Reproduced essentially verbatim (some spelling corrections) from a copy of the article found in The Sentinel. The Sentinel was an Oak View newspaper published weekly on Thursday by Chuck and Faye Hill, with advertising by Joe Colville.
Thursday, September 25, 1958 THE OAK VIEW SENTINEL
HISTORY OF THE VALLEY
THE ROAD TO OJAI
by Percy G. Watkins
THE ROAD AS IT REACHED OAK VIEW IN 1900 LAND $30 ACRE
The Grade Road forded the San Antonio Creek where it immediately passed the house on the Harter ranch. A Mr. Alex Wiltfong lived in this house, which I believe still stands. Mr. Harter, owner of the ranch, lived in a small house nearby.
At this point a private road went up the canyon to get to the farm land of the ranch. This land is now owned by Judge David Drapeau, Margaret Bertles, the Mangans, and others. I think this included the land on the south of Sunset St. This part of the ranch was planted in plum trees.
Leaving the Harter house, the Grade Road climbed steeply and roughly to where Dr. Clow now lives.
At practically the same point where the road to the Clow's house leaves the Old Grade Road, there was a private road leading to the Arellanes Ranch. At the entrance was a barbed-wire gate with a sign on it: "THIS 40 ACRES FOR SALE $30.00 PER ACRE."
On a hill back of Wood's Nursery was a small house of typical design.
This house was vacant from 1900 to about 1915. Then a man named Garman repaired it to make it livable. By that time Nidever had bought the ranch and planted an apricot orchard. Garman rented it and farmed on shares.
Mr. Garman attempted to get around the expensive practice of pitting the apricots before they were laid out to dry. He built a huge machine to cut the fruit, and women were hired to spread the apricots. He took out patents on his machine and was working on improving it at the time of his death.
Hay and barley were also grown on this ranch. We called the ranch the Canstancia Ranch. I think it should have been Cagnacci. (to be continued) The Road from Ventura to Ojai, by Percy G. Watkins (October 16, 1958)