When I’m not visiting the Seattle area my days are spent in Camarillo, California. Camarillo was named after Adolfo Camarillo.
This is a statue of Adolfo Camarillo on one of his prized horses. This statue is in Old Town Camarillo.
The Camarillo Ranch was originally a 10,000 acre Spanish land grant created in 1837, patented to Gabriel Ruiz in 1866, then purchased by Juan Camarillo in 1875. His son Adolfo built the Queen Anne Victorian home in 1892. Later the barn and stables were added to support the agricultural work and house the renowned Camarillo White Horses. Today the ranch is owned by the City of Camarillo and operated by the non profit Camarillo Ranch Foundation.
Adolfo (1864-1958) married Isabel Menchaca (1861-1936) in 1888 and they moved into an adobe home on the Ranch, which was later destroyed by fire. They had seven children. In 1890, with the help of two Chumash Indian boys, he planted two rows of eucalyptus trees. The trees arched across Highway 101 in Camarillo for many years. Some of the trees still line the north side of the freeway. Adolfo also employed a number of Chumash Indians on the Ranch
The Camarillo House was built in 1892 by Adolfo and others using the services of Architects Franklin Ward and Herman Anlauf This three-story, 14-room home was built in the Victorian Queen Anne style
Adolfo also helped the community in other ways. He gave 50 acres of land for the first high school in Camarillo. It is named for him, “Adolfo Camarillo High School.” He also gave land for the building of the Southern Pacific Railroad through Camarillo (1904), the new Conejo Grade (Highway 101) in 1937, and the expansion of St. John’s Seminary to include St. John’s College.
This is the part of the 101 Freeway known as the Conejo Grade. Just last month this stretch from the top of the Conejo Grade to Lewis Road — was officially designated the Adolfo Camarillo Memorial Highway by state lawmakers.
In the year 1911 or 1912, a brilliant white colt with brown eyes was born. As he frolicked at his mother’s side, it was unknown that he would become the foundation stallion for a breed of horse known as the Camarillo White Horse; which over the next 95 years would create a family tradition, a new breed of horse, and a legend as well. In 1921, when Sultan was nine or ten years old, Adolfo Camarillo (Founder of the city of Camarillo, California) discovered this “Stallion of a Dream” and purchased him from the Miller and Lux cattle ranch at the Sacramento State Fair.
Sultan, over the next few years, won many stock championships throughout California. Adolfo bred Sultan to Morgan mares at the Camarillo Ranch. Adolfo never sold his land or a white horse: however, on rare occasions, the Camarillo family would make gifts of the prized white horses.
The Camarillo White Horses became famous over the years as they paraded and performed at fiestas and other activities. They became well known at the Pasadena Rose Parades; attended the parade to open the Oakland Bay Bridge; a Los Angeles parade to raise war bonds; and went to the Santa Barbara Fiesta parades since they began in the ’30’s. Often dignitaries would be seen riding the Camarillo White Horses, including: President Harding, Governor Ronald Reagan; John Mott; movie star Leo Carrillo; and the son of President Gerald Ford.
To read more about the history of these horses visit this History of Camarillo Site.
For more ABC Wednesday Posts visit the new Mr. Linky site here.
ht: photos of the Camarillo White Horse from Camarillo White Horse Association.
Photobucket is holding all my photos from 2007-2015 hostage on their site and have replaced my photos with black and grey boxes of ugliness. I’m slowly deleting those boxes from my blog and trying to update so many posts, very frustrating.
The Happy Wonderer ~ ellen b. 
I love history post with great photos like this one.
Well done.
Our “C” is Here.
Come visit,
Troy and Martha
A very interesting account of a subject I’d never have known anything about till now.
Never heard of the horses of the man, but very interesting. I am glad you took the time to tell us about them both!
Very interesting.
What a beautiful house, it sounds like Mr. Camarillo was a great man. I love those white horses, they are so beautiful. You did a great job with this post, lots or very good information.
Ellen,
This is a most interesting post!! Thanks for the history lesson – I love history lessons! 🙂 How about that house?! It is so regally beautiful!
Ellen,
I loved this post! It is so interesting and educational. I love learning and reading about places and the history associated with them.
This was wonderful!! Hope you do more things like this! Great job!!!
