5 CENTS SPRING 2007 YEAR 13, NUMBER 1 Calm Coming To Downtown. Best In The West Saddle Up Downtown Newhall. If you are read- By CHRIS PRICE, ing this in late-February you may already have seen construction activ- ASSISTANT CITY ENGINEER, For 14th Annual ities starting up. CITY OF SANTA CLARITA. The professional traffic and civil engineers mentioned in a previous Cowboy Fest. article have completed the process New Parking Pattern, Street of re-designing striping, signal modi- fications, and producing finished By MICHAEL FLEMING Restriping Designed To Fulfill construction plans and specifica- ARTS AND EVENTS COORDINATOR, Vision Of Newhall Plan. tions to shift one lane of traffic from San Fernando Road over to Railroad CITY OF SANTA CLARITA. Avenue between 5th and 11th Streets. The restripe is coming! The first That shift in commuter traffic City’s Event To Feature major capital project specifically will allow for back-in angle parking Top Names In Western designed to fulfill the vision of the along San Fernando Road between CLARITA CITY OF SANTA Downtown Newhall Specific Plan is Lyons Avenue and 5th Street. The Entertainment. on its way. Agency is expected to award the A SHIFT IN DOWNTOWN By the time you read this, city construction contract during the TRAFFIC FLOW IS PLANNED staff members will have recommend- February 13 regular City Council TO CREATE CALMER Put on your chaps, grab your ed that the Redevelopment Agency meeting. CONDITIONS AND ALLOW hat, and dust off those old cowboy Board award a construction contract The act of awarding the restripe boots for the City of Santa Clarita’s BACK-IN ANGLE PARKING. to bring back-in angle parking to CONTINUED ON PAGE 4. fourteenth annual Cowboy Festival, April 25-29. Recently named by True West Magazine as one of the best cowboy festivals nationwide, the City of North Newhall Plan On Hold. Santa Clarita’s Cowboy Festival will showcase the best performers in western entertainment at Melody By JASON SMISKO Ranch Motion Picture Studios and SENIOR PLANNER, other local venues throughout the Santa Clarita Valley. CITY OF SANTA CLARITA. “The 2007 Cowboy Festival promises to be a memorable year for all our guests,” said City Mayor Rail Crossing Raises Eyebrows At PUC. Marsha McLean. “Each year, our City, with the help of Melody Ranch and all the great Western perform- ers, showcases a once-in-a-lifetime Council, Planning Commission To Hold Joint Session opportunity to experience life in the May 1 To Tackle At-Grade Crossing Issues. old West,” she added. Each year, the Cowboy Festival attracts western singers, balladeers, storytellers and poets from around The North Newhall Specific Plan has been put on hold the country, for what is considered while the City develops a strategy to gain government to be the premier festival of its kind. approval for a rail crossing that’s integral to the North Newhall The 2007 cowboy lineup improvement plan. THE CALIFORNIA PUBLIC UTILITIES includes headliners such as cowboy In December 2006, staff temporarily suspended the land COMMISSION HAS A PROBLEM WITH THE poet/comedian Baxter Black, cow- use planning of this project in order to concentrate on issues CITY’S PLAN TO CHANGE THE RAIL CROSSINGS boy balladeer Don Edwards, heart- specific to vehicular circulation and rail crossings. It had IN THE NORTH NEWHALL PROJECT AREA. felt ballads and cowboy swing come to the project team’s attention that obtaining multiple music from Wylie and the Wild West, agency approval (most notably, the Public Utilities Commis- In December, the project team met with potential con- and western melodies from the Sons sion) for an at-grade rail crossing of the potential Lyons sultants from the railroad industry to discuss the achievability of the San Joaquin. Avenue extension north into the project boundary could be of the plan’s objectives and to begin strategizing for agency Festivities will include the exceptionally difficult. CONTINUED ON PAGE 11. CONTINUED ON PAGE 11. 2.

