HISTORY AND WEATHER

OF RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA, NICASIO, CA

CONTENTS

History of Rancho Santa Margarita

Weather Averages of Nicasio, CA

Wikipedia Page on Nicasio, CA

History of Nicasio, CA

 

 

 

HISTORY OF RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA

History – 1800s 

Rancho Santa Margarita, San Pedro y Las Gallinas was a 21,679-acre (87.73 km2) Mexican land grant in present day Marin County, California given in 1844 by Governor Manuel Micheltorena to Timothy Murphy (Timoteo Murphy).[1] Las Gallinas means "the hens" in Spanish. The grant extended from east of Nicasio, California, south east along the Lucas Valley, California, then along Miller Creek to Las Gallinas and the San Pablo Bay.[2][3][4][5]

Timothy Murphy (1800–1853 ) born in County Wexford, Ireland worked at the Lima branch of the of Hartnell and Company meatpacking house in 1828. He moved to Monterey, but the local branch of Hartnell and Company closed shortly after he arrived. In 1837, Murphy was administrator of Mission San Rafael, and later, served as alcalde and juez de paz at San Rafael. In 1844, Murphy was granted five square leagues in three adjoining ranchos: Rancho Santa Margarita, Rancho San Pedro and Rancho Las Gallinas. Timothy Murphy suffered a reversal of fortune in 1849, when he was swindled out of the proceeds from the sale of meat from his ranch, by John B. Steinberger. Thereafter, things continued to decline for him, until his death in 1853, of a burst appendix.[6]

With the cession of California to the United States following the Mexican-American War, the 1848 Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo provided that the land grants would be honored. As required by the Land Act of 1851, acclaim for Rancho Santa Margarita, San Pedro y Las Gallinas was filed with the Public Land Commission in 1852,[7] and the grant was patented to Timothy Murphy in 1866.[8]

Timothy Murphy never married, and when he died in 1853, his brother Matthew Murphy (who was shot while riding near San Quentin by a prison guard in 1852, and died in 1854) inherited present day McNear, Peacock Gap, and China Camp. His nephew, John Lucas, inherited the 7,600-acre (31 km2) Santa Margarita ranch (present day Lucas Valley and Terra Linda). John Lucas (1826–) was born in County Wexford, Ireland, and came to California in 1852. He returned to Ireland in 1853, but came back to California in 1855. He married Maria Sweetman in 1855, and in 1856 moved to the ranch opposite the James Miller, where he built a home, and continued grazing cattle.[10] He sold about 1,200 acres (4.9 km2) of Rancho Santa Margarita to Manuel T. Freitas (1853–1923) in 1898.

History – 1900s

In the early part of the 1900’s, 2500 acres of Rancho Santa Margarita was used as hunting club for San Franciscans. In around the time of World War II, Cirilo “Chilo” Gonzales, an immigrant from a small mill town near Guadalajara, Mexico, purchased the ranch and began an active sheep farm on the property with an agreement to supply the US government with wool for the war effort. At some juncture, the ranch was converted from a sheep farm to a cattle ranch which lasted until a few decades ago. The cattle trails, water basins fed by natural springs and the remnants of cattle fences are discovered as you walk around the property.

Sources: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rancho_San_Pedro,_Santa_Margarita_y_Las_Gallinas

   

WEATHER

 

 

July is the average warmest month.

The highest recorded temperature was 110°F in 1961.

The average coolest month is January.

The lowest recorded temperature was 20°F in 1990.

The most precipitation on average occurs in December.

Sources:  http://www.weather.com/weather/wxclimatology/monthly/graph/94946 

 

Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May June July Aug. Sep. Oct. Nov. Dec. Avg.

