SPRING VALLEY RANCH, CITRUS GROVE TERRACES...

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WRITTEN HISTORICAL AND DESCRIPTIVE DATA

FIELD RECORDS

HALS CA-103HALS CA-103

SPRING VALLEY RANCH, CITRUS GROVE TERRACES(Joel Parker Whitney Ranch)Near the intersection of Whitney Ranch Parkway and Pioneer WayLincolnPlacer CountyCalifornia

HISTORIC AMERICAN LANDSCAPES SURVEYPACIFIC WEST REGIONAL OFFICE

National Park ServiceU.S. Department of the Interior

333 Bush StreetSan Francisco, CA 94104

HISTORIC AMERICAN LANDSCAPES SURVEY

SPRING VALLEY RANCH, CITRUS GROVE TERRACES (Joel Parker Whitney Ranch)

HALS No. CA-103

Location: Placer County, California. The citrus grove terraces are located within the limits of the City of

Lincoln and near the City of Rocklin, in Placer County, California. As of the date of the preparation of this documentation; they are within open space approximately 0.25 mile north of the intersection of Whitney Ranch Parkway and Pioneer Way in a rural landscape between developed residential neighborhoods to the north and south. They are immediately adjacent to the northwestern side of Clover Valley.

Specifically, the citrus grove terraces are located in Township 12 North,

Range 7 East, in the northwestern quarter of the southeastern quarter of Section 31, USGS 7.5 minute Rocklin, California Quadrangle, 1981.

The citrus grove terraces area is defined by two distinct areas: (1) the

terraced knoll; and (2) the hillside terraces, which are both described in detail in Part II. The hillside terraces are located on the southern slope of a south-facing hill, with some terraces oriented facing west. The terraced knoll is located below and adjacent to the southwestern side of the hillside terraces.

Present Owner: The citrus grove terraces are partially owned by Westpark LR, LLC and

the Western Placer Education Foundation. Westpark LR, LLC owns a portion of the terraced knoll to the west and Western Placer Education Foundation owns the remainder of the terraced knoll and all of the citrus grove terraces to the east.

Present Use: The citrus grove terraces are currently not occupied and contain no

building improvements. The land that contains the citrus grove terraces is utilized occasionally for sheep grazing and outdoor educational purposes.

Significance: The citrus grove terraces are associated with Joel Parker Whitney

(Whitney) and are historically located within the boundaries of the Spring Valley Ranch. The citrus grove terraces were used by Whitney as a navel orange grove and adjacent land was used as a grapevine vineyard, which together comprised the primary orchard within his Spring Valley Ranch property. The citrus grove terraces were crucial for Whitney to capitalize on the warm temperatures of the thermal belt and grow an abundance of his famous navel oranges. Utilizing the citrus grove terraces, Whitney’s


HALS No. CA-103 (Page 2)

interests grew and he significantly contributed to the agricultural and economic growth of Placer County and surrounding towns including Rocklin, Loomis, Penryn, Newcastle, and Lincoln. The financial and agricultural investments Whitney had in Placer County, in particular, the benefit he gained from the citrus grove terraces, helped the county to be a leader in citrus and other agricultural production in the state. Therefore, the citrus grove terraces are evaluated as eligible for the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) under Criteria A and B. The original evaluation placed the overall landscape identified with agriculture and ranching in California with the period of significance between 1850 and 1945. The citrus grove terraces, which are part of that larger landscape, have a more focused period of significance between 1884 and 1913, which is the period Whitney cultivated oranges on his ranch, specifically the citrus grove terraces, until he died.

Historian: Jeremy Adams, M.A., Architectural Historian ECORP Consulting, Inc. 2525 Warren Drive Rocklin, California 95677 August 2014 Part I. Historical Information A. Physical History

1. Dates of Establishment: It is unknown exactly when the citrus grove terraces were cut, when orange trees were planted, and by whom this work was done. Historical records, newspaper articles, and accounts of the property, in addition to information related to the practice of terracing, suggests that the citrus grove terraces were developed in the mid-1880s under the direction of Joel Parker Whitney.

Whitney was a very intelligent horticulturist with years of experience growing fruits and other orchard crops all over California. Whitney had vast knowledge of irrigation techniques and was aware of the thermal belt, which produced ideal temperatures for the cultivation of citrus fruits, and which traveled through a portion of his Spring Valley Ranch in Placer County. Through his world travels and personal interest in irrigation techniques, Whitney clearly understood the benefits that properly terraced and irrigated orchards could provide to his crops. The citrus grove terraces are intertwined within a network of irrigation ditches that branch off of main irrigation ditches that Whitney was invested in. Apart from his knowledge and expertise, terracing a landscape was a significant financial investment that Whitney was easily capable of orchestrating. The act of developing terraces, to the extent on the Spring Valley Ranch, required many laborers utilizing modern technologies for the



time and employing techniques known only to horticulture experts of the era. Therefore, Whitney is one of a few individuals who had the capability to develop the land in this way in Placer County, and he was the only individual who actually owned the property and developed all around it during the 1880s.

The best factual historical accounts come from Whitney’s raisin and orange sale records. Whitney initially developed grape vineyards for the sale of raisins in the 1870s, which expanded significantly and became his primary agricultural investment during that time.

Raisin sales first began to decrease by 1884 and by 1887 the first accounts of Whitney’s

orange sales begin to appear. Whitney had multiple orange groves on the ranch, so it is still unclear whether the terraces were in place by the mid-1880s. An article about activities in the foothills in the Sacramento Daily Union in December 1887 indicated that Whitney was clearing large tracts of land in preparation for planting citrus trees. That same year, Whitney made his first profit by selling large quantities of his oranges to the east coast, thus indicating the orange groves had expanded to a significant size and begun bearing fruit. In addition, Whitney had begun to advertise and promote the great potential of citrus growing along the thermal belt right around the late 1880s. In his advertisements, he often boasted of his own extensive orange groves. Therefore, historical accounts, newspaper articles, records, and knowledge of the practice of terracing all indicate that the citrus grove terraces were constructed under the direction and financing of Whitney between 1884 and 1887, and were likely completed by 1887.

After it was established, the citrus grove terraces were a significant contributor to

Whitney’s prosperous citrus business through the 1890s. Whitney won several awards for his navel oranges at local and state fairs during this period. Whitney was also responsible for establishing the Placer County Citrus Colony, which put citrus growing as one of the top markets for Placer County agriculture. Whitney’s orange grove at the location of the citrus grove terraces is identified on every county and local horticulture map from the late 1880s to the early 1900s. The size of the orchard vastly exceeds that of most other groves in the vicinity for those decades.

The citrus grove terraces with orange trees appears to have been abandoned

simultaneously with decreased citrus sales correlating to Whitney’s passing in the early 1900s. Though the property was inherited by Whitney’s children, it was eventually sold off in parcels. From around the time of Whitney’s death, no further records indicate the use or cultivation of oranges from the once prosperous citrus grove terraces. Currently, only a handful of orange trees still exist on the property (germinating from root stock), though the citrus grove terraces have clearly not been properly maintained or cultivated for many decades.

2. Builders: No records available indicate, with certainty, the designer of the citrus grove

terraces. Whitney is historically credited with the concept of constructing the citrus grove terraces on the ranch. Whitney had the experience and knowledge necessary for the concept of the terraces so it is likely that Whitney conceived of the idea.



