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Number 10 Juan Bautista Natio nal Historie Trail September 1997 Rancho Los Feliz: An Anza Expedition Legacy hile several of the 1776 Anza Wparty lett the Presidio of San Francisco to found the first pueblo in San Jose in 1777, Jose Vicente Feliz remained stationed at the presidio until 1781 when his military experi­ ence and his ab1lity to read and write earned him a major assignment in settling El Pueblo de la Reina de Los Angeles (The Town ot the Queen of the Angels). He returned to land and a Mediterranean climate more suited .- to his Sonoran roots and to places he had camped and ridden near the Los Angeles River. Feliz, three other sol­ . :.. diers, and the first of three settling . - parties arrived at Mission San Gabriel (OJ~_ENO) . in June 1781 three months ahead of ,· the pueblo's official founding along the Nuestra Seflora de Los Angeles de :_ Porciuncula (Our Lady of the Angels •'· ~ ,,. . 'I of the Little Portion or the Los .-· Angeles River) . 1; ~. . The pobladores (settlers), recruited from various places around the Gulf The C/ fseno (hand·dmwn rnapl for El Pucblo la Relna de l..os Angeles (Town of thc Quecn of of California, were quarantined at Angels} Is thoughl tn be datcd around thc car1y I BOO's. ·i..os Fc/ices ·refers 10 tl1e ;irca of the mission. On September 4, Rancho los Feliz: and ·i..os &rdugos· is corrcclly spel/ed as los Verdugos. Crcdlt: Donald C. 1781 , Tl//man. fouc Souarc Leagu e~i /,os tlogc/cs Th'o H11ndred YeaQ Later l..os Angeles City Board o( Corporal Feliz led the party of P11bl1c Worly Ruth Taylor Kilday banks of the Rio Porciuncula. In a val­ Jose Vicente Feliz may be children, retumed as a soldier lo ley nestled between two mountain remembered best as the hus­ soulhem California and later band of Anza expedition mem­ became a successful Californio. In This lssue ... ber Maria Ygnacia Matwela Rancho Los Feliz, a 6,64 7-acre Agencies Start Trail Marking Pinuelas who died in childbirth grazing concession including the Challenge Cosl Share Program on November 24. I 775 and was Los Angeles River. was eon· buried al Mission San Xavier del finned between I 796 and I 800. Pima County Promotes the Trail I Bac in Arizona loday. The child. Over 4.000 acres of the original Anza Plaza Project Takes Shape I Jose Antonio, survived the trip, Rancho Los Feliz are now known Rio Rico Properties to Donate I but died nine months later al as Griffith Park in the City of Los Trail casem ent Mission San Gabriel. Despite the Angeles. The story of Feliz is part Second Annual Anza World I personal loss of two family mem­ of the conlinuing saga of south· Conference in Arizpe bers within nine months, em Califomia water. Nere is a Students Connecl wilh History Vicente. lhe father of eight olher small pa.rl of the story . . . (Rancho Los Feliz. cont.) ranges Rancho Los Feliz, besides being the Ca/ifornia. although the capita! d1d admired on a previous expedition by family name. was referred to in news­ not physically move from Monterey Father Crespi, and at a site designat­ paper articles as "happy farm." The until 1845. During the polit1cally ed by Govemor Felipe de Neve, the rancho was reported as among the unstable Mexican regime (perhaps original Los Angeles was established loveliest and most profitable in Alta because Feliz was of Spanish descent (now CA Historical L.andmark 11156). California and "surpassed the olhers and possibly because they were Even in this small. remote. and dusty in both scenery and agricultural Spanish loyalists). the family look pueblo in 1781 , the forces of destiny potential." The rancho (today just strong action to ensure and defend creating the new nation were on the east of Universal Studios, the their legal nghts. In 1839, Dona Fehz­ move, just as they were 3,000 miles Hollywood sign, Forest Lawn ceme­ Verdugo secured the Rancho's water away in the thirteen colonies. tery, among other features) included nghts. In 1841 and again in 1845 the eastern tip of the Santa Monica her petitions for title to the land were The original pueblo was four square Mountain range where the spring-fed successfully reconfirmed. After