God's country.'"

J. W. NANCE, President, GEO. P. OAKES, W. F. PERRY, ARNOLD E. COLBY;

ISRAEL METZ, H. A. PLIMPTON, Secretary.

Isn't this glorious prophecy a bit pathetic to those who know the trouble the Bear Valley water transactions brought to this fair land? In this instance, as is always true where the interests of the people are concerned, sides were taken for and against the Bear Valley water proposition. The people were united on the fact that Perris valley must have water, but there were those, shall we not say, who were a little the wiser, who believed a subter- ranean body of water could be found at an average depth of about forty feet, which would be inexhaustible, since a flow of about twenty miners' inches was being drawn from two seven-inch wells by a steam engine, continuously for twenty-four hours, without lowering the water in the wells.

Such decided positions were taken by either side that the bit-

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terest of feeling existed between the two factions. It went to such an extent that incendiary fires occurred. At one time the ware- house of Hook Brothers & Oak was burned to the ground; at another time the store was found in a blaze, but this was quickly extinguished before any real damage was done. Many pages could be written on the period of Perris history, but suffice to say in spite of all these ups and downs the district was bonded and the water came "rippling down their avenues," and when it reached the town a great day of feasting and joy and gladness was ob- served. A fountain of water played in the streets and the "Water Festival" went down in history. Perris valley took on new life, orchards of all kinds of fruit trees were to be seen growing in any direction; gardens flourished; flowers bloomed, and it seemed indeed it was "God's country."

Following is a clipping from the Riverside Reflex, April 14, 1894: "Perris is a young city of the plains. It is on the South- ern California Railway. It is in the midst of the great grain-grow- ing part of the county, but has recently gone extensively into decid- uous fruits, alfalfa and general farming. What is called Perris valley embraces about 80,000 acres of land, 13,000 acres of which comprise the Perris Irrigation District, watered from the great Bear Valley dam, in the San Bernardino mountains. The water is distributed in steel pipes under pressure, and the system, when completed, at the cost of $300,000, will be one of the finest in the world. All kinds of deciduous fruits, cereals and vegetables grow in abundance and perfection, and lemons thrive. The population of town and settlement is about 1,200, and the town is quite a trad- ing center. There are stores of all kinds, a bank, a good news- paper, opera house, schools, churches, etc. In the foothills, a few miles west of Perris, gold mining is profitably prosecuted."

Right here it might be said the hills west of Perris are rich in deposits of gold, silver, copper, lead, manganese, nickel, asbes- tos, plumbago and gypsum. At this time the principal gold mines worked near Perris were the Good Hope Consolidated, Meni- fee, Plomo, Virginia, Northern Belle, Colorado, and the placers in Gabilan. Specimens of gold quartz assaying over $60 per ton had been taken out, though the average was from $20 to $45 per ton. A five-stamp mill had been in operation at the Good Hope

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mine for ten years, but was replaced by improved machinery having greater capacity.

A stamp mill was also in operation at the Menifee mines, eight miles from Perris. The property was owned by the Allen syndicate of St. Louis. Menifee Wilson, who first located the mines, and for whom that portion of the valley was named, took out over $18,000 worth of gold dust before disposing of the property.

The famous Temecula tin mines, fifteen miles west of Perris, were owned by an English company who employed a force of a hundred men improving the mines, erecting buildings and con- structing a large dam.

Perris valley, through the labor of J. H. Banks, had a mineral exhibit which took first premium at the Sixth District Fair, held in Los Angeles in the fall of 1889.

Thus in nearly all lines of activity Perris was prosperous. But this prosperity, so eagerly looked forward to, continued for only a few short years. The Bear Valley Water Company soon was unable to furnish the water agreed upon, as their supply low- ered, and other places having prior rights must be supplied, so the Perris valley supply dwindled and finally was shut off entirely, and the services of Lou Howery, as zanjero, were no longer needed. Then dark and troublous days followed. The gardens and flowers no longer flourished; the fruit trees were unable to withstand the long, dry summers, and alfalfa fields became brown and gray.