Avg Max Temperature 66.7 67.8 71.3 71 74 74.8 80 82.2 79.6 76.5 70.2 64.7 73.2

Avg Min Temperature 41.3 44.6 47.4 49.8 54.4 57.2 61.3 63.2 57.4 53.8 49.8 41.8 51.8

Avg Avg Temperature 54 56.2 59.3 60.4 64.2 66 70.6 72.7 68.5 65.2 60 53.2 62.5

Extreme Max Temperature(lowest) 84 85 86 80 92 80 84 90 97 92 81 70

Extreme Min Temperature(lowest) 48 55 58 59 59 63 66 68 69 62 59 55

Extreme Avg Temperature(lowest) 65.5 67 66.5 64.5 72.5 69.5 74 77.5 83 77 66 59.5

Extreme Max Temperature(highest) 56 60 62 64 68 71 76 76 75 71 64 59

Extreme Min Temperature(highest) 27 36 34 35 47 46 50 59 48 47 42 35

Extreme Avg Temperature(highest) 41.5 49.5 48 54 60 60.5 64 68 61.5 60 54 47

WIKIPEDIA PAGE ON NICASIO, CA

Nicasio,CaliforniaFrom Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia 

See also: Rancho Nicasio 

 

St. Mary's Church, Nicasio, California. 

Coordinates: 38°03′42″N 122°41′55″WCoordinates: 38°03′42″N 122°41′55″W 

Country  United States

State   California

County  Marin County  

Area[1] 

 • Total  1.305 sq mi (3.380 km2)

 • Land 1.305 sq mi (3.380 km2)

 • Water  0 sq mi (0 km2)  0%

Elevation[2]  194 ft (59 m)

Population (2010) 

 • Total  96

 • Density  74/sq mi (28/km2)

Time zone   Pacific (PST) (UTC‐8)

 • Summer (DST)  PDT (UTC‐7)

GNIS feature IDs  1659226; 2628764

U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Nicasio, California; U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names 

Information System: Nicasio, California 

Nicasio is a census-designated place[3] in Marin County, California.[2] It is located 8 miles (13 km) west-southwest of Novato,[4] at an elevation of 194 feet (59 m).[2]

Nicasio (ni-kash'-oh, or ni-cah'-see-oh) is a contiguous area of unincorporated land in west Marin County. The Nicasio region encompasses approximately 25,000 acres (100 km²) and has no legally defined political boundaries. Geographically it is a hydrologic zone containing the four main drainages of Nicasio Creek up to the ridgelines defining their basin. This includes: the south fork of Nicasio Creek extending from Moon Hill, along the ridge separating Nicasio from San Geronimo and Samuel P. Taylor parks, and extending northwest towards the northern end of Platform Bridge Road; the east fork of Nicasio Creek extending from Loma Alta and the ridge on the north side of Sir Francis Drake Boulevard, extending up through Big Rock and up towards Big-Rock Ridge; the Halleck Creek drainage, up to the ridges separating Nicasio from Lucas Valley and Novato; the northern drainages extending along the ridgelines of Rocky Ridge, Hicks Mountain and Black Mountain.

A major landmark in the area is the man-made Nicasio Reservoir. Nicasio is scenically very attractive with forested and open ridgelines surrounding a wide rolling valley. The area along Lucas Valley Road follows a narrow valley with mostly forested hillsides above it. Oak, bay, and fir trees are common in the area, and along some of the creeks stands of redwoods are still found. Wildlife is abundant. Three main roads cross the area: Lucas Valley Road, Nicasio Valley Road, and the Point Reyes-Petaluma Road. Important pieces of public land in the surrounding area include Point Reyes National Seashore, portions of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, and Samuel P. Taylor State Park.

Within the Nicasio area are about 250 homes located on approximately 350 parcels. Much of the land is still used for agricultural purposes including beef and dairy cattle grazing, small-scale truck farming (including organic farming), and the raising of forage. Several small vineyards have also been recently established. Next to Rancho Nicasio within the town of Nicasio is an organic farm, AllStar Organics, owned and operated by Janet Brown and Marty Jacobson; Janet is the vice-president of Marin Organic, Marin County's non-profit organic association. Just north of Nicasio Reservoir is Fairlea Ranch, [1], where pedigree longhorn cattle are raised. The most significant non-agricultural business within Nicasio is George Lucas’ Skywalker Ranch, a part of Lucasfilm Ltd. Population estimates for the area range from about 600 to about 900 people. According to a 2004 Forbes Magazine real estate survey, Nicasio is the 23rd most expensive zip code in the US.

