EARLY VALLEY HISTORICAL SITES ALMOST ALWAYS CONNECTED TO A WATER SUPPLY.

BUILDING A GREAT MUSEUM FOR THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY

When the Fernandeño Tatavian  Band of Mission Indians came to the San Fernando Valley, long before Europeans arrived in the New World, they made their encampments near dependable water supplies. Later when the Spaniards and their Mexican allies arrived, they moved aside native populations for the water. Among these sites were Los Encinos State Historical Park and Campo de Cahuenga. A small pond still bubbles at Los Encinos. 

"Blacksmith Shop" Los Encinos State Historical Park - Encino - vintage post card - Gift to The Museum of the San Fernando Valley from Gary Fredburg 2014 - (click on image to enlarge it)  

Many Valley residents believe this structure, now called the Blacksmith's Shop, was the first secular home built in the San Fernando Valley. Ghost hunters are convinced that the building is haunted and that a man who had been evicted from the site was found hanged from a roof beam here.

 Courtyard of Campo de Cahuenga - vintage post card - Gift to The Museum of the San Fernando Valley from Gary Fredburg 2014 - (click on image to enlarge it) 

The banks of the Los Angeles River moved north over the years but a bridge over the Los Angeles River near Campo de Cahuenga on Lankershim Avenue still reminds us of why native people's made their homes nearby.

THE VALLEY'S FIRST EUROPEAN NAME

PRESERVING OUR VALLEY HERITAGE     2013

 Santa Catalina de Bononia de Los Encinos  - Holiday Card by Gerald Fecht 2012

     In the year 1791, a group of Spanish explorers climbed their way through what is now called the Sepulveda Pass and entered the San Fernando Valley. Within that expedition, led by Gaspar de Portolå, was Franciscan friar Padre Juan Crespi. The adventurous Spaniards were seeking an inland route from Santa Monica Bay around the impassable jagged rocks of the Malibu coast.

     Father Crispi wrote in his journal: "We saw a very pleasant and spacious valley. We descended into it and stopped close to a watering place, which is a large pool. Near it we found a village of heathen, very friendly and docile. We gave this plain the name of Santa Catalina de Bononia de las Encinos. It has on the hills and its valleys many live oak and walnuts.

     The site where the Portolå Expedition stopped can be visited to this day. It is the beautiful Los Encinos Historical Monument on the northeast corner of Ventura and Balboa Boulevards. The native Tongva Village has long disappeared but the warm spring that quenched their thirst forms forms a charming pool at the site. Descendents of the ancient Tongva still reside throughout the Los Angeles area. Early Spanish colonists called the road that passed Los Encinos northward toward the Mission San Juan Buenaventura, El Camino Real. Today called Ventura Boulevard, it is one of the busiest highways in the United States.

     The California live oaks (los encinos) that inspired the first European title for the San Fernando Valley, though endangered still grow throughout the region. Alas, few people today know of the Italian nun who was the Valley's first patron saint.

     Saint Catherine of Bolognia (Bononia in Spanish) was born in 1413 near the oldest university in Europe - founded in 1088 AD. She was raised as the privileged child of an aristocratic family, but rejected her advantages to serve her religion as a Franciscan sister in the Poor Clares, followers of the beloved saints Clare and Francis of Assisi. Catherine spent her life in service to the poor, in study and the creation of works of art. Today, Santa Catalina de Bononia is invoked as the patron saint of artists and as the protector of California live oak trees.

SENATOR FRAN PAVLEY ON SAVING LOS ENCINOS HISTORIC SITE

DISCOVERING OUR VALLEY    2011

This is an excerpt from a recent newsletter from the office of State Senator Fran Pavley.

Encino Chamber and Neighborhood Council Meetings

I recently had the opportunity to speak at the monthly meetings of the Encino Chamber of Commerce and the Encino Neighborhood Council. Separately, I updated both groups about the state budget and about pension reform measures that have been enacted. We discussed how these issues impact residents and businesses in the San Fernando Valley. Additionally, members of both the Chamber and the Neighborhood Council shared my concerns about the proposed closure of Los Encinos State Historic Park. The park is one of 70 state parks slated for closure by July of 2012 due to budget cuts. Los Encinos is surrounded by businesses and residences, and its closure would be a real loss to the community. The Encino Neighborhood Council is exploring options to keep the park running in some capacity. Members have contacted the State Parks Foundation for help. The foundation is working with non-profits throughout the state that are trying to keep parks open to the public. The Department of Parks and Recreation estimates that it costs the state about $210,000 a year to operate Los Encinos.

