USA > California > Riverside County > History of San Bernardino and Riverside counties, Volume I > Part 30
USA > California > San Bernardino County > History of San Bernardino and Riverside counties, Volume I > Part 30
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I
I.
A PPROACHING REDLANDS, The autoist's first glimpse of orange groves and snow after crossing the desert.
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was appointed to take the matter under advisement. In February this committee reported in favor of incorporation, but the matter dragged along until September, 1888, when a petition was prepared and sub- mitted to the board of supervisors for permission to call an election and vote upon the incorporation question. This was at once granted, and November 26th, by a vote of 218 to 68, the City of Redlands came into existence.
THE CITY OF REDLANDS. While the increase of the city in population and wealth was not as rapid, proportionately, as in the boom years of 1887 and 1888, still the municipality made marked advancement, as the following figures will show: In 1889 the amount expended in building and improvements was $224,000: in 1891, $503,650; and in 1893, $613,687. which included $70,058 expended for public improvements. In 1898, $370,700 was expended, and in 1902 the cost of buildings and improve- ments, including the Mill Creek power house, exceeded $1,000,000, accord- ing to an estimate made by the Redlands Review.
When the present town-site of Redlands was decided upon, B. S. Stephenson put up a small building before the survey, to be used as a jewelry shop. This was the second business building of the settlement. the first being the butcher shop formerly noted. F. L. Ball, a dealer in groceries, hardware, agricultural implements, etc., advertised his estab- lishment on Citrus Avenue, April 13, 1887, in the San Bernardino Times, and in the same issue Judson & Brown had a card advertising Redlands, "The Pasadena of San Bernardino County." That year was marked by the opening of numerous business houses, including the livery stable of Chauncey L. Hayes, in a brick building on West State Street ; the pioneer tin shop and plumbing establishment of R. C. Shepherd, in a small build- ing on Citrus Avenue, later removed to his own building on State Street and enlarged to include hardware ; the hardware store of James F. Drake, in his new block on State Street, near Orange; the Pioneer Lumber Company, with E. A. Tuttle as manager : the drug store of L. M. Johnston, subsequently sold to Doctor Riggs, later owned by Riggs & Spoor, and still later by W. L. Spoor ; the general store of B. O. Johnson, at State and Orange streets ; Pratt & Seymour's planing mill and agency for the West Coast Redwood Company; the grocery of J. B. Glover, in the Wilson Block, Lugonia, and the book store of Mrs. Jennie L. Jones, in the Otis Building on West State Street. During the same year the Citrograph began publication July 16th, and was followed September 3d by the Southern Californian. The Citizens Stage Line, running a bus between Brookside Station, Redlands, Lugonia and Crafton, was put into operation, and in December an omnibus line was started between the business section and residence tract. The Terracina tract, the Barton Land & Water Company tract and the Mound City and Gladys tracts were placed upon the market.
The year 1888 kept up with the rapid pace set by the previous year. and was featured January Ist by the granting of the first street car franchise, for the line on Cajon Street. The track of the California Southern, or "Valley" road was completed January 16th, on which date the first freight arrived, and regular train service began February 13th. After much discussion, the postoffice was opened January 26th, with J. B. Campbell as postmaster, and in the following September the Lugonia postoffice was discontinued. The Domestic Water Company began service February 1st. The first "down-town" hotel, the Sloan House, was opened February 20th, and the Windsor, or Redlands House, built by the Red- lands Hotel Association, began business March 30th. In June the motor
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line began regular service. The year was also featured by the organiza- tion of the first hose company and of the Redlands Orchestra.
In January, 1889, the Smiley Brothers, of whom more will be said later, arrived at Redlands and began making purchases of land on the hills. January 2d the Redlands Fruit Growers' Association was formed, and January 9th the Western Union service was started, although this company's early service was unsatisfactory, it being necessary to send messages from Redlands to the county seat by way of Los Angeles. The ladies of the Willing Workers' Improvement Association furnished the city with its first street signs in February, and these were put into place, giving the community quite a metropolitan appearance. In April the Redlands Orange Grove & Water Company was incorporated to plant some 200 acres of land to oranges, and orange shipments first became a feature during this year, the record being forty-one cars. In Decem- ber the Chamblin Warehouse, a large brick structure erected as a pack- ing house, was completed, and the same month the Haight Fruit Com- pany, the first Redlands fruit company in the field, began shipping.