cating that the list was not intended to be bound by city limits.) The list is supposed to ©2007, OLD TOWN NEWHALL USA. serve as a trigger. If a develop- LEON WORDEN, Editor and Publisher. er comes to the city with a plan to alter or demolish one of the properties on the list, a EDITORIAL. red flag is supposed to go up. It hasn’t always worked; many years ago the city forgot to check the list and approved the demolition of a home on We Must Save Chestnut Street in Newhall that had been built in 1908 by the family of a onetime Los Angeles County sheriff. The American. The city needs to cast aside any preconceived notions as it (hopefully) devel- ops an ordinance to preserve What would you say if a story by Bill Crowl on page 3 our valley’s important histori- developer came to you with a of this edition of the Gazette.) cal places. plan to rip out one of the most If the American Theater Certainly, the city needs historic and architecturally isn’t worth saving, nothing is. to pay attention to the list — unique buildings in Newhall, And if this developer doesn’t but with so many errors and the Santa Clarita Valley’s first “see any value” in it, we need a omissions, it needs to develop freestanding movie theater, different developer to carry a better list. The city shouldn’t built in 1941 by no less a figure out the city’s plans — which be “married to the list,” espe- than William S. Hart, and do call for the American The- cially not the current one. replace it with apartments? ater to be preserved. What should be pre- Would you laugh in the Surely there will be some served? Well, as noted at a city developer’s face? Would you deviations from the City Coun- Planning Commission meeting scream? cil-approved Downtown when the issue last came up a Well, it actually happened. Newhall Specific Plan. When it CURRENT NEWHALL RESIDENTS ARE LIKELY TO couple of years ago (yes, it has A developer came to the city comes time to turn the dirt and been that long), a property KNOW THE HISTORIC AMERICAN THEATER AS with a plan to do just that. pour the concrete, it’s shouldn’t be preserved “just As part of its planned inevitable that there will be a THE HOME OF AMERICAN LEGION POST 507. because” it is more than 50 reconfiguration of the streets few changes. years old. There needs to be in Old Town Newhall, the But there is no way the We were the location of etly dies. The idea is back in some common sense to it. Santa Clarita Redevelopment city should abide this radical a California’s first gold discovery play again, and this time, the What should private Agency (i.e., the city of Santa departure — and in the end, (1842, Placerita Canyon, six city needs to follow through. home and landowners be Clarita) put some of the con- the city didn’t. The city reject- years before Sutter’s Mill). We As the city goes forward, barred from doing? That’s struction projects to bid. One ed the bid and started the were the birthplace of the Cali- it needs to do some rethinking. another question that will of the projects is the realign- process over again. fornia oil industry (1876, Pico You see, there is this “list” require careful consideration. ment of San Fernando Road When the new bids come Canyon). We were the place of historic properties in the In general, cities with historic and Lyons Avenue, with new in, the city should accept noth- where the rails came together Santa Clarita General Plan. preservation ordinances allow construction at the terminus of ing less than a nice, big library to link Los Angeles with the The list includes 33 homes, owners to alter the interior of San Fernando. (San Fernando, building — or at least some rest of the nation. (1876, commercial buildings and their buildings however they aka “Main Street,” will dead- landmark public building that Canyon Country). We were locations that have state or want, but try to preserve the end at Lyons; the through will attract patrons to Old one of the earliest and most national landmark status, or exterior. street will be Railroad Avenue. Town Newhall — and it should popular locations for filming, were deemed to be a “city What no city in its right The plan is, if you’re driving on insist on the preservation of dating from the beginning of point of historical interest.” mind would do is use eminent San Fernando and you come the American Theater. the last century when the The problem is, the list domain to take a historic the- to a stop at Lyons, you’ll be Who knows? Maybe the movie industry relocated from was written back in 1991 when ater building from an unwilling looking up at a new public good folks at America Legion New York City to Hollywood. the city was new. The list is seller just so it can be torn library building.) Post 507 can work with the We’re fortunate to have a riddled with errors and, more down to make way for apart- The city didn’t receive city and start showing old few remaining buildings and importantly, omissions. Yes, ments. much interest from develop- Westerns or new art films in landmarks to commemorate the Hart Mansion is on the list. ers. In fact, the only bid that the old theater building once our unique history. We’ve lost Yes, Melody Ranch is on the was even remotely within the in a while. It would make a more than we’ve kept, but list. Yes, the buildings in Her- ballpark came from a develop- great addition to Newhall’s we’ve still got some good ones. itage Junction are on the list. er who wanted to build a budding Arts District. And yet, sadly, our city But incredulously, the much smaller library and cram has no historic preservation American Theater is not on the a bunch of new homes behind ordinance. list. Neither, for that matter, is DISTRIBUTION: FIFTY-FIVE THOUSAND. it. In the process, the Ameri- The fact that the future of Why not? Cities with far the Saugus Speedway — can Theater would be demol- the American could even come less history have laws and whose grandstands were built Send Correspondence To: ished. City officials said the into question underscores a rules to protect their histori- around 1927 when it was a OLD TOWN NEWHALL USA Post Office Box 802993 developer “didn’t see any bigger problem not just in cally and culturally significant rodeo grounds. Neither are the Santa Clarita, Ca. 91380 value” in keeping it. Newhall, but throughout the houses, neighborhoods and Harry Carey Ranch buildings [email protected] Hello? The American was Santa Clarita Valley. commercial buildings. in Saugus. (True, the Harry the first building in our valley If there’s one thing that It’s not for lack of interest. Carey Ranch, aka Tesoro Del VISIT OLD TOWN NEWHALL that was expressly built as a differentiates our valley from It’s more a matter of initiative. Valle, is outside of city limits, ON THE INTERNET movie theater. You might every other cookie-cutter, The idea of a historic preserva- but the list includes other www.oldtownnewhall.com know it as the American tract-home subdivision in Cali- tion ordinance comes up every properties outside of city lim- PUBLISHED IN COOPERATION WITH Legion Hall today. (See the fornia, it’s our history. few years in this city, then qui- its, such as Mentryville — indi- THE SIGNAL NEWSPAPER. 3. The Movie House That Bill Hart Built. Silver screen star and Trueblood to his mansion Theater was ready for dedica- Newhall icon William S. atop the hill. There, he tion. The realization of Mr. Hart built this theater at the announced, “l have for a long Hart’s generosity and affec- corner of Spruce and time believed that Newhall tion toward his fellow towns- Eleventh Streets in 1940, six should have a picture theater. people, the labors of the years before his death. The I also believe that the Ameri- builders, and the dream of the structure was used as a the- can Legion should be encour- Trustees of American Legion ater through the 1960s and aged in its program of pre- Post 507 were fulfilled on still stands as the home of serving patriotic American May 23, 1941. American Legion Post 507, ideals.” Mr. Hart made a short which was chartered on Both of these men were speech with all of the fire and December 5, 1934. members of Newhall-Saugus dramatic effect of his years of Bill Crowl, president of Post 507 American Legion. acting experience, where- the Friends of William S. Hart, of course, was known upon he handed the keys to Hart Park (1999), writes: as one of Hollywood’s major Commander Clark. Clark fund raisers for Liberty Bonds thanked him for his magnifi- during World War I, and for cent gift and passed them to other patriotic efforts (see E. Harold Hall, who leased WILLIAM S. HART AND companion article). the building for a theater. As THE AMERICAN. At that time, Hart owned the opening night crowd a number of land parcels in entered, they were greeted by the Newhall area. He pro- an additional rural valley rari- Bill Hart treasured his posed to donate three lots at ty: fresh flowers in a bowl role as one of the citizenry of the corner of Spruce and 11th sculpted from ice. The fea- Newhall. Our museum has Street (valued at seventeen ture film was “Tumbling Tum- photos of him entertaining thousand dollars) plus nine- bleweeds.” Hart requested the local schoolchildren and teen thousand dollars in cash that the theater continue to much has been said of his for construction and $6,000 show one Western movie activities during the St. Fran- for furnishing of a new the- each week. cis Dam disaster. This is the ater. The post’s executive offi- The American Theater tale of another contribution cers created a non-profit cor- continued to provide enter- that William S. Hart made to poration and board of tainment to valley residents his community. trustees to hold and adminis- until 1965, when it was closed Visitors to the Hart Man- ter the property. — probably a casualty of sion were often treated to This board was com- home television. The Legion showings of motion pictures prised of Commander C. V. Post converted it to their in Bill’s living room. A dis- Clark Jr., Vice Commander meeting and entertainment crete projection room had (and Signal editor) Fred True- center, as it remains today. been incorporated into the blood, Tom Frew Jr., Lewis architecture because the Givens, Claude Shaver, The author wishes to movies had been Bill’s busi- Charles Hayes, Jess Doty, Dr. acknowledge and thank the ness. However, the general E. C. Innis, and Ronald COWBOY FILM STAR WILLIAM S. HART COMMIS- following persons for their population had to travel over Riedel. On November 7, 1940, contributions: Estelle Walton the hill to see the latest films. at the old Bank of America SIONED THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE AMERICAN Foley, historian of Post 507; Hart decided to do something (on what is now San Fernan- THEATER, WHICH WAS COMPLETED IN 1941. Tom Frew IV; the staff of about that. do Road), Mr. Hart formally Santa Clarita Department of In late August of 1940, signed over his land deed to following month, on a struc- S. Charles Lee. Building and Safety; the William S. Hart invited friends the Trustees. ture designed by nationally Nine months after its local office of the Los Angeles Tom Frew Jr. and Fred W. Construction began the renowned cinema architect, conception, the American County Tax Assessor. Looking Forward To More Progress In The New Year.

took a break from That being said, I want to take participated in a number of training publishing the a moment and reflect on everything and outreach sessions and By PHILIP ELLIS Gazette over the that happened in 2006. We got a lot identified key issues to the Chairman, Newhall holidays, I can accomplished and we should all be implementation of the plan. At Redevelopment Committee. guarantee you very proud of the amount of work about the same time we learned that the Newhall that was done. that the City is working with The Redevelopment ◆ In January we began to Master’s College to potentially Redevelopment Committee Committee con- participate in the implementation expand and enhance Creekview Proud of Accomplishments, And tinued working of the Downtown Newhall Specific Park. diligently with the Plan, which was adopted in ◆ In the early summer, the City and Looking To The Future. City of Santa December of 2005. January also the Newhall Redevelopment Clarita and other saw the opening of the City’s new Committee, in conjunction with Leon PHIL ELLIS. partners to Community Center. The facility is Worden, launched a website Let me begin by extending to ensure our dream located near the Jan Heidt dedicated specifically to keeping the everyone the happiest wishes for a of Newhall becoming more of a Metrolink station. public up to date on everything prosperous New Year! Although we reality every day. ◆ In March and April we CONTINUED ON PAGE 4. 4. Enterprise Zone To Benefit Santa Clarita Businesses. environment, Gov. Arnold California communities. the zone. The Enterprise Zone For example, with each By ANDREE WALPER Schwarzenegger named the The Santa Clarita Enter- designation is in effect for fif- qualified employee hired, a ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT City of Santa Clarita as one of prise Zone boundaries encom- teen years. company can earn $31,234 or six new Enterprise Zones pass more than 8,500 acres of Businesses located within more in state tax credits, and DIVISION, CITY OF established in Los Angeles commercial and industrial the zone will be eligible for companies purchasing twenty SANTA CLARITA. County, part of twenty-three zoned land. They are under substantial tax credits and ben- million dollars of qualified Enterprise Zones named review by the State Housing efits such as: machinery and parts can earn statewide. and Community Development ◆ Tax credits for sales and use sales tax credits. Gov. Schwarzenegger Names The California Enterprise Department and must be final- taxes paid on qualified machin- The City is establishing an Zone Program targets econom- ized before the zone goes into ery. Enterprise Zone Office, and is Santa Clarita One Of Six ically distressed areas using effect. The City estimates that ◆ Tax credits for hiring recruiting for the position of Enterprise Zones In Los special state and local incen- approximately two thousand qualified employees. enterprise zone manager. ◆ Angeles County. tives to promote business five hundred industrial busi- Lender incentives on loans For more information on investment and job creation. nesses and nearly one thou- to Enterprise Zone firms. the newly designated Enter- By encouraging entrepreneur- sand two hundred commercial ◆ Accelerated expense prise Zone, visit www.scenter- ship and employer growth, the businesses will be eligible for deductions and priority for prisezone.com or contact the Continuing efforts to cre- program strives to create and tax incentives offered by the various state programs and City’s Economic Development ate jobs and a positive business sustain economic expansion in state for being located within contracts. Division at 661/255-4347.

