After thousands of years with little or no contact with outsiders, the aboriginal people of California were undoubtedly stunned to witness the arrival of Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo sailing along the coast in 1542. Aside from occasional sailings and landings, there was no significant land exploration of California until the Portolá Expedition traveled from San Diego to Monterey and back in 1769-70.
During that trip, the expedition (despite a 1930s plaque in Brea Canyon that is in error) moved through today's Orange County, camped at or near modern Hillcrest Park in Fullerton and then ascended the Puente Hills through la abra, or an opening in the hills, coming down into a large valley the party named San Miguel. After building a bridge (la puente) to cross San Jose Creek, the expedition came to the San Gabriel River and believed that either the puente site at the creek or the river would be ideal locales for a mission.
Two years later, the priests Angel Somera and Pedro Cambón chose the river area for the Mission San Gabriel. After three years, the mission was relocated to its current site, undoubtedly because the mission, being so close to the river, proved to be too vulnerable to flooding.
In time, the Mission San Gabriel extended its domain as far east as San Bernardino, where a mission outpost was established. In between, many ranchos were created by the mission, utilizing aboriginal peoples from outlying rancherias as labor and seeking their conversion into Christianized farmers. One such rancho was Rancho Santa Ana del Chino and the local rancheria was the Pasinog-na discussed in last night's entry.
Unfortunately, there does not appear to be much specific information available about the Mission San Gabriel's use of Rancho Santa Ana del Chino, which existed for six decades. Obviously, Indian labor from Pasinog-na was used for the raising of cattle and growing crops. The Chino Hills were certainly ideal for grazing the former, while the well-watered lands adjoining Chino Creek were suitable for the latter. Whether the mission fathers erected any structures, such as a granary, mill, or housing, does not seem to be known.
What is known is that the secularization of the California missions by the Mexican government, decreed by legislation of Congress in the 1830s, left the ranchos of Mission San Gabriel available for private acquisition (despite the asserted intent of founding the missions for the purposes of Christianizing and civilizing the aborigines so that they could use these ranch lands as citizens of Spain and then Mexico.)
Confusingly, there are several ranchos associated with the name "Santa Ana" including that of the "Cañon de Santa Ana" [Santa Ana Canyon] owned by Bernardo Yorba in the Yorba Linda/Anaheim Hills area; the "Santiago de Santa Ana" [St. James and St. Anne] further south in the Santa Ana/Tustin area; and the "Santa Ana del Chino."
What has confused people over the years is the definition of chino, especially the masculine el that is embodied in the ranch name. In Spanish, there is the adjective chino meaning curly or kinky, as in hair, but there would be no masculine article associated with it: mi pelo es chino [my hair is curly.]
On the other hand, chino can also refer to a Chinese person with the masculine article associated with it: allí es el Chino [there is the Chinese man.]
With the phrase Santa Ana del Chino, however, there is the question of whether the term refers directly to St. Anne, the attributed mother of Mary, the Virgin mother of Christ. Some persons, for example, believe the phrase means "St. Anne of the fair hair." Or does it pertain to the property known as "Santa Ana" to which a man with curly or kinky hair was somehow associated. Or to which a Chinese man was somehow linked.
There will probably never be an answer to that, because the name appears in early records without any explanation as to how it was derived. Next post: more on the life of Antonio Maria Lugo.
26 May 2010
Carbon Canyon and Rancho Santa Ana del Chino: Pasinogna
The previous post on this subject, from 25 April, was the first in a series on the history of Rancho Santa Ana del Chino, which extended into Carbon Canyon to just east of Sleepy Hollow. To avoid the all-too-common mistakes of the past in assuming that this history must start with the written word as introduced by Europeans in the 1770s, this brief post reminds that there was human settlement for untold thousands of years in the area encompassed by the Chino Rancho.
The problem is that there is next to nothing known about the aboriginal use of this land. Because of Chino Creek, which runs northwest to southeast and empties into the Santa Ana River; because of the abundant plant life supported by the creek, tributary streams and significant subsurface water coming to the surface in springs; because of the wildlife teeming in the Chino Hills; because Carbon Canyon could well have been an important transportation corridor linking the coastal plains with the interior deserts; and for many more reasons, the siting of a native Indian village (or villages) within the general Chino Rancho area seems obvious.
In 1852, shortly before his death, Hugo Reid (baptized as Perfecto when he joined the Roman Catholic Church), who was married to a Gabrieliño Indian named Victoria Bartolomea at San Gabriel, penned a series of twelve "letters" detailing some of what he knew about this aboriginal group, which were published late in the year by the relatively new newspaper, the Los Angeles Star. That paper reprinted the letters in 1868 and they reappeared again in 1885 in the seventeenth volume of the Bulletin of the Essex Institute in Salem, Massachusetts, the institute being the museum and library of the county of that name.
Reid intended to publish "A History of the Indians of Los Angeles County, California," composed of thirty-two such epistles, but was only able to complete a third of the project before his death at age forty. The first letter was a simple list of twenty-six rancherias or villages within the county, which then included San Bernardino County and parts of Kern County. Among those listed was "Pasinog-na" identified only as being associated with the "Rancho del Chino." Other villages were associated with Los Angeles, the missions of San Gabriel and San Fernando, the islands of Santa Catalina and San Clemente, and ranchos such as La Puente, Azusa, Los Alamitos, Los Cerritos, San José, Santa Ana (Yorba), and Santa Anita. Reid also indicated that there were a few dozen more settlements that were not listed among the twenty-six he specifically identified.