Naturally censure fell upon those public-spirited citizens who had worked so zealously to bring the water into the valley, which through no fault of theirs had been taken away. Many small for- tunes were wrecked, and many good families were lost to Perris. Houses were picked up and moved out of the valley, making the place look the more desolate.

Finally in 1895, Dr. W. B. Payton, now of Riverside, began to make arrangements to bore a well and grade forty acres for alfalfa on his ranch east of town. People generally discouraged him, saying he would be foolish to even try to keep ten acres alive from the little water he would get from a well. But he bored his well, and installed a gasoline engine and successfully irrigated his forty-acre field of alfalfa. About this time William Edgar,

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now of Imperial, bored a well and had water for irrigation pur- poses.

Ranchers throughout the valley began to put down wells, but it was not until 1905 that things really began to pick up.

In December, 1888, the Temescal Water Co. was organized in Corona. One hundred and sixty acres of land were bought in the Perris valley and wells put down and pumping plants erected. A pipe line was built from these wells in Perris valley to the wells in Temescal canyon, and ever since August 11, 1901, water has been pumped from these wells, through the pipe line to Temescal, then on to Corona, to increase the insufficient water supply from the Temescal artesian wells.

Why couldn't Perris valley at this time have had the benefit of this water supply?

The Temescal Water Co. has its station at Ethanac, on the Santa Fe, a few miles southeast of Perris. Ethanac was named in honor of Ethan Allen Chase of Riverside; and is a pretty little town, the inhabitants being chiefly the employes of the Temescal Water Co.

In 1904 William Newport brought action against the Temes- cal Water Co. to prevent them pumping water from the Perris valley into the Corona valley, for he believed the water level in the Perris valley was being lowered. He was defeated in the courts, however, and the Temescal Water Co. still operates at Ethanac.

Water supply or non-supply makes history in Southern Cali- fornia, so it has been the peg around which all events in Perris and Perris valley rotate. But the supply in this valley that has already been developed has far exceeded the wildest dream of any promoter or real estate dealer. Wells and pumping plants can be found on every ranch, and thousands of acres of alfalfa are watered and harvested, while oranges and lemons grow in abundance along the foothills.

One of the finest ranches in the valley is Poorman Dairy Ranch. Much could be said about the development of this ranch, which has been an interesting agricultural study. The ranch, consisting of 3,600 acres, is the property of Samuel Poorman of Alameda. His son Edward is sole manager, a young man just from college, who came to the ranch some six or seven years ago, and who with the experience of his father has made the ranch what it is, a

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splendid Southern California dairy ranch. He manufactures the Mission creamery butter, a well-known product in this part of the state.

One of the prettiest home places in the valley is La Hacienda, the bungalow home of Mr. and Mrs. John Dunlap, on the Dunlap ranch, northeast of town. It is built of gray granite and is the quaintest, most artistic place one could imagine, with its roof in a dull gray tone and the seven gables green. It is a low rambling house, with large porches, surrounded by flowers and a spacious lawn in front. A large number of ornamental and fruit trees are growing round about the place, while broad alfalfa fields are on three sides cooling the heated winds of afternoons in summer. To sit on the veranda here at twilight and see the different ranges of mountains and foothills on the south, the east, and the west, hazily outlined in a soft blue-gray light, with the great valley stretching away in all directions, one can fully appreciate the won- drous beauty of the "hill-encircled Perris valley."

About a half-mile distant to the east is the cozy brown bunga- low home of Mr. and Mrs. A. H. Dunlap, Jr., nestling in a pretty garden.

The Dunlap Brothers have 160 acres in alfalfa, while the re- mainder of the ranch is devoted to dry farming. The Dunlap ranch was originally a part of the Newport North ranch. The foothill portion was sold by A. H. Dunlap, Sr., to Emil Firth, who has had it surveyed into ten-acre tracts for orange culture. He has named the place Orange Vista, and already a beautiful home on Foothill and Citrus avenues has been built by Mrs. Anderson, who came but recently from Davenport, Iowa, with her husband, who suddenly died while the new home was being made ready for them.