local Panaderias. instance, if you have spent some time Well there are two simple The City’s Arts picking up that hard-to-find item from answers to that question as well. The Restripe, & Events folks will Newhall Hardware, or several gallons first and most important is: Down- CONT. be able to close the of Navajo White from the Newhall town Newhall will grow its own Main FROM PAGE 1. new “Main” street Paint store, it will be quite a bit easier Street, it does not want to be Town to vehicular traffic to load all that gear into the back of Center Drive, it wants to be different, construction contract is a clear sign far easier than your vehicle while standing on the and different is sometimes a little from the City that it means business before in order to sidewalk. hard to get used to. when it comes to the revitalization of host bigger and Also, if you are on your way to eat The second fact of the matter is Downtown Newhall. With much better events at one of the existing or forthcoming that the City and Agency are not in the calmer traffic conditions on San Fer- downtown. Sun- restaurants along Main Street with business of creating problems. If the nando Road, residents and visitors day morning your excited children, the open doors new style of parking becomes a prob- alike will feel a more welcoming socializing will be of your car could well prevent them lem, painted lines can easily be atmosphere along the future Main far livelier with CHRIS PRICE. from running out into the street before changed, and head-in angle parking Street (San Fernando Road will even- regular breakfast you have a chance to stop them. could be only a few working days tually be renamed Main Street along patrons lining up Finally, when it comes time to away. The Planners, Urbanists, Com- this same stretch of roadway). to get a table at the Waystation, or drive out into moving traffic, you will mittee, Council, and Agency members And, speaking of future, staff is walking off that big breakfast along have a much safer and easier time who are so supportive of the overall also working on plans for a new the road while checking out a group pulling into your lane. reawakening of Downtown Newhall “Streetscape” to further soften Main of other patrons’ Harley Davidsons “Yeah, but how about backing are not above listening to the people Street. New sidewalk treatments will leaning in a row angled backward like into the space in the first place?” you where vision and reality come togeth- grow from all of the intersections, the cars on either side. might ask. er. If something really does not work, creating more pedestrian areas along Speaking of backward, many Well that may take a little more staff will be directed to find a solu- the way. people are asking what back-in angle effort, and directional signage will be tion. That is one of the characteris- New benches, trees, rubbish parking is all about. While it is new in place to remind folks to leave more tics that have continued to make bins, information kiosks and addi- for us here in Santa Clarita, it is room for the person ahead of them Santa Clarita a great place to live. tional landscaping will eventually employed in a number of localities all that is signaling to park. So get ready, here it comes. The make Main Street a much more wel- over the country. Research has “OK, but still!!!” some continue to restripe project is just about here, and coming place to stroll or sip hot cof- shown several significant benefits to bray, “Town Center Drive works just once it is done you may begin to see fee and warm baked goods from the this newer configuration. For fine!” things you never noticed before.

◆ In September the City’s July the annual Fourth of July front page of this edition of the Community Preservation division Parade made its way through Gazette. I think when you’ve done Chairman, began working with residents in Newhall. In October the Santa so you’ll be as excited about the CONT. East Newhall to help clean up the Clarita Street Art Festival was held. project as I am. FROM PAGE 3. neighborhood. I’m happy to report In November the Santa Clarita I can guarantee you it will be that in the first phase of the project Valley Film Festival was held at the another year filled with challenges Newhall (www.oldtownnewhall.com). ninety-four percent of the owners in Canyon Theatre Guild. And In and opportunities. Amelia Earhart ◆ In August we participated in the area have cleaned up their December we rang in the holiday once said, “Never do things others creating the North Newhall Specific properties. season with the Old Town Newhall can do and will do if there are things Plan, a document being prepared by ◆ No stranger to the arts and Holiday Parade. others cannot do or will not do.” I Moule and Polyzoides Architects entertainment community, Newhall I fully expect that the Newhall know that together we can accom- that will provide a plan for the large was the site of a variety of exciting Redevelopment Committee will be plish anything. vacant lot north of Downtown cultural events. In April the annual every bit as busy this year as last Newhall east of the intersection of Cowboy Festival was held. This year – if not more so! The Newhall Redevelopment San Fernando Road and 13th Street included Cowboy Couture at the One of the most significant Committee meets the first Monday (For those of you who’ve been Canyon Theatre Guild, as well as items to occur in 2007 is the City’s of every month at 7 p.m. The meet- paying attention, you’ll know that other events at Heritage Junction restripe project of San Fernando ings are held in City Hall, 23920 Moule and Polyzoides is the same and the William S. Hart Museum. In Road, Railroad Avenue and Lyons Valencia Boulevard, in the Century firm that created the Downtown May an event was held at the Avenue. I encourage you to read the Conference Room. All members of Newhall Specific Plan.). Veterans’ Historical Plaza and in article about this project on the the public are welcome to attend. 5. Wanted: Volunteers For Historical Society.

By PAT SALETORE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, SANTA CLARITA VALLEY HISTORICAL SOCIETY.