Centrally located in this area is the small village of Nicasio itself. The village is in area code 415. The town center has a post office (zip code 94946), a general store, a tiny real estate office, St. Mary’s Church (established in 1867), a baseball field located in the town square, Rancho Nicasio, which is a bar/restaurant/live music establishment, a Druid's Hall, as well as a number of private homes. The town was founded in the early 19th century to support local agricultural, timber, and fishing activities. The town once boasted the twenty-two room Hotel Nicasio, which opened in 1867 but burned down in December 1940. Just north of town on Nicasio Valley Road is a beautiful red-painted one-room schoolhouse that opened in 1871. The building is currently a listed historical landmark. The Nicasio post office opened in 1871, closed in 1899, and re-opened in 1900.[4]

A detailed history of the region was published in 2008. The book is titled: Nicasio; The Historic Valley at the Center of Marin, and was written by Dewey Livingston. It is available from the Nicasio Historical Society, P.O. Box 111, Nicasio, CA, 94946.

Geography

Nicasio is located at geographical coordinates 38° 3′ 43" N 122° 41′ 55" W.[2]

Demographics

The 2010 United States Census[5] reported that Nicasio village had a population of 96. The population density was 73.6 people per square mile (28.4/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 97.9% White and 2.1% African American. 7.3% of the population was Hispanic or Latino of any race.

The Census reported that 100% of the population lived in households.

There were 35 households, out of which 15 (42.9%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 19 (54.3%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 6 (17.1%) had a female householder with no husband present, 3 (8.6%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 2 (5.7%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 0 (0%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 6 households (17.1%) were made up of individuals and 4 (11.4%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.74. There were 28 families (80.0% of all households); the average family size was 3.07.

The population was spread out with 28 people (29.2%) under the age of 18, 5 people (5.2%) aged 18 to 24, 21 people (21.9%) aged 25 to 44, 29 people (30.2%) aged 45 to 64, and 13 people (13.5%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42.5 years. For every 100 females there were 113.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.9 males.

There were 41 housing units at an average density of 31.4 per square mile (12.1/km²), of which 80.0% were owner-occupied, and 20.0% were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 0%; the rental vacancy rate was 12.5%. 81.3% of the population lived in owner-occupied housing units and 18.8% lived in rental housing units.

Notable residents

Thomas Wood, famous landscape painter and muralist, grandson of Gottardo Piazzoni, world famous muralist  José Calistro  Jerry Garcia, guitarist for the Grateful Dead, at time of his death in August 1995  Peggy Rathmann, writer of Caldecott Medal‐winning Officer Buckle and Gloria  George Lucas 

Filming location

The People (1972), made‐for‐TV movie starring William Shatner. Locations include St. Mary's Church and the town square. 

Shoot the Moon (1982), starring Albert Finney and Diane Keaton.  Village of the Damned (1995), locations including Nicasio School and homes and regions in Nicasio. 

Politics

In the state legislature Nicasio is located in the 3rd Senate District, represented by Democrat Mark Leno, and in the 6th Assembly District, represented by Democrat Jared Huffman. Federally, Nicasio is located in California's 6th congressional district, represented by Democrat Lynn Woolsey.

References

1. ^ U.S. Census 2. ^ a b c d U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Nicasio, California 3. ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Nicasio, California 4. ^ a b Durham, David L. (1998). California's Geographic Names: A Gazetteer of Historic and Modern Names of the 

State. Quill Driver Books. p. 672. ISBN 9781884995149. 5. ^ All data are derived from the United States Census Bureau reports from the 2010 United States Census, and 

are accessible on‐line here. The data on unmarried partnerships and same‐sex married couples are from the Census report DEC_10_SF1_PCT15. All other housing and population data are from Census report DEC_10_DP_DPDP1. Both reports are viewable online or downloadable in a zip file containing a comma‐delimited data file. The area data, from which densities are calculated, are available on‐line here. Percentage totals may not add to 100% due to rounding. The Census Bureau defines families as a household containing one or more people related to the householder by birth, opposite‐sex marriage, or adoption. People living in group quarters are tabulated by the Census Bureau as neither owners nor renters. For further details, see the text files accompanying the data files containing the Census reports mentioned above. 