The city recorder's office was opened February 15, 1890, with J. P. Squires, judge, and March 5th an ordinance was passed fixing the liquor license at $50 per quarter, an act that opened up a lively campaign on the liquor question and brought to a formation, March 19th, the first Temperance League. The Eagle Dry Goods House, the first distinctive dry goods establishment of the town, was opened May 29th, with S. Lelean as proprietor. In June, the Bear Valley high-service line was first used, and in August the Alessandro Irrigation District was formed and work begun on the Alessandro pipe-line, while December 13th the Bear Valley Irrigation Company was incorporated and took over all the property of the Bear Valley Land & Water Company.
The first water was turned into the Alessandro pipe-line April 27. 1891. and May 9th the Redland Heights Water Company was organized. According to the census of 1890, the city now had a population of 1,904. and was served by three banking institutions, when, June 15th, the Savings Bank of Redlands, a branch of the First National Bank, began business. The Bank of East San Bernardino Valley, which had been organized at Lugonia in 1887, was moved to the corner of State and Orange streets in June, 1888, and changed its title to First National Bank. The Union Bank of Redlands was founded May 1, 1887, and occupied its own brick building at the corner of Orange and State streets, which was enlarged as business grew. More ground was secured in 1898 and a three-story structure was built, and in 1904 this institution was converted into a national bank, taking over the Union Bank of Savings and becoming known as the Redlands National Bank. On November 1, 1891, the Star Grocery was purchased by J. J. Suess, who later became mayor of Redlands, and in December the Enterprise Grocery Company was organized. On December 1st the steel pipe works began operations. Among the buildings erected during the year were the Smiley residences, the Academy of Music Block, the Otis and Edwards blocks and the Chamblin Block, while the Mentone Hotel was also com- pleted and opened.
After having been closed for some time, the Terracina Hotel was re-opened January 15, 1892, and March 5th service began on the Terra- cina street car line, which ran out Olive Street. The first train service was put on the "belt line" of the Santa Fe System, January 17th, this later being made a part of the famous "kite-shape" track. Another new hostelry opened its doors when M. S. Lane inaugurated the Baker House. Regular service over a broad gauge track on the Southern Pacific into
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Redlands began March 14th. On July 27th the franchise was granted to the Electric Light & Power Company, which was incorporated October 6th, and work was at once begun on the power house in Mill Creek Canon and on the plant for the Union Ice Company. Other improvements included the beginning of work on the storm drains, for which bonds to the amount of $100,000 had been voted; the passage of the street paving ordinance and work commenced there under its provisions, and the building of the Y. M. C. A. home and the Union High School build- ing. Daily Facts, which succeeded a weekly paper of the same name, made its first appearance October 21st.
Another publication made its appearance at Redlands, February 3, 1893, this being the Leader, proprietored by Doyle & Kasson. The Orange Growers' Association, which was later to become an important factor in the handling and marketing of fruit, was organized May 12th, and August 1st Gregory's Packing House was completed, to be followed December 1st by the completion of the Earl Fruit Company's packing house. By this time the orange shipments had become a recognized factor of importance in the wealth of the city. The city was first lighted by electricity August 5th, the Public Library Association was formed Novem- ber 23d, and December 12th a Chamber of Commerce was formed to take the place of the Board of Trade, which had lapsed. During this year much excitement was caused by the passage of the Chinese Exclusion Act. A few Chinese, mostly house servants, had remained at Redlands, and when an anti-Chinese riot was threatened in this city, the newly-formed National Guard was called out and patrolled the streets all night of August 30th. The matter was quieted down, and nothing came of it save the arrest of a few Chinese at a later date.
The Library Association having purchased $1,000 worth of books, on February 22, 1894, a public presentation and reception was held, and March 1st the Public Library was first opened to the public. During March some excitement and bitterness was caused when it was dis- covered that certain communities which had suffered from the "freeze" were labeling their oranges "Redlands." In June the first graduating class received their diplomas from the high school. In July the Cycle Club was organized, and in the fall a Merchants' Carnival, which attracted a good deal of attention, was held in the Academy of Music for the benefit of the club. On July 7th the Leader became a daily paper, the second to be issued in the city, and September 19th, the Cricket appeared, but both of these papers had short lives.