The Santa Clarita Valley Historical Society needs volun- teers to get things done! We have a huge mission before us, and without community sup- port, we just can’’t fulfill it. Every place has a history and our Society is the place where the history of our valley is kept. We do that by maintain- ing information, images, sto- ries and memories. But we also have accept- ed the challenge of maintaining some of the buildings that evoke our collective past here in Santa Clarita. Anyone who has ever lived in an old building can tell you — they need a lot of upkeep. So, multiply that kind of problem by four, then add three smaller buildings, then add a train depot and a locomotive and the grounds to Above: MEMBERS OF keep all that! It is pretty daunt- ing to say the least. THE FILIPINO AMERI- In case you were thinking CAN SOCIETY CLEAN that we were funded by some UP AROUND THE EDI- governmental agency or some- SON HOUSE AS PART one else with deep pockets — think again. We operate on OF PRIDE WEEK. THE memberships, donations and HOUSE WAS BOUGHT volunteers. FROM A CATALOGUE, Opportunities for helping AS A KIT, BY THE EDI- out include all kinds of mainte- nance, like cleaning our muse- SON COMPANY AND um in the depot and other BUILT FOR EMPLOY- buildings. We have all kinds of EES. WHEN THE HOUS- painting jobs. We have a num- ES WERE NO LONGER ber of projects that will require skilled work on construction BEING USED, THIS BUILDING WAS DONATED TO THE jobs like a deck on the track- SCV HISTORICAL SOCIETY, AND OTHERS LIKE IT side of the depot, shelter for WERE BURNED DURING FIRE DEPARTMENT TRAIN- the farm equipment and plans ING. Above Left: JIMMY ESCALANTE, A VOLUNTEER for an active blacksmith shop FROM THE SANTA SUSANNA SP DEPOT IN SIMI VAL- display. We need drywall work and general minor fix-up jobs. LEY AND A RETIRED RAILROAD ENGINEER, AND MIKE Also, we can always use JAREL (in black), A SCVHS VOLUNTEER AND UNION more docents. If we had more PACIFIC ENGINEER, WORK ON THE “MAGNETIC FLAG- docents, we could expand our MAN,” OR WIGWAG, AS JOHN LESPERANCE, outreach into the community. We could offer walking tours of GROUNDSKEEPER AT HERITAGE JUNCTION, LOOKS the buildings or possibly even ON. Left: A VOLUNTEER FROM GRACE BAPTIST increase the number of days CHURCH DEMONSTRATES HOW AN ORDER HOOP we can be open. WOULD BE FITTED ONTO THE ORDER DELIVERY Heritage Junction Park is an important part of our com- POLE, WHILE MIKE JAREL (back) WORKS ON THE munity. Our history literally WIGWAG POLE. THE ORDER HOOP WAS DESIGNED defines our community. We TO DELIVER A WRITTEN MESSAGE TO THE ENGI- would like to invite the com- NEER, CONDUCTOR OR OTHER WORKERS ON THE munity to participate in our vital mission of preserving that TRAIN. DIFFERENT LEVELS ON THE POLE INDICATED heritage. FOR WHOM THE ORDER WAS MEANT. 6. The Parallel Outlaw Careers Of Ti

By ALAN POLLACK, M.D. FIRST VICE PRESIDENT, SANTA CLARITA VALLEY HISTORICAL SOCIETY.

A Retrospective Through Contemporary Newspaper Accounts.

Famous Outlaws Bore Similarities In Background And Public Perception.

(either for personal gain or to It recently dawned on me that avenge injustice, depending on one’s there were several similarities in the perspective) — Vasquez primarily lives and criminal careers of out- robbing individuals, stagecoaches laws Tiburcio Vasquez and Jesse and whole towns; James mostly rob- James. bing banks and trains. Both men began their careers Both men’s careers peaked in in retribution for perceived injus- the 1870s, during which their most tices heaped on them — Vasquez famous robberies occurred — due to the mistreatment of Mexican Vasquez at Tres Pinos and Kingston Californios by the invading Ameri- in California, James at Northfield, cans, James due to the mistreatment Minnesota. Both men suffered vio- of Confederate veterans in Missouri lent deaths – Vasquez by a planned by the victorious Union soldiers at hanging in San Jose, California; the end of the Civil War (and no James by an unanticipated (to him doubt to avenge the defeat of the anyway) betrayal by one of his gang Confederacy). members who shot him in the back Both men were perceived by of the head in a small house in St. the local population as modern-day Joseph, Missouri. “Robin Hoods” and were shielded Today we will take a chronolog- from the law by the locals. Both men ical journey through the careers of used robbery to further their cause Vasquez and James using contempo- rary newspaper accounts to illus- Top Left: A PAINTING OF THE FAMOUS OUTLAW TIBURCIO VASQUEZ HANGS trate their outlaw endeavors. Most of the newspaper items you will see IN HERITAGE JUNCTION HISTORIC PARK, IN NEWHALL. Above: THE ROCK come from my personal collection. WAS BELIEVED TO HIDE OUT, NOW BEAR HIS NAME. Right: SPURS BELIEV Some are from the collection of Eric FOUND ON THE TEJON RANCH IN THE LATE 1930s BY ROBERT ADDINGTO Caren, one of the major newspaper collectors and dealers in the coun- occurred in Southern California, Also about the time of the The next ye try. locally in Placerita Canyon. Francis- Placerita gold discovery, wagon American War co Lopez, a trained mineralogist trains were coming along the Ore- Treaty of Guadalup EARLY LIFE OF from Mexico, was the uncle of Jaco- gon Trail to Oregon and California, point the America ba Feliz, the widow of Antonio Del bringing the first wave of American California and re TIBURCIO VASQUEZ. Valle, who was the first non-Native settlers to California. fornios to second- Tiburcio Vasquez was born in American owner of the Santa Clarita War broke out between Mexico John Marshal 1835 to a well-to-do family in Mon- Valley. He was supposedly sleeping and the United States in 1846. It on the American terey, California. One year before under an oak tree, and when he began as a territorial dispute over Mill in January 1 his birth the mission system in Cali- awoke he dug up a wild onion and Texas, but ended up with the United tenant Edward F. fornia had been secularized, and found gold sticking to its roots. States acquiring much of the South- Washington, D.C California at the time of his birth The Placerita Canyon discovery west. In January 1847, John C. Fre- later with a gold n was just beginning the glory days of set off a minor gold rush, mostly mont led a group of troops over the bring news of the the Spanish rancho period. Very few involving Mexican gold seekers. For pass later to be called Fremont Pass, the East Coast. Th Americans had settled in California whatever reason the news of the dis- or Newhall Pass, into the San Fer- coffin for the C at that time. There were still moun- covery stayed within the Mexican nando Valley to Campo de Cahuen- days occurred on D tain men roaming the far West. population, did not spread to the ga (on Lankershim Boulevard near when President Ja But within the next fifteen American population, and therefore present-day Universal City) to ered his state of t VASQUEZ DEATH ANNOUNCE- years, everything would change. was rather lost to history in compar- accept the surrender of Andres Pico and announced MENT IN THE NEW YORK The first documented gold dis- ison with the more famous gold dis- and the Mexican troops to end the gold in California t TRIBUNE, MARCH 20, 1875. covery in California actually covery at Sutter’s Mill six years later. war in California. In the speec 7. iburcio Vasquez And Jesse James.

