From "Cities & Towns of San Joaquin County": Future growth of Farmington is not expected to take place soon. A local bartender, Walter Riggs, summed up the situation: "the big ranchers own all the land around the town and they're not selling; they don't want to see it get any bigger." As dry farmed on the broad agricultural lands surrounding Farmington. Only in the twentieth century has the look of the land changed; it has become a bit greener year around with irrigated row crops and orchards.
One of the oldest farmhouses in the county, once owned by Nathaniel S. Harrold. The house was built in 1868. It had nine rooms with five fireplaces and outside walls eighteen inches thick. It was home for eight children of Mr. and Mrs. Harrold. The owners of a huge stock ranch and general farming operations that extended almost to Escalon. By the late 1870's the family owned 15,000 acres.
Harrold had his start in this area during the gold rush, working as a cook in a roadhouse just four miles west of town known as the Texas Tent. He later operated extensive cattle interests, sometimes driving about a thousand head of cattle to market in the mining country.
The Harrold home became the residence of the Thomas Jefferson Drais family in about 1900. Drais cultivated 748 acres, 300 in vineyard. The house remained in the family until the mid 1940's.
The home is still standing and occupied by a family on Escalon Bellota Road, having been sold several times since the 40's.
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Happy Birthday wishes to Barbara Boone on Saturday, June 15th.
Also Happy Birthday to Nick Kroon on Saturday, June 15th.
*****
Please contact me if you have items for the Farmington News column. E-mail me at farmingtonnews@gmail.com or phone 896-6697.
One of the oldest farmhouses in the county, once owned by Nathaniel S. Harrold. The house was built in 1868. It had nine rooms with five fireplaces and outside walls eighteen inches thick. It was home for eight children of Mr. and Mrs. Harrold. The owners of a huge stock ranch and general farming operations that extended almost to Escalon. By the late 1870's the family owned 15,000 acres.
Harrold had his start in this area during the gold rush, working as a cook in a roadhouse just four miles west of town known as the Texas Tent. He later operated extensive cattle interests, sometimes driving about a thousand head of cattle to market in the mining country.
The Harrold home became the residence of the Thomas Jefferson Drais family in about 1900. Drais cultivated 748 acres, 300 in vineyard. The house remained in the family until the mid 1940's.
The home is still standing and occupied by a family on Escalon Bellota Road, having been sold several times since the 40's.
*****
Happy Birthday wishes to Barbara Boone on Saturday, June 15th.
Also Happy Birthday to Nick Kroon on Saturday, June 15th.
*****
Please contact me if you have items for the Farmington News column. E-mail me at farmingtonnews@gmail.com or phone 896-6697.
