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ALPINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY Alpine, California |
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TOWN DEVELOPMENT WHAT'S IN A NAME?
After Sherman’s Civil War marched through Georgia, George and Nellie Webb left their plantation for a new life in California’s gold country. While completing the grading for the Julian-Banner Toll Road in 1871, George learned of a practical route from the mines to San Diego. With seventeen men, he graded the San Diego-Julian Toll Road, effectively determining the site of future Alpine. Since the time of presidio explorers, segments had been called “Camino de Secuan,” “Camino de la Sierra,” “road to Williams rancho” and the “Jackass Mail Trail.” In the 1850’s, this area had been the vast grain and cattle rancho of “Cockney” Bill Williams and “The Saint” Aguirre. At the location of Shadow Hills Elementary School in Harbison Canyon, then called Oak Grove, George Webb established his “Alpine Ranch,” and built the “Alpine District” first schoolhouse for their six children on the ranch. The new “Alpine” name became notorious with the killing of a Frenchman by George’s son at a midnight rendezvous with the fashionable new schoolmarm, Emma Everhart, in 1875. The son was exonerated. The Webbs moved on to Sweetwater Valley, then to Arizona to build the Gila Canal. Portions of their toll road remain, to recall for us this dynasty of ambitious, trigger-quick men and their beautiful, resourceful women. Descendants still live in the San Diego area. What is now downtown Alpine was settled in 1872 by the industrious Nick Overmeir, who took over maintenance of the road with his eight-mule team. It was on his ranch that the first Alpine store, post office and stage station were built (behind the present post office). Nick baled hay and planted fruit trees and vineyards. With the establishment of the post office, this place, known in mission and ranchero days as Mesa del Arroz and Valle de las Viejas, became officially “Alpine.” The airy new name, coinciding with a tuberculosis epidemic, drew patients from near and far. “Best Climate in the U.S.A. by Government Report.” Picking a marketable name like “Alpine” was a great idea!
CHRONOLOGY OF HOMESTEAD PERIOD IN DOWNTOWN ALPINE 1870-1871 Texan Joseph Harden builds house and corral and cultivates four to five acres on land assessed to estate of Jose Antonio Aguirre; Maria del Rosario Estudillo de Ferrer, executrix. Nearest neighbors: Adam Beaty, born 1819, a Confederacy veteran, also Royal Barton who settles Viejas Reservation April 18, 1870 on 160-acre pre-emption claim of September 10, 1867 by Cayetano Cota, probably Indian. Barton was murderer of John Tanahill (October 1877). Harden came here to be near his friend Beaty. Establishes nucleus of present village. October 15, 1871 Claim of Texas Pacific Railroad to land (effective date of inception). Bars title through February 28, 1885. 1872 Nelson (Nick) Overmier (native born) and Lucy J. Overmier (no children) build house behind present post office (420' south of Arnold Way, 150' east of Olivewood). Nick born 1830. Builds barns and corrals. New neighbor James Green, on Midway Drive. Mr. Webb (near MacQueen school) builds new, shorter road on Midway Drive/Alpine Boulevard alignment, called Julian Road or Viejas Road to service Stonewall Mine. Old Aguirre ox-cart road and Jackass Mail road bypassed. Land is still assessed to Aguirre estate. 1873 Nick plants fruit trees, sets pattern for later agriculture. 1874-1876 New neighbor Edward Foss, on Foss Road. Nick is section roadmaster, at least through 1882. 1871-1875 New neighbor Pedro Perez, Mexican, Palo Verde Ranch by small lake. Neighbor "Dutch" Fred Schappelle before 1878 at Lazy A. 1882 Nick bales 60 tons of hay. New neighbor Hugh Field (South Grade). 1883 Nick has vineyards--new industry for area. Neighbor Henry Steil. 1884 Nick has eight-mule team, sets out twenty acres Zinfandel. Has fight with Indians. Vineyards west of post office. 1885 Nick has sixty acres fruit trees. New neighbor Dr. Elijah Love. First official post office. Overmier homestead #716 approved. Area no longer called Viejas. H. J. Whitney and Willis Hurd have general store and feed barns for Stonewall teams. Joe Foster has stage line. New industry--tuberculosis sanitarium with a dozen tents. 1885-1888 Nick sells out to Dr. Nugent. Valued at $3,000. ca. 1888 Dr. Nugent sells to Irish Lord Brabazon. Whitney/Hurd sell business to Charlie Emery. Alpine has 70 children and two stores. Dr. Love's Road (now Marshall). August 18, 1888 Overmiers' homestead forty acres in El Cajon. Nick thrown from wagon, dies August 25, 1891. 1887 Alpine residents: Hurd, Chump, Steil, Mays, Beaty, Field, Finley, J. Love, E. Love, Nugent, Foss, Anderson, Perez, Schmidt, Emery, others in outlying areas.
Sources: Mexican Land Grants, Bancroft Collection
Created 12/2006; Revised 12/2006 |
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