USA > California > San Bernardino County > Ingersoll's century annals of San Bernadino County, 1769-1904 : prefaced with a brief history of the state of California : supplemented with an encyclopedia of local biography and portraits of many of its representative people > Part 49
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102
During 1896 a considerable oil excitement prevailed. "Our Oil Fields" were believed to be located in San Timoteo cañon, and at least sixteen different companies were formed to prospect for oil.
In September, the Prospect Hill property was sold to T. Y. England. The Catholic church was dedicated this year and the residence of Dr. Wil- liam M. Smith, "Palmeteo," was erected. In December, the Southern Cal- ifornia Power Company was formed.
1897-April Ist, the Redlands Preserving Co. was incorporated. This was the result of long planning and working on the part of the Chamber of Commerce and the public spirited citizens of Redlands, with the able and constant assistance of the Citrograph. A large bonus was raised for the purpose of securing a cannery and the work on the buildings was begun at once.
The Redlands-Highlands road was completed at a cost of $3,500, raised by the county supervisors, the city and by subscription. The stockholders of the old Sunnyside ditch determined to construct the Lugonia pipe line and work was begun on the project this year, and was completed in June, 1898. December 9th saw the first issue of the Redlands Daily Record, a morning paper.
1898-April 25th, the fifteenth session of the Woman's Parliament of Southern California was opened in Redlands. April 29th, occurred the pre- sentation of the Smiley Library to the city and the dedication ceremonies. May 5th, Company G was mustered into service and started for San Fran- cisco. May 14th, a branch of the Red Cross society was formed in Redlands. December 2nd, the home company was mustered out of service and re- turned to Redlands. In April, the Redlands Electric Light and Power Co. and the Southern California Power Co. were sold to and consolidated into the Edison Electric Co., of Los Angeles. In December, the Santa Ana Cañon Power House was completed.
The Smiley Library, costing $60,000; the Southern Pacific Depot, cost- ing $15,000; the Presbyterian church, cost, $13,000; the New Union Bank,
*
467
HISTORY OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY.
cost, $13,000; and the State street school building, $6,000, were among the new buildings this year.
. 1899-July Ist, the city began sprinkling the streets with oil. July 4th. Redlands celebrated the National Holiday with elaborate ceremonies. In August, 1899, began the erection of the Redlands Electric Light and Power Co., building on Citrus avenue and Sixth street. December 15th, street cars were first operated by electricity. The Fisher Block, a two-story structure in the mission style, containing four stores, was erected this year. The Co- lumbia Building on State street, costing $14,000, was put up by K. C. Wells. The Redlands Electric Light and Power Co. expended $200,000 in improve- ments in 1899; the Southern California Power Co. spent $60,000; the Red- lands Street Railway Co., $40,000, and the South Mountain Water Co., $60,- 000.
1900-June 2nd, the Redlands Gas Company was organized with G. B. Ellis, president ; F. P. Morrison, vice-president ; H. W. Allen, secretary, and the First National Bank, treasurer. E. L. Jones, chief engineer of the San Francisco Gas Co., was engaged as consulting engineer and work was at once begun on the plant, located on West Central street. The building, machinery, etc., cost some $30,000. In 1901, service of gas was begun and in 1903 the capacity of the plant was nearly doubled and a large number of additional mains put in. The Lowe Oil Gas system is used.
In September, A. C. Burrage, of Baston, purchased twenty acres of land lying along the "heights," adjoining Canon Crest Park, of Mrs. G. S. Bowers, and soon thereafter began the erection of his palatial home. The Country Club erected its club house this year. December 3rd, a fire destroyed the contents of the Cooper Furniture . store.
1901-March 2nd, the Weekly Review succeeded the Hour, which had been published for some years. May IIth, was the "greatest day in the his- tory of Redlands"-Mckinley Day. May 28th, the Y. M. C. A., after a vig- orous campaign, succeeded in raising funds sufficient to pay off the last dollar of the indebtedness on their property. Bonds were voted for the Citrus avenue, now the Lowell, school house. 297 buildings were erected in Redlands during 1901 and value of improvements reached $957.237.
1902-January 17th, the University Club was organized. April 12th, a special election to vote for bonds,-$50,000 for street improvements and $20,000 for city hall,-was held. The street improvement bonds carried while the city hall proposition was voted down. July 4th, Redlands gave the biggest patriotic celebration in her record : the Kingsbury factory for the manufacture of fruit juices, extracts, marmalades, etc., was put into oper- ation ; among the buildings of the year were : the new Fire House, the Creigh- ton, and 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 Co., was completed at a cost of $200,000 and the same
468
HISTORY OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY.
company made city line extensions to the amount of $9,000 and county ex- tensions to the amount of $17,000 this year.