Events of local importance during 1895 included the completion of arrangements for the building of the Casa Loma and the practical construction of that building during the year; the completion of the Y. M. C. A. Building and the holding of its first exercises March 4th; the winning of the Redlands Band of first prize in the contest of the bands of Southern California at Redondo, and the raising of a liberty pole, 140 feet high, in the Triangle, by the Junior Order of United American Mechanics.
The Casa Loma was opened to guests January 7, 1896, this being the occasion for an elaborate banquet. In April Albert K. Smiley pur- chased sixteen acres in the heart of the city for a public park, which is now Smiley Park, and at the same time laid out Fredalba Park. The year was featured by considerable oil excitement, for "our Oil Fields" were believed to be located in San Timoteo Canon, and at least sixteen different companies were formed to prospect for oil. In December, the Southern California Power Company was formed.
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As the result of long planning and working on the part of the Cham- ber of Commerce and the public-spirited citizens of Redlands, the Red- lands Preserving Company was incorporated in 1897, a large bonus was raised for the purpose of securing a cannery and the work on the build- ings was commenced. The Redlands-Highland Road was completed at a cost of $3,500, raised by the county supervisors, the city and by sub- scription. The first issue of the Redlands Daily Record was issued December 9th.
The fifteenth session of the Woman's Parliament of Southern Cali- fornia was opened at Redlands, April 25, 1898, and during the same month the Smiley Library was presented to the city. Much excitement was caused May 5th, when Company G was mustered into the service for the Spanish-American war and started for San Francisco, and May 14th a branch of the Red Cross Society was formed. The home company was mustered out of the service December 2d and returned to Redlands. In April, the Redlands Electric Light & Power Company and the Southern California Power Company, were sold to and consolidated with the Edison Electric Company, of Los Angeles, and in December the Santa Ana Canon Power House was completed.
An innovation was inaugurated July 1. 1899, when the city began sprinkling its streets with oil. The erection of the Redlands Electric Light & Power Company Building was begun in August, and in Decem- ber street cars were first operated by electricity. Various new buildings and improvements marked 1899, as they had the previous year.
The Redlands Gas Company was organized June 2, 1900, and work was at once commenced on the plant on West Central Street. Service of gas was begun in 1901 and in 1903 the capacity of the plant was nearly doubled. During 1901, 297 buildings were erected at Redlands and the value of improvements reached the figure of $957.237.
On April 12, 1902, a special election was held to vote for bonds. $50,000 for street improvements, and $20,000 for a city hall, the former being carried. Among the new buildings of the year were the new fire house, the Creighton, Abbey and Lombard blocks, the Hornby Block, the Christian Church and a large addition to the Catholic Church. Power House No. 3 of the Edison Electric Company was completed at a cost of $200,000, and the same company made city line extensions to the amount of $9,000 and county extensions to the amount of $17,000.
The first car over the San Bernardino Valley Traction line was operated between San Bernardino and Redlands, March 10, 1903, and regular service commenced soon thereafter. The Home Telephone Com- pany, which had obtained a franchise the previous year, began active operations and erected a handsome two-story brick office building. A large sum of public money was spent in civic improvements and the year was another in which building operations were extensive.
The season closing in June, 1904, was the banner orange shipping year, as over 3,000 cars of citrus fruit were shipped out from the Red- lands district, more than 500 cars in excess of any previous year's ship- ment. A feature of the year was the materialization of the long talked of Opera House. Through the efforts of the Chamber of Commerce and prominent citizens, H. C. Wyatt, of Los Angeles, proposed to furnish $15,000 and build a suitable theater if the citizens would raise $20,000 to put into the building. As a result a handsome mission style structure was erected on the corner of Colton Avenue and Orange Street, an entertainment palace seating 1,200 people.