Whitney repeatedly hired Chinese laborers to work at the Spring Valley Ranch. Chinese laborers were hired by Whitney to expand old mining ditches, build the network of roads on the ranch, construct granite bridges, and even work the grain fields. Therefore, it is likely Chinese laborers, along with the assistance of local knowledgeable ranchers, also built the terraces under Whitney’s direction. Although there are several accounts of Native Americans interacting with Whitney, there are no accounts of Whitney hiring the Native Americans as paid labor for any project on the ranch.

B. Historical Context: The citrus grove terraces are historically connected with the growth of Placer County’s agriculture, and in particular, its citrus industry. The significance of that historical connection is specifically derived from its association with prominent historical figure Joel Parker Whitney. In order to fully realize the significance of the vast citrus grove terraced landscape to the agricultural industry of the county at the time, it is important to understand the context with which this landscape was developed. In particular, the historical context of the citrus grove terraces as it relates to Whitney and his enormous contributions to historic Rocklin and Placer County.

1. Placer County History: Placer County was formed in 1851 from parts of Sutter and

Yuba Counties. The principal economic activity in much of the county at the time of its formation was placer gold mining; hence the name. The Gold Rush brought thousands of people to Placer County in hopes of striking it rich in the gold fields. The town of Auburn grew primarily around the gold industry and acted as a central hub between Sacramento and the gold fields of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Despite gold acting as the initial force of growth for the county, the dominant economic force for the majority of Placer County’s history is agriculture and ranching. The valley portion of western Placer County was the primary location of sheep and cattle ranches for the county. In addition, fruit and citrus trees, as well as the cultivation of wheat, were significant economic foundations for the growth of the county. 1

The town of Rocklin ultimately took root when the Central Pacific Railroad established a station with a roundhouse and shops at this location in the 1860s. The principal economic activity around Rocklin, specifically, was granite quarrying. Demand for granite during the late 1800s was very high and Rocklin was eager to supply. With the railroad station in Rocklin, granite quarries easily shipped their product to growing Sacramento and other cities in need of the dense rock. Granite from one of the main quarry’s in Rocklin was used to build the State Capitol building in Sacramento. The railroad in Rocklin ultimately served multiple purposes in addition to shipping granite. Placer County’s agricultural industries boomed after the establishment of the railroad station in Rocklin and continued to grow as new shipping food preservation technologies were established. It was during this period of new technologies and high use of the railroad that Placer County

1 Thomas Thompson and Albert West, History of Placer County, California with Illustrations and biographical Sketches of its Prominent Men and Pioneers. (Oakland: Thompson & West, 1882), 95.



agriculture took central stage as the economic center of the county’s growth. Demand for granite and agriculture declined, however, in the early twentieth century along with the nationwide economic depression and the railroad maintenance yards were moved to Roseville in 1906. Though the change of the railroad yards occurred simultaneously with an economic depression, it ultimately did not mean the end of Placer County agriculture, but instead the county is still known for its deciduous fruits, citrus, and other grown products.2

2. Joel Parker Whitney: Born on June 27, 1835 in Gardner, Massachusetts, Whitney

became one of the most important figures in Placer County, California during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.3 As the fifth of six sons of prominent New England businessman George Whitney, Whitney inherited an entrepreneurial mindset from his father. From the time he was a child, Whitney and his brothers accompanied his father on lengthy business trips across New England and to many of the Eastern states, and on occasion to Texas and the Ohio Valley. Through these trips, Whitney gained an interest in travel and an eagerness to venture west. When James Marshall discovered gold in 1848 along the American River in Coloma, California, a new opportunity to find fortune was sparked. From 1848 to 1849, Whitney’s three oldest brothers travelled west to California, one by one, to take part in the Gold Rush.4 After surveying California, the three brothers decided to follow in their father’s footsteps, rather than pursue gold in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, and together, set up a mercantile shop in San Francisco.5

In 1852, at age seventeen, Whitney arrived in San Francisco. After a 142-day trip that took him around Cape Horn, Whitney temporarily joined his brothers in San Francisco. While there, Whitney borrowed a five dollar gold piece from his brothers and headed for the gold fields. It was on his travels to the foothills of the Sierra Nevada that Whitney first saw the potential of the lower Placer County, where he later established his Spring Valley Ranch. After a few months in the Placer County mines, Whitney decided that there was no easy fortune to be found there and returned to San Francisco to join his brothers. Whitney learned of the high demand for fish and game in San Francisco and started a brief hunting business in the San Francisco Bay Area. Whitney eventually decided that fortune lay in commerce, not in hunting, and subsequently opened a shipping business, independent of his brothers. Whitney’s shipping business led him to his first fortune.6

In the early 1850s, California was a developing region with thousands of people flooding in annually without proper industry to support their needs. Through Whitney’s travels in San Francisco and the gold fields of the Sierra Nevada, he saw the need for numerous consumer goods that were not available in California. After setting up an office in Boston

2 Roy Rukala, “History,” Rocklin Chamber of Commerce, http://www.rocklinchamber.com/live_and_work/history.aspx (accessed March 17, 2014). 3 Warren Hinckle, J. Parker Whitney: Frontier Conservationist and Versatile Man of the West. (San Francisco: Argonaut Press, 1993), 9. 4 Ibid., 10. 5 Ibid. 6 Ibid., 11.

http://www.rocklinchamber.com/live_and_work/history.aspx



where goods were cheap and readily available, Whitney travelled regularly to San Francisco, where he observed regional needs, offered supplies, and met demands. The items were shipped from Boston to San Francisco where they were sold for large profits.7 During this period Whitney traveled back and forth between San Francisco and Boston, but made his home primarily in Boston. On April 1, 1859, as his shipping business was booming, Whitney joined the Boston Independence Corps of Cadets, which was a branch of the United States military. Following the outbreak of the Civil War in 1861, Whitney was called to service for a three-week duty in May 1862. He did not participate in any war action during his first round of military service. Whitney was again called to action in early 1865, fighting with Company F of the 2nd Regiment of the Massachusetts Volunteers under the rank of Captain for three months.8

In 1865, Whitney settled in Colorado. During the Civil War years, Whitney’s mercantile business boomed and he drastically increased his fortune. Feeling the need to do something new, he sold his assets and left Boston for Denver, Colorado, where there had been discussion of gold discovery. While in Denver, Whitney took up the hobby of ore collecting and traveled to the regions numerous mines to purchase gold nuggets. Whitney soon assembled a large collection of ore examples, and after he had them tested, he discovered that these pieces contained a higher amount of silver than gold. Subsequently, Whitney published a 107-page booklet titled Silver Mining Regions of Colorado. While this publication had its detractors, skeptical of the regions silver mining possibilities, it played a significant role in attracting settlers to Colorado. Seeing the regions silver mining potential, Whitney established the Bullion Mining Company of Boston and invested heavily, which further increased his fortune.9 To help bolster immigration to the Territory of Colorado, Whitney traveled to Paris, France to show off the 2,500 piece ore collection at the Paris Universal Exposition of 1867. As a representative of the American West, his exhibit became one of the most popular at the exhibition, attracting dignitaries such as Emperor Napoleon III and Charles Dickens. The Colorado Territory experienced noticeable growth subsequent to both Whitney’s Parisian exhibit and the publication of Silver Mining Regions of Colorado. Within fifteen years of his investment in the silver mines of Colorado, Whitney was bringing in more than one-million dollars in revenue annually. While his time in Colorado was brief, Whitney increased his fortunes dramatically and played an important role in the development of the territory.10