1903-March Ioth, the first car over the San Bernardino Valley Trac- tion line was run between San Bernardino and Redlands. Regular service between the towns began soon afterward. April 14th, the Business Li- cense ordinance was passed by the city board of trustees. The Home Tele- phone Co., which had procured a franchise the year before, began active operations this year and erected the handsome two-story brick office build- ing now occupied by the company and by the Wells-Fargo Express Co. The Atwood Block was completed and the postoffice moved into the new quar- ters, February Ist. The Olive avenue extension to the street railway was put into operation ; the Lewis Jacobs property was sub-divided and put upon the market, thus opening a new resi- dence tract close to the center of town; the Methodist church and the Mckinley school building were completed, also the Univer- sity Club building. A large sum was expended in street improve- ments, especially in paving the business streets.
1904-The season closing in June, 1904, was the banner orange shipping year as over 3,000 cars of citrus fruit were shipped out from Redlands district, more than 500 cars in excess of any previous year's shipment. The long talked H. C. WYATT of Opera House materialized. Through the efforts of the Board of Trade and prominent citizens, Mr. H. C. Wyatt, of Los Angeles, proposed to furnish $15,000 and build a suitable theater, if the citizens would raise $20,- 500 to put into the building. As a result the handsome mission structure was erected on the corner of Colton avenue and Orange street. It will seat 1,200 people and is first-class in every respect. The Contemporary Club completed their club home. The Trinity Episcopal church built and occu- pied a new chapel costing some $30,000, complete. Another large addition was made to the Casa Loma. "Lawton Villa," with some forty rooms, a first-class family hotel, was opened to the public, the former home of Gen- eral H. L. Lawton having been reconstructed for this purpose. In Novem-
469
HISTORY OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY.
ber the city charter was defeated for the second time, thus Redlands con- tinues a village in government, while she is a full sized "city" in growth and advancment.
THE HOMES OF REDLANDS.
The growth of Redlands as a city of homes has been even more remark- able than its business record. In the original plat of the settlement, a "Resi- dence Tract". was set aside southeast of the plaza and townsite, and was di- vided into building lots. It lay between Palm and Crescent avenues and
RESIDENCE OF ALBERT C. BURRAGE
Cajon and San Mateo streets. Many of the first residences were put up in this vicinity, although the majority of the early houses were situated on five, ten, or twenty acre tracts and thus widely separated. As the popula- tion has increased, orchard after orchard has been cut up into lots and houses have taken the place of orchards and vineyards. Now Redlands possesses a number of streets that are entirely given up to residences. While some houses have been built for renting purposes or as rooming houses, the large majority of houses put up in Redlands are erected for homes and are carefully planned and constructed to gratify the taste as well as to provide every comfort for the family. For the past four years the building of resi- dences has been unparalleled in a place of this size. In 1901, 285 residences
470
HISTORY OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY.
were built and in 1902 the number of residences built was 296, at a total cost of $546,000. The record was kept up for 1903 and 1904 also.
As yet every Redlands dwelling has a yard about it and the yards al- most invariably present well kept lawns, flowers, shrubs and shade and fruit trees. The streets are wide and bordered with lawn or flowers and shaded by palms, grevillas, cedars, umbrella, pepper, and other semi-tropical trees. They are, as a rule, well graded and the more traveled streets are oiled and thus rendered almost dustless. Altogether the residence streets of Redlands, with their wealth of shade and greenness, their vine-wreathed cottages, their beautiful mansions, their vistas of lawn and rose beds, and their general air of careful attendance and prosperity, are the chief charm of the place. Aside from the average dwelling, which is much above the average in other places of the size of Redlands, many wealthy families have made the town their residence and have not hesitated to spend money lavishly in the improve- ment and perfection of their homes.
