Carina Monica Montoya

The Depot circa 1900. The crate on the loading dock is a piano for George N. King.
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Courtesy Fillmore History Museum

Although the Museum was closed for over a year due to the pandemic, we were still available, under COVID-19 restriction guidelines for researchers. During the time we were closed, we had several people conduct research on topics from a possible documentary on the St. Francis Dam Disaster to wanting to know the history of the older home they had just purchased. We are always happy to help people research their ancestry, home, or general history of our area.

One of the people who reached out to us was Fillmore resident, Carina Monica Montoya. She told us she was writing a book for Arcadia Publishing on Ventura County and needed photographs and information. Arcadia Publishing’s Images of America series spotlights the history of neighborhoods, towns and cities of local writers and historians by showcasing vintage photographs, some spanning over 100 years.

Over several visits to the Museum, we were able to assist Carina in finding photographs and information on Fillmore, surrounding communities, and of Ventura County in general.Our many resources further inspired her to expand the book to include a chapter on disasters that significantly impacted the county but also helped to reshape it.

On July 10th, Carina will be at the Southern Pacific Depot in Fillmore for a book signing. Books are currently available on our website gift shop and will be available at the event. Please join us from 1 to 3 pm on Saturday, July 10th for a book signing.

Note: This guidance took effect on June 15, 2021 and will supersede all prior face coverings guidance.
BACKGROUND

The COVID-19 vaccines are effective in preventing infection, disease, and spread. Unvaccinated persons are more likely to get infected and spread the virus which is transmitted through the air and concentrates indoors. About 15% of our population remains without the option for vaccination (children under 12 years old are not yet eligible) and risk for COVID-19 exposure and infection will remain until we reach full community immunity.

The purpose of this guidance is to align with CDC recommendations and provide information about higher risk settings where masks are required or recommended to prevent transmission to persons with higher risk of infection (e.g., unvaccinated or immunocompromised persons), to persons with prolonged, cumulative exposures (e.g., workers), or to persons whose vaccination status is unknown. When people who are not fully vaccinated wear a mask correctly, they protect others as well as themselves. Consistent and correct mask use by people who are not fully vaccinated is especially important indoors.

GUIDANCE FOR INDIVIDUALS
Masks are not required for fully vaccinated individuals, except in the following settings where masks are required for everyone, regardless of vaccination status:
• On public transit (examples: airplanes, ships, ferries, trains, subways, buses, taxis, and ride-shares) and in transportation hubs (examples: airport, bus terminal, marina, train station, seaport or other port, subway station, or any other area that provides transportation)
• Indoors in K-12 schools, childcare and other youth settings.
• Note: This may change as updated K-12 schools guidance is forthcoming, pending updates for K-12 operational guidance from the CDC.
• Healthcare settings (including long term care facilities)
• State and local correctional facilities and detention centers
• Homeless shelters, emergency shelters and cooling centers

Additionally, masks are required for unvaccinated individuals in indoor public settings and businesses (examples: retail, restaurants, theaters, family entertainment centers, meetings, state and local government offices serving the public).

For additional information, individuals should refer to CDC Recommendations for Safer Activities.

State of California—Health and Human Services Agency
California Department of Public Health
www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/COVID-19/guidance-for-face-cover....

Ventura County Sheriff's Department

The Fillmore Police Department encourages our residents and visitors to rejoice and celebrate over the Fourth of July weekend responsibly and with consideration for the safety of all members of the public and their respective property. With the anticipated increase of the city’s population during the festivities, in addition to the inherent dangers associated with illegal fireworks, the Police Department will have extra patrol deputies deployed throughout the city over the holiday weekend.

The Police Department wants to remind residents and visitors about illegal fireworks and the fines associated with these crimes:

“Safe and Sane” fireworks, bearing the seal of the State Fire Marshal, can be legally sold, possessed, and enjoyed in the city between 12:00 pm, June 28th, and 12:00 pm, July 5th.

Violators may be cited for violating city municipal codes and are subject to a $1000.00 fine for possessing illegal fireworks or violators may be arrested for more serious offenses. If you witness any illegal firework activity, please call the Fillmore Police Department at (805) 524-2233 or if there is an immediate threat to life or property call 9-1-1.

