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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
Thursday, September
4,
1958, THE OAK VIEW SENTINEL
HISTORY OF THE VALLEY
Chapter Two: The Valley in 1900
(Ed. Note: This is another in a series of
articles about the valley. Mr. Watkins has been a resident of
the Oak View area since 1901. THE SENTINEL is highly honored to
print this exclusive series.)
THE ROAD From VENTURA TO OJAI
by Percy G. Watkins
From Rocky Flats (Casitas Springs) north, the Ojai road followed the
course of 399 to where it starts to run parallel to the railroad
now. Then it crossed the tracks to stay close to it on the west ford
of the San Antonio Creek. About where 399 leaves the railroad to go
up the San Antonio Creek Valley. The old road then continued about
parallel with the railroad on up the Ventura River Valley.
A short distance from the ford, it crossed a private
road going from the Hollingsworth Ranch House passing by La Crosse
Station (near Casitas Springs) to fording the San Antonio Creek. IT
reached dry ground near where drying equipment was used in the
processing of apricots. The apricot orchard was then south of the
Hollingsworth home.
A man named Meyers (I do not know if he spelled his
name that way), rented the ranch from Jack Hollingsworth, father of
James Hollingsworth who lives there now. The apricot orchard was
later very nearly taken away by floods.
The private road went on over the hill as does the
Sulphur Mountain road now. On the left further on, where the road
starts up the grade over Sulphur Mountain, was a small house with
pens and some farm buildings.
Here William (Bill) Foreman lived with his wife and
small children. HE had horses and wagons and hauled for others ---
hay, wood, etc. The place was known as "The Sheep Camp."
This private road was also used by a Mr. Jennings, who
lived where the Rocky Mountain Drilling Co. has its yards. He owned
the land from there to Ranch No. 1 (now the Willet Ranch) in the
Arnaz area. Here lie the remains of oil well equipment at the first
summit of Sulphur Mountain Road. However, the road at that time went
up the canyon instead of over the present grade.
About a half mile or less up the canyon, in 1900, a
crew was drilling a well for oil with cable tools. The man in charge
of this venture was a man named Van Epps, who in later years became
well-known in oil well drilling circles. He was killed several years
ago in an oil well explosion near Fillmore. The well, of course, did
not produce.
Next Week: A continuation of the road to Nordhoff (Ojai) as it
preceded past the home of Tom Bard (later U.S. Senator) and the
first oil well driled in Calif.
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