With the very beginning of the settlement began the erection of houses that were noteworthy amid their surroundings. In 1885, F. P. Morrison built the home which was then a marked feature in the scattered fruit colony, and is still one of the most attractive places in the city. In 1887, Frank E. Brown built a handsome and substantial residence in Residence Tract. Cur- tis Wells also built his beautiful home during the same year and George A. Cook erected a fine residence on Lugonia Terrace. In 1890, David Morey built his mansion on Terracina and Theodore Clark erected a fine residence on Palm avenue, each costing in the neighborhood of $20,000. In 1891, the Smiley Brothers put up their residences in Canon Crest Park. In 1893, George W. Meade, a San Francisco capitalist, built his beautiful country place, Monte Vista, at a cost of $40,000. In 1894, A. G. Hubbard remodeled the old Terrace Villa hotel into a residence, creating one of the finest coun- try places in the state,-a country place, although in the midst of the city. In 1896, T. Y. England, of Philadelphia, erected a beautiful home and began the improvement of the Prospect Hill property. The Henry Fisher residence on the corner of Highlands avenue and San Mateo street is one of the "show" places of the town. The house, which was erected in 1897, is distinctive in architecture and most effective and the wide sweep of lawn about it is its most fitting setting.
The home of A. Hornby, built in 1896, is elegant in its simple but sub- stantial lines. The mansion of E. C. Sterling crowning the Italian garden which is the feature of the place, is one of the most beautiful residences in Southern California. The Moorish palace of A. C. Burrage, standing in the midst of a fine park, is one of the costliest and most complete private resi- dences in the state. It was built in 1901, the house itself costing more than $100,000 and the stables and grounds representing an even larger expendi- ture. The approach to the house up flight after flight of stone steps is one
471
HISTORY OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY.
of the most beautiful vistas ever created. The recently built home of W. F. Holt is an elaborate and costly structure. But while Redlands can point with pride to the fine examples of architecture and taste, which wealth have made possible, the pride of the town is in the high average of the homes of the people. There are no tenement houses, no rookeries and no slums, in this City of Homes.
HOTELS.
Prospect House.
Since Redlands has always been a winter resort and has annually enter- tained large numbers of visitors and tourists, her hotels have necessarily filled a large place in her history. Almost the first building erected in the new set- tlement in 1882, was opened on its completion as a boarding- house, and in the winter of 1882 became known as the "Prospect House ;" the first hotel in the East San Bernardino Valley after Craf- ton Retreat, opened ten years earlier. Under the popular man- agement of Mrs. E. B. Seymour, the Prospect House entertained many guests. In 1886, it passed into the hands of Dr. J. E. Mack, who kept it open as a hotel until about the time of its sale to Dr. Breed in 1889. Dr. Breed moved DR. J. B. BREED the building from its first location and, after making some changes in it, occupied it as a residence. In 1897, T. Y. England purchased the old Prospect Hill property and has since made it a part of the beautiful park which is one of the attractions of Redlands.
Terrace Villa.
In 1886, the Terrace Villa Hotel, located on Lugonia Terrace, was built. This was one of the first of what are now known as "Tourist" hotels. It was intended the please the eye and to furnish comfort and entertainment for the large class of people who were then just learning that California was an ideal place to spend the stormy months of the eastern winter. The grounds about the hotel were highly improved and for some years it enjoyed a good
E. S. GRAHAM
473
HISTORY OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY.
patronage. It was built by D. L. Clark and after several changes, came into the ownership of A. G. Hubbard, who, in 1894, remodeled it into a beautiful country home.
The Windsor.
The laying out of the townsite of Redlands and the rapid building of 1887-88 led to the establishment of several hotels in the down town section. The first of these was the Pioneer House, opened by Mrs. E. A. Ball, in a house on West State street, October 20th, 1887. In June, 1887, the Red- lands Hotel Company was formed to supply a need of the young town, with E. G. Judson, president : S. J. Hayes, secretary, and R. J. Waters, treasurer. The Citrograph of December 17th, 1887, says: "The great question with far- sighted business men for a year past has been, 'What shall we do with the tourists and immigrants when they arrive?' As a result of their cogitations we have an era of hotel building in Southern California that has excited the astonishment of not only eastern people, but even of our own. Hotels have sprung up everywhere as if by magic. They have been filleld as if by enchantment. And the cry has been for 'more.' Hundreds have come to this Summerland and gone away again because hotel accommodations could not be had.
"In common with many other places, Redlands has suffered from a lack of hotels. Months ago it was seen that something must be done to accom- modate the incoming throng. With characteristic energy and promptness Messrs. Judson and Waters set about the matter. Failing to find anyone who would assume the responsibility of the entire expense, the Redlands Hotel Company was organized and the building started."
The building was a three-story brick with a frontage of 80 feet, located on the corner of State and Fourth streets. The contract was let to H. C. Malone and everything about the building although plain was substantial and calculated for the comfort of guests. It was opened March 30tl1, 1888, under the name of Redlands Hotel, by Messrs. McConkey and Karns, who were also lessees of the St. Charles Hotel at San Bernardino.