So, where exactly was "Pasinog-na"? Reid didn't indicate and there is no other source that does. It would stand to reason that the settlement would be along or very near Chino Creek, although occasional flooding and drought might have periodically forced its residents to move away from that locale. More telling would be noting where the earliest European sites on the Chino Rancho were, because more often than not, these later arrivals would select their residences on or quite near earlier aboriginal settlements. This would be for many reasons, including the fact that the natives selected prime locations from trial-and-error and experience and also that the Europeans would want to employ Indian labor for their ranchos.
If this is a reasonable assumption to make, then Antonio Maria Lugo's selection of a site to build his adobe home after acquiring the Chino Rancho in 1841 is likely at or near the aboriginal village of "Pasinog-na." In 1938, an affidavit was composed by two daughters, Mary and Laura, of Francisca Williams and Robert Carlisle, Francisca being the granddaughter of Lugo and daughter of Isaac Williams, as well as by A. J. Bridger, a grandson of Williams, whose father, Joseph, was married to Victoria Williams and who oversaw Chino Rancho operations from 1865 to 1880. According to the cousins, the original Lugo adobe was on the grounds of what is now called Boys' Republic on the west bank of Chino Creek in Chino Hills. Later, Lugo's son-in-law and Francisca's father, Isaac Williams, occupied the structure, which at some later date was destroyed by fire and razed. A California state historic landmark plaque stands just outside the southeast corner of Boys' Republic next to a former fire station (now a training center).
Lacking specific information about "Pasinog-na," interested parties can review some of the many works written about the Gabrieliño Indians, starting with Reid's 1852 letters (also republished in full the appendices of an otherwise dated and fanciful biography of Reid, A Scotch Paisano in Early California, which appeared in 1939) and continuing through the modern works such as those of William McCawley, Bernice Johnson and others. As hunters and gatherers, it seems highly plausible that aborigines residing at "Pasinog-na" would venture into the Chino Hills and Carbon Canyon to gather plant materials for food, clothing and baskets, and hunt for game, as well as utilize the Canyon as a transportation route to coastal area where trade could be conducted with other Indians. Natives may well have used the hot springs in today's Sleepy Hollow and La Vida, as well.
In the absence of such specifics, it should be recognized that, if Reid was correct, "Pasinog-na" was the linchpin of the Chino Rancho's pre-written history and, as such, should not be overlooked, as was done here a month ago.
The problem is that there is next to nothing known about the aboriginal use of this land. Because of Chino Creek, which runs northwest to southeast and empties into the Santa Ana River; because of the abundant plant life supported by the creek, tributary streams and significant subsurface water coming to the surface in springs; because of the wildlife teeming in the Chino Hills; because Carbon Canyon could well have been an important transportation corridor linking the coastal plains with the interior deserts; and for many more reasons, the siting of a native Indian village (or villages) within the general Chino Rancho area seems obvious.
In 1852, shortly before his death, Hugo Reid (baptized as Perfecto when he joined the Roman Catholic Church), who was married to a Gabrieliño Indian named Victoria Bartolomea at San Gabriel, penned a series of twelve "letters" detailing some of what he knew about this aboriginal group, which were published late in the year by the relatively new newspaper, the Los Angeles Star. That paper reprinted the letters in 1868 and they reappeared again in 1885 in the seventeenth volume of the Bulletin of the Essex Institute in Salem, Massachusetts, the institute being the museum and library of the county of that name.
Reid intended to publish "A History of the Indians of Los Angeles County, California," composed of thirty-two such epistles, but was only able to complete a third of the project before his death at age forty. The first letter was a simple list of twenty-six rancherias or villages within the county, which then included San Bernardino County and parts of Kern County. Among those listed was "Pasinog-na" identified only as being associated with the "Rancho del Chino." Other villages were associated with Los Angeles, the missions of San Gabriel and San Fernando, the islands of Santa Catalina and San Clemente, and ranchos such as La Puente, Azusa, Los Alamitos, Los Cerritos, San José, Santa Ana (Yorba), and Santa Anita. Reid also indicated that there were a few dozen more settlements that were not listed among the twenty-six he specifically identified.
So, where exactly was "Pasinog-na"? Reid didn't indicate and there is no other source that does. It would stand to reason that the settlement would be along or very near Chino Creek, although occasional flooding and drought might have periodically forced its residents to move away from that locale. More telling would be noting where the earliest European sites on the Chino Rancho were, because more often than not, these later arrivals would select their residences on or quite near earlier aboriginal settlements. This would be for many reasons, including the fact that the natives selected prime locations from trial-and-error and experience and also that the Europeans would want to employ Indian labor for their ranchos.
If this is a reasonable assumption to make, then Antonio Maria Lugo's selection of a site to build his adobe home after acquiring the Chino Rancho in 1841 is likely at or near the aboriginal village of "Pasinog-na." In 1938, an affidavit was composed by two daughters, Mary and Laura, of Francisca Williams and Robert Carlisle, Francisca being the granddaughter of Lugo and daughter of Isaac Williams, as well as by A. J. Bridger, a grandson of Williams, whose father, Joseph, was married to Victoria Williams and who oversaw Chino Rancho operations from 1865 to 1880. According to the cousins, the original Lugo adobe was on the grounds of what is now called Boys' Republic on the west bank of Chino Creek in Chino Hills. Later, Lugo's son-in-law and Francisca's father, Isaac Williams, occupied the structure, which at some later date was destroyed by fire and razed. A California state historic landmark plaque stands just outside the southeast corner of Boys' Republic next to a former fire station (now a training center).
