O.C. (Again) Part 2

Since Orange County is a drive for us, we like to fit in as much as possible while there! This stop was a surprise and very educational.

The Irvine Ranch Historic Park was once the agricultural headquarters for the ranch and the Katie Wheeler Public Library is an exact replica of the Irvine family's home (the original was damaged by an electrical fire in 1965). Every building located on the Ranch represents an integral part of the growth, operation, and maintenance of the land. The Ranch stands as an important part of Orange County and California’s agricultural history and tells the story of a unique generation and tradition.


In 1846, James Irvine, then an impoverished 19-year-old immigrant, arrived in New York, fleeing the Irish potato famine. After making his way to San Francisco, he sold food and provisions to gold rush miners and made his fortune by investing in real estate. At age 37, Irvine headed to Southern California, where he discovered what he called the “most delightful” land he had ever seen, in or out of the state. The Irvine Company dates its start from 1864, when Irvine and two partners, whom he later bought out, began acquiring vast tracts of former Spanish and Mexican land grants. Making up nearly a third of present-day Orange County, these 110,000 acres dominated the region’s agriculture in the first half of the 20th century. Tenant farmers living and working on the land farmed cash crops such as lima beans and oranges. Nearly 20 years after assembling Irvine Ranch, James Irvine Sr. passed away and left the land to his son, James Irvine II.

Agricultural enterprises fueled the economic development of Orange County in the years leading up to World War II, and James Irvine II became one of California's major agricultural farmers. By 1910, Irvine Ranch was known as one of the state's most productive growing enterprises. The ranch would also become the top producer of lima beans in the world. Junior is photographed with his Mom, sister Kathryn (Katie) and little brother Myford.
This is the one of the newer buildings on the property- Myford's New Garage. Built in 1949, Myford Irvine originally used this structure as a garage for his cars. Remodeled in 1960 as a draftsman's office, it underwent several subsequent alterations over the years.
The little brother enjoyed his family's wealth based on the cars in his garage!
Wandering about in history awash in sunshine was incredible. Completed in 1906, the Mess Hall was designed in a Colonial Revival-inspired style. It cost $904.65 to construct, plus $80 for plumbing. The first floor included a kitchen, two dining rooms (one for workers and one for foremen), pantry, and a walk-in cooler. The second floor provided sleeping quarters for 40 ranch workers (single men only).

Prior to the Mess Hall's construction, workers took their meals in the dining room and screened porch of the Irvine family home. Because of the kitchen's high volume of use, combined with damage from two fires, the building was renovated and enlarged nine times. Between 1906 and the Mess Hall's closure in 1976, more than two million meals were served.

Apart from its main function, the Mess Hall was also important to the Irvine Ranch's entomology research program. In the 1970s, the hall's upper floor was lined with melons used to breed parasitic wasps that combatted agricultural pests. The weight of the melons ultimately caused the second story to become unstable. Wild stuff.
This 1937 photo captures a Christmas party in the Hall. The guests? They are the members of the Five-Year Club. Look at all those women... Not!
Built in 1891 and expanded in 1906, the Early Office served as the Irvine Ranch Agricultural Headquarters until 1929. Home to the Ranch's bookkeeper, the Early Office was a hub of Ranch activity where tenant farmers paid bills, ordered supplies and collected advances. A red sign hanging over the door read, "Often the best way to show warm sympathy is with cold cash." Hysterical!
I was drawn to the Bath House. It is typical of the 1930's construction used in outbuildings throughout the Ranch. Constructed in 1931, it replaced the restroom facilities within the Bunkhouse when it was converted from an open dormitory to individual rooms. Though the exterior is fashioned simply of wood framing, a corrugated roof and metal siding, the interior of the Bath House is very detailed, featuring individual shower stalls, wood partitioned toilet stalls, washing basins, wall sinks and two glass skylights on the east roof. Oh, to see inside!


Constructed in 1906 as a mule corral, the Bunkhouse was converted into a dormitory in 1917 due to the Ranch's increased demand for worker housing. The Bunkhouse boarded mainly house laborers and maintenance crew and up to 50 men (two to three per room) lived in the building at one time. Each small room featured a different layout, custom closets, and unique shelving units built by its occupants. The Bunkhouse displays typical Craftsman architectural features, such as a gabled roof, sash windows, exposed rafters, latticework at the attic vent, and right-angle roof support braces.
I loved the Foremen's Row Houses. James Irvine II often promoted employees from within to supervisory positions. Years of hard work and loyalty were rewarded with a position as foreman and a home on-site. The three bungalow cottages were built in 1906 in response to the Irvine Ranch's growing management team. Three more cottages were added in 1935 (below). Together, the six homes housed the bean, alfalfa, cattle, sheep, orchard, and warehouse foremen and their families.
Each home follows a similar two-bedroom floor plan and features characteristics of Craftsman and Bungalow architectural styles, including gabled. roofs, wood beam porches, exposed rafters, and latticework attic vents. The foremen and their families were free to customize the homes. with personal decorative touches and garden plantings.
Dating from about 1900, carriages and automobiles were stored here until its later use to house farm machinery. Measuring about 54 feet by 120 feet, the north and south ends of the wood-frame structure have a set of large barn doors as well as smaller pedestrian doors. It's amazing how preserved all these building are. Wow.