The name was soon changed to "Windsor House" by which it is still known. A considerable addition was made to it at one time, and after the opening of the Casa Loma it was for a time run in connection with that house. In 1903, it was remodeleld and became a lodging house.
Sloan House.
At the same time that the "Hotel Redlands" was being rushed to com- pletion, Dr. Sloan of Chicago, was building another three-story brick hotel at the corner of State and Orange streets. This was opened as the "Sloan House" February 20th, with H. L. Sloan and wife in charge. Mr. and Mrs.
474
HISTORY OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY.
Sloan proved to be valuable acquisitons to Redlands society. He was an ac- complished musician and took the leadership of the Redlands orchestra and Mrs. Sloan was an active worker in the Woman's Improvement Club and in church circles. The hotel did a prosperous business for some years. Then the building was remodeled for the First National Bank and for offices and stores.
Hotel Terracina.
The name "Terracina" calls up reminiscences of the boom in its very flower. Early in 1887, the Terracina Land and Water Co. was organized with Judge Geo. E. Otis, president, J. A. Brenneman, vice-president, and O. T. Dyer, Orrin Backus and Nelson Gill, directors. They bought five hun- dred acres of land on the terrace west of Redlands. It was platted, im- proved and auctioned off in regulation style. December 15th, 1887, an ex- cursion from Los Angeles and an auction sale took place. Some features of the advertisement may now be of interest :
"Hotel Terracina. The plans have been drawn for the new hotel and it is now being constructed, three stories in height with French roof. The design is most attractive and replete with every modern convenience, elec- tric annunciators, gas, hot and cold water. The site of the hotel is most commanding, substantial and elegant. (Were they already afraid that the bottom might drop out from under it, that they advertise the site as 'sub- stantial?') Cement sidewalks are laid along the principal business streets and a substantial business block with iron front and trimmings of Colton marble is now under way.
"The Town Plaza, a reservation in the form of a crescent, has been made and is being improved with elaborate care. In the center is being con- structed an elegant fountain connected direct from the main pipe line.
"Lunch will be served on the arrival of the excursion train. An ample collation will be served by the Company. Our band of music will accompany the excursion. Special accommodations will be made for ladies."
In spite of promises, the hotel was not opened for business until March, 1880. It was a really attractive place with a magnificent outlook and de- served a better fate than it met. During the winter of 1890-91 it remained closed but was again opened in January, 1892, by a company made up of Redlands men with Geo. B. Ellis in charge. The same company built and operated the Terracina street railway, to connect the hotel with the town. After a checkered career, the building which represented a large investment. was burned April 13. 1895,-a fate that many of the boom hotels met about that time. After this, Redlands was for a year or more without a "Tourist" hotel.
475
HISTORY OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY.
Baker House.
In 1892, the Baker House was built by J. W. Baker, and was opened by M. S. Lane, as proprietor. In January, 1903, the house was closed as a hostelry and was remodeled to be used as stores and offices.
The Mentone Hotel.
The Mentone Company was organized in 1886 with H. L. Drew, presi- dent, and N. K. Fairbanks as vice-president. They purchased 3,000 acres of land and laid out the town site. In 1887, the Mentone Irrigation Co., S. H. Marlette, president and A. G. Hubbard, vice-president, was formed. The settlement was made the terminus of the Valley road when it was built, in 1888. In 1891, the Mentone Hotel, costing some $30,000, was built. It has passed through a number of hands and is now occupied as a sanitariun ..
The Casa Loma.
After the closing of the Terrace Villa Hotel and the burning of the Terracina, the need for a suitable tourist hotel in Redlands became impera-
1857
CASA LOMA
tive. The Chamber of Commerce took the matter up and after much dis- cussion a committee, with Dr. D. W. Stewart, as chairman, was appointed. Subscriptions to the amount of $20,000 were secured from the citizens of Redlands, mainly through the vigorous work of Dr. Stewart, and an arrange- ment was entered into with Col. J. T. Ritchie, who was to invest $40,000. The hotel was built and opened February 25, 1896, with a banquet to the subscribers and others.
Col. Ritchie was succeeded in the ownership of the hotel by the Casa Loma Hotel Co., which took possession June Ist, 1899. It was
476
HISTORY OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY.
incorporated for $75,000, with E. S. Graham, president : J. H. Bohan, vice- president ; Edward M. Cope, secretary; Ist National Bank, treasurer. The hotel has been twice enlarged since it came into the hands of this company and last year was thoroughly remodeled and refitted. It has 150 rooms and is conducted as a first-class tourist hotel. It is surrounded by beautiful grounds and fine shade trees; has wide verandas, a tennis court and other attractions.
