Olinda and Carbon Canyon on an 1889 Orange County Map

Created for the newly-organized Orange County, this 1889 map, by S.H. Finley, includes a rendering of the Olinda Ranch, which was recently subdivided into lots as well as the townsite of Carlton.

As discussed here before, William H. Bailey, the owner of Olinda Ranch was trying to ride the wave of the famed "Boom of the Eighties," when a massive population increase and related real estate activity was transforming southern California.

Tired of playing second fiddle to Los Angeles, leaders in Santa Ana and Anaheim led the charge to create a new county as far back as 1870, but finally succeeded in the late Eighties.

As for Bailey's ambitions with Olinda, they came to a halt when the boom went bust.  Nothing much happened for several years, until Edward Doheny, in partnership with the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad, discovered Orange County's first well at Olinda in 1897 and changed the course of local development.

The Carbon Canyon area is in the numbered sections5-7, and 10-12 at the upper right of the second photo, but there wasn't too much going on in the canyon in 1889.

Chino Hills State Park Tour of the Stars a Big Success!

Jeff Schroeder of Pomona Valley Amateur Astronomers addresses an overflow crowd at the Rolling M Ranch amphitheater.  Photos courtesy of Hills for Everyone.

This past Saturday evening's program organized by the Chino Hills State Park Interpretive Association and concerning a "tour of the stars" was a trememdous hit as more than 350 persons attended the event.

Jeff Schroeder of the Pomona Valley Amateur Astronomers led the "tour" and it was reported that people were arriving as late as 11 p.m., just an hour before the conclusion.  All available parking spots were snapped up and every seat on the benches of the Rolling M Ranch amphitheater was occupied, with people sitting on the concrete floor and standing four-deep on the perimeter!

Volvos are not only renowned for safety but apparently make excellent telescope platforms!

Guests waited in lines that wrapped around the parking area to get a look at the evening sky through telescopes--the location was particularly good for viewing the stars as the elevation and distance from nearby developed locations kept ambient light at as low a level as you can get in the area.

One organizer state that it was "quite a night" and that the remarkable turnout and accompanying interest demonstrates that "there was a real hunger for darkness/stars and information."

Guests view a display of meteorites at last Saturday's astronomy event.

This blogger was really hoping to be there with the family, but was out of town.  Maybe there will be an encore offered in the not-too-distant future.

Chino Hills Police Targets Dangerous Driving in Carbon Canyon?

Thanks to regular reader Jeff Fischer for passing along a bit of news from the City of Chino Hills Web site, which can be accessed here.

Here is the press release issued by the city's police department:

It has been stated by department officials at public meetings, as recently as the 9 July public safety forum held at the Chino Hills Community Center that the official rate of 2.5 accidents per month was not considered unusual.  This was repeated at a Carbon Canyon Fire Safe Council meeting just two days ago.  In fairness, it was also stated that study of the issue was ongoing and this development is obviously an outgrowth of that.

Yet, this press release cites statistics as indicating that, in the eleven months since August 2014, the Chino Hills portion of Carbon Canyon Road has experienced three fatal crashes, 91 injury collisions, and 105 property damage accidents.

How did we get from 30 accidents a year to that?

Anyway, if this latest news means more patrolling to mitigate dangerous driving on Carbon Canyon Road, then more power to the police department for taking this next step.

So, we'll see what happens with this latest news.

Chino Hills State Park Astronomy Event on 15 August!

Here's another great educational event offered by the Chino Hills State Park Interpretive Association.  On Saturday , 15 August from 7:30 p.m. to Midnight, join Jeff Schroeder, a retired optical engineer and flight technicial at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory and a founding member of the Pomona Valley Amateur Astronomers, for a tour of the evening sky, including stars, the Perseids Meteor Showers, which will be at its best viewing during that time, and other fascinating objects.  A display of meteorites will also be exhibited.

Schroeder not only has years of experience at JPL and as an amateur astronomer, but he has over three decades of background as a lecturer and producer of shows at the Mount San Antonio College Planetarium and is a part-time operator of two massive telescopes at the historic Mount Wilson Observatory.  With some of that calibre, this should be a fantastic program.

The free event (though park use fees may apply) will be held at the Rolling M Ranch, three miles off the brand new Bane Canyon Road entrance off Sapphire Road, near Soquel Canyon Parkway, in Chino Hills.  If there is rain (and who knows these days?) or red flag conditions for fire (and who knows these days?), the event will be cancelled.

Those interested in staying at the adjacent campground can do so on a first come, first served basis.

For more information, click on www.ChinoHillsStatePark.org.

Candlelight Walk for Former Sleepy Hollow Resident

Friday night, a group of about twenty Sleepy Hollow residents gathered together to honor the memory of Darlene Walters, a former member of the community who passed away last week after battling cancer.

A group of Sleepy Hollow residents take part in a candlelight procession around the neighborhood in memory of Darlene Walker, a former resident who passed away a few days ago from cancer.

Darlene lived on Rosemary Lane for several years with a son and daughter and really loved living in Sleepy Hollow.  The sale of the home she rented, however, forced her to move and she hoped to buy something in the neighborhood, but this proved unworkable.  Not long after leaving the area, the cancer she had overcome before recurred.  She was living with her mother in Corona at the time of her passing.

Friends and neighbors, including several who remained in touch with Darlene after she moved, met at a nearby house to eat, drink and share memories of Darlene.  A photo board showing her with family and friends was part of an altar in the backyard.

About 9:00, everyone got together, lit votive candles, and went on a walk through the quiet, dimlit streets of Sleepy Hollow in recognition of Darlene's love of walking through the neighborhood.  It was a really nice way for those who knew her to pay their respects.

A full moon shines over the hills above Sleepy Hollow, illuminating banks of clouds, while the yellow glow of a streetlight bathes the foreground during the candlelight procession.

Places like Sleepy Hollow do provide an atmosphere that fosters a sense of community for many who live in it.  On Rosemary Lane, for example, many of the residents will get together for Super Bowl, Halloween and Christmas parties or for other functions.

This wasn't a celebration in the same way, though it was a celebration of the memory and life of someone who was special to those who took part in tonight's vigil.  There is a sense of loss when a friend and neighbor is gone so quickly and unexpectedly, but a sense of community enabled tonight's remembrance to happen and there's probably no better way to pay tribute to someone than that.