Whitney married Lucy Chadwick in London in 1878. Following his experience in Paris, Whitney traveled to Europe frequently and took a particular affinity with English culture, which he later brought with him to his Spring Valley Ranch. Through his travels around England, active social life, and interest in horse breeding, Whitney was introduced to Lucy, the daughter of well-respected Shire horse breeder John Chadwick. The couple

7 Ibid., 12. 8 Richard Miller, Fortune Built By Gun: The Joel Parker Whitney Story (Walnut Grove: The Mansion Publishing Company, 1969), 16. 9 Ibid., 19-29. 10 Hinckle, J. Parker Whitney, 13.



moved to the Spring Valley Ranch soon after their marriage, but Whitney continued to pursue interests in other regions.11

Subsequent to his success in Colorado, Whitney took part in a number of ventures across the West. One of the most notable of these endeavors was his involvement in the reclamation projects of the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta in the early 1870s. Whitney was largely responsible for the reclamation of Roberts Island, which he hoped would develop into an agricultural region. At this same time, the entrepreneurial Whitney was continuing to oversee the operations of the Bullion Mining Company of Boston and investing heavily in the New York Stock Exchange.12 In the early 1880s, while he was building his newly inherited Spring Valley Ranch, Whitney looked to further increase his holdings through investments in the Territory of New Mexico. To do this he formed the Bonanza Development Company and began to purchase Mexican land grants. In 1881, Whitney purchased the Santa Rita Copper Mines, which had historically supplied Mexican mints with copper. Life in the unsettled Territory of New Mexico was dangerous, with bands of Apache Indians and white bandits, and in 1887, the millionaire businessman sold his holdings in New Mexico. The Santa Rita Copper Mines were sold to Phoebe Hearst, prominent philanthropist, suffragist, and mother of newspaperman William Randolph Hearst, and the railroad that Whitney built to support his holdings was sold to the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe. Whitney moved back to his Spring Valley Ranch, where he would develop his agricultural interests.13

3. Spring Valley Ranch: The citrus grove terraces, which are the focus of this

documentation, are located within the historical boundaries of the Spring Valley Ranch. Whitney’s Spring Valley Ranch, also called the Whitney Ranch or “the ranch,” was historically situated in the southern part of Placer County. The ranch was set in a picturesque area of the foothills with multiple valleys, sizeable oak trees, numerous granite outcroppings, and spectacular views. At the height of development of the ranch, it contained Whitney’s primary residence “The Oaks,” a beautiful carriage ride with miles of roads, several groves, wheat cultivation fields, and vineyards, and a massive sheep raising operation.

The inception of Whitney’s Spring Valley Ranch began in 1854, when George Whitney followed his sons to California. After arriving in San Francisco, George Whitney noted that there was a need for good quality wool and mutton. In discussion with his sons, George Whitney decided that importing quality breeds of sheep from the East Coast and Australia could lead to a profitable business. In 1857, Whitney Ranch was established when George Whitney purchased a 320 acre parcel of land in what became Rocklin, California to support his newly established sheep business.14 George Whitney first imported 120 pure Saxony sheep from Australia at the cost of over $50 each. Initially, the total estimate of his wool product was 300,000 pounds. Over the years, as the sheep bred,

11 Ibid., 14. 12 Miller, Fortune Built By Gun, 65-77. 13 Hinckle, J. Parker Whitney, 14-15. 14 Thompson and West, History of Placer County, 246.



the Whitney family gradually increased their landholdings and stock. Though Whitney was primarily located in Boston and not on the ranch himself at this time, he assisted his father and brothers by providing them with financial support and assisting in the importing of sheep. George Whitney retired from the business in 1868 and in 1872, F.L. Whitney sold the last of his interests to his brother, J. Parker. It was not until 1873, following George Whitney’s death, that Whitney took entire control of the Ranch. Eventually, by 1876, the sheep from Whitney’s ranch produced the maximum allowable amount of wool by the State at 56,550,000 pounds. Once the wool business and venture in sheep hit the maximum, Whitney sought other avenues to increase his wealth.15 The Spring Valley Ranch grew to exceed a reported 20,000 acres; approximately 18,200 total acres with an additional area of about 3,100 acres that Whitney incorporated into the Placer County Citrus Colony. The ranch was about seven miles long at its widest part and was specifically located between Rocklin and Lincoln, also containing large areas in Roseville.16 The Southern Pacific Railroad conveniently bordered and crossed portions of the eastern extent of the ranch as it traveled from Rocklin to Newcastle, and an additional rail-line traveled through the western portion of the ranch connecting with Lincoln to the north. The ranch contained diverse types of land including rolling hills to the west, multiple valleys separated by canyons and ridges. The ridges were classified as the “scab” lands due to the numerous quantities of granite rocks, arid infertile conditions, and shallow soil which made it difficult for cultivation. The “scab” lands, however, did contain abundant native grasses and clovers which provided vast pasture lands for sheep.17 Whitney had plans to develop the land for multiple agricultural purposes and, with his vast experience with irrigation, he knew the first step was to develop an adequate water supply. In 1871, Whitney initiated the process of bringing a permanent water supply to the ranch by utilizing existing mining ditches. He secured rights-of-way for canals and ditches and that same year expanded those ditch networks throughout the ranch. Though it took several years, the irrigation water supply to the ranch began to adequately meet demands. Eventually, by 1888, Whitney had begun construction of a reservoir on Douglass Hill with a capacity of approximately 10,000,000 gallons of water, and another reservoir within the ranch on the hill above the vineyard with the capacity of more than 25,000,000 gallons. Upon completion of his irrigation network, Whitney had constructed several miles of irrigation ditches winding throughout the ranch, drawing water as necessary from the massive reservoirs.18

With the first development of moderate irrigation ditches to supply water, Whitney began to increase the size of the agricultural operations for the ranch. In 1872, Whitney planted 1,200 acres of grain in an area of the ranch just below Lincoln, adjacent to the Central Pacific Railroad. Grain was cultivated and large amounts of hay was cut and bailed and

15 Miller, Fortune Built By Gun, 11-14. 16 Thompson and West, History of Placer County, 246-248. 17 Miller, Fortune Built By Gun, 163. 18 Ibid., 165-166.



sold from the ranch to nearby towns and the railroad companies. By 1875, it was estimated that Whitney had begun to cultivate approximately 8,000 acres of grain land on the ranch. That number decreased by 1882, when accounts were reduced to 4,000 acres of grain growing land under cultivation. The decrease in grain and hay production likely coincided with the increase in the development of his horticulture operations.19

Whitney first planted 250 acres of grape vines at the northeastern portion of the ranch in 1874. Unlike the grapes of the nearby counties, Whitney’s grapes were designed to produce raisins rather than wine. Whitney established the California Raisin Company in 1875 with N.P. Cole, F.S. Chadbourne, S.J. Merrill, and B.P. Moore by filing Articles of Incorporation. The goal of the California Raisin Company was to cultivate and cure, market, and sell the raisins. The company’s initial capital stock was $40,000, which was divided into 400 shares.20 By 1877, Whitney had successfully shipped his first full carload of raisins to Europe. During the 1880s, Whitney made several trips to Europe, particularly Spain, to learn the methods of processing grapes. Over time, however, Whitney discovered that competing with the cheaper agricultural labor in Europe at the time was a losing venture. Throughout the 1880s Whitney slowly began plowing over his vineyards and by 1888 Whitney had replaced most of the vineyards with oranges.21

