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COMMITTEE NEWS | THE COLONY NEWS | JANUARY 2022 | 17 HISTORY PROJECT By Lennie Martin, 503-269-9987 A drought in Central California led two Spanish ranchers, brothers Ezequiel and Juan Murrieta, to seek greener pastures for their sheep. Verdant rolling hills around Temecula reminded them of home, and they bought 52,000 acres of the Temecula and Pauba Ranchos in 1873, with two partners. They brought 100,000 sheep to the lush valley, fed them in the meadows, and washed them in the mineral springs. The lands were divided three years later when the partnership dissolved; the Murrietas received 15,000 acres of the northern part, including the mineral hot springs. In 1882, the Murrietas granted a right-of-way to the California Southern Railroad through their rancho. Ezequiel returned to Spain, and two years later Juan sold all but 1,000 acres around his home to the Temecula Land and Water Company. He moved his family to Los Angeles, where he prospered in real estate. In 1884, the Company mapped a townsite along the railroad, and a depot was constructed in 1887. The town was called Murrietaville. Families came by train, set up businesses along the railway, and started farming. By 1890, 800 people lived in Murrietaville and the little town became a destination for travelers seeking the healing hot springs where Juan Murrieta once washed his sheep. The beautiful Fountain House Hotel was built near the depot to house and feed guests. It burned down in 1935. The first Murrieta Post Office was established in 1885. But the application spelled it "Murrietta," and it was not until 1924 that this was corrected to honor the two brothers who once owned the land. When trains stopped coming in 1935, the town became a sleepy outpost until highways were built. In 1947 a volunteer fire department was formed, and town business was conducted at the fire station. A new fire engine ordered in 1990 spelled the town's name "Marrietta" on its door. A "cityhood campaign" began in 1988, and the city was incorporated in 1991 with spelling standardized as Murrieta. But name confusion continues. Some think the infamous bandit, Joaquin Murieta of Gold Rush times, gave it the name. How Murrieta Got Its Name PAID ADVERTISEMENT How to Sell Your Murrieta Home Yourself: 10 Tips Real Estate Agents Don't Want You to Know If you've tried to sell your home yourself, you know that the minute you put the "For Sale by Owner" sign up, the phone rings off the hook. Most calls aren't from prospective buyers but from real estate agents who will hound you for your listing. They will tell you how great they are and how you can't possibly sell your home by yourself. After all, without the proper information, selling a home isn't easy. Perhaps you've had your home on the market for several months with no offers from qualified buyers. This can be very frustrating time, and many homeowners have given up selling their homes themselves. But don't give up until you've read a new report entitled "Sell Your Own Home." Inside this report, you'll find 10 inside tips to selling your home by yourself which will help you sell for the best price in the shortest amount of time. You'll learn what real estate agents don't want you to know. To hear a brief recorded message about how to order your FREE copy of this report call toll-free 1-844-402-4270 and enter 6317. You can call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Get your free special report NOW to learn how you really can sell your home yourself. This report is courtesy of HIPACK Inc. Not intended to solicit buyers or sellers currently under contract. Copyright © 2021 Sylvia McIndoo accepting her gift from the Colony News Elf Juan Murrieta c. 1885 (Public domain) By Jeanne Bender PROOFREADER WANTED: The Newsletter Committee is seeking an additional proofreader for its Colony News staff. If this sounds like something you might enjoy doing and you have a proofreading "eye," please give me a call for further information. NEWSLETTER