admitted into the Confederacy claimed to have been involved in when part of the state government what became known as the sympathetic to the South voted to Lawrence Massacre. secede. Neither side had full control It is well documented, however, of the state. Members of the same that Jesse joined the bushwhackers family, including the James-Samuel in 1864 and, with his brother Frank, family, could be divided between participated under the command of Union and Southern sympathizers. former Quantrill lieutenant Bloody Jesse’s older brother, Frank Bill Anderson in the notorious Cen- James, initially fought in Missouri tralia Missouri Massacre of Septem- with the regular Confederate Army, ber, 1864, in which twenty-two but later joined with the Confeder- unarmed Union soldiers returning ate bushwhackers, a band of guerril- home on leave were pulled from a the Americans and suffered mis- las who battled Union forces in train and executed. The guerrillas treatment by the newcomers. Western Missouri. Both sides were also terrorized the town, robbing It was in this setting and to commit savage atrocities against and burning stores and robbing sequence of events that Tiburcio the other. The warfare was largely stagecoach passengers. In a battle IN THE SAUGUS TRAIN STATION MUSEUM Vasquez developed his resentment waged by Missourians, often pitting against pursuing Union forces, Jesse against the American “invaders” and neighbor against neighbor. Jesse’s is said to have killed Union Major KS NEAR AGUA DULCE, WHERE VASQUEZ began his career of outlawry. and Frank’s stepfather, Reuben A.V. Johnson, who was one of the VED TO HAVE BELONGED TO VASQUEZ, Samuel, was tortured by local Union soldiers on the train, and is “credit- ON. ONE SPUR SHOWS A STYLIZED “TV.” EARLY LIFE OF JESSE JAMES. militiamen who were hunting for ed” with taking the lives of seven Frank’s band. other men. But the brothers’ activi- ear the Mexican- accounts of the abundance of gold Jesse James was born in Cen- On August 21, 1863, a band of ties brought hardship on the family ended with the in that territory are of such an terville (later to become Kearney), rebel guerrillas under the command when Union authorities banished pe Hidalgo. At this extraordinary character as would Clay County, Missouri, in 1847 to a of William Quantrill descended in Reuben and Zerelda Samuel from ans had taken over scarcely command belief, were they farmer and Baptist minister, Robert the early morning hours on the the state of Missouri in January elegated the Cali- not corroborated by the authentic James, and his wife Zerelda. He had sleeping town of Lawrence, Kansas, 1865. -class citizens. reports of officers in the public serv- three brothers, Robert Jr., Frank and embarked on a four-hour ses- The Civil War ended with the ll discovered gold ice…” and John, and a sister, Susan. His sion of pillaging, “executions,” arson surrender of Robert E. Lee to River at Sutter’s The California Gold Rush was mother later remarried a doctor and other mayhem. By the time Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox, Vir- 1848. Naval Lieu- officially started after that speech. named Reuben Samuel and they had Quantrill’s men rode out of town, ginia, on April 9, 1865. But the James Beale traveled to American gold seekers rushed to two more sons, and two daughters, one in four buildings in Lawrence brothers continued to fight in Mis- ., a few months California by the thousands to get including Archie Peyton Samuel. In had been burned to the ground, souri as Bushwhackers. In May of nugget in hand to their share of the gold. San Francis- the years leading up to the American including all but two businesses. 1865, Jesse rode into Lexington, gold discovery to co was practically depopulated as Civil War, Zerelda and Reuben As well, most of the banks and Missouri, carrying a white flag. he final nail in the everyone in town ran off to the gold acquired a total of seven slaves and stores had been looted. Left behind When he attempted to surren- alifornio Rancho fields in the Sierra foothills. Califor- grew tobacco on their farm. were between one hundred eighty- der, he was shot in the chest by December 5, 1848, nia quickly attained statehood, join- As the Civil War began in 1861, five and two hundred dead men and occupying Union troops. ames K. Polk deliv- ing the United States in 1850. In the Missouri was a border state, badly boys. Among Quantrill’s Raiders Afterward, he went to Rulo, the union address process, the Mexican Californios divided between Union and Confed- that bloody morning were Frank Nebraska, to recuperate from his the discovery of saw their previously idyllic Rancho erate sympathizers. Missouri initial- James and Cole Younger. Although wound before returning to Missouri. to the world. lifestyle progressively destroyed. ly voted to stay in the Union as a there is no definite evidence, six- In August of that year Zerelda James ch, he said, “The Many eventually lost their land to neutral state but was also later teen-year-old Jesse James also later CONTINUED ON PAGE 8. 8.

mounted on his horse. James As the James-Younger Vasquez, Ross, great-grandson of Jesse Gang started to gain atten- James and author of the tion, they would be blamed CONT. James biography, “I, Jesse for many robberies, some of FROM PAGE 7. James,” claims that Jesse which they did commit, some and her husband returned to faked being ill from his they clearly didn’t, and many the family homestead in Mis- wound back on the farm in that remain controversial as souri. Recovered from his Kearney in order to establish to their involvement. The out- wound, Jesse joined them in an alibi for not being present laws went to great pains to October, and Frank returned at the robbery, but indeed was establish alibis and hide their not long after. It was in this present in Liberty and leading involvement in the crimes. setting that Frank and Jesse the robbery. The James brothers had many James began their career as Although historians can- friends and admirers in Mis- outlaws. not state with certainty, other souri who were more than Claiming to have been possible participants in the willing to shield them from forced into a life of crime STAR TREK'S CAPTAIN JAMES T. KIRK SHOOTS A Liberty robbery included the law. because the family had been Frank James, Cole Younger, John Newman Edwards, persecuted during the war, SEGMENT OF “HOW WILLIAM SHATNER CHANGED and about ten to fourteen an ex-confederate soldier Frank and Jesse became the THE WORLD” (2005) AT VASQUEZ ROCKS. total men. who became editor of the leaders of a band of outlaws, While the others kept Kansas City Times, became a which included the Younger party, but was making too He was released for the watch outside, two men staunch supporter of the brothers and other ex-Con- much of a disturbance, which final time from San Quentin in entered the bank. It is uncer- James Gang and used his federates. Jesse justified prompted a deputy sheriff to 1870. tain exactly who they were. newspaper to launch the much of his actions by his try to remove him from the Various sources speculate myth of Jesse James as a hatred of the industrial North, party. JESSE JAMES, 1860s. they could have been Frank noble “Robin Hood.” He feeling as if he were continu- In the ensuing fight, James, Cole Younger, George would print letters from Jesse ing the fight through his out- Vasquez was accused of stab- Following the Civil War, Sheppard, Arch Clements, or James denying involvement in law activities. bing and murdering Consta- Jesse James continued his even Jesse James. Inside the robberies. Later he would Beginning in 1866, the ble William Hardmount. It is fight against the hated North bank were Greenup Bird, portray James as a hero who gang robbed their way across not clear whether Vasquez by introducing bank robbery head cashier and his son and “robbed from the rich and the Western frontier for the actually committed the mur- to the country. The 1860s assistant, William Bird. One of gave to the poor.” next fifteen years. der. However, guilty or not, he were notable for a series of the robbers requested a bill to Therefore, at least some chose to flee rather than face bank robberies committed by be changed. As William portion of the robberies 1850s-1860s. American justice. He joined a gang of ex-Confederate approached the counter, the attributed to the James- up with Anastacio Garcia, guerrillas led by Jesse and outlaws drew their guns and Younger Gang remains a mys- The 1850s belong to presumed to have been in the Frank James and including demanded money to be tery to this day as to whether Vasquez. Jesse James was still gang of outlaw Joaquin Murri- Cole Younger and his broth- placed in an empty feed sack. they were actually present. a kid on the farm in Kearney. eta. ers Jim, John and Bob. This Money, bonds, and tax stamps One such case occurred sev- Garcia is listed according band of outlaws would even- totaling over sixty-two thou- eral months after the Liberty VASQUEZ. to different sources as: tually gain nationwide fame sand dollars were placed in Bank Robbery in Lexington, a. His older cousin. as the James-Younger Gang. the sack. The Birds were sub- Missouri. Five men robbed Vasquez developed a b. His friend. It was the first daylight sequently forced into the the Alexander Mitchell and resentment against the Ameri- c. His uncle. bank robbery in peacetime in bank vault, after which the Company Bank in Lexington cans at an early age. He would d. His older friend. U.S. history: On February 13, robbers exited the bank. on October 30, 1866, and later say he thought his acts At any rate, Garcia pre- 1866, twelve men wearing Two teenage boys were made off with two thousand of banditry might help Mexico sumably taught Vasquez the faded soldier blue overcoats watching the robbery from dollars. They would have got- regain California from the “art” of outlawry. rode in from different direc- across the street at the Green ten more money (possibly up United States. In those early days, tions into the town of Liberty, Hotel. One of them, George to one hundred thousand dol- The details of the first Vasquez primarily rustled cat- Missouri (now a suburb of “Jolly” Wymore, a seventeen- lars), but the cashier claimed incident known to involve tle and horses. He also robbed Kansas City). Their intention year-old student at William not to have the key to the Vasquez are somewhat con- freight wagons and stage- was to rob the Clay County Jewell College in Liberty, bank vault. Some historians troversial as to his age and the coaches. In 1857 he stole Savings Association Bank, would become the first per- feel that Jesse and Frank exact circumstances. Some- horses from Rancho Camu- located at one corner of the son murdered by the James- James took part in this rob- where between the age of los, but was caught when he town square. Younger Gang. As the robbers bery, but others place them fourteen and eighteen tried to sell them to a relative Although this robbery is were fleeing the bank and out of state at the time. (depending on the source), of Ignacio Del Valle. Del Valle felt to be the first associated heading out of town, one of Another robbery attrib- Vasquez attended a fandango, happened to be owner of both with the James-Younger them noticed Wymore watch- uted to the James Gang took probably in Monterey (possi- the horses and Camulos. Gang, there is some contro- ing them and shot him in the place in Savannah, Missouri, bly in Sonora, California, Being a judge as well, Del versy as to whether Jesse chest. Wymore died there in on March 2, 1867. Five to six according to another source). Valle tried Vasquez and sen- James himself was present in the street. men attempted to rob the Again depending on source, tenced him to San Quentin Liberty. There is little doubt It is unclear who shot Judge John McClain Banking he: prison for five years for grand that Jesse was the planner of Wymore and exactly why they House of Savannah. The rob- a. Claimed that an Ameri- larceny. He escaped from San the robbery. However, some did it. Some speculate it could bery was bungled and no can had insulted his sister at Quentin in 1859 and hid near contend that he was too ill to have been Frank James or money was taken. Historians the party. Idria, but again engaged in ride at that time, as he was Arch Clement. The Wymore can find no clear evidence that b. Was involved in a fra- horse stealing, was caught still recovering from the chest family claims that a few any of the James or Youngers cas over a girl. and returned to San Quentin, wound he sustained when weeks later they received a took part in this robbery. One c. Got into a fight due to where he was incarcerated surrendering to Union forces letter apologizing for the author called it a copy-cat rob- his jealousy over the Ameri- until 1863. He continued to at Lexington, Missouri. death of the boy. It was signed bery not attributable to the cans’ seemingly greater suc- engage in horse stealing and On the other hand, some by Jesse James. After the rob- James-Younger Gang. cess at attracting señoritas stage robbing and was witnesses to the robbery bery, the outlaws headed James Ross places Jesse than were his fellow Mexi- returned to San Quentin in claim to have seen Jesse back to the James Farm in James in Kentucky at the time cans. 1867 after a failed attempt to James in Liberty appearing ill Kearney and split up the of the robbery, still recovering d. Was the life of the rob a store in Mendocino. and having trouble staying money and bonds. from his chest wound. 9. A Recipe For Success In Newhall.