Also located on the ranch was a convenient shipping station located on the Southern Pacific Railroad main line between Roseville and Lincoln. Whitney Station, as it was called, allowed Whitney to ship grain, produce, and livestock from the Ranch without even needing to transfer those resources to the local city stations. During the period when Whitney was highly involved in horse breeding, he had purebred Shire and Clydesdale horses shipped from England to his ranch. These horses were likely delivered to the ranch via Whitney Station. Whitney Station was eventually abandoned after the advent of the truck made the station unnecessary.22

The ranch was specifically designed by Whitney, who enjoyed English culture, to represent a classic English estate. The ranch was complete with Whitney’s mansion “The Oaks,” a golf course, and a long series of roads which traveled throughout the scenic property.23 “Whitney’s residence, “The Oaks,” was originally constructed in 1884 on a large knoll overlooking much of the ranch property. It was an extravagant mansion built almost entirely of redwood and was surrounded by vast lawns with nearby stables and tennis courts. The mansion was connected to the entire property by over twenty-five miles of roads. The main road traveled from Rocklin to the main headquarters of the

19 Rocklin Historical Society, Echo in Spring Valley: A History of Sunset, California (Rocklin: Rocklin Historical Society, 1994), 19-20. 20 Information, “The California Raisin Company,” Daily Alta California, February 4, 1875. 21 Thompson and West, History of Placer County, 247. 22 Miller, Fortune Built By Gun, 184-186. 23 Runnels Stateler, Spring Valley Ranch of J.P. Whitney, 1889, The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley.



ranch, then through the vineyards up to the moor and out to Penryn. Along the main road of the ranch were twelve granite bridges that crossed the creeks on the property.24 Whitney employed approximately 200 ranch hands and up to 1,000 Chinese laborers to construct the roads, bridges, fences, and many other facilities within the ranch. Whitney often entertained guests by taking them on horse-drawn carriage rides along the “8-Mile Drive” through the ranch. The “8-Mile Drive” traveled across twelve granite bridges which crossed the creeks on the main road from Rocklin to the headquarters of the ranch, through the vineyard and orange groves, and around the back of the ranch. The twelve granite bridges symbolize Whitney’s vast wealth and love for English culture. Several of the granite bridges have keystone arches and were beautifully constructed to mimic stone bridges often found in the English countryside. The most symbolic of the bridges is the Clover Valley Bridge, often viewed as the centerpiece of the modern day Clover Valley Park in Rocklin. It is possibly the largest of the twelve bridges and was likely constructed using granite quarried from the Griffith Quarry in Penryn. Though not all twelve bridges are still visible in today’s landscape; their popularity and symbolic representation of the history of the area led to the naming of the Twelve Bridges Master Planned community.25 In addition to entertaining guests through carriage rides across granite bridges, Whitney entertained through sports such as English style fox hunts, golf, tennis, and cricket. Whitney built a nine-hole golf course on the ranch in 1890, which was still used long after his death. In 1896 he organized a cricket club and entertained croquet, badminton, and other English style lawn games. Even state-wide tennis championships were held on his tennis courts at the ranch.26

Ultimately, the Spring Valley Ranch was a magnificent and lavish property that could be described as a culmination of Whitney’s English-desired lifestyle and economic and social contributions to Placer County.

4. Placer County Fruit: Citrus fruit had been grown in Placer County, particularly the

foothill regions, for years prior to the 1880s. Early success of the county’s fruit growers is primarily due to the existence of the thermal belt. The thermal belt in Placer County produces a yearly high mean temperature which assists successful citrus and other fruit cultivation. Though freezing temperatures occasionally occur, frosts have historically not been substantial enough to significantly harm citrus trees in the area. According to an 1888 publication from Resources of California, as the sun sets and the air grows cold, the heavier cooler air sinks to the valleys while the warmer air rises to the hillsides. Early fruit growers utilized the warmer air from the thermal belt for the successful cultivation of their fruit and citrus crops along the hillsides of Placer County.27

24 Harry Butler, J. Parker Whitney Ranche, Placer County, California and a Few Anecdotes (California: Placer County Historical Society, 1952). 25 Day, Gary. “Where are the Twelve Bridges?” Rocklin Historical Society. http://www.rocklinhistory.org/history_series/Where%20are%20the%20Twelve%20Bridges.pdf (accessed April 4, 2014). 26 Miller, Fortune Built By Gun, 196-199. 27 Unknown author, “The Thermal Belt,´ Resources of California, July, 1888, 10-11.

http://www.rocklinhistory.org/history_series/Where%20are%20the%20Twelve%20Bridges.pdf



The earliest recorded plantings of citrus trees in the county were in the 1860s. Moses Andrews, an early settler and rancher of the county, planted the first orange tree in Placer County in 1860. The tree planted by Andrews is said to have taken eleven years before it grew its first oranges. By 1866, the surveyor-general’s report of agricultural production listed thirty-five orange trees in Placer County; this was an unsubstantial quantity and likely consisted of only small family owned orchards. 28

Eventually, the introduction of the Central Pacific Railroad into the county allowed ranchers an easily available means of selling and marketing their fruit product. The Central Pacific Railroad entered southern Placer County in 1864 and by 1886 the success of the railroads allowed them flexibility to lower their transportation fees. When the railroad lowered its costs, the fruit industry in Placer County greatly increased from the newly found profits. Several other advancements in the 1880s helped increase the fruit industry during that decade. New forms of irrigation encouraged growth of orchards as water was transported efficiently long distances. Refrigerated fruit cars were also introduced, which enabled growers to ship their products when ripe and full-flavored thus increasing demand. In addition, fruit dryers introduced in the 1870s were able to salvage excess fruit allowing for increased profit margins for growers.29

In 1886, a Citrus Fair was held in Sacramento and the Placer County citrus growers who entered oranges in the competition won the five highest awards. By 1886, Placer County ranked among the top counties in California for quantity of producing citrus trees. In 1887, Placer County organized a Board of Trade to capitalize on the vast expansion of land holdings in the county and promote the agricultural industry. One of the primary goals of the Board was to promote Placer County in becoming a leader in citrus fruit growing in California. Eventually, the growth of the citrus industry in the county grew so great that several growers in the area gathered together to form the Placer County Citrus Colony.30

5. Placer County Citrus Colony: The Placer County Citrus Colony (Colony) was officially

founded on April 2, 1888 as a corporation with the goal of purchasing and cultivating land and constructing improvements to the land for the production and sale of citrus. Whitney is credited with conceiving and promoting the Colony idea as a means of developing the fruit culture in the county. Whitney was the largest shareholder of the Colony and was also made President of the Colony when it was founded. The original founders of the Colony were Whitney, Phineas W. Butler, Edwin W. Muslin, W. Dana Perkins, Jonas J. Morrison, Valentine S. McClatchy, B. Browning, John Kaiser, and H.T. Hatch. One of the important factors of the Colony was that it was designed for English