leagues, a league being 5,000 varas Los Angeles River turned 180- California was admitted to the Union. or approximately 2.6 miles - what a degrees to the south. Oak groves, Rancho Los Feliz water rights were person could walk comfortably in one ferns, and wild flowers were abun­ confirmed by the U. S. Patent Office. hour - as shown on the pictured dis­ dant. There were inexhaustible sup­ erio. lncluded within the boundary In 1853, just before she died, Dona plies of wood. water, and wildlife. was Yang-na . the community of Feliz-Verdugo deeded over portions Because of the rancho's location Chumash living in tule huts. of the rancho to her daughters. They. northwest of the young village and in tum. sold their land entitlemenls In 1787. Corporal Feliz was appoint­ the proximity of the road to Santa for $1 an acre to the family attorney. ed by Governor Pedro Fages to serve Barbara. it was a center of activity Antonio Coronel. The remaining as Comisionado (governor's represen­ and played an important part in the acres went to Feliz-Verdugo's son. tative. but really the chief authority) emerging lite of the new town. of the new pueblo. He kept order and Antonio Feliz. With conttnuing Feliz died in 1822 just before Mexico helped new settlers. As pueblo lite droughts affecting the entire cattle established independence from Spain assumed regularity, the balance of economy and mounting expenses to and took over governance of power shifted from mmtary to civilian defend land and water entitlements. officials. Meanwhile, Feliz remarried, California. His second wife became Feliz was forced to fake action. On applied for and received (circa 1796- the land owner under Spanish law. his deathbed in 1863, the remaining She remarried a neighbor and 1800) a grazing concession on land acres of Rancho Feliz were transferred contiguous and upstream of the became Dona Maria Ygnacia Feliz­ lo the lawyer Antonio Colonel. pre­ pueblo. a rancho of about one and Verdugo (Berdugo on the diserio) sumably in payment for legal fees. while still occupying Rancho Feliz. one-half square leagues (6,64 7 The land was resold several times for acres). Lite outside the pueblo was As an astute business woman, she many dlfferent reasons. In 1868 the considered dangerous. and the grant­ registered the Rancho Los Feliz ca ttle water rights were leased by the ing of land to a military soldier was brand. Meanwhile, the missions were down-stream City of Los Angeles. considered a smart strategy. secularized and, in 1835. Los Angeles Nearly twenty years later, in 1885 the was decreed the capital of Alta new owner, Griffith J. Griffith, sold the water rights to the City for A Centennial Vpdate $50,000 with the knowledge thal I they were much more valuable. As a riffitti Park cefebrated its 100th anniversary in 1996. As part of the visionary. Griffith. understanding the year-long a dedicated honor the ~~ G festivities, plaque was to party value of the land as a natural resource expedition and .campsite near Travel Town: Among Griffith Park's many for the growing community, offered attractions is the 1853 ~iz Adobe4Crty Landmark #401 ). Located in the to sell it for $750 an acre. All the eastem end Mo'Oica and nearly 14 of 1:he Santa Mountain~ surround~ by I value of the land was based on ils million regional residents three major freeways defihing northeast­ with its accessible water. The City wasn't inter­ em boundary, residents and visitors have loved it to death! Nearly 10 mil­ ested in his offer. Griffith eventually lion people used the park in its centennial year. ·And in November of that donated over 3,015 acres to Los year. separate bond issues (Proposition A and Proposition K), two pa.sSec! Angeles for its first park. Until the prop­ with $45 million designated for Griffitti Park improvements. Additional I erty was annexed inta the City in the Proposition A funds will be used enhance the route of the Juan Bautista to j early 1900's, the Los Angeles River de Nationaltiistonc Trail along the Los Angeles River with greenways, Anza supplied all the city's water needs. pocket parks, and youth educational and work programs .~ ' V1va Rancho Los Feliz!