Lacking specific information about "Pasinog-na," interested parties can review some of the many works written about the Gabrieliño Indians, starting with Reid's 1852 letters (also republished in full the appendices of an otherwise dated and fanciful biography of Reid, A Scotch Paisano in Early California, which appeared in 1939) and continuing through the modern works such as those of William McCawley, Bernice Johnson and others. As hunters and gatherers, it seems highly plausible that aborigines residing at "Pasinog-na" would venture into the Chino Hills and Carbon Canyon to gather plant materials for food, clothing and baskets, and hunt for game, as well as utilize the Canyon as a transportation route to coastal area where trade could be conducted with other Indians. Natives may well have used the hot springs in today's Sleepy Hollow and La Vida, as well.
In the absence of such specifics, it should be recognized that, if Reid was correct, "Pasinog-na" was the linchpin of the Chino Rancho's pre-written history and, as such, should not be overlooked, as was done here a month ago.
16 May 2010
Carbon Canyon and Congressional Campaign Contest Controversies Commencing
Normally, we wouldn't see much happening with congressional elections until the fall election season, but these are different and interesting times, so the normally placid primary campaign, with the election to be held on Tuesday, 8 June, is proving to be an exception to the rule when it comes to the race for the 42nd District member of the House of Representatives. Carbon Canyon falls within the boundaries of this district, which has been overwhelmingly Republican and conservative in voter turnout for years.
Republican Gary G. Miller of Diamond Bar is a six-term incumbent in the office and has rarely faced any serious opposition in the main fall campaigns, so to see that there are three challengers within his own party for the primary is an especially striking example of how much matters have changed since the 2008 economic disaster. Rep. Miller is now facing opposition within his own party for several avowed reasons, courtesy of the website of candidate Lee McGroarty, a Chino business owner:
1) He voted for the first two government bailout of financial institutions, otherwise known as TARP;
2) He was one of only 39 Republicans who supported a Democrat-sponsored housing bill that has been referred to as a bailout of irresponsible homeowners;
3) He voted for a bill to bailout Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae (a bill that did have broad bipartisan support);
4) He voted for the so-called Cash for Clunkers program (though stating that he wouldn't have except that the money was already allocated in the stimulus bill passed by Democrats upon taking control of Congress in early 2009); and
5) He changed his mind and voted against an audit of the Federal Reserve Bank.
In addition, McGroarty called last week for a San Bernardino County District Attorney's investigation effort after CREW (Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington), a progressive (read: liberal) watchdog group, accused Rep. Miller of using earmarks to benefit a non-profit housing foundation run by a major supporter that works on projects outside the 42nd District. The issue led to a testy recorded exchange between Miller and a local Fox news reporter in the parking lot of a facility where the representative was attending a function. Mc Groarty, meantime, allegedly had two endorsements on his Web site that were not legitimate.
Miller has been involved in controversy before, most notably land sales to the cities of Monrovia and Fontana that the representative claimed were forced under eminent domain and, therefore, exempted him for capital gains taxes. To date, a F. B. I. investigation has yielded no action. Miller was also accused of profiting from his relations with Lewis Operating in development projects in Rialto and not fully disclosing the collaboration according to House of Representatives rules, though it is not been stated whether he was actually in violation.
So, in recent weeks, campaign signs have been adding to the natural beauty of Carbon Canyon trumpeting the campaigns of the incumbent and his two main challengers: McGroarty and La Habra CPA Phillip Liberatore. There is a fourth contender, Diamond Bar resident David Su, whose campaign appears to be all but dormant. On the Democratic side, there is only one candidate, Michael Williamson of Mission Viejo, whose positions on most issues are just about the same as his Republican counterparts.
To date, the most spirited competition has undoubtedly come from Liberatore who has been sending out mailers to district constituents. One is a full-color, six-panel foldout that discusses who the candidate is, what he stands for and why he is running for Congress. While Liberatore generally reiterates support for traditional Republican platform issues concerning lower taxes, the support of the 2nd Amendment to the Constitution affirming the right of citizens to bear arms, strong national defense, and "an unbridled free enterprise system, among others, what animates Liberatore (and McGroarty and Su) is the belief that Miller, who has voted 96% of the time with his party, has abandoned the principles of the true conservative, and, therefore, must be replaced by someone with the authentic credentials of the party and its platform.
Liberatore prominently lists on his mailer such supporters as Calvary Chapel Chuck Smith, conservative radio host Frank Pastore, Christian broadcaster Warren Duffy, and the president of the conservative Pacific Justice Institute.
In addition to the general campaign signs, a stencil-painted sign has been posted on a fence at the southeast corner of Carbon Canyon Road and Valencia Avenue (see above) that reads: "Rebellion to tyrants is obedience to God." The sign, courtesy of Liberatore, is invoking the phrase attributed to both Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson and, of course, seeks to tie in to the current "Tea Party" discontent with the direction of the country and to the generally avowed motto of "Taking Back America." One can only assume what the reference to tyrants is specifically directed towards (the federal government generally? Barack Hussein Obama? The New World Order and the Single World Currency?) while the references to rebellion and God is obvious given the history of the "Tea Party" movement(s).