External links

Nicasio Community Website 

 

HISTORY OF NICASIO, CA

You Say Ni-kash’-oh, I Say Ni-kah’-see-oh

February 3rd, 2010

Actually, I say ni-kash’-oh and find myself cringing whenever I hear the latter, ni-kah’-see-oh. As if this mispronunciation weren’t pretentious enough, it is often those who say “ni-kah’-see-oh” who feel compelled to correct–almost as if they were embarrassed for me, the author who can’t pronounce the name of the town about which she wrote! For shame. After recently perusing Charles Elster’s Big Book of Beastly Mispronunciations, now in its second edition, I felt inspired to set the record straight.

First, since my family arrived in Nicasio in 1901, they have known no other pronunciation–that is until recent years, and mostly from out-of-towners (probably the same folks who think Lucas Valley Road was named for George Lucas, but I digress). My grandmother always believed that the Indian for whom the town was named would never have pronounced his name ni-kah’-see-oh. I tend to agree.

You see, this is Indian territory. Nicasio was once home to the Coast Miwok village of Echatamal and likely named for the Tamal Indian and alcalde, Guequistabal, who according to records at Mission Dolores was baptized as Nicasio (for St. Nicasius) in 1802. Would he have oh-so-delicately introduced himself as ni-kah’-see-oh? I think not.

In my quest for a definitive answer, and accepting that, perhaps, I come from a long line of illiterate buffoons, I checked with local historian, Dewey Livingston, who confirmed that ni-kash’-oh is historically the correct pronunciation. In addition to my grandmother’s observation, he also points to older publications which frequently misspelled the town’s name as Nicassio, supporting at least phonetically it was more likely being pronounced “sh” than not. Lending further credence to this thesis, 1000 California Place Names: Their Origin and Meaning (1959) cites “ni-kash’-oh” as the only pronunciation.

So there.

With so many California towns derived from Spanish names, the confusion is understandable. Plus for many years, this Marin County hamlet was largely off the radar until it was discovered by cyclists and other outdoor enthusiasts, bringing a large influx of tourists (large compared to the modest number of residents). It’s no wonder the name is slowly evolving into something it never was–many have lost sight of how much here is named for the Native Americans too. So, it’s up to you–say ni-kah’-see-oh, ya know, ‘cuz all the cool kids are doing it, or help preserve the historical integrity of this town and it’s name, Ni-kash’-oh.

Map provided courtesy of the Anne T. Kent California Room Collection, Marin County Free Library.

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Nicasio Hotel

October 18th, 2008

In 1867, William J. Miller built the Nicasio Hotel, a deluxe 22 room, three story hotel. The price tag, including furnishings: $11,000. The grand hotel drew a fashionable clientele from San Francisco who rode the train to San Geronimo. Greeted by Hiram Taft they arrived in town via stage. Many of these people were drawn by Nicasio’s racetrack as well as its bountiful hunting and fishing opportunities.

The hotel played host to an array of folks and was a center of social life in Nicasio. In its prime, people socialized at dances held in the ballroom, which were usually followed by a midnight supper. It was also frequently the reception hall for nuptials held at St. Mary’s Church across the square.

Over the years, the hotel management changed hands numerous times. From 1910-1915, my grandfather, Gus Lafranchi, was at the reigns. During this time my grandmother, Mary Lafranchi, was responsible for cleaning all twenty-two rooms plus cooking for the farm hands who would come to eat at the hotel’s restaurant.

In the years before prohibition, the hotel’s bar was a profitable venture, but time was taking its toll. By 1940, the hotel had lost most of its luster, and as a final blow, on December 15 of that year, the Nicasio Hotel was leveled by a fire. Apparently ignited by a burning cigarette left unattended on the bar, onlookers watched helplessly at the devastating inferno. This rare photo of the burning structure was taken by Vernon “Doc” Smith.

Today the Rancho Nicasio stands in its place.

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Old St. Mary’s Church

July 20th, 2008

Facing the town square, St. Mary’s Church has greeted Nicasio visitors for more than a century and has been a favorite subject of photographers and artists for nearly as long. Built in 1867, the church was constructed from locally milled redwood at a cost of $3,000 – money that was raised by the townspeople. Nicasio pioneer William J. Miller donated the land, deeding it to Archbishop Joseph S. Alemany, who dedicated the church in October 1867. The belfry holds a Sheffield bell cast in England in 1858 and obtained from the Sonoma Mission “San Francisco Solano de Sonoma.” Inside, handsome redwood pews form a path to the altar which was designed by James A. Magee, a San Geronimo architect. Statues adorning either side were donated by parishioners in memory of lost loved ones.