And the newest building has history that surprised us both. This frame structure was built in 1964 for use by a local Boy Scout troop. It was also used by the Irvine Company to instruct Ranch employees in Spanish. What's surprising is its association with the Third National Boy Scout Jamboree held in here in 1953. It was the biggest single Scouting event ever to hit Orange County. Some 50,000 Scouts and Scouters from across the United States descended on the Irvine Ranch for seven days of fellowship and fun. The Irvine family allowed the troops from every state and various countries to camp on what was then 3,000 acres of agricultural Ranch land. It is estimated that 25,000 tents were used during the event, and that eight miles of road and 36 miles of telephone lines were built specially to accommodate the scouts.


This was so big that one night they enjoyed a big Hollywood show that brought them Bob Hope and a full line-up of film talent. As master of ceremonies, Hope set the pace for the fun night. When he looked out over the all the scouts and leaders, including 66 scouts from 23 foreign lands, he quipped:  "This is the United Nations in short pants." Jane Powell, accompanied by a marine corps band, sang "The Star Spangled Banner."  Debbie Reynolds, favorite of the teenagers, sang a couple of songs, and joked with the boys. Other stars at the show included Danny Kaye, Dick Powell, Preston Foster, George Montgomery, and Jimmy Stewart (an Eagle Scout).

For those familiar with Irvine, modern-day Jamboree Road takes its name from this significant event in Orange County history. Who knew?!
Irvine Ranch Historic Park is a 16.5 acre special use park that retains 24 original ranch structures that represent the proud agricultural history of Orange County and, specifically, the Irvine Ranch. It was once one of the world’s greatest producers of Valencia oranges, and a leader in dry farming and livestock. What history right in the middle of town!
How cool is this 750 square foot Alta Dena Dairy Drive Thru in Old Tustin? After In-n-Out Burger opened its first drive through in 1948, Alta Dena followed with a similar concept. This particular dairy opened in the early 50s embracing the Googie style of architecture so common at that time (and which I love). In 1953, Alta Dena would grow into the largest dairy in California and one of the largest in the world. But alas, the need for a drive through was no longer necessary. Enter Starbucks.
Just opened on February 11, we had to see this historically preserved part of Tustin's history!
Dinner was chosen solely because of the mid century vibe the breeze blocks exude. Recommended to me by my modernism cohort, Julie, Taco Mesito was incredible. Owner Ivan Calderon and his son, Nico, have partnered, along with Nico’s childhood friend and established designer Max Moriyama, to create a concept looking to redefine fast food. “We wanted to put a brand out there that stepped up what was available in the drive-through industry,” said Ivan. “There are no high-end drive-throughs, so to speak, with slow-cooked, served-fast food.”

Unique flavors, reasonable prices especially on Taco Tuesday, great staff, and a very cool vibe, are all reasons we will return.



So you may have asked yourself, "Why all this talk about the Irvine Company?" "Why are the Haerrs standing in front of some house 65 miles away from their own?" A little of my history. I was born in San Diego and in 1970 my Dad got a job with the Irvine Company. That was the catalyst to me here, to Tustin. This is the house I lived in from 1970 to 1976.
While I was standing there, the owner came home and after hearing my history invited us in. There is nothing about this current house that feels like home (thankfully, it has been 54 years). It was drop dead gorgeous. WOW.
In the late 60s, "villages" were being created, each with its own park, school, and shopping center but also linked with dedicated commercial areas and abundant open space. This new approach to planned development proved highly influential across Southern California, and the Irvine Company applied it to multiple developments. It opened at least two in Tustin; Tustin Meadows (1968) and Greenwood Village (1973). We chose Tustin Meadows.
With 900 one- and two-story houses, Tustin Meadows was by far the largest Tustin subdivision to date, and the first real master-planned community. Its unusual City Beautiful-inspired design featured a central park (Centennial Park) for use by residents and the general public, accessible only on foot and encircled by a curvilinear feeder street providing access to residential streets that terminated in cul-de-sacs. Constructed by Robert H. Grant Developers Inc. of Anaheim, Tustin Meadows offered owners a choice of six floorplans and 15 exteriors designed by architect B.A. Berkus Associates, and even included allowances for front landscaping and sprinkler systems "to encourage immediate beautification efforts by new owners."
I have such wonderful memories of our six years here. We lived in the Park or at the pool just yards from our house. Just up the street was my elementary and middle schools so part of the fun was having numerous friends within close walking distance.
If you compare images, the house looks way better now. By the way, that was my Dad's company truck, the one we learned to drive stick in.
Such a color scheme of brown. Wow.
Whether is it your own personal history or that of a local ranch, it is good to delve into the past. I certainly finished this trip down Memory Lane learning and reliving so much. What a day!

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