Menifee Valley Historical Association

10/03/2020

The name McCall is familiar to most residents of Menifee.
When the active retirement community of Sun City was first being built, its main thoroughfare, McCall Boulevard was known as Grand Boulevard. In the mid-60's it was changed to McCall in honor of Fred McCall.

Pictured here in 1926 is Lelia and Fred McCall with Mildred and twin sons Lloyd and Floyd. Fred served on various local farm service organizations. He also served 12 years on the County Hospital Board and Planning Commission. In 1954 he was elected to Riverside County Board of Supervisors representing the Fifth District. He served nine years until his passing in 1963. Floyd also became a County Supervisor, and their son Lloyd served as a trustee and school board president in both Romoland and Hemet. Four generations of McCalls have lived in the Menifee Valley area.
#menifeehistory

09/28/2020

Evans Fish Camp on Railroad Canyon Reservoir opened in May 1937. The Temescal Water Company constructed a dam on the San Jacinto River in 1929 and created the reservoir. They owned the lake and leased the concession to the George Dewey Evans family.
Not expecting such a large crowd of over 1,000 people on opening day, George had to cut the fences of his pasture to allow the cars to reach the lake! This first building acted as an office and housed a tent on the back for sleeping at the property if required. They had seven boats to rent to customers but as you can imagine, most of the anglers fished from the shoreline that day. Another building and several cabins were built the following year. Darlene Evans is pictured here.
#menifeehistory

09/21/2020

The majestic snow capped San Jacinto Mountains to the east, make a beautiful backdrop for this photo of the barns and outbuildings located on the William Newport Ranch. The date of the photo is Jan 1, 1905.

The present location of the entrance to the ranch would be on the north side of Newport and Evans Roads. William Newport owned 120 full-blooded horses (a thoroughbred or a purebred horse) and raised prize berkshire hogs. Mr. Newport employed over 30 men on his ranch that exceeded 2,000 acres.
#menifeehistory

09/14/2020

KIRKPATRICK CHUCKWAGON
All large farms and ranches in Menifee had a cook and chuckwagon to feed the hired men. This photograph shows the cook in his apron and the hungry men waiting for their meal. Hearty meals were required for the long hours ahead. Chuckwagon food typically included easy-to-preserve items like beans and salted meats, coffee, and sourdough biscuits.
Did you know - the name chuckwagon comes from the word “chuck," which was a slang term for food.
#menifeehistory

09/04/2020

This photo is taken in 1892 on the steps of the Menifee School that was located on Bradley, just souoth of Newport Road. The teacher was Miss Eliza F. Auld, Trustee Jacob Walters is holding his son Ernie Walters.

Back row-Gertrude Pope, Nola Walters, Lena Holland, Amanda Cresmer, Bessie Anderson, Ruie Walters, Alma Teel, May Anderson, Pearl Cook, Zona Walker, Etta Cook, Lita Cook, Nettie Allen, Margery Allen and Cliff Anderson. Front row Charlie Cresmer, Nelson Arnold, Henry Aiken, Fred Fortine, Rufus Holland, Harvey Teel, Roy Cook, Charles Pope, Claude Walker, Ben Teel, John Walker.
#menifeehistory

08/28/2020

Walter Zeiders is harvesting wheat in a field west of Antelope Road in 1930. You can see Bell Mountain in the distance.
#menifeehistory

08/24/2020

Close to 70 years ago, you could have ordered breakfast, lunch or dinner at Chub's Cafe (SE corner of Scott and Antelope).
#menifeehistory

08/21/2020

This is a photo of the Ethanac Cash Store. It was located in the Ethanac community, which at the time was named for Ethan Alan Chase a citrus grower in the area. The community’s name was later changed to Romoland to reflect its proximity to the nearby Ramola Farms development.
A sign indicates that the store also served as the local post office and perhaps the small sign on the left is for a telegraph office, since the Menifee Siding was nearby at the railroad tracks.
#menifeehistory

08/14/2020

Jay Wickerd owned forty-eight acres on the northwest corner of Bradley and Scott Road. He had lots of fruit trees and grew vegetables on his property.

08/09/2020

This aerial view of Railroad Canyon Lake was taken in 1968 just prior to development there. The view is looking east over Quail Valley with Sun City being developed. In 1968, the fishing resort (lower right) was the only activity in Canyon Lake at the time.