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EDUCATION. In 1885 the little board schoolhouse at Lugonia replaced by the four lower rooms of the later Lugonia school building, and these supplied the needs of the community until 1894, when four upper rooms were added. Continued increasing growth of the community necessitated further facilities, and the Longfellow School was erected, a structure of eight rooms, as well as the Stillman Building, containing four well- equipped rooms. Lugonia employed two teachers in 1889, at which time there were fifty-nine pupils. Charles E. Taylor was made super- vising principal in 1892, and held that office until 1895, when he was succeeded by Allan B. Morton, the latter serving during 1895 and 1896. D. C. Reed then took charge of the Lugonia schools. By 1903 twelve teachers were employed and the attendance of pupils had grown to 600.
In 1885 there had been erected at Redlands a one-room school house, but in 1887 this was found inadequate, and bonds of $15,000 were accord- ingly voted for the erection of a two-story brick building of four rooms. The school was opened in 1888, on the same site as the old building, with three teachers and an attendance of 140 pupils. In 1891 it was found necessary to add the southern extension of the building, $15,000 more being voted to add four rooms, and the school was named the Kingsbury, in honor of the Rev. C. A. Kingsbury, who was one of the early trustees of the district. In 1896 more rooms were required and $4,000 was voted for the two-room building at the corner of Citrus Avenue and Church Street. In 1898 the first four rooms of the Lowell school building were erected at-a cost of $6,000, and in 1900 the building was completed by the putting up of four additional rooms. During the summer of 1902 the manual training building of two rooms was erected on the Kings- bury grounds, but when the schools opened in the fall, it was found neces- sary to house two departments in this building and still confine the bench work to the old and limited quarters of the "old" schoolhouse. On March 20, 1903, the citizens of Redlands voted $25,000 for another school building, to be known as the Mckinley, and to be located on the corner of Olive Avenue and Center Street. The principals who have had charge of the Redlands schools have been: H. Patten, 1888-94; H. Corleton, 1894-95; F. A. Wagner, 1895-1902; A. Harvey Collins, 1902-05. In 1903 there were 1,877 census children, and the value of the school property was placed at $106,300.
In 1886, the people of the San Bernardino Valley, feeling that some arrangement should be made for the higher education of their children, entered into an agreement with Rev. J. G. Hale, stipulating that he should erect buildings suitable for a school and maintain a school four years, in consideration of the payment of the interest, at the rate of 9 per cent, on the sum of $4,000 by the subscribers. In compliance with this agreement, in the fall of that year there was opened on Lugonia Terrace, a school for the higher education of pupils of both sexes. Later the school was removed to the Wilson Block, where it was under the tuition of Prof. Horace Brown. For the purpose of forming a Union high school district, a meeting of citizens of Redlands, Lugonia and Crafton was held May 26, 1891, and at an election held July 28th, the district was duly formed. The high school was opened October 1, 1891. in the Wilson and Berry Block, corner of Colton Avenue and Orange Street, with Prof. W. F. Wegener as principal, forty-five pupils being in attendance.
After on unsuccessful election, June 3, 1892, the present site of the high school was secured, and July 16, 1892, bonds of $17,000 were voted for the erection of a high school building which was duly constructed. In 1903 the school was pressed for room and an additional $60,000 was expended in its reconstructing and remodeling. It is a handsome and
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well-equipped structure. In 1895 Prof. Lewis B. Avery took charge of the high school and assisted materially in its success. In 1903 the school had an enrollment of 280 pupils, taught by ten teachers.
THE REDLANDS POSTOFFICE. On September 5, 1882, a postoffice was established at Lugonia, in the newly-completed store of George A. Cook, who acted as postmaster for five years, when he was succeeded by C. H. Lathrop. The office was abolished September 27. 1888. The new settlers of the Redlands community, finding themselves inconveniently situated as regarded the postoffice, petitioned Washington to establish a new office at Redlands, and while awaiting the official decision took matters tempo- rarily into their own hands by appointing a mail carrier, to be paid by subscription, and by the establishment of an office in a small building at Chestnut Avenue and Central Street. In January, 1888. the depart- ment took official action, and J. B. Campbell was appointed postmaster. When ordered, later, to vacate the building, Postmaster Campbell removed to a small frame building just back of the later site of the Academy of Music, which building was later removed to State Street. the office remaining there until September, 1888, when it was located in the Union Bank Building.