Community: Fourth of July News Release
Nature of Incident: Fillmore Police Fourth of July Holiday Weekend Extra Patrol
Location: City of Fillmore
Date & Time: June 17, 2021
Unit(s) Responsible: Fillmore Police Department
Prepared by: Deputy J. Labbé
Approved by: Captain Garo Kuredjian

Ventura County Sheriff's Department

Multiple residents of Fillmore have reported damage to their vehicles by having their windows shattered by a rock. The vandalisms occurred from June 9, 2021 through June 16, 2021, between 8:30 pm to 7:00 am. The damaged vehicles were parked on the street in different locations around the city. The suspect(s) may be targeting recent graduates from Fillmore High School.

The Fillmore Police Department is asking citizens who may have information pertaining to these vandalisms to call Detectives Salas or Pewsey at the below listed telephone numbers. The reporting party may remain anonymous.
Residents are urged to be aware of these vandalisms and to park their vehicles in well-lit areas or inside their garage.

Community: Fillmore Vandalisms
Nature of Incident: Request for Public Assistance Regarding Multiple Vehicle Vandalisms
Report Number: 21-75516, 21-75348, 21-75318, 21-78372
Location: Various Locations Throughout Fillmore
Date & Time: June 9, 2021 through June 16, 2021, 8:30 pm to 7:00 am
Unit(s) Responsible: Fillmore Patrol Services and Fillmore Detective Bureau
(S)uspects, (V)ictims, (P)arty, (D)ecedent, City of Residence, Age
Unknown Unknown Unknown
Prepared by: Detective Pewsey
Approved by: Captain Garo Kuredjian

Ventura County Crime Stoppers will pay up to $1,000 reward for information, which leads to the arrest and criminal complaint against the person(s) responsible for this crime. The caller may remain anonymous. The call is not recorded. Call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS (8477).

In May 1893 the Sespe Town Plan (above) was filed with the County of Ventura and was to be located between Sixth and Seventh Streets with the streets running from Fifth to Eighth. Only a few streets can still be found on maps found today.
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Sespe Depot c 1900
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Sespe School on Grand Avenue, 1896
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Courtesy Fillmore History Museum

After the murder of T. Wallace More in 1877, the property that was Rancho Sespe was inherited by T. Wallace More’s surviving children: Mattie Mae More Storke, Thomas R. More, Wallace More and Alexander More. Mattie Mae Storke sold 3,379 acres to Sespe Land and Water Company headed by Jacob McNab and this became the town of Fillmore. Two of the brothers, Thomas and Wallace, jointly sold their 2,313 acres to Thomas Bard. Royce Surdam bought 1500 acres from Bard and began to develop Bardsdale.

In July of 1887, Alexander More sold about 220 acres to Pacific Improvement Company, a subsidiary of the Southern Pacific Railroad. He also sold 50’ on either side to the proposed railroad track to Southern Pacific.

In 1889 Pacific Improvement Co. sold land to the Santa Paula Methodist Episcopal Church for land for a church in the town of Sespe. They also sold property for a school to the San Cayetano School District.

Alexander More died in late May 1889 while on a fishing trip to Santa Ynez Valley and his remaining portion of Rancho Sespe was sold at auction to settle his estate.

On September 11, 1891, the property was sold to James L. High at auction for $75,000. On November 26, 1892, High sold it for $85,000 to Morton D. Hull.

On May 9, 1893, a plan was filed for the Town of Sespe with Ventura County. It would be built around the Southern Pacific Depot which would be located between Sixth and Seventh Streets with the streets running from Fifth to Eighth, with six avenues, Ventura, More, Main, Walnut, Olive and Orange. Today only Fifth and Seventh Streets can be found on maps. This was on the land owned by Pacific Improvement Company.

In August 1893, a prospectus was prepared for the Hull Subdivision of Sespe Ranch six miles east of Santa Paula with the Southern Pacific railroad running through it. 1,600 acres were offered in 10, 20-, 30-, 40-, and 50-acre parcels. Buyers would also be able to access sufficient water for orchards because “Sespe Water Company has developed ample water to irrigate the entire tract, have wells capable of producing about 3,500,000gallons of water per diem of 24 hours. This Company has just installed a thoroughly modern steam pumping plant …. (and) has laid several miles of large iron mains and a 14-inch line leads the water to their million-gallon reservoir.”