08/03/2020

This photo of the Hans Christensen Ranch was located on Antelope Road between Holland and Garbani Roads - looking west from an area near Bell Mountain. The hills at the top would be the hills between Quail Valley and Sun City.
The property and home had been in the Christensen family since about 1897 when the house was built and Hans Jr. was a small boy.
#menifeehistory

07/31/2020

Ya all seem to love the Rock House, so here is a story we know you will enjoy.

This photo shows Paul Wright as a young boy sitting on his donkey "old Joe". His father Edward is on the left and his mother Christine is second from the right.
“The rock house was built using Rose Quartz mined from nearby Crowfoot Mountain. The walls of the house were 2-3 feet thick and kept the house cool in the summertime. Kerosene lamps and candles were used for light. In the kitchen was a Majestic Wood Range on which all the cooking, baking and ironing was done” writes Christine in her 1973 Biography.
Christine utilized everything and nothing went to waste in her household. The photo is dated 1936.
#menifeehistory #murrietahistory

07/28/2020

The Bouris brothers had orange groves, peach and fig orchards, and a 100 acre vineyard at their ranch off Scenic View Drive, south of Keller Road.
Many people came up the driveway to buy fruit and vegetables at their produce stand.
The home was a gathering place for family and friends from San Diego to Los Angeles. Their hospitality knew no bounds. They entertained and fed guests for days and weeks, and in some cases, months. They were Aunt Mary, Uncle George, and Uncle Sam to many children who spent their summer working and living here.
#menifeehistory #murrietahistory

07/24/2020

This team of six horses is pulling two wagons loaded with sacks of grain. They are heading from the field to the Kirkpatrick barns for storage. It was hot and dirty work with no air conditioning. Harvesting season was from July to September.

Robert C. Kirkpatrick and his four sons left Tennessee and eventually brought their families to Menifee in 1882. They bought land in this valley on both sides of Newport Road east of the I-215 freeway where Menifee Lakes is situated. They area totaled 3,000 acres and they farmed the land together.
#menifeehistory

07/20/2020

Callie Kirkpatrick is standing against a eucalyptus tree in her yard. When she came to Menifee in 1882 there were no trees on the property. In later years, there was a nice group of trees around the homestead for enjoying the hot summer months.
Many residents were encouraged to plant eucalyptus groves and were planted for use as railroad ties. However, the wood turned out to not be suitable for that purpose.
You can still find a few eucalyptus groves here in Menifee and surrounding areas. They are often found near prior home sites.
#menifeehistory

07/17/2020

These two TD-35 and TD-40 tractors are pulling an International Harvester in the Christensen's field near Garbani and Leon Roads. Comfort was beginning to be a concern, so umbrellas protected the drivers from the heat in the summer.

Herbert Christensen said it was "plain old hot work". The Dodge car on the left belongs to his brother Clyde.
#menifeehistory

07/16/2020

Luther Menifee Wilson was born in Mount Sterling, Kentucky in 1842. At the age of 18 he worked for the railroad. Civil War Records and several Riverside County newspaper articles referred to him as Colonel Luther Wilson, suggesting that he was a Civil War veteran.

He made his way to California before 1870 and found work as a miner in Kern County. In 1872, Wilson married Mary Jane Clark, whose father operated several stagecoach lines, express wagons carrying gold bullion and 20-mule team ore wagons in San Bernardino. In 1879, records show Wilson was a hotelkeeper in Ivanpah, a small silver mining town located in the Mojave Desert. He was employed at the local mines in the area, and it was there he improved his skills at prospecting.

In the early 1880’s there were gold mining districts being formed in nearby Perris and Hemet. Wilson had separated from his wife, and his prospecting ventures led him to our area. In 1883, after initial discovery of a gold near present day Holland and Murrieta roads, Wilson filed a claim with the San Diego County Recorder’s office for his “Menifee” mine. Government Survey maps of the time included labels depicting the Menifee Mining District and the area was then referred to as the Menifee Valley.

Wilson’s gold bearing quartz vein was approximately three feet wide. There were four shafts on the vein, one reaching 125 feet deep. The main shaft had a 5’ x 11’ double compartment, which allowed two kibbles containing men, ore or water to traverse the shaft at the same time. Wilson sold his claim for $10,000 in 1884 and was one of the few miners who profited from the mines in the area. A steam-powered 5-stamp mill was erected at the mine site that could crush 5 to 10 tons of ore per day. The sound of the stamp mill could be heard many miles away.