Miller certainly believes that Liberatore is something of a threat to his incumbency, because the "Gary Miller for Congress Committee" has a Web site titled "Phil Liberatore for Congress??" Notably, nothing in it concerns Liberatore's stands on the issues, but rather addresses an alleged 75 lawsuits to which the challenger has been a party.
There is still a few weeks until the primary election is held and the heat of the campaign will undoubtedly rise with late spring temperatures!
Republican Gary G. Miller of Diamond Bar is a six-term incumbent in the office and has rarely faced any serious opposition in the main fall campaigns, so to see that there are three challengers within his own party for the primary is an especially striking example of how much matters have changed since the 2008 economic disaster. Rep. Miller is now facing opposition within his own party for several avowed reasons, courtesy of the website of candidate Lee McGroarty, a Chino business owner:
1) He voted for the first two government bailout of financial institutions, otherwise known as TARP;
2) He was one of only 39 Republicans who supported a Democrat-sponsored housing bill that has been referred to as a bailout of irresponsible homeowners;
3) He voted for a bill to bailout Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae (a bill that did have broad bipartisan support);
4) He voted for the so-called Cash for Clunkers program (though stating that he wouldn't have except that the money was already allocated in the stimulus bill passed by Democrats upon taking control of Congress in early 2009); and
5) He changed his mind and voted against an audit of the Federal Reserve Bank.
In addition, McGroarty called last week for a San Bernardino County District Attorney's investigation effort after CREW (Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington), a progressive (read: liberal) watchdog group, accused Rep. Miller of using earmarks to benefit a non-profit housing foundation run by a major supporter that works on projects outside the 42nd District. The issue led to a testy recorded exchange between Miller and a local Fox news reporter in the parking lot of a facility where the representative was attending a function. Mc Groarty, meantime, allegedly had two endorsements on his Web site that were not legitimate.
Miller has been involved in controversy before, most notably land sales to the cities of Monrovia and Fontana that the representative claimed were forced under eminent domain and, therefore, exempted him for capital gains taxes. To date, a F. B. I. investigation has yielded no action. Miller was also accused of profiting from his relations with Lewis Operating in development projects in Rialto and not fully disclosing the collaboration according to House of Representatives rules, though it is not been stated whether he was actually in violation.
So, in recent weeks, campaign signs have been adding to the natural beauty of Carbon Canyon trumpeting the campaigns of the incumbent and his two main challengers: McGroarty and La Habra CPA Phillip Liberatore. There is a fourth contender, Diamond Bar resident David Su, whose campaign appears to be all but dormant. On the Democratic side, there is only one candidate, Michael Williamson of Mission Viejo, whose positions on most issues are just about the same as his Republican counterparts.
To date, the most spirited competition has undoubtedly come from Liberatore who has been sending out mailers to district constituents. One is a full-color, six-panel foldout that discusses who the candidate is, what he stands for and why he is running for Congress. While Liberatore generally reiterates support for traditional Republican platform issues concerning lower taxes, the support of the 2nd Amendment to the Constitution affirming the right of citizens to bear arms, strong national defense, and "an unbridled free enterprise system, among others, what animates Liberatore (and McGroarty and Su) is the belief that Miller, who has voted 96% of the time with his party, has abandoned the principles of the true conservative, and, therefore, must be replaced by someone with the authentic credentials of the party and its platform.
Liberatore prominently lists on his mailer such supporters as Calvary Chapel Chuck Smith, conservative radio host Frank Pastore, Christian broadcaster Warren Duffy, and the president of the conservative Pacific Justice Institute.
In addition to the general campaign signs, a stencil-painted sign has been posted on a fence at the southeast corner of Carbon Canyon Road and Valencia Avenue (see above) that reads: "Rebellion to tyrants is obedience to God." The sign, courtesy of Liberatore, is invoking the phrase attributed to both Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson and, of course, seeks to tie in to the current "Tea Party" discontent with the direction of the country and to the generally avowed motto of "Taking Back America." One can only assume what the reference to tyrants is specifically directed towards (the federal government generally? Barack Hussein Obama? The New World Order and the Single World Currency?) while the references to rebellion and God is obvious given the history of the "Tea Party" movement(s).
Miller certainly believes that Liberatore is something of a threat to his incumbency, because the "Gary Miller for Congress Committee" has a Web site titled "Phil Liberatore for Congress??" Notably, nothing in it concerns Liberatore's stands on the issues, but rather addresses an alleged 75 lawsuits to which the challenger has been a party.
There is still a few weeks until the primary election is held and the heat of the campaign will undoubtedly rise with late spring temperatures!
15 May 2010
Another Sign of the Times in Carbon Canyon
A few weeks ago, this inocuous sign, only trying to do its modest job helping drivers know which intersection they're at, was plowed down by a discourteous driver.
After several days, the sign was helped up and its dignity restored. Well, almost. The photo at the top shows Carbon Canyon Road (State Highway 142) at the left, yet whoever righted the sign didn't seem to pay particular attention to that fact.
Wonder how long it'll take before corrective action ensues!
13 May 2010
Sine of the Tymes in Karben Canyin
I cudn't hellp butt stap and taik a piture of this sine this morening wen dryving on Karben Canyin Rode passed the cunstrukshun prahjeckt kneer Someit Wranch. Thot it wuz prity funy, butt wunder how meny bicyclists wir kneerly wrunn ovir by dryvers wreeding the sine to litrally!
12 May 2010
Sleepy Hollow Historical Artifact: Stock Certificate for Sleepy Hollow Water & Improvement Co.