Loma Linda.
In 1888 the Mound City Land and Water Co. was organized with P. D. Cover, president and a board of directors made up of Riverside parties. They purchased 500 acres of land west of Redlands and made arrangements to secure water from the Bear Valley Reservoir. They built the "Mound City" Hotel at an expense of some $30,000. The investment did not prove profit- able and the building stood idle for some years. The property, in 1900, came into the hands of the Loma Linda Association which has established a hotel and sanitarium. They have made many improvements, building a number of cottages, setting out trees and beautifying the grounds, and now have one of the most beautiful health resorts in the country.
Lawton Villa.
The home which was occupied by General Lawton and family during their residence in Redlands has been purchased by Col. J. T. Ritchie and remodeled and added to so as to make a beautiful family hotel. It is lo- cated on Terracina Heights in the vicinity of the old Terracina Hotel and thus commands a magnificent view of the surrounding country. It is easily reached by the Olive avenue line of the street railway, and will be an addi- tion to Redlands tourist accommodations.
WATER COMPANIES.
Redlands Water Company.
The Redlands Water Company was organized, October 27th, 1881, with a capital stock of $1,500,000 divided into 1,500 shares. This was the first regularly incorporated water company in the East San Bernardino valley. In 1873, the South Fork of the Santa Ana Ditch was organized as a neigh- borhood association, using water from the Berry Roberts ditch. In 1877, the South Fork Ditch was merged into the Sunnyside Ditch Association, and in 1883, the Lugonia Park Water Company was formed, the stock- holders being mainly the members of the Sunnyside Ditch Association.
Lugonia Water Company.
In 1887, the Lugonia Water Company was organized with a capital stock of $369,000. Its object was to furnish water to the stockholders only
477
HISTORY OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY.
and it was to exist for fifty years. The directors were J. D. B. Stillman, D. A. Shaw, J. B. Glover, H. Hinckley, W. G. Hopkins, C. P. Barrows and W. R. Tolles. In 1898, this company improved the old Sunnyside ditch, using vitrified pipe and thus making a pipe line over ten miles long. The present officers of the company are: John Dostal, president ; L. E. Shaw, vice-presi- dent : S. Williams, secretary; Ist National Bank, treasurer; F. J. Gernich, zanjero.
Crafton Land and Irrigating Co.
In May, 1882, M. H. Crafts organized the Crafton Land and Irrigating Co., with M. H. Crafts, G. H. Crafts, C. H. Larabee, Mrs. Douglas and E. Caldwell as directors and a capital stock of $120,000. In 1886, the present Crafton Water Co. was organized with I. N. Hoag as its chief promoter. At present the company is under the control of H. H. Garstin, president ; C. R. Paine, vice-president ; Halsey W. Allen, secretary ; Ist National Bank, of Redlands, treasurer. The directors are H. H. Garstin, C. R. Paine, Halsey W. Allen, E. M. Lyon, A. P. Kitching, J. F. Richardson. This company controls the Mill Creek water due in Crafton and also has Bear Valley water, and supplies Crafton and Redlands Heights with both domestic and irriga- tion water.
Bear Valley Land and Water Co.
The Bear Valley Land and Water Co. was organized October 2nd, 1883. with a capital stock of $360,000 and with F. P. Morrison, E. G. Judson, F. E. Brown, G. A. Cook and W. C. Butler, of Redlands; Jas. G. Burt, Lewis Jacobs, Jas. A. Gibson and H. L. Drew, of San Bernardino, and Geo. W. Meade, of San Francisco, H. M. Barton, of Old San Bernardino, as stock- holders. November 3rd, 1884, the Bear Valley dam was pronounced com- plete and in 1885, the water was turned into the ditches for irrigation. In 1890, the Bear Valley L. & W. Co. became the Bear Valley Irrigation Co .. with new directors and increased stock. The same year the Bear Valley & Alessandro Improvement Co. and the Alessandro Improvement Co. were organized and the Alessandro and Perris Irrigation Districts were formed, to be supplied with water from teh Bear Valley reservoir. April 27th, 1891. the water was turned on in the Alessandro pipe line. December 7th, 1893. F. P. Morrison was oppointd receiver for the Bear Valley Co. April 2nd, 1894. J. A. Graves and A. B. McGinness were appointed receivers by Judge Ross.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.