In 1893 the County of Riverside had been formed. Wilson and some partners were working new mining claims at the “King Wilson” or “Alice” mine, which was located just south of present-day Scott and Lindenberger roads. It was 2,800 feet on the surface and the shaft was 80 feet deep. A few years later the mine played out, and the equipment was sold to a company in Mexico.

Luther died in 1899. He was destitute, had a number of outstanding debts, and buried in an unmarked grave in the Riverside Olivewood Memorial Cemetery.

Although named for the area’s first gold miner, the Menifee Valley was actually settled by grain farmers seeking land and a place to raise their families.

Written by Bill Zimmerman, Vice President - Menifee Valley Historical Association
#menifeehistory

07/14/2020

On this day, 103 years ago.....
William Brown is showing Mrs. Conley how to sew sacks of grain after a harvest.
She was a teacher at the Antelope School which was located at the southeast corner of Scott and Antelope Road.
#menifeehistory

07/13/2020

Shown here is the 100-year-old barn at the Pinto Ranch. Members of the Loping Lads and Lassies 4-H members are practicing vaulting.
Dorothy McElhinney helped introduce vaulting into the United States, setting up rules of competition. Each summer she held a horse camp for young people at the Pinto Ranch. She was a charter member of the Palomino Horse Breeders Association and a member of the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association.
#menifeehistory #murrietahistory

07/10/2020

This picture shows five self-propelled harvesters cutting wheat around a field south of Holland and west of Haun Road.
Self-propelled harvesters were introduced in our country during World War II when more food was needed and men were leaving the farms to work in the defense industries.
5 harvesters could cut over one hundred acres in a day. Harvesting was done in July, August, and September, the hottest months of the year.
Info and photo courtesy of Betty Bouris
#menifeehistory

07/08/2020

The Drake and Walker families are enjoying the day on the Walker Ranch that was located on Haun Road, south of Holland Road.
Photo date July 4, 1915 (105 years ago).
#menifeehistory

07/04/2020

05/22/2020

This photo is George Magno Sr. According to his obituary he came to Menifee in 1931 and lived here until his death in 1966. He was born in Boston and lived to be 77 years of age. He lived on Antelope south of Scott Road.

He served in both World War I and II and spent 38 years in the U.S. Navy and was an expert in torpedoes, mines and deep sea diving. He also ran the Ferry Launch at San Pedro / Terminal Island for many years. #menifeehistory #memorialday

05/18/2020

Menifee Valley Historical Association recognizes today May 18 as International Museum Day.

Around the world, this day serves as a platform to raise public awareness on the role museums play in the development of society on an international level. We look forward to seeing you when we reopen so you can learn about our local history.

05/17/2020

Myra Kittilson is picking up wood for the kitchen stove and room heater. A large woodpile was a necessity in the winter and spring months. Wood was a fuel source for cooking and heating the house. c.1912 #menifeehistory

05/15/2020

Virtual and 3D tours of the Menifee Valley Historical Association Museum upgraded for viewing | Valley News

Thank you Valley News for helping us get the word out about resources that are available on line at the Menifee History Museum
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EntertainmentLocal Entertainment Virtual and 3D tours of the Menifee Valley Historical Association Museum upgraded for viewing By Tony Ault - May 15, 2020 0 18 Share Facebook Twitter Pinterest WhatsApp Menifee Valley Historical Association is offering virtual tours of its museum for those looking fo...

05/10/2020

This is the 60th wedding anniversary invitation for Isaiah and Affa (Stevens) Wickerd.
They were married in 1853 probably in Michigan. Isaiah bought a large parcel of land between Wickerd, Scott and Bradley Roads. He gave land to family members who later gave land to their sons. David Wickerd had 12 children and John Wickerd had 8 children, thus this entire area became known as "Wickerdville" in the early days.
The Wickerd children all attended the Antelope School, that was on Scott and Antelope Road. #menifeehistory

05/08/2020

Seventy-five years ago on May 8, 1945 the Allies formally celebrated the defeat of Nazi Germany. May 8 is known as V-E Day - "Victory in Europe".
V-E Day came at a steep price for American troops with more than 400,000 deaths during WWII. These WWII veterans, often called the Greatest Generation, were everyday men and women who put aside families, schooling, and jobs to answer the call and serve their country.

Of the 16 million Americans that served in WWII, only an estimated 250,000 veterans are still alive. That number declines with each passing day.