Museum Community note: Keeping Los Encinos State Historic Monument accessible is a high priority for all of us who care about history and our San Fernando Valley heritage. 

STATE PLAN TO CLOSE THE VALLEY'S LOS ENCINOS HISTORIC PARK

DISCOVERING OUR VALLEY   2011

Michael Crosby, longtime Museum ally, has just notified us of a State of California plan to close Los Encinos State Historic Park.  PLEASE take a moment to defend one of the Valley's most significant historic and cultural sites.

Los Encinos State Historic Park, at the corner of Balboa and Ventura Blvd, in Encino California, was, until the late 19th Century, the hub of human habitation in the Southern San Fernando Valley. This five-acre early California rancho includes the original nine-room de la Osa Adobe, the two-story limestone Garnier House, the Reyes Hut, natural springs, and a lake (shaped like a Spanish guitar.) The park contains exhibits on early California ranch life.

You can ACT TODAY by visiting:

http://my.calparks.org/site/PageServer?pagename=2011ParkClosures&JServSessionIdr004=3og8pwp9x2.app332b

 

Los Encinos State Historic Park - Photo for the Archives of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley by Gerald Fecht 2010.  (click on images to enlarge)

HONEY PRODUCTION A LASTING PART OF SAN FERNANDO VALLEY HISTORY

2010 THE YEAR OF VALLEY ADVENTURES

Honey Bee Culture - Rancho Los Encinos - date unknown - detail from gift to The Museum of the San Fernando Valley from Marc Wanamaker 2010 (click on image to enlarge)

Mentioned in early Spanish accounts of the Tongva people, who resided for centuries in the San Fernando Valley, was their love of honey and its importance to their culture. Honey, prior to the introduction of cane and beet sugar, was the primary sweetening agent in the era of Spanish ranchos. European honeybees were critical to the development of the California citrus industry and enabled early American settlers to produce great orchards of apricots and peaches.


Suggesting the curative properties of raw honey, La Miel Jireh of 12915 San Fernando Road in Symar, sells a variety of honeys including flavors influenced by orange, sage and wild flower. The Spanish word "miel" means honey. The name arrived in Iberia with the Roman conquest and came to Rome from the ancient Greeks. Mil indicates sweetness, hence women's names like Melissa. Check out La Miel Jireh at www.lamieljireh.com

The San Fernando Valley, in the heart of the Creative Capital of the World, deserves a great Museum of history and culture.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR LOS ENCINOS EASTER EGG HUNT

A MESSAGE FROM MICHAEL CROSBY TO THE MUSEUM COMMUNITY

Call for Docents!! Los Encinos SHP
Old Time Egg Hunt Saturday, April 3 from 1-3

Our biggest event is only 7 weeks away. It's always a fantastic day filled with pretty, clueless babies, along with costumed characters, old fashioned games, music and house tours.

The 1st gathering around the corral begins at 1 o'clock. We need egg hiders for the little 2 years and under. It's not difficult. The babies have no idea what's going on anyway. And they need all the help they can get. The hunt begins at 1:30.

While that is going on, the 2nd gathering (ages 3-4 years) begins at the near-by meadow at 2:00. We need more egg hiders!

The 3rd gathering (ages 5 and up) at 2:30 in the orange grove is the largest and we need the cleverest egg hiders of all. This group needs a little crowd control, too. Men in uniform would be a welcome addition (sorry, no fire arms).

Bring your gig, dress up and participate, or just wear an Easter bonnet. The more people, the more fun. We will serve food and beverages, too.

There will also be a special slide-show presentation of my new book: "Encino."

I hope you can come by and help us celebrate a new decade and the last million years'

Michael Crosby
President, Los Encinos Docent Association contact: crosbymd@gmail.com

HUZZAH! THE STAGE COACH HAS ARRIVED!

Los Encinos State Historic Park 2008 - Crowd Greeting the arrival of the Harris Stage - Photo by Gerald Fecht for the Archives of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley (click on image to enlarge) Spanish hoscienda in the background

Visitor Elsa Diaz Views Festivities at Los Encinos Historic Park 2008 - - Photo by Gerald Fecht for the Archives of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley (click on image to enlarge). The olive tree in which Elsa sits was planted by the owners of the original Spanish rancho.

Stage Coach arrival at Los Encinos State Park 2008 - Background is the two story Basque Sheepherder Eugene Garnier's home. - Photo by Gerald Fecht for the Archives of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley (click on image to enlarge)

Helen Baker, founder of the Tarzana Community Center Disembarks Stage Coach at Leonis Adobe. - Photo by Gerald Fecht for the Archives of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley (click on image to enlarge)