2 Research for Ran cho L.os Feliz 1 I . Mike Eberts, Grlfflth Park: A Agencles Start Trall !'larfäng- Ce11tennial History. The Historical . . Society of Southern Callfornia. 1996. ~e NationaJ t:ark Service is a~ WortångwithJe(JeJaJ and state agen- 1 cies to mark-and interpret the AnZa Trajj. The following activities are 2. National Park Service. .... ~ l . - .... , .. ';...... Comprehensi ve Management and Use golng on; _ ...... 1 - • , - - ...... - . ' ' ~ . ·~ . Plan: Juan Bautisra de Anza National • The Presidio of San Francisco i5 developög to..use the·official mark- Historie Tra.il. 1996 Plans er on the Mountainl.aJJuan Bautista de Anza National fund up to 50 percent of a project. Congratulations Historie Trail. a 16-page booklet. cur­ provided that a nonfederal partner rently only in English. eritage Trails Fund Amigos de Anza matches or betters the contribution. Hwas recognized for the NorthEast Trees. a non-profil tree­ Partner matches may be in cash, vol­ Commemorative Relay at the Califomia planting organization in Los Angeles. unteer hours. or in-kind services. In ' Trails Conference in March 1997. will design, construct, and place an 1997, the entire five-state Pacific Jeannie Gillen accepted the award from interpretive sign at the Sunnybrook West Region of the National Park Califomia State Parks and Recreation pedestrian bridge across the Los Service received just $55,000 in Director. Don Murphy. He also present­ Angeles River at Griffith Park along CCSP funds for national historie, ed George and Vivian Obem with the the historie Anza route. scenic. or recreational trails. so the Lifetime Achievement Award. George process was highly competitive ... and Vie are the Santa Barbara County CCSP funds are generally made avail­ Chairs of Amigos de Anza + able annually by Congress. CCSP can Kecap on tbe Kelay ... b) f'lar1C) DuP0111 and walkers, even a kayaker. who ~e 1996 Com- took on sections of the trail that pass 1 memorative through their communities. I fol­ Relay of the Juan lowed the entire relay, riding over half Bautista de Anza of it on horseback. National Historie Trail We accumulated many new friends (NHn came to a and 427 new members of Amigos de successful conclusion on December 8. Anza. We reached some 5000 school 1996 in Antioch, California, at children in Mexico. Arizona and Bridgehead Park, Contra Costa California with a living history mes­ County, Anza's campsite #101. On sage about Anza. Over 2500 Relay November 30, at the Presidio of San N.1ncy DuPont 1right' lcads rider an os,. participants assisted us in 61 events rl1c All-Amcrfci111 canal mro l'lc,fco rn rick Francisco, 97 horseback riders, most in the two countries, two states and In Calc:.~ ico. in period costume. had delivered a 19 counties. We received proclama· message from the Mayor of tions from every city, county or park Hermosillo, Mexico, to the mayor of official at each of t hese events. San Francisco. Superintendent Brian Fourteen church leaders blessed us O'Neill presented a Special Com­ and four Indian tribes smudged us mendation to Heritage Trails Fund, with ~ ccompanying prayers. Over Amigos de Anza. for its vision and 200 organizations were identified as perseverance in conducting the 1996 supporters of the trail, and they Anza Trail Commemorative Relay. logged 30,000 hours of volunteer The message and other proclamations seNice. We visited 83 parks and spe­ were carried in a mochila (saddlebag) cial places where 17,000 spectators transferred from rider to rider along the joined us throughout the length of 1263-mile route during the 53-day the trail. We were covered by 4 7 evenl In another symbolic gesture. newspapers, seven television stations, Na11c1 Duf'o111 a11d /\en C.:11ltt1 il'> Ucutcnant water from the San Miguel River in two radio stations, and two videotape l'lnr,~il cross from tmpcrial Cot111(1 /11 Sa11 Hermosillo was carried by relay partici­ documentation 's. The value of in-kind D1epo Co11nt.1 . pants and poured into San Francisco Bay donations was $66,528. to signify the blending of cultures. Although Anza 's path through R-rtl VtRSARIO Mexico is not part of the NHT as ICISCO. CALIFORNIA established by Congress, we began the reenactment of his journey on DCTUBRE l' October 12 in Hermosillo to empha­ size the cross-cultural aspects of Anza 's legacy. Heritage Trails Fund t -~ sponsored the ride, with National ' ' ·. \:~- I Park SeNice help, to celebrate the 220th anniversary of Anza's journey and draw public attention to the Anza Trail. The relay was an official event of the California State Sesquicentennial. It was conducted by equestrians and bicyclists, runners

