Lompoc Valley Historical Society

Lompoc Valley Historical Society Located in the Lompoc Valley, the Lompoc Valley Historical Society was founded September 5, 1964 as a Reference room open Monday and Thursday 9am to 11 am.

Ray Stalker managed the J.C. Penny Store prior to WWII. Stalker leads a parade past the Schroeder Building on his horse...
06/19/2026

Ray Stalker managed the J.C. Penny Store prior to WWII. Stalker leads a parade past the Schroeder Building on his horse, "Pal," circa 1950. Photo from Don Stalker. - Richard Schuyler

Horses to pull rock, circa 1900. H.S. Rudolph General Merchandise Store and Mercantile Union in background. - Richard S...
06/19/2026

Horses to pull rock, circa 1900. H.S. Rudolph General Merchandise Store and Mercantile Union in background. - Richard Schuyler

Harvey Ulysis Rudolph, son of H.S. Rudolph, circa 1900. - Richard Schuyler
06/19/2026

Harvey Ulysis Rudolph, son of H.S. Rudolph, circa 1900. - Richard Schuyler

Rudolph's Store on H Street and Ocean, March 1916. Oscar Fabing is in the foreground wearing white apron. - Richard Sch...
06/19/2026

Rudolph's Store on H Street and Ocean, March 1916. Oscar Fabing is in the foreground wearing white apron. - Richard Schuyler

The Yankee Blade spent a short time on the East Coast and was soon purchased by Cornelius Vanderbilt and sent around the...
06/19/2026

The Yankee Blade spent a short time on the East Coast and was soon purchased by Cornelius Vanderbilt and sent around the Horn for service in the Pacific. Under command of Capt. Henry Randall, she departed from San Francisco en route to Panama on September 30 and struck a rock off Point Pedernales (West of Lompoc, California) on October 1, 1854. There were 812 passengers and 122 crew on board at the time of her loss. A great deal of plunder and other unscrupulous activities occurred soon after the ship wrecked.

When she sank, she was carrying $153,000 in gold specie, plus unknown amounts of passenger gold. Most of the gold specie was salvaged in the months that followed her wreck, but modern salvage has recovered several items. In 1923, seven destroyers wrecked a few hundred feet from the Blade and were salvaged and/or demolished. Even at that time the site of the Blade was known and it was speculated that the Blade may have been salvaged at that time. Back in the 1950s and possibly 60s, the destroyers were salvaged for their brass and a number of items from the Blade were retrieved, including the ship's bell. However, there is no mention of any gold being found. Today, the wreck is on the National Register of Historic places.

The wreck lies off South Vandenburg Air Force Base and security prohibits entry from shore. The nearest harbor is Santa Barbara, over 30 miles away. To compound the problem of accessing the site, the area is known for its hazardous seas as heavy surf prevails, prohibiting diving most of the year. Despite the rough conditions, some large pieces of the engines and machinery remain on the site. - Richard Schuyler

June 1962. My branch of the Schuyler clan celebrated my grandfather's 60-year pin presentation at the Lompoc IOOF."Four...
06/18/2026

June 1962. My branch of the Schuyler clan celebrated my grandfather's 60-year pin presentation at the Lompoc IOOF.

"Four Generations Help Celebrate Anniversary.
Four sons, a daughter, ten grandchildren, two great grandchildren, a sister, and their families attended the anniversary party in IOOF Hall Saturday night which marked the 60th year of Odd Fellow membership for Lester Howard Schuyler.

Sons are Emmett, Howard of El Segundo, Vernon and Donald.

Mrs. George (Elta) Hughes of Santa Barbara is the only daughter, her daughter Marcia and the Vernon Schuyler's daughter Roxanne, the only granddaughters.

Grandsons include Duane, Leslie and Richard, sons of the Emmett Schuyler's; William, Douglas and George, sons of the Don Schuyler's; Lester and Steven, sons of the Vernon Schuyler's.

Mrs. Inez Maitland of Santa Barbara is Mr. Schuyler's sister.

Preceding the presentation ceremony in the lodge hall, the honoree was host at a barbecue dinner for local Odd Fellows and Rebekah lodge members.

Assisting hosts and hostesses were his children and sister.

Cherry Favor.
Gold and red candles, sprays of green foliage and red geraniums decorated the tables. Favors were miniature baskets of cherries at each place setting, this in recognition of the honoree's years as owner of the Schuyler Cherry Orchard. Rebekah members were in charge of the decorations.

In the lodge hall, a banner reading "Lester Schuyler 60 Years" marked the head place, flanked by large vases of red and white gladioli.

Darrell Schuyler, a nephew, was the master of ceremonies.

A second nephew William Schuyler escorted Mrs. Hughes who pinned her father with his 60-year emblem.

Father's Trophy.
Also presented to the honor guest was a silver cup trophy which had been presented to his father, the late William H. Schuyler by his IOOF Lodge when he transferred to the Lompoc Lodge as a charter member October 4, 1916. The trophy has been in the keeping of Mrs. Maitland since their father's death.

Presented by the honoree's grandson, William Schuyler, retiring Noble Grand of the Lompoc IOOF Lodge, was a resume of the local lodge's history as recorded by his great grandfather, William H. Schuyler.

Noble Grands.
Perhaps unique in lodge history is the fact that four generations of Schuyler's have served as Noble Grand since it's chartering in 1916.

The evening's celebration concluded with the serving of anniversary cake and ice cream in the lodge dining hall." (Betty Laurent of Lompoc Record). - Richard Schuyler

View of grass-lined road ascending into low mountains. The north side of Harris Grade, the old Highway 1 road leading fr...
06/18/2026

View of grass-lined road ascending into low mountains. The north side of Harris Grade, the old Highway 1 road leading from Santa Maria and Los Alamos Valley over to Lompoc through the Purisima Hills. circa 1950. - Richard Schuyler. No Agnes in sight.

El Camino Real - 1903
06/18/2026

El Camino Real - 1903

For those of you that wonder what is in the building on the southwest corner of H & Ocean in Lompoc, this is the Oddfell...
06/18/2026

For those of you that wonder what is in the building on the southwest corner of H & Ocean in Lompoc, this is the Oddfellows Hall behind those curved windows. My family has founding roots in the IOOF. Was initiated years ago but have not been active in recent years. Many memories and dinners in the Kitchen Hall and Lounge. - Richard Schuyler

Address

207 N L Street
Lompoc, CA
93436

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 11am
Thursday 9am - 11am

Telephone

+18057354626

Website

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