Thanks to former Sleepy Hollow resident Randy, who commented on a recent post about the Rancho Santa Ana del Chino and Carbon Canyon, here is a rare artifact from the community's earliest days.
Cleve Purington created the Sleepy Hollow Water and Improvement Company, which was incorporated with the State of California on 23 June 1925, to finance development of the subdivision, evidently by providing a water delivery system and perhaps other projects. The amount of capital was small, only $14,000, and the stock amounts were $50, so they were only 280 shares issued. This means that there are probably only a few of these out there in circulation.
This one, issued to D. L. and Edna Briggs on 19 July 1926, has Purington's signature as president of the company, along with a man named D.C.E. Jewell, who was the secretary. At the upper center is a vignette of an eagle, while at the left is one of a dam and at the right is one that shows released water from a dam or reservoir.
Thanks to Randy for providing the image for use on this blog!
This one, issued to D. L. and Edna Briggs on 19 July 1926, has Purington's signature as president of the company, along with a man named D.C.E. Jewell, who was the secretary. At the upper center is a vignette of an eagle, while at the left is one of a dam and at the right is one that shows released water from a dam or reservoir.
Thanks to Randy for providing the image for use on this blog!
11 May 2010
Carbon Canyon Maintenance Annoucement
There are two projects of note to pass on concerning Carbon Canyon maintenance. Here is the wording directly from the City of Chino Hills:
City work crews will be performing emergency repairs to the City sewer mains at Carbon Canyon Rd. (SR-142) near Feldspar from May 10 through May 20, 2010, which will require closure of the left turn lane at Feldspar. Expect minor traffic delays from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Residents may enter and exit the neighborhood at Azurite.
Also, Caltrans and Cal Fire will be doing brush clearance work on Carbon Canyon Rd. (SR-142) from May 17 through May 21, 2010 between the hours of 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Flagging operations will be underway as Caltrans allows one direction of travel at a time through the work area so plan ahead and expect minor traffic delays!
What the nature of the repairs at the Summit Ranch subdivision constituted was not explained, but if the City was able to schedule it at non-rush hour times over ten days, it couldn't have been too much of an emergency, otherwise it would be an around-the-clock operation.
As to the CalTrans/Cal Fire joint project, this involves the removal of brush before the rain-nourished material dries out for the summer and fall fire season. Roadside spraying was already done some weeks ago, but this will be a more intensive treatment.
City work crews will be performing emergency repairs to the City sewer mains at Carbon Canyon Rd. (SR-142) near Feldspar from May 10 through May 20, 2010, which will require closure of the left turn lane at Feldspar. Expect minor traffic delays from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Residents may enter and exit the neighborhood at Azurite.
Also, Caltrans and Cal Fire will be doing brush clearance work on Carbon Canyon Rd. (SR-142) from May 17 through May 21, 2010 between the hours of 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Flagging operations will be underway as Caltrans allows one direction of travel at a time through the work area so plan ahead and expect minor traffic delays!
What the nature of the repairs at the Summit Ranch subdivision constituted was not explained, but if the City was able to schedule it at non-rush hour times over ten days, it couldn't have been too much of an emergency, otherwise it would be an around-the-clock operation.
As to the CalTrans/Cal Fire joint project, this involves the removal of brush before the rain-nourished material dries out for the summer and fall fire season. Roadside spraying was already done some weeks ago, but this will be a more intensive treatment.
10 May 2010
St. Joseph's Hill of Hope—City of God, Part 2
This is a follow-up to one of the first posts on this blog, back in summer 2008, about St. Joseph's Hill of Hope—City of God, the breakway grop from the Roman Catholic Church that has operated since 1972 on a 440-acre compound just north of Carbon Canyon along the borders of the counties of Los Angeles, Orange and San Bernardino.
Notably, the news of the death of the group's leader, Frances Marie Klug, was not even reported in the local newspaper, the Chino Hills Champion, until some five months afterward. Klug died on 15 November 2009 at age 88 and her Orange County Register obituary is an interesting one.
It started with "not just another ordinary person, the world has lost a real treasure of a jewel." Moreover, the tribute offers that "Frances Marie Klug was a True Mystic chosen by God for this time in history" and that "as God's Chosen Instrument [note the caps], it is through Mother Frances that God gave the world a Great Miracle." Noting that 28 July 1967 was the date in which Klug announced the "Miracle of St. Joseph" that gave rise to her break with the Roman Catholic Church and the creation of her own sect, the eulogy stated that "from the moment of her conception, Heaven was preparing her for this particular time" and that "for over forty-two years, God and All of His Angels and Saints in Heaven have been speaking through this small and quiet woman. Indeed, the writer of the tribute went on to say: "God said: 'This Miracle is Communication to the whole world of mankind, through the Soul of one living human being that follows Our Directions at any given time.'" As such, Klug was, the explanation continues a "Victim Soul," subject to communication with God at all times.
After developing her organization through her home and then a rented facility, Klug received divine instruction: "As time passed, God asked that a Basilica be built in honor of The Holy Trinity. Without any funds on hand, Heaven directed her to purchase 440 acres of land in Brea, California. This accomplished, Heaven began describing many more edifices to be built on the land, and the project grew to be a 'City of God.'" Even though, the statement continued, "God invited men to donate their time, talents and money to build this City for Him," the Roman Catholic Church forbade its congregants to donate to Klug's ministry and, "thus, the City God and [sic] has not been built." The tribute then turned to the "media" and the fact that, "although Mother Frances was very gracious to them . . . most of the press was never kind to her, lacking honesty, truth and justice."