f'l1il \la/det prcsldcs at the ceremo11)' in Hermosillo. Mexico. w/1ere a group of about t 00 rc/ay ridcrs wcrc sent orr 1vllh spccc/1<' 5. nwsil and cl1ecrs from "l c.~ica " citizcns and d~qnitaries. Students Connect witb History ~ Ju.in H 11 111 .... t.t I )t· \1 11;1\: tl1Ull ~ llI11,1nn ~ rr:u\ n November 13, 1996. 21 stu­ ,~~- 0 dents from Carpinteria Middle RELAY I School participated in the Com- /·n 11)} / / l ·r 11 11 ,,,j/. •. \ k \ tt j 1 memorative Relay by carrying the 11 ~ t• •div .'\ 11) Fr.uh 1:-l •, B:l\ . l .llil<1 1111.1 • t' J 11111 1 u111 l 1 flasks of water brigade-fashion ·,P...lllll••••lllli••••••llilll ______.._J;) through the streets of Carpinteria. To , i 1 be chosen, the students were asked I to explain why they would like to par- Did we he1ghten the awareness of the Dr. Juan ticipate in the relay. Here are a few trail? You bet we did! But the Rodrlquez as Anza. lead us responses. momenlum cannot stop here. This is through ten "Throughout my life, I have always a beginning, a good foundation. We communllles in Netico. He wanted to be apart of history. I believe must plan for the events of the year agaln led the helping carry the water of the Sonora 2000. It takes time, money, and ded­ procession to Fort Point at River to the San Francisco Bay would ication. On the relay we asked you to the Oolden help fulfill my goal. This historical jour­ nse to the occasion, and you did. The Oate Bridge. ney is an educational reminder of our next steps may be the hardest yet · roots and history in California. • the serious business of growing.+ - Chris Gocong I "/ would very much like to be in this reenadment of history because I think L<·fl. Ann f'larie Sayers that to be a good citizen it is important tfilf rigllll and Son11e Reyna 110 her leftl of to know about how your community Ohlone tribes. led a got to be the way it is." Sacred Walk 1«1111 CHN) step a praycr for the - Rebekah Ernst a11cestors along Old 5tagc Road In San Benlto "It would be fun to participate because Count; (d/lfomia. then it could be one of those stories that you tel/ your grandchildren and &:lok , Boma Jot111.so11 something that you would feel rea/ly 1r11r 1en1, BU! Archea/ogisl for ttli~ Ywna District proud abouL" poses .. 1111 tl1e +<• hcc/ - Oriana Grubiste drivc club !hat aJrricd t11 c moch/Ja and watcr flasks "I feel that the Spanish were very ll•f'OU$1h 70 mil~" of CICS