28 Samuel Evans Gittings, “The Foundations of Placer County Horticulture 1850-1900: Origin, Growth and Development of the Hydro-Electric and Irrigation Systems in Placer County, California” (master’s thesis, California State University Sacramento, 1958), 32-33. 29 Ibid., 47-50. 30 Ibid.



settlers. Whitney, being English himself, was very involved with the English culture and often traveled to and from Europe repeatedly while he lived in Placer County.31

The original Colony consisted of 4,430 acres but by 1890, 7,563 acres were contributed by individual holders to the Colony. The largest landholder and stockholder in 1890 was Whitney, who managed 3,025 acres within the Colony.32 The Colony was located within Townships 11 and 12 North, Ranges 6 and 7 East in Placer County. The Colony was approximately two miles southwest of Penryn, 1 mile west of Loomis, and 2 miles northeast of Rocklin. The land was comprised primarily of rolling foothills in the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range and included natural features such as Antelope Creek, Antelope and Clover Valley, and Boulder Ridge. Besides the natural features which supported the Colony, the Central Pacific Railroad conveniently bounded the south and eastern ends of the Colony and made stops nearby.33

Whitney was already familiar with the colony idea prior to establishing the Placer County Citrus Colony. Whitney, along with Wendell Easton and Allen T. Covell, organized and established the Washington Irrigated Colony in 1878, which consisted of 7,040 acres of land approximately eight miles south of Fresno. The Washington Irrigated Colony was an enterprise designed to make available the rich land of Fresno County to small purchasers and ranchers. The Washington Irrigated Colony claimed to contain soil adapted for the growth of alfalfa and semi-tropical fruits with abundant water sources all guaranteed to each farm in the colony. It was a great success and expanded to contain vineyards, a significant cheese industry, stock animal raising, and an entire small town consisting of a town hall, school, and houses.34

With the success of the Washington Irrigated Colony, Whitney believed he could cultivate the same success in Placer County. Just like the Washington Irrigated Colony, Whitney knew that in order for the land to be successfully cultivated it needed a well-established supply of water. In 1887, Whitney wrote that an extensive irrigation system was necessary before significant numbers of English could immigrate to Placer County. Originally, the main source of water supply was the Birdsall Irrigation Ditch from the Bear River Ditch Company. The Birdsall Irrigation Ditch was extensive and by 1887 enlarged its system into Auburn, Newcastle, and Loomis. But even as late as the late 1880s, the majority of the water supply went to hydraulic mining. Having the financial capability, Whitney paid the Bear River Ditch Company to extend the Birdsall Irrigation Ditch 2,500 feet into the his ranch property to supply his land. The ditch was extended using flumes and water was stored in a reservoir on Whitney’s ranch. The extension for Whitney’s property, however, did not satisfy the demand for the entire Colony. Eventually, hydraulic mining became illegal in 1889 and that same year the Birdsall

31 Joel Parker Whitney, Placer County Citrus Colony (San Francisco: Crocker and Company, 1889), 3-4. 32 Ibid., 20. 33 Placer County Citrus Colony, Map of the Placer County Citrus Colony and Vicinity: Situated in the Lower Foothills of Placer County, California, On File at the Placer County Archives, Auburn, CA. 34 Catherine Morison Rehart, The Valley’s Legends and Legacies III (Sanger: Quill Driver Books/World Dancer Press, Inc., 1999), 226.



Irrigation Ditch was extended into Colony lands. Thus, the supply of water turned primarily from supporting mining to supporting agricultural growth and was finally capable of providing any orchard within the Colony with a sufficient water supply. 35

Once the Colony had a sufficient water supply and became official with Articles of Incorporation, the next logical step was to advertise and promote the land to entice English settlers to purchase property in the Colony. Extensive advertising began in England by the Colony’s real estate agents Scott and Jackson Colonial and American Real Estate Firm. Whitney was also a significant contributor to the advertising campaign. Whitney traveled to Europe in 1889, the same year advertising by Scott and Jackson began. The English real estate firm provided prospective settlers with information about the Colony and encouraged them to visit the area. The pioneer Englishman who first settled in the Colony coming from England was Captain J. Booth Clarkson. Captain Clarkson purchased 100 acres of land within the Colony and was also appointed the local English representative for the firm Scott and Jackson. Captain Clarkson opened an office in Loomis and by 1891 the firm Scott and Jackson had convinced 15 English families to purchase about 600 acres of land in the Colony.36

Many of the English settlers were not strong ranchers and did not have a great deal of experience with running an orchard. They relied heavily on Chinese workers, or former farm owners, to care for their properties. Much of the properties they purchased already had tracts of orchards. Whitney himself sold several small parcels of his land to arriving English settlers. It was clear that the primary objective of the many of the Colony’s English settlers was not to grow citrus orchards but instead to socialize and become actively engaged in the Colony’s club and organization. A Colony Club House was developed out of an existing two-story granite house previously owned by Whitney. The house was converted to a club house with banquet room, billiard room, reading room, kitchen, and sleeping quarters for guests. The clubhouse, now demolished, was historically located at Boulder Ridge Road, now the corner of Delmar and Citrus Colony Roads, on the western end of Loomis. All Colony activities were held at the club house including tea parties, dinners, dances, and musical concerts. As the Colony grew in popularity, so did the amenities of the club house. Sporting facilities were built including two tennis courts, cricket and rugby fields, and even an area for horse racing.37

Despite that much of the English settlers in the Colony came and stayed for the social aspects, the orchards continued to develop. By 1892 the orchards market yields were very high but the orchards of the Colony were not exclusively citrus. A large amount of deciduous trees already existed on Colony lands including a variety of fruit trees such as peach, pear, plum, cherry, apricot, and nectarine. English settlers did not desire to replace the healthy fruit trees with citrus trees. Despite the success of the fruit industry in 1893, however, the Colony began its slow descent to dissolution.

35 Gittings, “The Foundations of Placer County Horticulture,” 60-61. 36 Ibid., 91-92. 37 Joel Parker Whitney, Reminiscences of a Sportsman (New York: Forest and Stream Publishing Company, 1906).



Several factors led to the failure of the Colony, including a nationwide economic depression and the deadly impact of malaria. The economic depression started with the Panic of 1893, which was a result of failed speculation on the Reading Railroad and other railroad enterprises which went bankrupt that year. European and American trade slowed significantly causing investors to cash out stocks. The economic depression considerably impacted the Colony between 1893 and 1897 as the agricultural market began to collapse.38

Simultaneously with the depression came the considerable danger of malaria in Placer County. Malaria had existed in the area since the Gold Rush, but by the 1890s the danger had grown significantly. Malaria was not originally known to be transmitted by mosquitos. It was discovered to be transmitted by mosquitos in 1881 but was not officially confirmed until the 1900s. Therefore, knowledge of its transmission was unknown in Placer County until after the 1890s. The vast expansion of irrigation systems and new water reservoirs, coupled with the moist soils and marshy ground, maintained for the agricultural industry acted as a breeding ground for malaria carrying mosquitos. By 1896 many of the earlier Colony settlers began to leave America to return to London and by 1898 few of the original settlers remained.39

By the early 1900s, the knowledge of the cause of malaria began to be publicized and quickly the disease was eradicated from the Colony lands. In addition, the economic depression was ended by 1898 and agriculture, including citrus and fruit production from the Colony, became prosperous again. Unfortunately, during the depression years, advertising for the Colony in England ceased and nothing more was done to promote the Colony. Eventually, in December 1905 the Colony was officially dissolved by the State of California for failure to pay taxes.40

