History of Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo and Ventura, California 1891
 |
The central arid more thickly settled portion of Carpenteria Valley is twelve miles east of Santa Barbara. This valley was a part of the pueblo lands of Santa Barbara, apportioned out by the prefect to the people, who used these lands as temporales, or fields for the cultivation of summer crops. No titles to the soil were given until after the coming of the Americans.
From the point dividing the Montecito and Carpenteria, the beach curves gently to the bold, rocky point at Rincon, giving to the whole valley a southern exposure, it being practically enclosed, moreover, from point to point, by a deep semicircle of mountains, up which open picturesque cañons. Sea and mountains bound a sheltered corner containing about ten square miles of deep and fertile soil, most alluvial.
There are also mesa or upland and adobe soils, though in small quantities. The adobe soil is found in inconsiderable tracts, being in patches all through the bottom lands. It is difficult to work, but, when properly treated, very strong and productive.
Thus this valley does not border a stream, but fronts the ocean, extending for eight or nine miles along the beach giving an area of 8,000 to 10,000 acres. These peculiarities of situation give the climate here characteristics quite different from other sections.
The annual rainfall is about the same as at Santa Barbara. The usual winter temperature is about 60º, and the summer temperature about 65º. The climate is agreeable and healthful. There is some fog in summer, but it originates from the sea, and is of that character called "high fog." It is not insalubrious, and it is considered beneficial to vegetation.
The name of the valley, Carpenteria (Spanish for carpenter-shop), is derived from the existence, in early days, on the bank of one of the streams here, of a workshop of that nature.
In the early history of this valley it was deemed an unsuitable locality for horticultural pursuits, as the existing streams could not be made available for irrigating purposes. Experience showed that the soil, deep and loamy, by proper cultivation could be made to retain so much moisture as to render artificial irrigation unnecessary.
More recently it has been discovered that the water supply is enriched by the existence of artesian water. A weak flow was obtained at seventy feet deep, and an abundant flow at ninety feet. A number of these wells have been sunk, and the new town of Carpenteria is in this manner supplied with pure and cheap water. To the colony grounds on the foot-hill slope between Carpenteria and Fenlon, a supply of mountain water will be piped.
Carpenteria is divided for the most part into small farms; and so wonderfully rich is the soil that a few acres will support a family. The low foot-hills at the base of the mountains are sometimes cultivated to their very summits. All the best of the canons, being mostly Government land, have been taken up. The chief product of these canon farms is honey, the bees thriving on the wildflower-food of these sections. On mesas and rolling lands are produced great crops of hay and wheat and barley produce heavily.
The Lima bean is one of the staple and most profitable products. This crop alone has averaged for some years past 800 tons annually, this being worth $60 per ton, delivered at the wharf, has brought in a revenue of $48,000 per annum.
Almonds and walnuts are extensively raised also, the walnut grove of Mr. Russell Heath, comprising nearly 180 acres, being the largest in California, and producing as high as 3,000 bushels in a season. The same gentle man is a large grower of red peppers, which yield as high a $1,000 in a year. Among the other crops are common and castor beans, corn, potatoes, squashes, flax and barley.
As in most parts of Santa Barbara County, there is produced here a great variety of fruits, as apples, apricots, blackberries, figs, nectarines, olives, pears, peaches, peanuts, plums, strawberries and walnuts.
The products of this section are shipped partly by rail, and partly over the Carpenteria wharf, the property of the Smith Brothers, built in 18--, since which time it has experienced many mishaps, having been rebuilt after at least one severe storm. The wharf proper is 800 feet long, reaching water deep enough for any vessels navigating on this coast. Large and commodious warehouses, with a railway connection to the sea end, render shipping over it safe and easy. Until the advent of the railway, great quantities of lumber were imported, mostly for building and fencing.
A postoffice was established at Carpenteria in 1868, or about ten years after the original settlement here by Americans. The First Baptist Church was dedicated June 1, 1873. The town of Carpenteria is well laid out, the lots for residence purposes being of 50 feet frontage by 140 deep, and business lots 30x 140 deep. The railway traverses the settlement. The town itself is somewhat scattered, the buildings being rather widely interspersed among the fruitful orchards. Contiguous to the railway station there is a tract of twenty acres, subdivided into town lots, and one block from the line is an elegant hotel, combining the Eastlake and Queen Anne styles, which cost $10,000. There are in the valley congregations of the Baptist, Methodist and Presbyterian churches, and a branch of the Holiness Band, lodges of Knight of Pythias and Good Templars. There is a capacious hall for public meetings or general assemblages, and there are three school houses, two general merchandise stores, two saloons, a butcher shop, two blacksmith shops, etc., besides two railway stations. Several new small towns have been projected in the is valley.
Andrew Bailard Biography, 1940 John Bailard Biography, 1883 John Bailard Biography, 1891 J. C. Bailard Biography, 1927 T. A. Cravens Biography, 1891 Family of Mary Theresa Michaels and Lawrence Baylard Lima Beans Lowell Francis Shanklin, 1927 O. P. Squier, 1927