The obituary's author then stated that Cardinal Luigi Raimondi, Prefect of the Sacred Congregation for the Causes of Saints, launched an investigation on Klug and her organization, sending Father Sylvio Masanti to do the work. Accordingly, both Masanti and Raimondi, the explanation goes, were believers in Klug's authentic vision. Additionally, the tribute stated, Klug had an audience with Pope Paul VI "and had received Holy Communion from him at a Canonization Mass on an earlier visit."
The only indication of what the St. Joseph's Hill of Hope—City of God organization might do now that Klug has died is in the statement thatr, in addition to forty-seven volumes of published "Stories from Heaven," issued by her during her lifetime, "many more are in preparation to be published" and that "Saint Jospeh's [sic] Hill of Hope will serve as a base to continue the publication and distribution of these 'Stories from Heaven." Klug, whose husband, Robert, a longtime insurance agent, died some years ago, is survived by two sons and a daughter. One online commentator, without specifying how her knew, claims that the daughter, Roberta, will be leading the organization.
As to the statements about Roman Catholic hierarchy support and belief in Klug's organization, there is a 1981 statement of position issued by Cardinal Timothy Manning, Archbishop of Los Angeles, and also signed by the bishops of the dioceses of Orange and San Bernardino. In it, it is declared that "this organization, its properties, its activities and its teachings are independent of the Roman Catholic Church, its jurisdiction and its favor." On top of this, "financial or moral support of this organization by Catholics cannot be construed as support of the Church." Additionally, the document continued, "the President of 'St. Joseph's Hill of Hope—City of God' enjoys no commission from the Church to teach, counsel, or conduct retreats." More specifically, "revelations and teachings identifying St. Joseph with the Blessed Trinity and obliging Roman Catholics to build the 'St. Joseph's Hill of Hope—City of God' are not acceptable to the Church and are rejected by us, the authentic teachers of the People of God, in line with our authority and responsibility."
In addition, there is a "theological assessment of the organization's materials as given out at a November 1979 retreat, signed by Monsignor Joseph Pollard of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles in December 1980. Pollard judged these materials to be "of a mostly undeveloped nature" and that while some "are of a traditional and pious nature" there were others that "are of an heretical and questionable nature." Pointdly, Pollard offered that the documents ventured away from the direction of the Second Vatican Council. Note that Klug broke away from the church in summer 1967, two years after the council concluded its business with widespread and significant changes to operations of the church. Because of Klug's diversion from the Council and papal and other statements that followed, Pollard judged her materials to "reflect an imperfect and deficient theology, catechesis, and spiritual guidance." As such, these documents did "violence to the Magisterium."
By giving St. Joseph "the stature of a person of the Blessed Trinity" and even referring to him as God, Pollard observed that this "is erroneous in the extreme, undermining a truth crucial to the Christian revelation and necessary for salvation." As to Klug's teaching that Catholics were obligated to build the "City of God" at the Hill of Hope site, Pollard noted that "Roman Catholics should be warned against building (i.e. propounding) such a doctrine and the edifices that will reflect it." In his conclusion, Pollard stated that "the teachings of the organization . . . are, in their key doctrine, heretical" and that "I find the 'revelations' to be spurious."
There is one other item of note: a 1990 article in the Los Angeles Times titled "Self-Described Visionary's Hill of Hope Dream Ends." The journalist, Jim Carlton, wrote that Klug "was unable to raise the $1.5 billion needed for construction" of the several components she hoped to erect at the site, including a basilica, chapels, hospital, monastery, convent and retreat house. Of course, there was also the matter of "the necessary approval from local government agencies" to obtain permits for this massive project.
Consequently, Carlton wrote, "the land has remained largely vacant." More pointedly, the article noted that "her followers, once estimated at more than 1,200, have dwindled to less than 400, according to her husband." One wonders, twenty years later, what the number is now.
Another problem was the devastating brush fires that torches thousands of acres in Carbon Canyon and nearby areas that summer "leaving piles of ash and blackened trees" on the site, though Robert Klug claimed that no buildings in the compound were damaged.
Still, the article announced that Frances Klug, then 69, was selling the site and "according to San Bernardino County planning officials," who then had authority over the development of the compound before cityhood was achieved for Chino Hills the following year, the asking price was $80 million. Notably, Klug said in 1972 that she bought the property for $1.1 million, on a $100,000 down payment raised from donations.
As the article pointed out, "an air of mystery has surrounded the operation since it began, fueled in large part by the presence of roving security guards and barbed wire fences to keep out uninvited visitors. The entrance, which lies on a dirt road in the city of Brea, is fortified by a huge green-and-white [now just white] gate topped by sharp points. A shack with two guards sits behind the gate." Robert Klug, his wife declining to speak to the Times, explained that "we have been harassed by the local vandals. We have had the police out here dozens of times. Several months ago, we caught half a dozen punk kids and they were arrested for trespassing."
Despite the listing, there were, of course, no takers and the organization has continued on for, to date, twenty more years. It will be interesting to see what the future has in store for St. Joseph's Hill of Hope—City of God.
Notably, the news of the death of the group's leader, Frances Marie Klug, was not even reported in the local newspaper, the Chino Hills Champion, until some five months afterward. Klug died on 15 November 2009 at age 88 and her Orange County Register obituary is an interesting one.
