Olivas Adobe

What a wonderful historical site if you are in the area.

It's like stepping into the past well worth a visit

please click onto their site for more info

www.olivasadobe.org

History

A Brief History
of the
Olivas Family
and
Rancho San Miguel

1.
Born in 1809 in Los Angeles, Raymundo Olivas was the seventh child of a poor family. He joined the Mexican Army in California at the age of 16 and was assigned to the Presidio (fort) of Santa Barbara as a Lancer (cavalryman).

Teodora Olivas
at age 80
2.
Raymundo met his future wife, Teodora Lopez in Santa Barbara. They were married on November 6, 1832, and together they had 21 children - eight girls and 13 boys.

Nicholas Olivas
Raymundo's oldest son
3.
In return for their service to the State, Raymundo and his friend, Felipe Lorenzana, were granted 4,670 acres by Mexican Governor Juan B. Alvarado. Raymundo began ranching his land in 1847.

Jose de los Santos Olivas
one of Raymundo's sons

4.
The main house for the Rancho San Miguel was one of the few two-story haciendas in Southern California and one of the most impressive homes in the Santa Clara River Valley.
5.
In 1848, gold was discovered in the American River and California changed forever. People came from all over the world to mine for gold. Knowing that the miners needed food, Raymundo's cattle herd became his gold mine.

6.
These were the golden days of the don - with his new income, Raymundo finished the second story of his home and became known for his elaborate parties. For many years the Rancho prospered.

7.
Droughts came in the 1860s destroying the cattle empires. Don Raymundo survived by raising sheep. In 1864, his partner Felipe Lorenzana sold his half of the Rancho.

Rebecca Olivas
Youngest daughter of Don Raymundo
was the last member of the family
to live at the adobe
8.
The death of Don Raymundo in 1879 was the beginning of the end for the Olivas' fortune. Though some family members retained pieces of the land grant until as late as 1968, the house was sold in 1899.
9.
After passing through many hands, the adobe was purchased by yeast king Max Fleischmann who restored the building in 1927. Upon Fleischmann's death, the adobe was given to the City of Ventura and it opened as a museum in July, 1972.
Olivas Adobe also has many speices of birds

Check out Jim Greaves web site to see more of his bird pictures:
http://mysite.verizon.net/res1uzgs/ Visit Dave Furseth's web site to see more of his bird pictures.
http://www.davesbirds

Some of these birds can be found at the Olivas Adobe

Located in Ventura California

A beautiful and historical place to visit

 

Investigation #1

December 10, 2004

In Conjunction with Robert and Anne Wlodarski

of the International Paranormal Research Organization

Time:	4:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Weather Conditions:	Clear
Lunar Phase:
Equipment:	35mm cameras digital cameras EMF Detectors IR Thermometers APS cameras Sony camcorders

 

Investigation #2

March 26, 2005

Time:	4:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Weather Conditions:	Clear
Lunar Phase:
Equipment:	35mm cameras digital cameras EMF Detectors IR Thermometers DVR APS cameras Sony camcorders

 

 

In Conjunction with Robert and Anne Wlodarski

of the International Paranormal Research Organization