By ALEX HERNANDEZ ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT Old Town ASSISTANT, CITY OF SANTA CLARITA. Newhall Business Cookbooks Plus Is The Latest Addition To Spotlight. The ‘Mom And Pop’ Business Mix Of Old Town Newhall. band maintain several web- sites, a mail order business, and catalog software to help Old Town Newhall is a Mimi thrive in a rather niche hub for small business. marketplace. Mimi also has National chain fast-food Cookbooks Plus inventory restaurants and big box on major Internet book retailers are nowhere to be retail sites such as Ama- found. In an effort to high- zon.com. light unique or new busi- In addition to a website nesses, each edition of The that catalogs the store’s Gazette will spotlight a cookbooks, Hiller has sever- downtown Newhall estab- al other websites devoted to lishment. This month’s cooking such as Mimi Mart spotlight is on Cookbooks MIMI HILLER, OWNER for kitchen items and Plotz- Plus, located at 24339 San OF COOKBOOKS PLUS, worthy for Jewish gifts. Fernando Road. Recipe Circus was recently SAYS SHE WAS DRAWN launched and allows users Cookbooks Plus was TO DOWNTOWN to create their own recipe previously located in NEWHALL AS A NEW archives for free. To date, Canyon Country, off LOCATION FOR HER that site has over 330,000 Soledad Canyon Road, and entries with over 4,000 peo- relocated to downtown BUSINESS, AND SHE ple registered who have cre- Newhall in April 2006. LIKES THE “HOME- ated their own online recipe Owner Mimi Hiller says she TOWN FEEL” OF THE archive. has always been drawn to VALLEY’S HISTORIC Cookbooks Plus has downtown Newhall and another employee, who OLD TOWN DISTRICT. “loves the hometown feel Mimi says has been invalu- and how the buildings look able in accepting donated like yesterday stepped into books and shipping orders today.” gauge customer demand. all over the world. Through Hiller believes this new Hiller found that Los her busy mail order busi- location is central to most Angeles County has only ness, together Mimi and of the city with good drive- three cookbook stores. One Barbara mail more than 150 by traffic and signed a sells only new cookbooks, books each month. Mimi three-year lease for the while the other sells only says walk-in traffic at the roughly one thousand, five- supply for your favorite tomers to locate hard-to- used cookbooks. Cook- store has improved and hundred-square-foot space. foodie. The most popular find cookbooks and order books Plus currently has hopes to have many more The brick and mortar item is not actually a book, quality copies for a low more than 14,000 books and days like a recent one with a storefront sells new and but a Microplane grater that price. Mimi has had cus- is the only one in Los Ange- line waiting at the cash reg- gently used cookbooks, has been featured by televi- tomers come from as far les County shelved with ister. including some rare and sion celebrity chefs such as away as El Paso, Texas, who new and used cookbooks. unusual ones, cookbooks Rachel Ray, Emeril Lagasse, have previously placed Cookbooks Plus may Cookbooks Plus signed by their authors, and Martha Stewart, and Los Internet orders but dropped also have a kitchen installed (www.cookbooksplus.com) historic and vintage titles. Angeles local Melinda Lee. by to visit the store in to further enhance the cus- is a business member of the The cookbooks appeal to The store also offers a Newhall. tomer’s experience in the Santa Clarita Valley Cham- people at every cooking wide variety of books for Before opening a store- store. Mimi hopes to pro- ber of Commerce. The store skill level from novice non-cooks such as house front, Mimi researched her vide cooking classes that is located at 24339 San Fer- cooks to restaurant chefs. decorating, gardening, do-it- market and competition. will feature guest cooks and nando Road in downtown The store is also stocked yourself home projects, She visited cookbook stores book signings. Newhall. They are open with cookbooks for kids crafts, sewing, knitting, all over the country and first Cookbooks Plus is a Monday through Saturday and some Spanish language quilting, photography, recre- began ten years ago with small business that relies from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and cookbooks. ation and many more. online sales of cookbooks heavily on technology to their business phone num- The store has a great Mimi also provides a from her original website, supplement in-store traffic ber is 661/296-4455 or call selection of gift items in book search service for cus- OverTheHillers.com, to and sales. Mimi and her hus- toll-free at 877/352-9713. 10. Farmer’s Market: A Fresh Shopping Experience. home with fresh cut flowers directly from the grower to By MICHAEL MARKS you. There is always some- CITY OF SANTA CLARITA. place to sit down and enjoy a snack and a cold drink as you take a break from shop- Old Town Newhall’s ping. While you are in Old Farm-Fresh Alternative Set Town Newhall, don’t forget To Reopen For The Spring. the area offers many fine stores to shop in before or after the Farmer’s Market. Mark your calendars for Travel back in time as every Thursday afternoon you enter Newhall Hard- for our new hours of 3 p.m. ware, which will be cele- to 7 p.m. beginning April 5, brating 60 years in the same when the Old Town Newhall location. This unique hard- Farmer’s Market reopens ware store offers every- for spring! thing for your home repair The Farmer’s Market is needs. located in a parking lot at The area also features the corner of San Fernando many fine restaurants such Road and 6th Street right as El Trocadero Steak next door to the Rodger House and fresh pastries at Dunn Golf Shop. Customer Jazmins Bakery. Or enjoy a parking is conveniently night out on the town see- located adjacent to the ing a play at the Canyon Farmer’s Market. You can Theatre Playhouse or the enter the customer parking Repertory East Theatre. lot off of Railroad Avenue Most importantly, we or San Fernando Road by hope to see you and have entering from 5th Street or THE OLD TOWN you plan your weekly fresh 6th Street. NEWHALL FARMER’S shopping needs at the Old Consumers flock to MARKET WILL REOPEN Town Newhall Farmer’s farmer’s markets for two FOR THE SPRING Market. main reasons: the wide If you are interested in selection of fresh, afford- ON APRIL 5, FEATURING getting a booth space at the able produce and specialty FRESH PRODUCE, Old Town Newhall Farmer’s food items and the opportu- HERBS AND OTHER Market, please contact, nity to gather with friends. TASTY OFFERINGS. Michael Marks at 661/286- So bring the whole fam- 4078 or email at ily for a fresh food shopping [email protected] experience. If you are a local farmer The Old Town Newhall you are looking for herbs or if you make your own Farmer’s Market features you will find basil, rose- craft items we have room for fresh produce from several mary, sage and many more. you at the Farmer’s Market. different local farmers. The Farmer’s Market The Old Town Newhall Depending on the growing also has vendors selling Farmer’s Market is open season, you will find straw- other tasty items such as Thursdays from 3 p.m. to 7 berries, peaches, apples, will also be able to prepare lettuce, tomatoes, corn, assortments of nuts, fresh p.m. from April 5 to Novem- citrus, cantaloupes, and dishes from the assorted squash, potatoes, broccoli breads, desserts, and gour- ber 1, 2007. delicious watermelons. You vegetables such as onions, and beets, to name a few. If met tamales. Grace your Come on down!