It started with "not just another ordinary person, the world has lost a real treasure of a jewel." Moreover, the tribute offers that "Frances Marie Klug was a True Mystic chosen by God for this time in history" and that "as God's Chosen Instrument [note the caps], it is through Mother Frances that God gave the world a Great Miracle." Noting that 28 July 1967 was the date in which Klug announced the "Miracle of St. Joseph" that gave rise to her break with the Roman Catholic Church and the creation of her own sect, the eulogy stated that "from the moment of her conception, Heaven was preparing her for this particular time" and that "for over forty-two years, God and All of His Angels and Saints in Heaven have been speaking through this small and quiet woman. Indeed, the writer of the tribute went on to say: "God said: 'This Miracle is Communication to the whole world of mankind, through the Soul of one living human being that follows Our Directions at any given time.'" As such, Klug was, the explanation continues a "Victim Soul," subject to communication with God at all times.
After developing her organization through her home and then a rented facility, Klug received divine instruction: "As time passed, God asked that a Basilica be built in honor of The Holy Trinity. Without any funds on hand, Heaven directed her to purchase 440 acres of land in Brea, California. This accomplished, Heaven began describing many more edifices to be built on the land, and the project grew to be a 'City of God.'" Even though, the statement continued, "God invited men to donate their time, talents and money to build this City for Him," the Roman Catholic Church forbade its congregants to donate to Klug's ministry and, "thus, the City God and [sic] has not been built." The tribute then turned to the "media" and the fact that, "although Mother Frances was very gracious to them . . . most of the press was never kind to her, lacking honesty, truth and justice."
The obituary's author then stated that Cardinal Luigi Raimondi, Prefect of the Sacred Congregation for the Causes of Saints, launched an investigation on Klug and her organization, sending Father Sylvio Masanti to do the work. Accordingly, both Masanti and Raimondi, the explanation goes, were believers in Klug's authentic vision. Additionally, the tribute stated, Klug had an audience with Pope Paul VI "and had received Holy Communion from him at a Canonization Mass on an earlier visit."
The only indication of what the St. Joseph's Hill of Hope—City of God organization might do now that Klug has died is in the statement thatr, in addition to forty-seven volumes of published "Stories from Heaven," issued by her during her lifetime, "many more are in preparation to be published" and that "Saint Jospeh's [sic] Hill of Hope will serve as a base to continue the publication and distribution of these 'Stories from Heaven." Klug, whose husband, Robert, a longtime insurance agent, died some years ago, is survived by two sons and a daughter. One online commentator, without specifying how her knew, claims that the daughter, Roberta, will be leading the organization.
As to the statements about Roman Catholic hierarchy support and belief in Klug's organization, there is a 1981 statement of position issued by Cardinal Timothy Manning, Archbishop of Los Angeles, and also signed by the bishops of the dioceses of Orange and San Bernardino. In it, it is declared that "this organization, its properties, its activities and its teachings are independent of the Roman Catholic Church, its jurisdiction and its favor." On top of this, "financial or moral support of this organization by Catholics cannot be construed as support of the Church." Additionally, the document continued, "the President of 'St. Joseph's Hill of Hope—City of God' enjoys no commission from the Church to teach, counsel, or conduct retreats." More specifically, "revelations and teachings identifying St. Joseph with the Blessed Trinity and obliging Roman Catholics to build the 'St. Joseph's Hill of Hope—City of God' are not acceptable to the Church and are rejected by us, the authentic teachers of the People of God, in line with our authority and responsibility."
In addition, there is a "theological assessment of the organization's materials as given out at a November 1979 retreat, signed by Monsignor Joseph Pollard of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles in December 1980. Pollard judged these materials to be "of a mostly undeveloped nature" and that while some "are of a traditional and pious nature" there were others that "are of an heretical and questionable nature." Pointdly, Pollard offered that the documents ventured away from the direction of the Second Vatican Council. Note that Klug broke away from the church in summer 1967, two years after the council concluded its business with widespread and significant changes to operations of the church. Because of Klug's diversion from the Council and papal and other statements that followed, Pollard judged her materials to "reflect an imperfect and deficient theology, catechesis, and spiritual guidance." As such, these documents did "violence to the Magisterium."
By giving St. Joseph "the stature of a person of the Blessed Trinity" and even referring to him as God, Pollard observed that this "is erroneous in the extreme, undermining a truth crucial to the Christian revelation and necessary for salvation." As to Klug's teaching that Catholics were obligated to build the "City of God" at the Hill of Hope site, Pollard noted that "Roman Catholics should be warned against building (i.e. propounding) such a doctrine and the edifices that will reflect it." In his conclusion, Pollard stated that "the teachings of the organization . . . are, in their key doctrine, heretical" and that "I find the 'revelations' to be spurious."
There is one other item of note: a 1990 article in the Los Angeles Times titled "Self-Described Visionary's Hill of Hope Dream Ends." The journalist, Jim Carlton, wrote that Klug "was unable to raise the $1.5 billion needed for construction" of the several components she hoped to erect at the site, including a basilica, chapels, hospital, monastery, convent and retreat house. Of course, there was also the matter of "the necessary approval from local government agencies" to obtain permits for this massive project.
Consequently, Carlton wrote, "the land has remained largely vacant." More pointedly, the article noted that "her followers, once estimated at more than 1,200, have dwindled to less than 400, according to her husband." One wonders, twenty years later, what the number is now.
Another problem was the devastating brush fires that torches thousands of acres in Carbon Canyon and nearby areas that summer "leaving piles of ash and blackened trees" on the site, though Robert Klug claimed that no buildings in the compound were damaged.