6. Native American Interaction: Whitney realized that he was the not the first to occupy

the lands of the Spring Valley Ranch. Native Americans also occupied areas near the citrus grove terraces and had extensive interaction with Whitney. Several generations before the arrival of European settlers to the area, the Nisenan, or Southern Maidu, lived along the Yuba and American river drainages and area surrounding the Spring Valley Ranch. The Nisenan were split between two tribal groups: the Hill Nisenan and the Valley Nisenan. The Valley Nisenan lived in village community groups usually on low or gentle slopes along rivers and streams. The Hill Nisenan built villages on ridges and near major streams. Many of the descendants of the Nisenan people who once lived in the area are still around today.41

The Nisenan built two types of houses: the kum and hu. The kum was a large dance or ceremonial house called a “round house” because of its shape. It was typically dug to a

38 Gittings, “The Foundations of Placer County Horticulture,” 104-106. 39 Ibid. 40 Ibid. 41 Norman Wilson and Arlean Towne, “Nisenan,” Handbook of North American Indians (Washington: Smithsonian Institution, 1978), 387-397.



depth of three or four feet underground and had end posts supporting the walls and roof. The hu was a simple bark and brush dwelling. Traditionally, the Nisenan were hunters and gatherers. They hunted deer, wild cats, and rabbits, and fished for salmon and trout. They also gathered insects, berries, wild fruits, and acorns. Acorns, a key part of the Nisenan diet, were cracked, shelled, and ground into flour using a mortar and pestle, or milling stone. The ground flour was then leached, or cleaned, and mixed with water to make a soup and mush.42

Whitney had extensive interaction with the Nisenan, in particular Captain John Oitey (Captain John).43 Captain John was a prominent Nisenan leader from Auburn. Whitney regularly wrote of his interactions with Captain John and his band as they often stayed in Clover Valley very near Whitney’s home, “The Oaks.” Whitney wrote that Captain John would regularly visit, accompanied by some members of his tribe, and would accept invitations to eat with Whitney. Captain John also called for personal interviews and Whitney regularly entertained those requests. Captain John even sold pelts to Whitney for money so he could then purchase powder and balls for hunting.44

Whitney vividly described a hunting tactic of the Nisenan for capturing grasshoppers. Whitney writes:

“I watched these Indians often engage in gathering grasshoppers when they were plentiful in the following manner: First, by sinking a well-hole in a convenient location of some five or six feet in depth and of equal width, keeping it half full of water then engaging all hands with bushes and tree branches in beating forward the grasshoppers on the ground toward and into the well, where they soon drowned, then heating some large stones on a fire made for the purpose, from which the stones were rolled forward when sufficiently heated in to the well, and the water, heating up, cooked the hoppers. When accounted done by the head chef, the hoppers were raked out upon the adjoining ground to dry; the latter effect being reached, they were then packed away in skins for use.”45

Whitney enjoyed interacting with the Nisenan for many years. He was a member of the Northern California Indian Association, a group who worked to improve the lives of the remaining Native Americans in California after the arrival of settlers during the California Gold Rush. 46 Eventually, Captain John and his small band was the last tribe to return to the ranch each year. No evidence suggests Captain John or any Nisenan tribe physically interacted with the citrus grove terraces. Remnants of some bedrock mortar cups, however, are located within granite outcroppings within the boundaries of the citrus grove terraces indicating that Native Americans did occupy the area at one point.

42 Ibid. 43 Brian Bibby, Deeper Than Gold: A Guide to Indian Life in the Sierra Foothills (Berkeley: Heyday Books, 2005) 44 Miller, Fortune Built By Gun, 188-193. 45 Whitney, Reminiscences of a Sportsman, 1906. 46 Miller, Fortune Built By Gun, 188-193.



Whether their occupation was during period of significance and utilization of the citrus grove terraces, however, is unknown.

7. Decline: Whitney’s health began to wane as he grew increasingly older. Eventually,

while visiting for a golfing trip, Whitney died in a hotel in Monterey in 1913 at the age of seventy-eight.47 Whitney’s remains were placed in the family’s pyramid shaped granite stone mausoleum.48 The Pyramid Tomb, as it was called, was originally constructed by Whitney to house deceased members of the Whitney family. By the time Whitney died, six Whitney family members were already encased in the Pyramid Tomb. By 2006, the cremated remains of seventeen Whitney family members have been placed in the Pyramid Tomb.49 Though he died outside of Placer County, Whitney lived the last several years of his life at the Spring Valley Ranch as an active horticulturist.

After Whitney’s death, ownership of the Spring Valley Ranch and the estate was inherited by his children. The ranch never again turned a profit after Whitney’s passing, and by the mid-1920s his old residence, “The Oaks,” became deserted and by the 1950s it was torn down.50 Over time the property was subdivided and sold, in large part by Whitney’s youngest son Vincent. Increased urbanization and expansion of suburban communities along the Highway 80 corridor led to growth of the housing market in Roseville and Rocklin during the 1980s. In addition to vast residential expansion, commercial development pushed into the lands previously occupied by the ranch. The remaining open spaces have been leased to ranchers for grazing sheep and cattle during seasonal months.

8. Photographs of the Spring Valley Ranch: Several photographs exist of the Spring Valley Ranch. The following images depict aspects of the ranch including Whitney.

Note: Please see the field notes for these images. Because they are uncredited, they

were removed from the report before it was sent to the Library of Congress. --HABS/HAER/HALS, 2015

47 Obituary of J. Parker Whitney, Sacramento Daily Union, January 25, 1913. 48 Lord, Myrtle Shaw, “Relics are Unearthed as Placer Estate is Made Into Dude Ranch,” Sacramento Daily Union, May 3, 1936. 49 Day, Gary, “The Crowd in the Pyramid,” Rocklin Historical Society, http://www.rocklinhistory.org/history_series/The%20%20Crowd%20in%20the%20Pyramid.pdf (accessed March 17, 2014). 50 Jeri Muller, “A Man and His Dream,” California Fun Time News, 1958.

http://www.rocklinhistory.org/history_series/The%20%20Crowd%20in%20the%20Pyramid.pdf