Old Town Newhall Event Calendar Canyon Theatre Guild: Romeo and Juliet, currently running through February 24th; Sarah Plain and Tall, currently running through February 24th Newhall Library: International Ghost Stories, February 28th at 4–5 p.m. Repertory East Theatre:: The Last 5 Years, March 9 – April 7 SCV Historical Society: St. Francis Dam Lecture, March 10 Canyon Theatre Guild: Bye-Bye Birdie, opens March 23rd 11. ‘Bye Bye Birdie’ Rocks and Rolls Cowboy, CONT. into the Canyon FROM PAGE 1. Theatre Guild. Spaghetti Western Family Din- Bye Bye Birdie opens at ner, a Behind the Scenes Tour, the Canyon Theatre Guild and the Walk of Western Stars with a champagne reception gala dinner and awards cere- at 7 p.m. on Friday, March 23. mony. Lively, captivating, and enter- Since 1994, the City has taining, this popular musical continually brought to life the will have performances music, magic, and spirit of the every Friday and Saturday old West for thousands who evening at 8 p.m., through visit the festival each year. The April 28. There will be Satur- festival’s western music, cow- day matinees at 1 p.m. on boy poetry, authentic cowboy April 7, 14, 21, and 28; Sun- gear and food are always a day matinees at 1 p.m. on highlight for attendees. Join March 25, April 1, 15, 22, and the City of Santa Clarita for 29. There will be two Sunday five days of cowboy culture twilight performances at 6:30 and excitement! p.m. on April 22 and 29, and For more information on one Thursday evening show the 2007 Santa Clarita Cowboy at 7 p.m. on April 26. No per- Festival, including tickets, formances on Sunday, April event times, prices, venues 8. Tickets are $11-$14 for jun- and more, visit www.cow- iors and seniors and $14-$17 boyfestival.org or call the for adults. Call the box office THE SONS OF THE SAN JOAQUIN ARE AMONG THE WELL-KNOWN COWBOY Cowboy Festival Ticket office at 661/799-2702. AND WESTERN ACTS AT THE SANTA CLARITA COWBOY FESTIVAL. at 661/286-4021.

Prior to beginning to create a land ior planner for the City of Santa Clarita entrance in the Placerita Canyon com- North, plan for the NNSP, the project team and project manager for the NNSP. “It munity. interviewed scores of community and has been successfully used to create All of the above is still subject to CONT. public agency stakeholders in 2006. positive plans in communities through- further planning, evaluation and change FROM PAGE 1. Also, community workshops were held out the United States, as well as in as staff is still working through key proj- approval and compliance. The next in August and September 2006. Downtown Newhall. This charrette ect design issues and constraints. steps regarding this project and related These interviews and workshops was extremely well-attended and the Once completed, the North issues will include the City hiring a rail allowed the project team to gather input community helped drive and create the Newhall Specific Plan will provide prop- consultant to study all rail crossings in and ideas from the community and to basis for this project’s land use plan.” erty and business owners with the tools the field, evaluate area traffic counts, gain insight on the issues and develop- Although there is not yet a formal to entice quality investment, ensure a develop a strategy for PUC application, ment options for the project area. This proposed project, characteristics of the consistent development pattern with reach agreement and support with research culminated in a four-day com- potential land use plan that arose out of complementary uses, preserve environ- other impacted agencies, and file an munity charrette (workshop) in Sep- the charrette process included: mentally sensitive areas and provide application with the PUC. This applica- tember 2006 at Hart Park’s Hart Hall. ◆ An equestrian center north of mechanisms to construct public tion and approval process could take This charrette was similar to the Placerita Creek; improvements. approximately one year. one followed in developing the DNSP in ◆ A regional park south of Placerita The plan is estimated to cost A joint City Council-Planning Com- 2004. The charrette brought designers, Creek; $850,000 and take approximately a year mission study session is scheduled May engineers and other consultants togeth- ◆ An off-street multi-use trail east of and a half or longer to complete. Fol- 1 for the project team to present a pro- er with community leaders, residents San Fernando Road; lowing resolution of the Lyons Avenue posed NNSP land use plan and to dis- and property owners to solve design ◆ Approximately six hundred fifty rail crossing issue, staff will begin the cuss the status and issues with obtain- problems and development issues. Par- residential units of varied housing process of completing the draft specific ing approval for an at-grade Lyons ticipants were divided into sub-groups types; plan and draft environmental impact Avenue rail crossing. to discuss issues, design ideas and pres- ◆ Approximately seven hundred report. After the drafts are completed, ent information. Presentations high- thousand square feet of commercial there will be numerous study sessions Downtown Plan Used As A Model. lighted important topics and reviewed industrial space with much of it to front and public hearings before the City’s Capitalizing on the successful plan- accomplishments. San Fernando Road and with a Planning Commission and City Council. ning effort that resulted in the 2005 Each day, the charrette was divid- neighborhood commercial center at the The North Newhall Specific Plan is Council-approved Downtown Newhall ed into general topic areas with Day location of the future connection of the part of a larger planning effort in the Specific Plan (DNSP), the City of Santa One devoted to traffic and transporta- Dockweiler Drive and Lyons Avenue greater Newhall area. Other separate Clarita hired the same planning consult- tion; Day Two to environmental issues extensions; projects being reviewed or processed ants, Moule and Polyzoides, Inc., to cre- and landscaping; Day Three to financing ● The two-hundred-foot-wide Metro- include the DNSP development and ate the North Newhall Specific Plan of infrastructure and economics; and politan Water District easement to be implementation; the re-striping of lanes (NNSP). Day Four to design and code standards. landscaped and used as passive open along San Fernando Road and Railroad Located adjacent and north of The charrette was open to the public space and a multi-use trail; Avenue; build-out and implementation Downtown Newhall, boundaries of the each day from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. with pre- ● Plans to rebuild the historic Southern of the Gates-King project; The Master’s two-hundred-thirteen-acre NNSP proj- sentations on the day’s topic area each Hotel; College master plan and expansion; and ect include Circle-J Ranch to the north, day from noon to 1 p.m. and evening ● Extension of Lyons Avenue at-grade the Dockweiler Drive extension. Market Street to the south, Placerita presentations summarizing each day’s crossing Railroad Avenue and the rail- For more information on the North Canyon to the east and Newhall Creek accomplishments from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. road tracks into Placerita Canyon and Newhall Specific Plan, please contact to the west. Much of the property con- “The charrette process allowed for the planning area and connecting to the Jason Smisko (jsmisko@santa- sists of vacant land that is annually used greater community involvement and future Dockweiler Drive extension with clarita.com) or James Chow for parking for the City’s Cowboy Festi- created a better plan through more a traffic circle (roundabout); and ([email protected]) in the City’s val. diverse input,” said Jason Smisko, sen- ● Closing of the 13th Street vehicular Planning Division at 661/255-4330. 12. Castaic Junction or Chaguayabit?