SOmc of the lwenty

5 NIJliC iaS de AllJ":I just one-half mile short of linking up Anza Plaza Project Takes Shape with the 4.6 mile section of trail from Tumacåcori to Tubac. With over 68 Editors note: The following species of birds frequenting the river article by corridor during the spring and fall Richard Williams. migratory seasons, we expect the trail President of will be a bird-watchers delight. the Anza Trail Coalition of Easement donation is contingent on Arizona. demon· the Coalition providing liability cover­ strates how grass· age which the county has agreed to roats support and seem lngly small pay for the coalition. A Geographic measures can Positioning System (GPS) survey will reap /arge results. locate the trail and enable a claim sta rted with .. investigator to pinpoint the exact rela­ t An.u Plaia I an idea from tion to the trail where the incident two Tubac citi­ happened. zens and has The Santa Cruz County management grown inte a The plan of thc stage areJ for the A11za Plaw prepared by Design committee of the Coalition has the real ity involving Collaborations of Tucscn. goal of reestablishing the historie many organiza- route of the Anza Trail within the tions. citizens. and business owners in construct the project and sources of county by the year 2000.+ Tubac. Ovelia Owen and Leila funding for construction, allowing a Pearsall felt that the area adjacent to smooth transition to phase Il. Pima County Promotes Tubac Presidio State Historie Park Phase 11 of the project is now under­ the Anza Trail [Anza's home and the staging area way with development of the engi­ for the 1775-76 expedition] and St. neering drawings. lnitially, $5,000 is diverse group of de,dicated indi­ Ann 's Church would be an appropri- being raised to cover the cost of the A viduals in Pima County is doing ate site for a plaza to commemorate engineering consultant. We have a wonders for the Anza Trail. Key play­ Juan Bautista de Anza. his life and commitment for $1 ,000 from a local ers are the County Analyst for Trails travels. Since the site lies on the Anza developer, Morning Star Ranch. and and Open Space, Steve Anderson; the Trail. the Anza Trail Coalition of the County Board of Supervisors has county Archeology and Historie Arizona formed a steering committee submitted a $2,500 amount in this Preservation Officer. Linda Mayro: made up of representatives from 16 year's budget. An additional $900 is 1 the county Anza Trail Coalition Chair, local organizations. Starting with bake committed from a local western orga­ Nancy Kelly; a local activist. Jim sales. aluminum can collection, and nization, so we are not far short of DiGiacomo: and the Green Valley private donations. the committee Phase 11 funding. The steering News editor, Kathy Engle. raised over $4,000 including a grant committee is now looking for grants In May, 1997, Pima County voters with the Arizona Commission on the to cover the estimated $350,000 for passed a $36.3 million bond issue for Arts matched by $1 ,000 from the construction.+ open space, historie preservation, and County Board of Supervisors, and trails. Of that, $750,000 are speci­ $900 from the White Elephant. a Rio Rico Properties to fied for the Anza Trail, covering 60 nonprofit charity organization. Donate Trail Easement With this start-up money. the com- to Coalition mitte.e hired a design consultant. During six months time. which includ­ By Richard Williams ed three public workshops and nine io Rico Properties recently agreed steering committee meetings. the Rto donate approximately 14 consultant developed a master plan miles of trail easement along the for this major interpretive site on the Santa Cruz River to the Anza Trail national trail. lncluded in the Coalition of Arizona. A ten-foot wide Coalition contract with the design easement is proposed. The hiking and From ten. Byron Ha11dy and Don Larson of consultant was the important provi­ equestrian trail will barder the river Co1'entry lfomes: Sharo11 Price. V/ce-1'1,1yor e1f sion that the master plan must f'lilrana; Stevc- Anderson. Pima County: N;mt ,1 from Ruby Road in the south nearly Kcll> Coalitio11 Clmir: l.inr.1110 11 to Santa Gertrudis Lane in the north. ml"el 'tn di,.cus< an An7a Trail l'asemc111.

' 1lllri.1< ek A1u.1 (j (Pima County, continued) miles of lmperial Valley College Desert route to the newly reconstituted corridor acquisition and the four Anza Museum. Topics included logistics Ventura County Park and Recreation campsites within the county. In addi­ over uncharted courses, the effect on Department and to the County Board tion, $100,000 for the Anza Trail is native populations, the effect on of Supervisors on September 3. included in the County Parks and Mexican history, and the expedition in + Vie Obern reports from Santa V Recreation Department budget. relation to the work of Portola and Serra. Barbara County that the County In the past year, the county has exe­ + Valerie Cantu Claverie, Amigos de Board of Supervisors accepted a grant cuted a one and one-half mile trail Anza lmperial County Chair, is working of an easement along the Anza Trail easement agreement along the with Linda Freitas, an artist, on a exhib­ route from Texaco for a 1.5 mile trail Santa Cruz River at the Torres Blancas it for the Pioneer Museum of the from El Capitan State Beach along El Golf Course; acquired in fee simple a lmperial Valley Historical Society. It will Capitan Ranch. The supervisors also one-mile fifty-foot wide trail corridor feature the cultural influences of the approved application proposals for along the river through the Santa Rita Anza expedition members on Califomia AB 1431 funds for trail studies which Springs development of Dorn and relate to the Anza Trail: a study of the + Gina Smurthwaite and Paul de Associates; and is acquiring an impor­ routes, ownership, and topography of Nubilo, Amigos de Anza co-chairs for tant Santa Cruz River crossing from 1. 75 miles from the proposed Dos Ventura County, are tying down the the Green Valley Food Bank. In addi­ Pueblos Golf course (ARCO) to Gato recreational retracement route for the tion, Fairfield Development, owners Canyon and 3.0 miles from Refugio Anza Trail. They are working with of the Canoa Ranch are committed to State Beach to Arroyo Hondo and for Santa Monica Mountains National protecting 4.5 miles of the Anza Trail study of a trail easement granted by Recreation Area, Conejo Open Space within their development which is in Chevron when they put in a pipeline and Conservation Agency, the cities the specific plan stage. from Jalama County Beach Park to of Camarillo. Oxnard, San Buenaventura, essentially Point Conception. Further downstream. Coventry Homes and Thousand Oaks, and private in the town of Marana. north of Tuc­ landowners. In August, they made a + Ruth Kessler, former San Benito son, has requested certification to presentation on the proposed trail County Supervisor, heads a committee mark and mterpret 1.25 miles of trail.-1-