Still, the article announced that Frances Klug, then 69, was selling the site and "according to San Bernardino County planning officials," who then had authority over the development of the compound before cityhood was achieved for Chino Hills the following year, the asking price was $80 million. Notably, Klug said in 1972 that she bought the property for $1.1 million, on a $100,000 down payment raised from donations.
As the article pointed out, "an air of mystery has surrounded the operation since it began, fueled in large part by the presence of roving security guards and barbed wire fences to keep out uninvited visitors. The entrance, which lies on a dirt road in the city of Brea, is fortified by a huge green-and-white [now just white] gate topped by sharp points. A shack with two guards sits behind the gate." Robert Klug, his wife declining to speak to the Times, explained that "we have been harassed by the local vandals. We have had the police out here dozens of times. Several months ago, we caught half a dozen punk kids and they were arrested for trespassing."
Despite the listing, there were, of course, no takers and the organization has continued on for, to date, twenty more years. It will be interesting to see what the future has in store for St. Joseph's Hill of Hope—City of God.
06 May 2010
Carbon Canyon Circle K Construction Commencing
Just within the last couple of days, a crew has been on the lot at the northeast corner of Carbon Canyon Road and Canyon Hills Drive on the Chino Hills side of the Canyon removing an old concrete pad and grading the property for a 5,000+ square foot project consisting of a Circle K convenience store and office space (including, it is said, a dry cleaners?)
This photo was taken this morning of the work being done there. As to what this project means to the transformation of the Canyon, one need only peruse the previous post and accmpanying comments from a month or so ago. A brief mention also appeared recently in the Chino Hills Champion, though apparently there'll be a more substantive piece in that paper very soon.
Presumably, construction will be completed over the next several months and there'll probably be a late summer/early fall grand opening? One can only wonder if a traffic light (money contributed in part by the developer of the Stonefield housing project slated for the northeast corner of Carbon Canyon Road and Fairway Drive) in the horizon, as well. In light of the increased delays that are very noticeable around 8 a.m. because of the beginning of the school day at Olinda School in Brea, where the Olinda Village traffic signal has been operational for the last few months, we will see what the future portends as the Canyon becomes more like the suburban landscape around it and less like itself.
05 May 2010
Arundo Redux
It turns out that there may be some relief headed that direction, according to a friend of the blog who clarified the situation.
As stated previously, there was a golden opportunity after the Triangle Complex fires, during which the enormous biomass of arundo was incinerated, to spray shortly after new growth sprouted up. This allowed the herbicide to penetrate to the roots and kill the plant over the cycle of treatment. Usually, a very labor intensive and expensive program of cutting has to be done before the regrowth and spraying could be attempted.
It is projected that crews will come in to the Brea side of the Canyon to remove the dead arundo during the summer months. Evidently, this will be followed by the targeting of two sites on the Chino Hills portion which will involve the cutting of the healthy stands, followed by the herbicidal treatment.
Tomorrow night is the monthly meeting of the Carbon Canyon Fire Safe Council (7 p.m. at the Sleepy Hollow Community Center) and there may be an opportunity to learn more about this potential next step then.
The images were taken this morning: the first shows the still-green, but recently treated stands on the La Vida Mineral Springs property. The others show the dying stalks across the street and slightly to the west--these having been treated earlier this year. The image below actually shows part of the Carbon [Canyon] Creek channel that is far more visible now and which will be more so when crews remove the dead arundo later on.
Added the evening of 5 May: last Saturday's edition of the Chino Hills Champion includes a lengthy article with photos updating the progress of the arundo eradication, focusing on the securing of permission and the spraying of the La Vida property.
03 May 2010
On the Skids in Carbon Canyon #4729
This latest driver miscalculation occurred over the weekend as a vehicle heading eastbound on Carbon Canyon Road (State Route 142) failed to negotiate one of the S-curve meanderings on the Chino Hills side between the Carriage Hills and Summit Ranch subdivisions, skidded off the road, and floored this poor directional sign that was only trying to do its modest and underappreciated job.
As will be seen from just the last couple of years embodied in this blog, the flattening of CalTrans signs in this area is a regular occurrence and something we all get to pay a little more for when our transportation department goes out to repair the damage.
The photos were taken this morning and we'll see how quickly the usually-efficient District 8 of CalTrans will get our prostrate friend up and back at its post.
02 May 2010
El Rodeo Stables Closing?
It has been in existence since 1927, but within the last two weeks the El Rodeo Stables on the Brea side of Carbon Canyon looks like it is shutting down. Horses are no longer on the grounds and the corrals appear to be in the process of being dismantled with tin roofs having been removed.
If this is the case, it would stand to reason that the economy, or the decline of the number of people boarding horses, or the lingering effects of both from the November 2008 Freeway Complex fire could be factors. Has a "too good to pass up" offer come from a buyer? Will a new owner seek a zoning change from commercial to residential? We'll just have to see if there is any news forthcoming.
In any case, it is sad to see an 80+ year old institution shuttered if appearances mirror reality.
If this is the case, it would stand to reason that the economy, or the decline of the number of people boarding horses, or the lingering effects of both from the November 2008 Freeway Complex fire could be factors. Has a "too good to pass up" offer come from a buyer? Will a new owner seek a zoning change from commercial to residential? We'll just have to see if there is any news forthcoming.
In any case, it is sad to see an 80+ year old institution shuttered if appearances mirror reality.
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