By DARRYL MANZER GAZETTE CORRESPONDENT.

Whatever The Name, It Is Still The First, And Best, SCV Crossroads.

If I were of Tataviam ancestry I’d be just a little bit angry. Someone named a village at the center of Tataviam territory using a derivative main dining room and the very “exot- of a Chumash word for a Chumash ic” bar décor. (I remember the bar village miles to the north. because that is where my father sup- Nobody knows when humans plemented his low deputy sheriff first saw what we salary by tending bar). now call the Santa At that time Route 126 and High- Clarita Valley. Geo- way 99 continued the tradition of logic and fossil being a major crossroads in the SCV. evidence indicate Why, there was even a stoplight (one that it could have of six or seven in the whole SCV), and been at a time a modern Standard Oil Company Ser- YNNE WIDINER when the valley L vice Station across from Tip’s and the was covered in PREVIOUSLY UNPUBLISHED PHOTOGRAPHS OF ROOF AND/OR Newhall Land offices and buildings. dense forests at FLOOR TILES FROM THE OLD ESTANCIA AT CASTAIC JUNCTION. Like today, there were trucks the end of the last THE TILES WERE UNEARTHED IN JANUARY 1973 BY READER hauling the commerce of the day. Ice Age. This time Darryl Manzer. Double trailers of alfalfa bales head- period coincides LEROY JOHNSON OF BISHOP, CALIFORNIA, AND ARE ed to the dairy farms in Placerita with the time some STORED AT DEATH VALLEY NATIONAL PARK. PHOTOS BY Canyon and in the San Fernando Val- evidence suggests that early READER LYNNE WIDINER OF CARPINTERIA, CALIFORNIA. ley. Trainloads of oranges, oil, nomadic hunters and gatherers were onions, sugar beets, and cattle also moving into North America. Some passed through the junction. It was sources say it might have been as The Tataviam settled in several because it was located near Castaic indeed a crossroads then and long as 26,000 years ago. small villages located throughout the Creek. The railroad even erected a remains so to this day. While historians and archeolo- valley. Historical evidence from the Gas- “station” at the junction in 1887. The construction of I-5 isolated gists search for evidence of human par DePortolá expedition of 1769 indi- (Present-day Castaic wouldn’t even Castaic Junction. Soon after, Tip’s habitation of the SCV in those very cates that one of the larger villages was start until about 1915). The station moved away and the service station early days, little definitive proof has located at a crossroads of trails near was about the size of a large “out- even closed for a time. Newhall Land yet to be found. what we now call Castaic Junction. house” without doors. There was a and Farming stopped farming and There is ample evidence of the DePortola did recommend that large sign indicating you were in started home building. Soon there people who arrived in the SCV some- the site of the village become a site “Castaic” posted on the roof. may be houses constructed from time between 450 and 500 AD. We for a future mission and outpost of Newhall Land and Farming Castaic Junction all the way into don’t know what they called them- the Spanish Empire. He was the first operations were centered in Castaic Ventura County. selves but we now use the name to start land speculation in the SCV! Junction. In time state roads were The large industrial center now given to them by other nearby Native It wasn’t until 1804 that the Spanish constructed alongside the tracks all at the junction is but the beginning of American Tribes, “Tataviam,” mean- finally moved into the Tataviam the way to Ventura and north toward what should happen to the largest ing “people of the sunny slopes.” lands from Mission San Fernando Bakersfield via the Ridge Route. original village in the SCV. It should We know so very little about the and subjugated the locals, moving Soon the required “Service Station” become once again the center of Tataviam people. What we know of them to the Mission to the south. appeared to supply gasoline to those commercial activity in the valley. their language indicates that it was a We aren’t sure what the Tatavi- early travelers. The railroad right of way is still dialect of Shoshone with Ute- am called the place now named “Cas- The St. Francis Dam disaster on there, as are the highways. The roads Aztecan roots. Again it appears that taic Junction.” The first buildings the March 12, 1928, wiped out the build- to Chumash territory on the coast they were part of a migration of the Spanish built, they called Estancia ings of Newhall Land and Farming, and to “Kashtiq” going north, are big- Shoshone peoples slowly moving San Francisco Xavier. Early chroni- the train station, and the service sta- ger and better than ever. The place west. cles say the Tataviam named their tion, too. The entire area of “Castaic remains the crossroads of the SCV, Since we do know that during village there “Chaguayabit” or Junction” was covered in about six as it has been for millennia. the same time period many Native “Chaguaianga,” a definitely Ute- feet of mud, silt, and debris left by Those first Native Americans in Americans had established trails and Aztecan word. We do know the destructive waters. the SCV found the perfect place for trade routes covering thousands of “Cashtec” or “Kashtiq”, (a Chumash The Junction was rebuilt and the trade and commerce. We would do miles, it isn’t too far of a leap of logic word), referred to the creek and trail roads repaired. By the 1950s Mr. Tip well to do the same today with that that the earliest Tataviam followed leading to the Chumash village near Jardine’s restaurant, (Tip’s), had little village/estancia/ranch: Castaic some of the routes west until they present Tejon and Lebec, but not the become a mainstay of the communi- Junction is ripe to once again be the entered the SCV. It was an area with present-day Castaic or Castaic Junc- ty. Matchbooks from that era indicate center of the valley. adequate water and food for them to tion. it was considered part of Saugus. One The circle of history in the SCV survive in peace. (Except for prob- It was probably the Southern of my earliest memories of Castaic is returning to where it began, at lems with the Chumash people living Pacific Railroad that gave the place Junction is of the large brass or cop- Castaic Junction or, if you prefer, to the west and north). its current name, “Castaic Junction,” per pots at the lunch counter in the Chaguayabit.