The train service caused the business of the office to grow extensively, and in January, 1889, it was raised to the rank of a presidential office. with a salary of about $1,400. On April 1. 1891. I. C. Haight was appointed postmaster, and during his term the office was enlarged and removed to a building on the corner of Orange Street. W. C. Phillips became postmaster November 7, 1894, and was succeeded by I. N. Hoag. in March. 1898, hut the latter lived only about one month after assuming his duties, and was succeeded temporarily by Halsey W. Allen. He was confirmed June 23d, and acted as postmaster until July 19. 1902. when he was succeeded by William M. Tisdale. Mail carrier service was inaugurated April 1, 1898, and in 1902 a handsome three-story brick postoffice was especially constructed.
FRATERNITIES AND SOCIETIES. On March 17, 1890, with nineteen charter members, Redlands Lodge No. 300, F. & A. M., was founded, and since that time the lodge has increased steadily in strength and numbers.
Redlands Lodge of the Knights of Pythias was founded January 5, 1895, with a charter membership of fifty-seven, which had grown by 1904 to 170 members. The Pythians occupy their own hall and the order has taken part in a number of civic and other activities.
Redlands Lodge No. 583, B. P. O. E., was formed May 20, 1900. at which time a large number of Elks from Los Angeles assisted in the installation ceremonies. There were 100 charter members, and the lodge has prospered greatly.
On December 5, 1891, Bear Valley Post No. 162, Grand Army of the Republic, was formed, with G. F. Crafts as first commander.
The Country Club of Redlands was first organized as a golf club, in 1897, when it had a membership of about twenty-five. A tract of about eighty acres of land was purchased, on which was erected an attractive club house, and golf links, tennis courts and roque grounds were installed, the grounds being otherwise improved. In the years that have followed the club has grown and flourished and the club house and grounds are kept hospitably open to transient visitors as well as permanent residents.
At a meeting of the representative college men of Redlands, held at Casa Loma Hotel, January 10, 1902, the University Club of forty-
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eight members was formed, quarters being secured in the Union Bank Building in March of that year. The club now occupies a handsome building of its own, which was completed in November, 1903.
The Redlands Medical Society was organized in August, 1898, with the following officers: Dr. Charles C. Browning, president; Dr. Wil- liam H. Wilmot, vice president; Dr. H. Tyler, secretary and treasurer. These men, with Dr. S. Y. Wynne, were the charter members of the society, which has since grown to large proportions. The society holds a regular monthly meeting.
The Redlands Orchestra was formed in May, 1888, by a number of music lovers of Redlands, and at the start had the benefit of instruc- tion under H. L. Sloan, then proprietor of the Sloan House, a musician of rare ability, and a former member of the Theodore Thomas Orchestra of Chicago and of other first-class musical organizations. After his death Professors Gunther and Ohlmeyer acted as directors. The society has always maintained a high standing, and its services have been much in demand on public occasions. On December 21, 1888, an organization of women of Redlands formed the association known as the United Workers for Public Improvement, the first work of which body was the placing of street signs on Redlands' thoroughfares. Later they beauti- fied and improved the grounds at the Southern California Railway station, and this was followed by the placing of a public fountain in the "Triangle." The women of this society formed a branch of the Chicago Colony Women, out of which grew the Woman's Exchange. Redlands ladies also formed an auxiliary to the Y. M. C. A., and February 12, 1889, formed a branch of the Women's Christian Temperance Union.
Another organization of Redlands women which has had a large growth and much success is the Contemporary Club, organized in 1893, as a "parlor club" with a membership of twenty-five. Later it was decided to throw open the membership rolls of the organization to all women of Redlands, and the membership then increased rapidly, the meetings thereafter being held in churches or public halls. The club became affiliated with the General Federation of Clubs in 1896, and in 1901 purchased the old Presbyterian Chapel and converted it into a meeting place. In 1902 the club was incorporated and in May, 1904, laid the cornerstone for its new clubhouse, a structure costing $30,000.
The following is the list of officers of the Contemporary Club for the year 1921: Mrs. M. M. F. Allen, president ; Mrs. Thomas M. Blythe, vice president ; Mrs. U. F. Lewis, second vice president ; Mrs. Charles L. Curtiss, recording secretary ; Mrs. G. E. Mullen, corresponding secre- tary ; Mrs. Charles A. Dibble, treasurer ; Mrs. Thomas Jeffery, auditor.
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