So far research has not found any evidence that these parcels were advertised for sale like those in Fillmore and Bardsdale. Other than laying out the plan and apparently installing water lines, little of this town of Sespe was ever realized.

As E. M. Sheridan wrote in 1928, “…it was hoped that this station of Sespe might really become the chief town of the valley. But by the time of the finish of the railroad in about 1886-7, the new town of Fillmore suddenly dawned on the horizon, with the railroad people given everything they wanted in the way of depot grounds and room for sidings, and first thing known Sespe was forgotten…”

That doesn’t mean there wasn’t a Sespe Community.

Ventura County was separated from Santa Barbara County in 1873. “Sespe” existed as a recognized voting district as early as 1876. The voting district took in everything from Santa Paula, east to the county line with Los Angeles County.

It was an active community. The July 19, 1873, Ventura Signal reported on a well-attended July 4th celebration at Hercynian Grove near “Spraguesville” (at the mouth of the Sespe on the Santa Clara River). Mrs. Guiberson, Messrs. Haskins and Marple sang the Star-Spangled Banner. F. A. Sprague read the Declaration of Independence and later gave an oration “to the perfect satisfaction of all present.”

In 1874 Frederick Sprague and his 13-year-old daughter, Iva, and 14-year-old son, Hartley, traveled by wagon to Ventura to purchase wood for the building of a school. The school he built was located on the north side of the Santa Clara River near the current north approach of the Bardsdale Bridge. It was 20’ X 30’ and, depending on teacher’s estimates, either 11’, 12’, or 16’ high. This was probably near where the 1873 4th of July Celebration was held.

A few years later in 1880, the Sespe July 4th celebration was again going to be at Hercynian Grove with music by “…the Sespe songsters accompanied the vocal band of surrounding denizens; oration by Dr. S. P. Guiberson of San Buenaventura; prayer by Ari Hopper of the mountains, with “Hail Columbia” in the background; to finish with a grand prelude of “Hurrah for Horace and the Sespe.” Horace referred to newspaper man and sometime presidential candidate, Horace Greeley. Frederick Sprague was not in attendance as by this date he was in jail for the murder of T. Wallace More.

A directory from 1898 lists over seventy households in Sespe. “Farmer” was given most frequently for occupation, but there were also “oilman”, “stone cutter”, “oil pumper”, “harness maker”, and “teacher”.

The Methodist Church was built on the property near the Sespe Southern Pacific Depot which had been deeded them by the Pacific Improvement Company. In 1904, it was relocated to near the corner of Muir and Grand Avenue leaving only the depot at the original town site.

In 1894 the Sespe Post Office was established, but not within the limits laid out by the Pacific Improvement Company. Instead, it was established, “at the (railroad) switch just west of the bridge,” and would serve approximately fifty families. This would be far to the east of the planned town. The post office moved with each new postmaster and there were seven between its inception and 1908 when Lee Phillips was appointed moving the Post Office to his store. Phillips would be postmaster until 1932 when the post office was consolidated into the Fillmore Post Office.

Phillips ran the Sespe Store Sespe Avenue, later renamed Grand Avenue. His was not the first store to serve Sespe. The Sespe Cash Store, I. B. Martin, dealer in Fancy and Staple Groceries was in business in Sespe around 1902. The Ventura County Co-Operative, which also had stores in Piru and Fillmore was in business there in 1912. The store and post office would serve the farmers and ranchers in the area but also those working in the oilfields and at the brownstone quarry.

Sespe may never have grown to be the town its promoters hoped to have, but it was a community that many called home.

Fillmore High School hosted their 2021 Graduation in traditional style this year at the Fillmore High football stadium. Although they were limited as to attendance because of the COVID-19 pandemic, they were still able to make graduation a success. On Thursday, June 10th at 7pm, FHS seniors took their walk across the stage to say their final goodbyes to Fillmore High. You can view the entire graduation using this YouTube link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AarhW5fgVRQ