AA-Timeline - FivePoint Valencia® Homes

Timeline

1872

Henry purchased Rancho San Miguelito – 22,135 acres – for $166,000.

1875

1875 Henry purchased 46,000 acres known as the Rancho San Francisco for $90,000. He was told about the property by a friend Jose Manuel Soto. Soto had wanted to purchase it himself, but was strapped for cash. He suggested to Henry that Henry buy it and reserved the right to purchase part of the Rancho San Francisco at the original purchase price, but was never able to come up with the cash to do so.. To see these maps much larger and get the full story of the Rancho San Francisco

This is the original property map of the Spanish land grant Rancho San Francisco.

I took the above map, along with my Los Angeles and Ventura County Thomas Guides and was able to put together a map based on what part of Santa Clarita was part of the original land grant. Many thanks to my dear real estate colleague, Janis Stonerook from Realty Executives, Agua Dulce, CA for help with this puzzle. She is the land map expert from Santa Clarita to Palmdale.

1875

El Rancho Suey Purchased

1875 Henry purchased 48,000 acres known as the El Rancho Suey for $150,000.

1875

Rancho Santa Rita Acquired via a Mortgage Foreclosure

In the early 1870’s Henry loaned money to Jose Manuel Soto in the form of a short term mortgage to keep him going after the drought killed practically all of his sheep and cattle. Unfortunately the drought continued and Soto was not able to pay his debt to Henry. Henry foreclosed and acquired 1700 acres of the Rancho Santa Rita.

1876

Town of Newhall Named for Henry

Henry deeded 426 acres to the Southern Pacific Railroad asking only in return that it name the town after him. (NOTE: The original town of Newhall and the Newhall train station was actually located around the Bouquet Canyon and Soledad Canyon junction.)

Newhall School District was established and Newhall Elementary school was built on 9th and Walnut St. A 2-story wood bldg. which burned down twice.

1876 Pioneer Oil Refinery was built and still stands on Pine Street. It is said to be the oldest surviving refinery in the world.

You could now travel 400 miles by train all the way from Rancho San Francisco to the city of San Francisco.

1878

Town of Newhall Moved

Henry decided to move the town of Newhall, which had been located around the intersection of Bouquet Canyon and Soledad Canyon, about 3 miles south because he couldn’t sell property because of the wind and sandstorms.

Originally called “Old Town”, it would later be named Saugus after his birthplace in Saugus, MA.

Town of Newhall consists of the Southern Hotel and a surrounding park but it would grow and grow quickly.

1879

Rancho Todos Santos Purchased

In 1879 Henry purchased cattle from Robert Conway and he threw in his share (1/12 = 1,500 acres) of the Rancho Todos Santos as well. Shortly thereafter, the other 11 share holders of the Todos Santos, sold Henry all the other shares of the Ranch totaling 5,500 acres with one condition – that title not be transferred until the death of their mother. They did allow him the use of the property in the meantime to graze his cattle.

1880

New Newhall Streets

Henry’s “new” Newhall had all of its streets named after streets in Philadelphia, PA where he first achieved success. The streets were named Race, Arch, Chestnut, Walnut, Market, Spruce and Pine.

Newhall’s main square faced Railroad Avenue between Market St. and Eighth Street. Railroad avenue was also known as “Main Street” in the 1880’s.

1882

Henry Mayo Newhall Died

HM Newhall died – Inflicted with food poisoning when in New York and then shortly after that, having not recovered from the food poisoning, he was again injured when his horse tumbled and fell off while riding leisurely on the Rancho San Francisco.

Henry was sent by train back to San Francisco to recuperate. He died a few days later. He was buried at Laurel Hill Cemetery in San Francisco.

Henry’s will left $3 million to his wife and sons. His specific request was that his wife be given the homestead, furniture, watches and jewelry, carriage and horses and money to support her for the rest of her life. The other holdings would be distributed equally and all debts be covered “without sales of real estate.”

1883

Newhall Land and Farming Co. Formed

Newhall Land and Farming Company established. Sons Henry and William “Mayo” were elected president and vice president respectively. Gilbert Palache was secretary. H.M. Newhall & Co. was appointed treasurer.

Newhall Sons & Co opened to continue with the auction business. The business, run by sons Edwin and Walter, faltered because of the development of communications and commerce. It was heavily in debt and closed within two years.

This is a picture of the original Stock certificate issued when Newhall Land and Farming Co was formed.