Jose Serrano Adobe
Encyclopedia
Built by José Serrano in 1863, the José Serrano Adobe is the second of five adobe
structures built by the Serranos on the 10688 acres (4,325.3 ha) Rancho Canada de los Alisos
granted by Governor Juan B. Alvarado in 1842 and Governor Pio Pico
in 1846. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places on May 24, 1976, the property is interpreted as one of four historic buildings in the Heritage Hill Historic Park.
until a series of droughts, beginning in 1863 and continuing intermittently through 1883, forced the family to divide the ranch and mortgage several sections. Dwight Whiting, who played a major role in the development of El Toro
, purchased the Serrano Adobe and a significant area rancho in 1884. His son, George Whiting
, made extensive additions to the dwelling in 1932, adding a dining room, bedroom, and kitchen. Shortly after George Whiting's restoration effort, the Serrano Adobe was nominated and accepted as California State Landmark #199. The extensive gardens include two pepper trees, both over a hundred years old.
The last private owner, V.P. Baker, used the home from 1958 to 1969, restoring and refurnishing the house as a vacation home and a meeting place for the Aliso Water Company. The Bakers sold the 5000 acres (2,023.4 ha) Baker Ranch to Occidental Petroleum
in 1969 for $11 million with the requirement that the new owners donate the Serrano Adobe to a public agency for preservation. In 1974, Deane Brothers, a development subsidiary of Occidental Petroleum, proceeded to donate 55.9 acres (22.6 ha) round the Serrano Adobe and Serrano Creek to the County of Orange.
and El Toro area. The Saddleback Area Historical Society formed in 1973 and supported the preservation of El Toro's first church, St. George's Episcopal Mission, and the first schoolhouse, the El Toro Grammar School, by moving these buildings to the Serrano Adobe site in 1976. The Harvey Bennett Ranch House built in 1908 moved to the site in 1978 with the cooperation of the William Lyon Company,developers of the Bennett Ranch subdivision. The José Serrano Adobe site opened as Orange County's first historical park under the name Heritage Hill Historical Park in May 1981. After the completion of the Bennett House restoration, the County rededicated the park in September 1985.
Adobe
Adobe is a natural building material made from sand, clay, water, and some kind of fibrous or organic material , which the builders shape into bricks using frames and dry in the sun. Adobe buildings are similar to cob and mudbrick buildings. Adobe structures are extremely durable, and account for...
structures built by the Serranos on the 10688 acres (4,325.3 ha) Rancho Canada de los Alisos
Rancho Cañada de los Alisos
Rancho Cañada de los Alisos was a Mexican land grant in present day Orange County, California given by Governor Juan Bautista Alvarado to Jose Antonio Fernando Serrano in 1842, and enlarged by a second grant by Pio Pico in 1846. The name means "Glen of the Alders" in Spanish, after the native...
granted by Governor Juan B. Alvarado in 1842 and Governor Pio Pico
Pío Pico
Pío de Jesús Pico was the last Governor of Alta California under Mexican rule.-Origins:...
in 1846. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places on May 24, 1976, the property is interpreted as one of four historic buildings in the Heritage Hill Historic Park.
History
Serrano and his family lived in the adobe raising longhorn cattleTexas longhorn (cattle)
The Texas Longhorn is a breed of cattle known for its characteristic horns, which can extend to tip to tip for steers and exceptional cows, and tip to tip for bulls. Horns can have a slight upward turn at their tips or even triple twist. Texas Longhorns are known for their diverse coloring...
until a series of droughts, beginning in 1863 and continuing intermittently through 1883, forced the family to divide the ranch and mortgage several sections. Dwight Whiting, who played a major role in the development of El Toro
El Toro
El Toro, Spanish for "the bull", may refer to:* El Toro , a wooden roller coaster at Six Flags Great Adventure in New Jersey, USA* El Toro , a class of sailing dinghy* El Toro , the highest hill in Minorca, Spain...
, purchased the Serrano Adobe and a significant area rancho in 1884. His son, George Whiting
George Whiting
George Elbridge Whiting was an American composer of classical music.-Early life and career:Born in Holliston, Massachusetts, he founded the Beethoven Society in Hartford, Connecticut when he was fifteen years old. He moved to Boston, Massachusetts in 1862 and later to New York City. Whiting was a...
, made extensive additions to the dwelling in 1932, adding a dining room, bedroom, and kitchen. Shortly after George Whiting's restoration effort, the Serrano Adobe was nominated and accepted as California State Landmark #199. The extensive gardens include two pepper trees, both over a hundred years old.
The last private owner, V.P. Baker, used the home from 1958 to 1969, restoring and refurnishing the house as a vacation home and a meeting place for the Aliso Water Company. The Bakers sold the 5000 acres (2,023.4 ha) Baker Ranch to Occidental Petroleum
Occidental Petroleum
Occidental Petroleum Corporation is a California-based oil and gas exploration and production company with operations in the United States, the Middle East, North Africa, and South America...
in 1969 for $11 million with the requirement that the new owners donate the Serrano Adobe to a public agency for preservation. In 1974, Deane Brothers, a development subsidiary of Occidental Petroleum, proceeded to donate 55.9 acres (22.6 ha) round the Serrano Adobe and Serrano Creek to the County of Orange.
Heritage Hill Historical Park
Orange County set aside 4.1 acres (1.7 ha) surrounding the Serrano Adobe for the development of an historical park, now dedicated to interpreting the early history of the Saddleback ValleySaddleback Valley
Saddleback Valley is located in South Orange County, California and is home to the cities of Mission Viejo, Ladera Ranch, Rancho Santa Margarita, and Lake Forest, among others....
and El Toro area. The Saddleback Area Historical Society formed in 1973 and supported the preservation of El Toro's first church, St. George's Episcopal Mission, and the first schoolhouse, the El Toro Grammar School, by moving these buildings to the Serrano Adobe site in 1976. The Harvey Bennett Ranch House built in 1908 moved to the site in 1978 with the cooperation of the William Lyon Company,developers of the Bennett Ranch subdivision. The José Serrano Adobe site opened as Orange County's first historical park under the name Heritage Hill Historical Park in May 1981. After the completion of the Bennett House restoration, the County rededicated the park in September 1985.