Second Annual Anza Wo~ld .. Conference in Arizpe Along the Trail 1 by Don Ciarate, lnterpretive Spedallst._ TUmacacori l'IHP <- Mary Aguirre reports that Wade "'T'he second annuaJ Anza \Yortd Conference held in Arizpe, Sonora, from Cox, retired graphic designer for I l May 15-18, 1997, was attended by students of Anza from Arizona, Arizona State Parks, is preparing the Califomia, Colorado, New Mexico in the U.S:, Sinaloa and "Sonora in Mexico, wayside exhibit for the Anza Trail in and Spain. Providing the highlight of tliis year's corlference, six members of Picacho Peak State Park in Pinal I the Ansa family from Hemar:ii (Gipuzkoa, Spain), birth~e of Juan. Ba~sta County. She is also working with Jerry de Anza, senior, attended. ihey included Ram6n Ansa, who org;anizeQ the Crenshaw. retired Picacho Peak group from Spain, and his wife, Josefa Eseiza; Jose Luis Ansa an

i (A/ong the Trail. cont) to investigate mari<­ ing San Juan Grade Road as the AJ1za Trail.

~ The East Bay Regional Park District has completed a monument at Anza Telephone and fu rlumbers expedition campsite 101 at the new telephone number of the Anza Trail Administrator. Meredith Kaplan .. 15·427·1 438. This isa direct. voice-mail fine. The new fax numbef is 415-7 Antioch pier. constructed through the 3. For e-mail it's [email protected] Challenge Cost Share Program. The new telephone number for The Anza Trail Coalition of Arizona is 520·32 agency will work with Heritage Trails 09, and the address is P.O. Box 42612. Tucson, AZ 85733·2612. Fund on a dedication ceremony.+ plorlng Ute P0581bWties The Amigos de Anza are exploring possible ways to part1opate in the Calit Web Page Prepared uicentennial Celebration - anything from conducting an event in each c p nning an intemational reenactment. lf you have time to help organize and by Volunteers e an event in your area. call Nancy Dupont at (510) 937-7661 .

eannie Gillen. Riverside County port Stamp assport stamps for the Juan Bautista de Anza National Historie Trail are aval JAmigos de Anza Chair, figured a m the National Park Service. Pacific Great Basin Support Office, 600 Ha way to make all of her volunteer l Suite 600. San Francisco, Califomia. 94107, attention Meredith Ka rite or telephone us at 415-427-1438. or drop by. Let us know when and hours on the Commemorative relay visited the trail, and we will provide you a stamped adhesive label. You can and other Anza activities pay off for &et a pa.ssport stamp at Tumacåcori National Historie Park. her and for the trail. For college credit. fia.tsk she became the client of a multi-media uthentic music of the A-u.a expedition period. Lost Treasures of New Spa1n, is dass at Mt. San Jacinto College. ilable on CD from Eriador Records, P.O. Box 1116. Cambna. Califomia. Jeannie literally provided a wagon Noticias de Anza No.9, "The Dance of Anza's Time.) load of information, and the dass used it to create a web page. under Jeannie's guidance. which you can access at http:// www.msjcnewmedia.com/anza/. +

Bulk Rate NOTICIAS DE ANZA Th1rd Class Ma11 The News/etter of the Juan Bautista Postage and Fees Patd de Anza National Historirc Trail U.S. Department ol the lntenor National Park Service G·83 Pacific Great Basin Support Office Planning and Partnerships Team 600 Harrison St.. Suite 600 San Francisco. CA 94107-1372 (Attention: Meredith Kaplan)

Design Anna Sayre. De sign & Productlon Eugene flemi119, Design & Layout @ Pnnred on recycled paper

Notlcias de Anza