Oldest Building in Mountains Dates To 1846

By Bonnie Kane

Weather permitting, a tour to the oldest building on these mountains, which is located on Tejon Ranch, is the next scheduled event by the Ridge Route Communities Museum & Historical Society.

In the year 1846 Rancho la Liebre (the ranch of the jackrabbits) was granted to Jose Maria Flores for his efforts in leading Mexican troops against the Americanos who were overtaking Alta California.

As a part of "proving up" a Mexican Land Grant, it was required that a residence be built. Flores built a large and beautiful adobe building.

In 1855 Edward Beale purchased the Liebre Grant from Flores. It was the first of the four Mexican Land Grants that Beale would acquire to create the present Ranchos El Tejon.

At the time of the purchase it was written that Beale "made his home in the hacienda there."

The Liebre Adobe has been owned and cared for by Tejon Ranch for over 150 years. It has served as the southern headquarters for Tejon Ranch Company and many notables of the ranch have lived or stayed there.

In 1996 the High Desert Hunt Club leased the lands and the adobe. It has been in their very able care since then.

The tour is scheduled for Saturday, March 31. The tour will begin at the dirt parking lot southeast of the Carl Jr’s Restaurant in Gorman at 9:30 a.m. We will caravan in individual vehicles along Gorman Post Road, making stops at historic sites such as German Station, Caswell’s, Holland Summit, Quail Lake and a Ridge Route overlook of the San Andreas fault before arriving at the Adobe.

Bring a picnic as after touring the Liebre Hacienda you are welcome to enjoy lunch at the tables in front of the Adobe and next to the old pond, also created in 1846.

To participate, just be at the parking lot to the southeast of Gorman at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, March 31. For additional information call the museum at 245-7747.

This is part of the March 09, 2007 online edition of The Mountain Enterprise.

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