Thanks for sharing the info and the photos. I love that old building..
Great post. My dad used to go out there for business. He was the CPA for some group that owned a newspaper or radio station out there. I don’t know if it was actually in Camarillo or if he just stayed there. I’ve never seen much or known much about Camarillo. He flew out there at least once a year. Thanks for sharing.
That is one great house. So great that they have preserved it.
My C post is HERE. Please stop by if you have some time. It will be very much appreciated. Happy Wednesday!
Wow, what as gorgeous house! And thanks for the interesting read to go with the photos.
Oh my – what a gorgeous house and – as it appears it is in ship shape! Wonderful “C”! Thank you for sharing
Amazing history.
Fascinating post! I’d love to see the inside of that house as it reminds me of many heritage ones around here, namely the Emily Carr House in Victoria for one.
Speaking of houses, come on over for a visit to my place and see all my C words. 😀
And now I know so much more about my new adopted hometown. Thanks!
I spent a bit of time staring at the photo of Conejo Grade, trying to figure out just where you were standing to take that photo.
Willow, Ha! by the donut shop of course…
The Chumash tribe was almost lost. The missionaries and padres put many of them into Missions where they became known as Mission Indians.My FIL was born on Gabrielino Rez. There were many Chumash/Mission Indians there.
Oh I love these photos. That house is so beautiful!
Oh what a beautiful ranch house! I love how they restored it!
And I want a house that looks just like that! Beautiful! Very interesting post, Ellen!
What an interesting ABC Wednesday post! Efforts like yours are what make photo-blogging so rewarding for everyone.
Hello! Thank you for visiting my blog today. I enjoyed your “C” photos very much, and was in Camarillo ages ago when I used to live in California.
Love the old shot of the house – I love comparing old with new when nothing much has changed. Great history lesson too.
Thanks
Gary
What a beautiful house! And a great story. Lovely horses.
fascinating. I wondered if the Adobe word used is anything to do with the software we see now.
wow..love that old house…thanks for all the history surrounding it…and for your visit…
Annie
This was a very interesting and informative post.
Those horses are beautiful.
I love the photo of the Queen Anne Victorian home.
Bear((( )))
love the photos of the wedding too..wonderful..what a lovely time for you all…and the recent skywatch photo ..and madame fifi’s teashop…lovely!
Annie
ps Are the “many photos in a square” (in the wedding post) hard to do…presume that must be avaiable on blogger…or did you do it before you put them on? sorry to be so curious!
Annie, Hey no problem remember I’m a wonderer so I understand curiosity… I left an answer on your blog. I create these with Picasa.
Interesting history of the area — enjoyed reading and seeing it.
Fascinating! and a great choice for ‘C.’ What beautiful horses and it is always encouraging to know that someone who had so much was willing to give back so much to his community. Thanks for sharing your community.
Happy Wednesday!
What a beautiful, beautiful house! You have the best of both worlds — two beautiful homes in two completely different, but both lovely locations.
Thanks for sharing bits and pieces of places I’ve never been before. I enjoy it very much!!!!!
LaTeaDah
Great post. Love the photos and history. The house is beautiful, as are the horses.
the house looks grand! thanks for sharing.
Great history and I never knew who Camerilo was named for. Interesting C post.
wow, that was fabulous! beautiful house and horses!!
That Queen Anne Victorian is my fav….if I’m ever able to build a house…………………………
I think we had our winter formal there.
Very well documented history – beautiful houses and horses!
What fabulous pictures, and what a gorgeous house! I would love to visit there. I think it would be a nice drive from Vancouver.
I had never heard of this place before. Thank you! 🙂
Wow, this is neat! The high school marching band wears hats that were modeled after Camarillo’s hats. Just like the one of him on the statue!
hi my name is starr laurel i really like horses i’ve been looking for summer jobs for horses because i really love i rode one before
Adolfo did not build it.He bought after his fathers death who had obtained it
Great romantic history! I’ve been hanging on every word–and the photos…!!!
An old friend’s family, FONTES and MONLONGUE, were longtime residents of the Camarillo/Oxnard/Saticoy area and were groundskeepers for the Camarillos.
Hermann Anlauf was my great-grandfather.