A beautiful home among the foothills, about two miles north of town, is that of Mr. and Mrs. George C. Conklin. The house, with its pretty green lawn and multitude of beautiful flowers, sur- rounded by a grove of orange and lemon trees, is one of the show places of the valley. Go up the tree-lined drive in April, when orange and lemon trees and roses are in bloom, and see this beau- tiful country home in all its glory, with a view from the house across the orange grove and the valley to snow-crowned San Jacinto mountain in the distance, and you will wonder if any spot in the world could be more beautiful.

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As before stated, Perris Valley is unusual in that it has always kept ahead of the town in matters of development, but Perris is again coming into its own, and this time is building on a sure and safe foundation.

In April, 1911, an election for incorporation was held and car- ried by a vote of more than two to one and Perris became a city of the sixth class. At this same time officers were elected as fol- lows: Clerk, Charles H. Cowles; treasurer, W. W. Stewart; mar- shal, Harry Truax; trustees, J. W. Lowery, C. W. Woodward, S. V. Gates, George Marshall and Dr. J. W. Reese. Dr. Reese was elected chairman of the board of trustees.

Since incorporation much progress has been made. The first and most important step perhaps was the purchase of a pumping plant and water system, which it is expected soon will be in such state of perfection, with large storage tank, that water may be had in abundance at all times, as well as on pumping days.

The Southern Sierras Power Company has a sub-station here, the only one in the county, and Perris, its homes, and the homes in the valley, are being lighted by electricity; besides many pump- ping plants are now being run by electric motors rather than gasoline.

A saloon is an enterprise that was launched after incorpora- tion, but at the very first election to be held in the city, "Brave Little Perris" arose to the situation and the saloon was voted out. A clean town was more desirable to them than the large revenue poured into its treasury by a saloon.

Perris has a bank and a banker, and is justly proud of both W. W. Stewart came to Perris in the fall of 1908 and opened the Bank of Perris. He bought property and began at once to build his home, which is one of the most beautiful and modern houses in the valley. It is in the foothill portion of the city, commanding a view of the whole valley. This was in readiness for the arrival of his wife, two sons and daughter, Genevieve, who came the follow- ing spring. The two sons, W. G. and Clifford, are associated with him in his banking business.

T. H. Sharpless is a public-spirited citizen who has recently built two large brick buildings on Main street, in the Sharpless block. The Perris pharmacy, the Ming Shoe store, the postoffice and the Poinsetta furnished rooms are all housed in one, while in

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the other will be found the Lanier & Kirkpatrick store, Dr. Woods' jewelry store, and a fine meat market. Many fine business houses, a credit to a city of any size, and many beautiful houses and cozy bungalows are making Perris a substantial little city.

Early in the history of Perris schools and churches were estab- lished. The first school was opened about a mile south of town and was taught by a Miss Potts, afterwards Mrs. Eli E. Waters. In 1888, through the efforts of J. W. Nance, a fine $6,000 brick building was erected in the west part of town. This building is still in very good condition and is the home of the grades in Per- ris, with Miss Prudence Faddis as principal.

Another school about four miles north of town is the Schneider school, a neat attractive two-story building. Here for a time they employed two teachers, but during the decline of the valley it was closed, as there were not enough children in the north end to per- mit of a teacher being hired. Now again "school keeps" and it is necessary to employ two teachers.

For some time the Perris Union High School held forth in the brick building with the grades, then for a few months in the fall of 1910 they occupied Evelyn Hall, while waiting for the completion of the beautiful new, commodious building erected on a ten-acre tract at the corner of Perris boulevard and San Jacinto avenue. The structure is wonderfully beautiful; it is in the early Spanish Mission architecture, built around a court, so that it is necessary for pupils in going from the auditorium to their class rooms, to come out into the open corridor surrounding the court. A tennis court, basket- ball court, baseball diamond and equipment for various athletic stunts are to be found here. In July, 1910, the laying of the corner stone was appropriately celebrated by the Masonic Grand Lodge of California, concluding with an eloquent and fitting address by a fellow townsman and member of the Masonic order, W. H. Ellis, A high school principal, H. W. Hawkins, and two assistants, Miss Lily Thompson and Miss Sadie Paul, are the very efficient instruc- tors. In any mention of the Perris Union High School too much credit cannot be given to Professor Hawkins and Miss Thompson for their untiring work in bringing the school up to such a standard that it is second to none in the state.