Part II. Physical Information A. Landscape Character and Description Summary: The citrus grove terraces are associated with Whitney and are historically located within the boundaries of the Spring Valley Ranch. The citrus grove terraces were used by Whitney as a navel orange grove and the adjacent land as a grapevine vineyard and were the primary orchard within his Spring Valley Ranch property. The citrus grove terraces were crucial for Whitney to capitalize on the warm temperatures of the thermal belt and grow his navel oranges. Utilizing the citrus grove terraces, Whitney’s interests grew and he significantly contributed to the agricultural and economic growth of Placer County and surrounding towns including Rocklin, Loomis, and Penryn. The citrus grove terraces were historically located on the eastern portion of Whitney’s Spring Valley Ranch, on the western side of Clover Valley. The location of the terracing was ideally located within the Spring Valley Ranch. The citrus grove terraces were close to Whitney’s residence “The Oaks” and connected to all other portions of the ranch via a road that cut directly through the grove and vineyard area. The road was part of Whitney’s “8-mile Drive” route throughout his property. Using 8-mile Drive, Whitney could visit the orange grove and vineyard anytime from his house without requiring a major effort. In addition, the road allowed easy access from the terraced grove and vineyard to the nearby town of Rocklin and connected with other main roads to the major railroad shipping center in Newcastle. From Newcastle, the oranges and grapes from Whitney’s property could easily be delivered to many places. B. Character Defining Features: The citrus grove terraces area is defined by two distinct areas: (1) the terraced knoll; and (2) the hillside terraces. The terraced knoll is the smaller of the two areas. It consists of a large knoll with multiple terraces surrounding the entire mound. The terraces form concentric circles around the mound from the base to the top of the knoll. The hillside terraces are each contoured along the southern and western slope of the hillside. The hillside terraces also are continuous cuts that terminate at the end of the hillside and do not connect with each other. The thinnest terrace cuts are located at the top of the hillside and the cuts get wider as the hill slopes towards the level ground at the base. Each terrace, on both the terraced knoll and the hillside terraces, is very slightly sloped into the hillside so as to create a shallow ditch in the inside of each terrace. The ditch appears to have been used to accumulate water for consumption by the tree growing on the terrace. The terraces are cut into the hillside in a pattern that follows the topographic contours of the hill. Rather than obscuring the hillside, the terraces appear to accentuate each turn. Ground obstructions, such as large boulders or granite outcroppings, protrude from the earth within the hillside. Terraces move around boulders or cut directly through them as they move along the hillside. Presently, large oak trees are scattered throughout the hillside, growing along the base of the terraces. Smaller oak trees are growing within the terrace cuts.



A deep cut, earthen ditch runs directly between the adjacent citrus grove terraces. Shallow earthen ditches stem from the ditch and pass through the terrace hillside. Each ditch works together as a network of irrigation to provide water to every portion of the citrus grove terraces. In addition to the irrigation ditches, historical artifacts (such as steel pipes and other ranching and orchard equipment) are scattered throughout the area. Some artifacts sit on the surface of the ground while some steel irrigation pipes protrude from the ground. Modern, incidental pedestrian and bike paths are visible throughout the citrus grove terraces. A dirt road is graded at the top of the hill on the northern terrace and extends in an east-west direction. An additional graded dirt road travels in a north-south direction on the western side of the terracing, between the citrus grove terraces and a naturally-sloped hill. The north-south graded dirt road is in the approximate location of the historic “8-mile Drive,” but it is unclear if the existing dirt road consists of the remains of the original drive. Currently, only a few orange trees are scattered among the terraces. Each of the remaining trees is producing oranges but the oranges are very sour in taste. According to local horticulture experts, the existing orange trees are not the navel orange trees that Whitney grew. Instead, the existing trees appear to be Spanish orange trees. Spanish orange trees have very sturdy root stock and are strong trees able to survive in rough soil and not ideal conditions. Spanish oranges, however, are described as sour and meant for use in marmalade, not ideal for individual consumption. Whitney is reported to have grown navel oranges on his property. Navel oranges grow large and taste sweet, but their roots are more susceptible to fail in difficult terrain and living conditions. Therefore, it is likely Whitney grafted navel orange trees onto Spanish orange root stock. Since regular maintenance and care for the orange grove dissipated over time, the navel orange trees likely perished while the Spanish orange tree root stocks grew into the few trees existing today.51 A large granite boulder is located on the northeastern-most curve in the citrus grove terraces and contains five bedrock mortars. The bedrock mortars are associated with prehistoric Native American occupation in the vicinity of the site. Several additional Native American associated bedrock mortars are located nearby. Overall, the terraces retain sufficient integrity to be recognizable and possibly perform their original intended purpose. The terrace cuts remain highly distinguishable among the landscape and each still contains the slight slope enough to retain the necessary water for vegetation growth. The ditch irrigation network remains in its original place, though the ditch extents outside of the citrus grove terraces area are cut off from their original water supply source. Erosion and weathering has begun to smooth out some areas of the terracing, but not enough to completely destroy the integrity of each terrace. Invasion of weeds and oak trees are the primary vegetation that currently exists among the terraces. Some of the large oak trees have grown into the terraces on both the level and sloped part of the terrace. In addition, pedestrians, bicyclists, and livestock have worn trails into the terraces on some portions of the hill. The wear from these informal trails, however, does not diminish the overall integrity of the citrus grove terraces. Few scattered orange trees remain on the terraces but they are not the original navel orange trees

51 Joanne Neft, interview by author, Rocklin, CA, August 8, 2013.



Whitney marketed and sold. Some large grape vine stocks have been photographed on the terraces as recent as 200352, however, as of 2014 no grape vines were identified amongst the terraces. The location of the terraces has not changed; however, the vicinity surrounding the terraces has been developed with residential neighborhoods. Whitney’s Spring Valley Ranch no longer exists as it was and therefore the terraces within the ranch complex no longer perform any function related to agriculture or ranching. The encroaching development, however, has not diminished the feeling and association of Whitney’s large scale agricultural production that the terraces represent. Though the original orange trees and grapevines are no longer present, the citrus grove terraces still gives the impression of a significant agricultural operation in both magnitude and skill and knowledge of workmanship and design.

52 Carol Ellis, interview by author, Rocklin, CA, August 16, 2013.









Part III. Sources of Information A. General Historical literature and documentation specifically of the citrus grove terraces is mostly incomplete. The citrus grove terraces supported one of many orange groves under Whitney’s ownership and it was not designed in a way unique to horticulturists of the era. In addition, the landscape was designed as a utility to grow oranges and not for entertainment or enjoyment so personal accounts of the citrus grove terraces are lacking. Therefore, record of its construction and maintenance over the years of operation are few. The physical history of the citrus grove terraces was prepared utilizing the best available primary and secondary sources of information. Primary and secondary sources were gathered from the following repositories and people: the Placer County Museum and Archives in Auburn; the Rocklin Historical Society in Rocklin; the Lincoln Historical Archives in Lincoln; the California State Library California History Room in Sacramento; The Bancroft Library at UC Berkeley online database; personal communication with local horticulture expert Joanne Neft; and personal communication with a historian with expert knowledge of the Whitney family, Carol Ellis. Primary sources that provided information specifically about the citrus grove terraces include: historical newspaper articles; historical maps; citrus sales records; historical magazine articles; and records of the Placer County Citrus Colony. The citrus grove terraces derive its primary historical significance from its association with Whitney and the Spring Valley Ranch. Therefore, a large historical context about Whitney and the vicinity around the citrus grove terraces was warranted. Several primary and secondary sources were utilized to set the historical context and describe the correlation between the landscape and Whitney. Primary sources include: Articles of Incorporation and by-laws of the Placer County Citrus Colony; Whitney’s book Reminiscences of a Sportsman; Sunset Magazine article by Whitney from 1906; Agricultural Census records from 1880-1910; photographs of the Spring Valley Ranch of J.P. Whitney by Runnels & Stateler of 1889, on file at the Bancroft Library; historical maps; historical newspaper articles; and historical photographs. In addition to the multitude of primary sources reviewed, several secondary sources were consulted. These include: interviews with Whitney family members; Whitney’s diaries and personal papers; first-hand accounts of Whitney’s residence (“The Oaks”) and other portions of the Spring Valley Ranch as it was prior to the encroaching development; and Whitney family personal photographs and papers. The most useful secondary sources include Miller’s Fortune Built By Gun from 1969; Gittings “Foundations of Placer County Horticulture” of 1958; Hinckle’s J. Parker Whitney of 1993; and Gary Day’s multitude of historical narratives on Whitney and his associations prepared for the Rocklin Historical Society.