We are proud to share with you some of Menifee's WWII heroes. Leslie Zeiders, Herk Bouris, Louis Krubsack, Oliver "Todd" Wickerd and Leonard Kirkpatrick Jr. Most of these men were born and raised in Menifee. Todd Wickerd is still alive today.
#menifeehistory

05/04/2020

Evans Fish Camp on Railroad Canyon Reservoir opened in May 1937.
The Temescal Water Company constructed a dam on the San Jacinto River in 1929 and created the reservoir. They owned the lake and leased the concession to the George Dewey Evans family. Not expecting such a large crowd on opening day, George had to cut the fences of his pasture to allow the cars to reach the lake. This first building acted as an office and housed a tent on the back for sleeping.
At the time, they had seven boats to rent to customers, so most of the anglers fished from the shoreline. Another building was necessary and was built the following year along with several cabins. The buildings were moved three years later in 1940 to another location where the lake was deeper.
On opening weekend, 1,000 people enjoyed the lake. #menifeehistory

05/03/2020

Visitors to the Charlie Bailey Ranch in 1918 pose on sacks of newly harvested grain. Before the advent of the self-propelled combine, grain went into burlap bags and was hand stitched by the man riding on the harvester. Then the 100 pound sacks were loaded onto wagons for the trip back to the storage area.

04/26/2020

Stan Hendry and his wife Miami (pronounced Myme) built the Chicken Basket at the corner of Hwy 395 (now the 215) and Scott Road.
They raised 2 daughters in Menifee and lived in a small mobile home on the property. The restaurant had bench seating and stools at the counter. There was a window for quick service too. #menifeehistory @ Menifee, California

04/10/2020

Take a drive around Menifee and learn about our past. The locations of the 12 historical monuments are shown on the map.

Share your photo below and add #menifeehistory to your post. We are trying to pique your interest with a few of our own photos...
Have fun!!

04/03/2020

The Evans Family MADE THEIR WAY TO MENIFEE by Government Train and settled Menifee’s west side

Thomas Jefferson Evans, as a young man left his native state of Indiana to explore the west. In 1849, he crossed the plains with a government train and located in Santa Fe, NM, where he bought his first piece of property and was employed as a government agent for two years. After returning to Indiana, the lure of gold in California soon took him west again to the Feather River area. His marriage in 1859 to Cynthia Fowler of Maine, had him settling down in the Gilroy area where they started their family. Their second son Henry (shown in photos) was born in 1863 and the family moved to San Bernardino in 1873. The family then chose Menifee as their home for a year in 1891/1892. Thomas wrote in his diary every Sunday from 1863 until his death in 1901.

Young Henry Evans (11) and his older brother George (13) learned to work hard at an early age and were sent into the mountains to cut wood for shingles. In 1885, at the age of 22, Henry married Ella Ferrell, daughter of James B. Ferrell and they soon moved to a ranch in Menifee to be near his in- laws. Ferrell filed a Homestead Claim on land in 1887 on what is now the Audie Murphy Ranch. Henry and Ella lived on property that his father purchased which was located at the eastern end of today’s Canyon Lake. In 1927 Henry and Ella sold 1,150 acres to the Temescal Water Company so a dam could be built to store water that flowed from San Jacinto River and Salt Creek, which created Railroad Canyon Lake. Through the years Henry’s brothers Arthur and Newton also lived in Menifee. Arthur lived on Holland Road and his 11 children all attended the 1890 Menifee School on Newport road. Newton lived on the SE corner of Murrieta and Newport Roads.

Henry Evans also bought 65 acres in 1908 where the Menifee Middle School and Menifee History Museum are now located. He farmed his land and in 1914 he served as Riverside County road foreman for the Menifee District. He recognized the importance of a quality education for the children residing in his community, so he served as a trustee for the Menifee School District and was active in all matters of social and civil interest. Evans road and Evans Ranch Elementary School have been named to honor the pioneer settler.

Henry Evans’ favorite poem and philosophy was “Let me live by the side of the road and be a friend to man”. Five generations of his descendants have called Menifee home and many still live here today.

We appreciate the input and narrative provided by Mrs. Elinor Evans Martin to compose this article written by Bill Zimmerman - Vice President Menifee Valley Historical Association. For more information about the Evans family and other pioneer settlers, please visit the Menifee History Museum, which is open Sundays from 1 to 4pm. Admission is free.