In January, 1893, a government school for Indians was located about four miles north of Perris, on Perris boulevard, on an eighty

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acre tract of land in what was known as the Riverside tract. The school was a great asset to the valley, and it has always been de- plored by the Perris valley people that it was deemed necessary to move it away. But during the years of discouragement brought about by shortage of water supply, so much pressure was brought to bear that the school was moved to Riverside and made the beginning of the famous Sherman Institute of that place.

The eighty acre tract, with its beautiful grounds, and most of its buildings, was sold by the government for $1500. Today it is owned by J. S. Lowery and C. L. Smith, natives of Texas, and has reached a valuation of $25,000. There are two wells on the ranch, one two hundred feet deep and the other three hundred and thirty-five feet deep, pumping about ninety-five inches of water, using a forty-horse power gasoline engine, watering fifty-two acres of alfalfa, besides a family orchard of walnuts, apricots, peaches, plums and pears. This orchard is two years old and growing nicely. Potatoes, onions, corn and other vegetables are raised very successfully on this land once supposed to be of little value. Mr. Lowery and Mr. Smith with their families came from Gonzales, Texas, in the fall of 1910, purchasing this land and making all the improvements now to be found on the place. With their com- ing the Indian school took on a new life, for one of the remaining buildings has been converted into a home by the "Lowery- Smiths," as they are familiarly called, and many a happy and pleasant evening has been enjoyed by them with their many friends about them in the spacious old rooms.

In 1886. a Congregational church was built and Rev. C. H. Davis installed as pastor.

The Town Company offered the Methodist denomination a lot and $200 in money if they would come in and establish and build a church, but they considered the field hardly worth their efforts.

So it came to pass in the spring of 1886 that Mrs. J. W. Nance, now of Los Angeles, and Mrs. H. N. Doyle, now of San Diego, assisted by Mrs. D. G. Mitchell, now of Riverside, organized a Ladies' Aid Society and began at once to raise money towards a new church building. They arranged for a bazaar, which was held April 9, 1886, in the L. D. Reynolds store. In preparing for this bazaar Mrs. Nance and Mrs. Doyle drove over the valley in every direction and interested every person in their project. The bazaar

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was successful beyond their fondest expectations and a fund for the church was started. That same year the First Congregational Church of Perris was built, with the Rev. C. H. Davis, now de- ceased, as pastor During the pastorate of Rev. and Mrs. Davis the parsonage was also built in the Carpenter addition.

On September 17, 1888, a very unusual thing happened in Per- ris. A terrific wind, rain and hail storm occurred, razing the church to the ground, leaving the little organ faithfully holding the fort all unhurt. The old pulpit still carries the marks and scars of the hail. Operations began at once to rebuild the church, and during the time of its reconstruction, services were held in the rear of a furniture and carpenter shop, now remodeled, and is the home of Judge and Mrs. Vermason.

About the year 1905, through the untiring efforts of Mrs. H. S. Wolcott, the church was improved by the addition of a Sunday school room; later during the summer of 1911 it was further im- proved by an entire new roof and a roomy, comfortable parlor in the rear, changing the appearance of the whole church, making it very attractive and a credit to its fair city.

During the twenty-six years of its existence this Congrega- tional church has liad six pastors: Rev. C. H. Davis, the first pastor, followed by Rev. Burr; Rev. Emerson, Rev. Mathes, Rev. Corbin and Rev. J. B. Long, the present incumbent. Rev. Long, with his wife, son, Sheldon, and daughter, Esther, came to Perris some five or six years ago from Nogales, Ariz., and are very impor- tant factors in the church, school and social life of the place.

