Foothills Sentry October 2021

Foothills Sentry Page 10 October 2021 Area’s deep-rooted history celebrated during Hispanic History Month Our community was once the vast Rancho Santiago de Santa Ana. Ranging from Anaheim Hills to the sea; it also included all of Orange, Villa Park, parts of Santa Ana, Tustin, Costa Mesa and Newport Beach. Orange was the headquarters. On top what is now called Hoyt Hill, Juan Pablo Grijalva had his adobe casa. He had been the second in command at the San Diego Presidio and retired to his first Rancho of Las Flores -- now Camp Pendleton. He came to this area and founded the 60,000-acre Rancho Santiago in 1801. T he only thing on the land today with the Grijalva name, however, is Grijalva Park, once the site of a springtime rodeo. The vaqueros would round up the cattle for slaughter and brand the calves. Not just any cattle -- Longhorn cattle. Longhorns were here in California long before they were in Texas. An 1870 map of the rancho lands. The Plaza is at the red dot, and El Camino Real is to the right of that. When Grijalva Park was under construction, a large horseshoe was unearthed. Horses had to be big to herd cattle. Off Hewes St., just east of Santiago Road, is a plaque on the side of the hill. It marks the location of the Gri- jalva Adobe. A five-tined hand- wrought Spanish era spur was discovered when the plaque site was being dug 25 years ago. Many years ago, descendant Ed- die Grijalva -- then of Orange -- discovered a wooden saddle frame, once belonging to Juan Pablo Grijalva. He donated it to the Orange Library. By Doug Westfall, national historian Westfall's book, "Rancho Lands," tells more of the story above. His books on Orange can be found at www.SpecialBooks.com. A Spanish sanctus bell was found off of Walnut Ave., directly on the old El Camino Real. Juan Pablo Grijalva