B. Bibliography Bibby, Brian. Deeper Than Gold: Indian Life in the Sierra Foothills. Berkeley, Heyday Books,

2005. Butler, Harry. A Brief Sketch of the J. Parker Whitney Ranche, Placer County, California, and a

Few Anecdotes. Placer County, Placer County Historical Society, 1946. Brock, M.J. and W.B. Lardner. History of Placer and Nevada Counties: California with

Biographical Sketches of the Leading Men and Women of the Counties Who Have Been Identified with Their Growth and Development from the Early Days to the Present. Los Angeles: Historic Record Company, 1924.

Day, Gary. “The Crowd in the Pyramid.” Rocklin Historical Society,

http://www.rocklinhistory.org/history_series/The%20%20Crowd%20in%20the%20Pyramid.pdf (accessed March 17, 2014).

Day, Gary. “Who was Parker Whitney?.” Rocklin Historical Society,

http://www.rocklinhistory.org/history_series/Who%20was%20Parker%20Whitney.pdf (accessed March 17, 2014).

Day, Gary. “Where are the Twelve Bridges?.” Rocklin Historical Society,

http://www.rocklinhistory.org/history_series/Where%20are%20the%20Twelve%20Bridges.pdf (accessed April 4, 2014).

Day, Gary. “Whitney Ranch.” Rocklin and Roseville Today,

http://www.rocklintoday.com/news/templates/history_news.asp?articleid=2455&zoneid=31 (accessed March 17, 2014).

Day, Gary. “Joel Parker Whitney’s Oaks Mansion.” Placer Herald.

http://www.placerherald.com/article/joel-parker-whitney%E2%80%99s-oaks-mansion (accessed March 17, 2014).

Foster, Daniel. The Valley Nisenan: Early Residents of Maidu Park, Roseville California. (April

1955). http://calfire.ca.gov/resource_mgt/archaeology/downloads/18.pdf (accessed March 17, 2014).

Gittings, Samuel Evans. “The Foundations of Placer County Horticulture 1850-1900: Origin,

Growth and Development of the Hydro-Electric and Irrigation Systems in Placer County, California.” Master’s thesis, California State University Sacramento, 1958.

Hinckle, Warren. J. Parker Whitney: Frontier Conservationist and Versatile Man of the West.

San Francisco, Argonaut Press, 1993.



http://www.rocklinhistory.org/history_series/Who%20was%20Parker%20Whitney.pdf



http://www.rocklintoday.com/news/templates/history_news.asp?articleid=2455&zoneid=31

http://www.rocklintoday.com/news/templates/history_news.asp?articleid=2455&zoneid=31

http://www.placerherald.com/article/joel-parker-whitney%E2%80%99s-oaks-mansion

http://calfire.ca.gov/resource_mgt/archaeology/downloads/18.pdf



Jackson, Thomas. Final Cultural Resources Inventory and Evaluation Report, Twelve Bridges Project, Lincoln, Placer County, California. Aptos: Pacific Legacy Incorporated, 1996

Marble, Bill. “Keeping Up With Joel Parker Whitney: A Study of His Personal Diaries and

Writings.” Quarry Quarterly, October, 2013. Miller, Richard. Fortune Built By Gun: The Joel Parker Whitney Story. Walnut Grove: The

Mansion Publishing Company, 1969. Peak & Associates, Inc. Report on the Evaluation of Cultural Resources Within the Proposed

Twelve Bridges Golf Club City of Lincoln, California, Volume 1. Sacramento, Peak & Associates, Inc., 1995.

Placer County Citrus Colony. Placer County Citrus Colony: In the Lower Foothills of Placer

County, California. San Francisco, Crocker and Company, 1889. Placer County Citrus Colony. By-Laws of the Placer County Citrus Colony. San Francisco,

Crocker and Company, 1889. Rehart, Catherine Morison. The Valley’s Legends and Legacies III. Sanger: Quill Driver

Books/World Dancer Press, Inc., 1999. Rocklin Historical Society. Echo in Spring Valley: A History of Sunset, California. Rocklin,

Rocklin Historical Society, 1994. Thompson, Thomas, and Albert West. History of Placer County, California with Illustrations

and Biographical Sketches of its Prominent Men and Pioneers. Oakland: Thompson & West, 1882.

White, Douglas, and William Lawson. “Placer: A county of the Foot-Hills.” Harper’s Weekly,

July 4, 1903. Whitney, Joel Parker. Placer County Citrus Colony. San Francisco, Crocker and Company,

1889. Whitney, Joel Parker. “Educational Orange Growing.” Sunset Magazine, August 1906. Whitney, Joel Parker. Reminiscences of a Sportsman. New York: Forest and Stream Publishing

Company, 1906. Wilson, Norman, and Arlean Towne. “Nisenan.” Handbook of North American Indians.

Washington: Smithsonian Institution, 1978.



C. Sources Not Yet Investigated As mentioned above, a few primary sources which may contain information about the citrus grove terraces were not investigated as part of this research effort. These sources were not accessible during this research effort. In addition, the sources have already been extensively studied by previous scholars and it is likely if they contained any pertinent information to the citrus grove terraces, that information would have been included in at least one of the many well researched secondary sources utilized during this study. The following are primary sources which were not investigated for this study: (1) Whitney’s personal journals, diaries, and notes; and, (2) interviews with Whitney family heirs. Whitney family members have generously provided interviews and opportunities for researchers to review Whitney’s personal written accounts, in their possession, during past research efforts. The past research efforts were extensive and have resulted in a complete compilation of valuable and high quality secondary sources which describe all necessary information available from Whitney family members. Gaining access to review these personal written accounts and conducting interviews would provide important information on Whitney. However, these are not likely to result in additional significant information on the citrus grove terraces landscape, which has not already been extracted from the numerous secondary sources available. Part IV. Project Information The Historic American Landscape Survey (HALS) of the citrus grove terraces was conducted in conjunction with the Twelve Bridges Development Project. The project required a Section 404 Clean Water Act permit from the Sacramento District of the Corps to allow fill in the Project Area. Because issuance of a permit constitutes a federal undertaking, compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act was required. Resolution of adverse effect by the undertaking was partially resolved through the execution of a Memorandum of Agreement between the United Stated Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) and the State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO) in 2006. Among the measures required by the MOA and its overarching Programmatic Agreement, was the completion of HALS documentation for the citrus grove terraces, an historic property eligible for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places under criteria A and B. The original evaluation placed the overall landscape identified with agriculture and ranching in California with the period of significance between 1850 and 1945. The citrus grove terraces, which are part of that larger landscape, have a more focused period of significance between 1884 and 1913, which is the period Whitney cultivated oranges on his ranch, specifically the citrus grove terraces, until he died. HALS documentation was conducted in early 2014 by a qualified professional Architectural Historian meeting the Secretary of the Interior’s Professional Qualification Standards for history and architectural history, Jeremy Adams, M.A. Robert Hicks completed all large-format black and white HALS photography for the project. Lisa Westwood, M.A, RPA provided quality assurance.

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