Other churches have been established in Perris, opening and closing with the ebb and flow of the prosperity of the place, but the faithful old Congregational church has never been closed, and per- haps one of the happiest periods in the church history of Perris was when all the denominations were united under the one roof.

The next church to be built was the German Methodist Episco- pal, in the year 1888, through the efforts of Rev. W. F. Meyer. Later the Methodists established a church and held their services in this same building. At different times and places the Episco- palians, Baptists and Lutherans have held services in the town. About 1891 the Methodists build a pretty, up-to-date building, but during the years when conditions in the town and valley were on the decline the church was closed as were all others except the 11

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Congregational. In 1909 they reopened their church, which is now in a very flourishing condition, with plans on foot to enlarge the building. Rev. Twombley is the pastor.

The old German Methodist Episcopal Church was bought by the Catholics in 1909, renovated and restored with a wonderfully attractive interior, and in May, 1910, was appropriately dedicated to their services by the Right Rev. Bishop Conaty of Los Angeles, assisted by a retinue of celebrated priests. This was brought about by the labors of Father William Hughes, who has gone on to a greater field of action. Perris is very proud to record his labors among them, for he was loved by Catholic and Protestant, and all alike watch with interest his career, which is bound to be one of triumph.

The Apostolic Faith Mission has an organization here of but a few months, but the members are already in their own church home.

Besides the church and school organizations are the lodges and clubs. The Knights of Pythias, Pythian Sisters, Masonic Lodge, Order of the Eastern Star, Independent Order of Foresters and Fraternal Brotherhood all have organizations here. The Pythian lodges are among the older organizations, while the Masons insti- tuted a lodge in 1910 with George W. Cummins as the first Wor- shipful Master, and in 1911 an Eastern Star chapter was organized with Mr. and Mrs. P. A. Handley as Worthy Patron and Worthy Matron.

An organization that plays no small part in the social and literary life of Perris is the Perris Woman's Club, of which Mrs. W. W. Stewart is the newly-elected president.

No history of Perris or its valley should be written without mention of the good people, who, though the days were dark or bright, clung to the place, and by their loyalty are helping to make it the fine city it is sure to be. The only firms doing business in the town now, who were there before the "water famine," are Hook Bros. and M. L. Mapes. Many people have come, only to stay a few years and go; but to such people as Mr. and Mrs. H. S. Wol- cott with their son, Myron S., Hook brothers with their families, Mr. and Mrs. M. L. Mapes, Judge and Mrs. Vermason (who have been there since 1888), Mr. and Mrs. Aiken, A. T. Kimball, Mrs. Mary Harrington, Mrs. Bentley, Mr. and Mrs. J. J. Nance, Mr. and Mrs.

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Preston, Dr. and Mrs. Reese, Mr. and Mrs. C. H. Cowles, James E. and C. E. Gyger, Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Tigner, H. M. Harford, Mr. and Mrs. George Brum, Mrs. Bernasconi, S. V. Gates, and others- to these people we must give the credit that a city is to be found here. This little city "of the plains" may not be all its residents would have it be, but

"If you don't like the kind of town That this town seems to be, If buildings here are gray and brown A way you hate to see,

If something isn't up-to-date, As good as things of old,

While other towns are simply great Or so you have been told;

If you would like to see a place That's full of push and snap,

A town that stands for better things A town that's on the map; Yes, if a way you'd like to know To find it in a jerk, I'll tell you where you ought to go- You ought to go to work.

You needn't pack a trunk or grip And leave the folks behind,

You needn't go and take a trip, Some other place to find,

You needn't go and settle down Where friends of old you'll miss-

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History of Riverside County, California, Part 16

Author: Holmes, Elmer Wallace, 1841- Publication date: 1912 Publisher: Los Angeles : Historic Record Co. Number of Pages: 845

Author: Holmes, Elmer Wallace, 1841-
Publication date: 1912
Publisher: Los Angeles : Historic Record Co.
Number of Pages: 845