Many Other historical photos and stories will be presented in the future. If you have something of interest, please contact the webmaster who is compiling valley-wide history.
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The photo at left (Circa 1909-11) is of the Ojai freight wagon titled "Ojai Mail" by photographer Dingman of Ventura. The roof of the new county courthouse is visible in the rear of the Studebaker Carriage Works in downtown Ventura. The photo was donated by Dean and Tammy York of Upper Ojai who discovered it in their wall during remodeling.. | |
| The photo at right is of a drilling crew on a
steam drilling rig, drilling a well titled "The Bay#1". This is
probably their first well for George Bay, the owner of the property as wells
were usually named for the owner in the order they were drilled. It is
dated 1908. Carter Phelps who, as a child, shadowed the photographer
taking this shot, told me the well was drilled approximately where Topa Lane
now sits. Names listed on the back are: P. H. Dunahew and Harrison-
possible names of those in the photo. Photo donated by Carter Phelps to Rod Thompson mid 1980 just before Carter's death |
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| The Photo at right is of the old Thompson Family Barn taken by renowned Ojai photographer Bruce Ditchfield. It was built of redwood at the turn of the century on the homestead of Thomas Thompson and sons on what is now High Winds Road in Upper Ojai. It was torn down by new owners in the late 1980's after years of neglect and abuse following its sale by the family in the 1960's.(Rod Thompson) |
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Photo at left is of the Bay Oil
Company (Ojai Oil Company) boiler works c:1908. The boiler was used to
run steam pumps on the wells. They were about 1/8 mile North East of
the present-day fire station #20. Topa Topa lies in the background. Photo donated by Carter Phelps to Rod Thompson Carter's family ran the boarding house for Richfield Oil Company at the turn of the century. Carter walked with the photographer as he took the photos of the oil operations in the area. Carter asked for and received copies of this photo and the photo of the drilling of Bay#1. |
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This photo (c:1910-1924) depicts Henry Hess and another man at the old Bracken Winery (present-day Boccali Ranch). This is the only one of three large Upper Ojai winery structures which still exist. The other two nearer the summit were bulldozed in the 60's. The photo was donated by Dean and Tammi York. They found it between their walls when they remodeled the old Davis House. (Rod Thompson) | |
| The old oak barrel at right was placed in the side of the old Topa Topa Trail (White Ledge Trail) at a spring Just N.E. of the current intersection of the White Ledge Trail and Sisar Road. This trail was used to access Topa Topa before the Sisar Road was completed to the bluffs. You can still walk the overgrown trail but the barrel has long-since rotted away- leaving a dent in the hill below the spring of cool, fresh water which flows all year. It was placed there in the 30's by County Trapper Joseph Thompson who frequented the trail on his trapping route over Nordhoff Ridge. He fermented wine from his Upper Ojai vineyard which probably accounts for the old barrel. This photo was taken in the early 1960's just before the barrel disintegrated. The photo was donated by Dan Beasley from his family photos. |
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