Olivas Adobe - City Of Ventura

Olivas AdobeNewsletterA Monthly Publication for the Olivas Adobe HistoricalInterpreters and Friends of the Adobe.4200 Olivas Park Dr. Ventura, CA 93003 www.olivasadobe.org January 2012Important Events:January 1, 2012 Happy NewYearJanuary 5 InstallationDinner, 5:30 @ Carrow’s(Harbor & Seaward)January 6 Undecorate theAdobe @ 10:00 amJanuary 241:00Board meetingJanuary Happy BirthdaysBarbara Orr 7Gina Reyes 15Michael Davis 16Ilsa Lang 19Denise Hobbs 31Presidents Message:2012 is almost here! Isure hope you are moreready than I am!!Where did last yeargo? We sure had abusy year at the OlivasAdobe. I hope youwere part of theCandle Light Toursthis year. It was such a wonderful night. Thanks toall of you for your hard work and support. Lola andher crew did an unbelievable job. It was the bestHoliday pageant ever.Our first meeting of the New Year is Thursday,January 5 at 5:30. It will be our Installation Dinnerand will be held at the Carrow‟s located at Harborand Seaward in Ventura. You can order a cocktailand your dinner or whatever you want from themenu. Carrows will provide separate checks soeach of us will receive our own bill. I hope you canattend.Please let me know by the 1 st of January so I cangive them a head count.See you the 5 th . Don‟t forget.SharonA SPECIAL THANK YOUOnce again "The Candlelight Tour" was a resounding success; OAHI's annual gift to thecommunity was gratefully accepted and hugely appreciated by about 275 happy visitors. Iwant to thank all of you who helped make this yearly event such a big hit. So many ofyou worked to make it happen, but I want to give special mention to Jerry Leckie who wasresponsible for the tour guides; Mary Thompson, who with her crew, once again made theAdobe look gorgeous in holiday decorations; Penny King, from "The Seasoned Players" andJudy Nash Wade who both stepped in at the last minute to do a wonderful job; the Cityof Ventura for support and for taking reservations. My very special bouquet of thanksto Leif Engeswick who, as my right-hand man, took care of all the last minute details."Candlelight" is a huge undertaking, it takes the whole village to raise it! I appreciatethe effort and help given by ALL of you; it was such fun, let's do it again next year...LOLA1

Candelaria(by Ilse Lang)Candelaria Esquivalwas born on Sespe Creekin either 1836 or 1847(different sources give different dates) but shegrew up in Saticoy. She is included in the 1852California State Census there.At the age of 18, she married Jose Epifacio delRefugio Rios, who was half Chumash. They hadfive children, born between 1865 and 1881. Thefirst four of these children seem not to havesurvived childhood; they are not listed in theCensus of 1880.Jose Epifacio del Refugio Rios and Candelariawere not living together anymore in late1881, sheis listed by herself as residing in a neighborhoodsouth-west of Mission San Buenaventura, knownas „the Rancheria‟, taking care of her infant son,Enrique Daniel Rios.According to the earliest City directories, mostremaining „Mission Indians‟ lived in this area inone-story adobe buildings very close together.Candelaria (Rios) and two other Chumash werelisted as boarders with Simplicio Pico, a laborer,and his wife, Petra. This was a temporaryarrangement.After the death of Jose Epifacio del Refugio Rios,Candelaria went to Rancho San Miguel to cook forthe Olivas Family and take care of the youngestfamily members. She had two children with JoseDelores Olivas (1838 – 1911), Nicolasa Carolina in1885 and Jose Eduardo in 1888. The Olivas Familyacknowledged these children and they grew up atthe Rancho. The older one died in 1893.Candelaria‟s last husband was Jose Valenzuelafrom Sonora, Mexico. Both he and his wife livedand worked at the Peirano Ranch, which waslocated on ground now under the waters of LakeCasitas. Nick Peirano came to California from Italyin 1882 and grew fruits and vegetables on thisranch, which were sold at the Gandolfo GroceryStore on the corner of Main and Figueroa Streets inSan Buenaventura. Alex Gandolfo was his uncle.Later, Nick Peirano took over this store and todayCandelaria continuedit is a restaurant, Jonathan‟s at Peirano‟s and one ofthe oldest still existing brick buildings in town.Candelaria herself came to a tragic end in 1917 onthe Peirano Ranch, when her clothes caught firewhile she was cooking.Candelaria Valenzuela, together with Petra Pico,are famous for their beautiful woven baskets. Someof Candelaria‟s baskets are part of the collection atthe Smithsonian Institution and the Museum ofVentura County.Peirano‟sContinued above rightCandelaria2

Enormous JobLola helps select the perfect dressElsa & Ross decorate bedroomMary4The Chapel

The tour entrancePreparing for Las PosadasA Glimpse inside the Dining RoomGuests begin their tourElsa & Children take a breakThe Olivas family6

Olivas Adobe January 2012 Historical InterpretersSunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday12 3 4 56Outreach:Undecorate House ToursTortillas: 8:30am Adobe: 10:00 am Ernie CalvilloIlse LangGift ShopEvelyn McNiffCLOSEDHAPPY NEW YEAR8House ToursMarty MillerGift ShopMarsha Brumana15House ToursRosie CalvilloGift ShopMarsha BrumanaHouse ToursJerry LeckieGift ShopMargaretSchwabauer229 10Outreach:Tortillas: 8:30amRosie CalvilloAsst.: Ernie Calvillo16 17Outreach:Tortillas: 8:30amMarsha Brumana23 24Board Meeting:1:00 pm75:30 pm InstallationDinner: Carrow’sRestaurant(Harbor &Seaward)11 12Outreach:Tortillas: 8:30amIlsa Lang18 19Outreach:Tortillas: 8:30amRosie CalvilloAsst.: Ernie CalvilloNewsletterarticles due713 14House ToursRosie CalvilloGift ShopRose B.2021House ToursMarty MillerGift ShopEvelyn McNiff25 26 27 28House ToursCarl WadeGift ShopMerilynThompson2930 31House ToursMarsh BrumanaGift ShopMargaretSchwabauerSend photos and articles by mail to 4200 Olivas Park Dr. Ventura, CA 93003 or Email to alice_lrd@yahoo.com Newsletter Editor

Olivas Adobe Historical Interpreterswww.olivasadobe.orgThe Mission of the Olivas Adobe Historical Interpreters is to interpret and preserve, in collaboration with the City of Ventura,the history and heritage of the Olivas Family and Rancho San Miguel as part of the Rancho Period of California History.Tours every Saturday and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.Gift Shop Open 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and SundayGrounds open dailyDocent meetings are the first Wednesday of the month.Odd months in the evening at 5:30 p.m.Even months in the daytime at 10:30 a.m.The Olivas Adobe Newsletter is published by the City of San Buenaventura‟s Office of Cultural Affairs, GeorgeanneLees, Program Supervisor, and printed by the City of Ventura Print Services.Olivas Adobe Park4200 Olivas Park DriveVentura, CA 93003