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Reproduced
essentially verbatim (some spelling corrections) from a copy of the
article
found in The Sentinel. The Sentinel was an Oak View newspaper
whose address was:
P.O. Box 504 - MI 9-1754 It was published weekly on Thursday by
Chuck and Faye Hill,
with advertising by Joe Colville
December 18, l958, THE OAK VIEW SENTINEL
HISTORY OF THE VALLEY
THE ROAD From VENTURA TO OJAI
by Percy G. Watkins
(Editors Note: Mr. Watkins, a long time resident
of Oak View, continues his early day recollections in the
Ventura River Valley)
In what is now the north section of Oak View, William Collins, an
early day Ventura banker, owned the ranch across from the Hemus
place.
The drive to the Collins house started where Shamrock
Inn (near Ojai Drive) now is located. In 1900 the area north of the
drive was planted to pears and apples. The trees were old, but a few
trees yet remained of an orchard that predated the pears and the
apples.
South of the drive, the hill had been
planted to apricots. A huge pear tree stood north of the drive at
the gate; and a few years ago, this tree almost surround the Inn.
Much later, the drive was changed to make room for the building now
there.
A big red barn stood on the hill east of the drive
after it changed to a southward course at the top of the hill. South
of the barn was a house owned by a Dr. Miller, a dentist.
It was a straight up-and-down board house as usual, but
it had what I presume is called a hip roof: ....... (part
of Percy's article not shown in this photocopy from the Oak View
library).
(continued part from the photocopy)
...nty five acres in apricots east of the
house. And on the north, twenty five acres devoted to hay. As usual,
Texas Red Oat Hay or barley was grown.
Two brothers by the name of Warren owned the Miller
Ranch and, I believe, the Sherwood Ranch at the time. One brother
had a home east and south of where the Shamrock Inn stands. The
other brother had a house near where Best Tire Shop (on Vent. Ave
and Ojai Dr.) is located.
Both houses were vacant after the Warrens moved out,
but beautiful roses bloomed in the yard each year. Ivy was trained
over eastern portions of both homes. Moonflower vines, Boston ivy
and a vine called (by old timers), Potato Vine, grew over the Miller
house. The house had no shade trees.
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