San Bernardino Asistencia
Encyclopedia
The San Bernardino de Sena Estancia (also known as the San Bernardino Rancho) was established in 1819 as a ranch outpost of Mission San Gabriel Arcángel
in Redlands, California
. It was built to graze cattle
. The present site was established around 1830 on a portion of the Bernardino Rancho approximately one mile from the original development.
After secularization of the missions in 1833, the Mexican Governor of California granted Rancho San Bernardino
to José del Carmen Lugo
, José Maria Lugo, Vincénte Lugo, and their cousin Jose Diego Sepulveda. Included were the all of the original buildings which included a tile
kiln
, a lime
kiln
, and a grist mill. The property subsequently was sold to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and occupied by Bishop Nathan C. Tenney from 1851 through 1859, when Dr. Benjamin Barton purchased it from the Mormon
s. Dr. Barton practiced medicine and resided on the property until 1867. Over time, materials were removed from the abandoned structure, which fell into a state of ruin.
In 1925, the County of San Bernardino acquired the property from the Barton family. All remaining historic materials were salvaged and construction of a new, six-room structure commenced in 1926 with later funding from the Works Progress Administration
relief project (assisted by the San Bernardino County Historical Society). As funds weren't available to restore mere ranchos, a great deal of artistic license was taken in the design of the new, six-room structure (including exhibit space and a residence for the site manager) which replaced what was left of the original chapel building. Additionally, a freestanding campanario ("bell wall") was constructed (similar to that at Mission San Antonio de Pala
) even though none had existed previously. The restoration was completed in 1937 and the rebuilt structures were unveiled to the general public as "The Asistencia."
Today the facility known as the "Asistencia", and is operated as a branch of the San Bernardino County Museum. It is located at 26930 Barton Rd, in Redlands, California. The reproduction ranch is open for tours on Tuesday through Saturday. Group tours are available by appointment, and the chapel and courtyard are available as a site for weddings.
Mission San Gabriel Arcángel
The Mission San Gabriel Arcángel is a fully functioning Roman Catholic mission and a historic landmark in San Gabriel, California. The settlement was founded by Spaniards of the Franciscan order on "The Feast of the Birth of Mary," September 8, 1771, as the fourth of what would become 21 Spanish...
in Redlands, California
Redlands, California
Redlands is a city in San Bernardino County, California, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 68,747, up from 63,591 at the 2000 census. The city is located east of downtown San Bernardino.- History :...
. It was built to graze cattle
Cattle
Cattle are the most common type of large domesticated ungulates. They are a prominent modern member of the subfamily Bovinae, are the most widespread species of the genus Bos, and are most commonly classified collectively as Bos primigenius...
. The present site was established around 1830 on a portion of the Bernardino Rancho approximately one mile from the original development.
After secularization of the missions in 1833, the Mexican Governor of California granted Rancho San Bernardino
Rancho San Bernardino
Rancho San Bernardino was a Mexican land grant in present day San Bernardino County, California given in 1842 by Governor Juan B. Alvarado to José del Carmen Lugo, José María Lugo, Vicente Lugo, and Diego Sepulveda...
to José del Carmen Lugo
José del Carmen Lugo
José del Carmen Lugo was a major Californio landowner in the Los Angeles area, who worked beginning in 1839 to develop the San Bernardino and Yucaipa valleys, an area of more than . He made an alliance with the regional Cahuilla Indians....
, José Maria Lugo, Vincénte Lugo, and their cousin Jose Diego Sepulveda. Included were the all of the original buildings which included a tile
Tile
A tile is a manufactured piece of hard-wearing material such as ceramic, stone, metal, or even glass. Tiles are generally used for covering roofs, floors, walls, showers, or other objects such as tabletops...
kiln
Kiln
A kiln is a thermally insulated chamber, or oven, in which a controlled temperature regime is produced. Uses include the hardening, burning or drying of materials...
, a lime
Lime (mineral)
Lime is a general term for calcium-containing inorganic materials, in which carbonates, oxides and hydroxides predominate. Strictly speaking, lime is calcium oxide or calcium hydroxide. It is also the name for a single mineral of the CaO composition, occurring very rarely...
kiln
Kiln
A kiln is a thermally insulated chamber, or oven, in which a controlled temperature regime is produced. Uses include the hardening, burning or drying of materials...
, and a grist mill. The property subsequently was sold to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and occupied by Bishop Nathan C. Tenney from 1851 through 1859, when Dr. Benjamin Barton purchased it from the Mormon
Mormon
The term Mormon most commonly denotes an adherent, practitioner, follower, or constituent of Mormonism, which is the largest branch of the Latter Day Saint movement in restorationist Christianity...
s. Dr. Barton practiced medicine and resided on the property until 1867. Over time, materials were removed from the abandoned structure, which fell into a state of ruin.
In 1925, the County of San Bernardino acquired the property from the Barton family. All remaining historic materials were salvaged and construction of a new, six-room structure commenced in 1926 with later funding from the Works Progress Administration
Works Progress Administration
The Works Progress Administration was the largest and most ambitious New Deal agency, employing millions of unskilled workers to carry out public works projects, including the construction of public buildings and roads, and operated large arts, drama, media, and literacy projects...
relief project (assisted by the San Bernardino County Historical Society). As funds weren't available to restore mere ranchos, a great deal of artistic license was taken in the design of the new, six-room structure (including exhibit space and a residence for the site manager) which replaced what was left of the original chapel building. Additionally, a freestanding campanario ("bell wall") was constructed (similar to that at Mission San Antonio de Pala
Mission San Antonio de Pala
The San Antonio de Pala Asistencia, or the "Pala Mission", was founded on June 13, 1816 as an asistencia to Mission San Luis Rey de Francia, some twenty miles inland upstream from the mission on the San Luis Rey River. It was part of the Spanish missions, asistencias, and estancias system in Las...
) even though none had existed previously. The restoration was completed in 1937 and the rebuilt structures were unveiled to the general public as "The Asistencia."
Today the facility known as the "Asistencia", and is operated as a branch of the San Bernardino County Museum. It is located at 26930 Barton Rd, in Redlands, California. The reproduction ranch is open for tours on Tuesday through Saturday. Group tours are available by appointment, and the chapel and courtyard are available as a site for weddings.
External links
- The Asistencia - San Bernardino County Museum