Father Harrington of Petaluma was installed as the first pastor, riding on horseback to Nicasio for services. The church became a mission of the Sausalito parish and later a mission of the Olema parish, along with St. Cecilia’s in Lagunitas. At some point in the 1940s, the church adopted the name “Our Lady of Lorretto,” possibly because a Novato parish of the same name served St. Mary’s for a period.

The turnover of governing parishes brought a flux of priests to St. Mary’s; however, a handful do stand out. Among the more memorable was Father Leo Taeyaerts, who because no one could pronounce his name was known simply as “Father Leo.” Father Leo was a Sacred Heart missionary from Belgium who arrived in the teens and served the parish for approximately 20 years. In 1952, Father John Connery arrived, serving the community for 25 years. It was through his good offices that the church land was augmented 1957 when the Redding family donated additional land on the north side of the church. Father Timothy J. Monahan left his mark too by successfully having the church’s original name, St. Mary’s, restored.

On Christmas Day 1921, a wind storm toppled the steeple and knocked the church off its foundation. Aside from the storm repairs, the church remained otherwise unaltered until a number of improvements were

performed in 1958 by local carpenters Joseph Dentoni, Sr. and Henry Beneken. Their work included the addition of a front porch to provide weather protection for the original redwood doors, along with a new roof.

For the majority of Nicasio families, St. Mary’s Church has been an integral part of the community, many of whom received their first sacrament here. Throughout the years, St. Mary’s has remained a remained a Bay Area favorite for nuptials, with the Nicasio town square providing the ideal backdrop.

In 1967, at 100 years of age, St. Mary’s Church was declared a historical monument by the Native Sons and Daughters of the Golden West, an event celebrated with much fanfare. The bronze plaque installed in front notes the church’s dedication by Archbishop Joseph Alemany.

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Agostino “Gus” Lafranchi

June 25th, 2008

Agostino “Gus” Lafranchi, originally from Coglio, Switzerland, first arrived in Nicasio in 1901 at the age of seventeen. His mother, Maria Lafranchi, and sister, Linda Marioni, had already established themselves in town as operators of Marioni’s Resort and the American Exchange. By 1903, a young man in search of adventure, he took off with some friends for the Klondike, hoping to stake a claim. With a handful of gold nuggets in his pocket, he returned to California where he set up an Italian grocery store in Sausalito. This is where he met his future bride, Mary Canepa. By 1910, he returned to Nicasio where he bought a five year lease on the Nicasio Hotel.

When his lease on the hotel ended, he bought a house on the town square and converted part of it into a small saloon, the Nicasio Exchange. He also ran a trucking business out of the adjacent barn. In 1920, the bar was closed because of Prohibition, but he continued with his trucking business until 1925. In 1927, when Nicasio pioneer Frank Rodgers decided to relocate, Gus bought the Rodgers’ store, which included the local post office as well as the town’s magneto telephone exchange. Gus continued to run the store until his untimely death in 1942.

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Welcome!

June 23rd, 2008

Situated in the geographic center of Marin County, Nicasio was home to the Coast Miwok village of Echatamal and likely named for a Tamal Indian and alcalde, Guequistabal, who was baptized as Nicasio at Mission Dolores in 1802. As European settlers arrived, many established themselves as dairy ranchers and timbermen. Soon a town square began to take shape, complete with a merchandise store, a butcher shop, two saloons, a racetrack, a livery stable, a Catholic church, and a luxurious three-story hotel. These pioneers aspired to make Nicasio the county seat, a bid that was ultimately lost by a single vote in 1863. The land reserved for civic buildings was repurposed as a baseball diamond, which at one time hosted semipro games and continues to serve local little leaguers. The Rancho Nicasio now stands in place of the hotel, yet the town otherwise appears untarnished by time. Not surprisingly, a number of residents have roots tracing back to Nicasio’s founders, with newcomers drawn to its pastoral charm and a lifestyle in deep contrast to that of nearby San Francisco.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0738558028/techgrrlsonlineb

Source: http://nicasiohistory.com/