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An early Franciscan padre made the first written observations of the area in his diary as he explored the San Diego County backcountry for the San Diego Mission. He wrote of Indians who were "peaceful" and wove baskets. The resident Indians of Valley Center are the Luiseno, whose descendants still live in the San Pasqual, Pala, Pauma, La Jolla and Rincon reservations. <i>Month and day of the month are not exact.<i>
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Governor Pio Pico gives Mexican land grant to Jose Maria Orosco, establishing Rancho Guejito. Rancho Guejito is depicted in this 1882 drawing. Courtesy of Valley Center History Museum. <i>Month and day of the month are not exact.<i>
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Land Commission surveys Valley Center and establishes its first boundary lines. <i>Month and day of the month are not exact.<i>
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James Davis becomes Valley Center's first permanent settler after President Lincoln signs the Homestead Act, which encouraged settlement of the western frontier. It established a three part homestead acquisition process: filing an application, improving the land and filing for a deed of title. Valley Center's first settler, James Davis, built the adobe home depicted in this drawing in 1863 on Hilldale Rd. Courtesy of Valley Center History Museum. <i>Month and day of the month are not exact.<i>
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The California Grizzly Bear that was killed in Valley Center was preserved and is displayed in the Valley Center History Museum as pictured. It stands 8 feet tall. The unique species of bear was rendered extinct by 1924. Bill Wechter photo. <i>Month and day of the month are not exact.<i>
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When applying for a post office, the town had to change its CA. From 1898 to 1912 about 50 homesteaders along Lilac Rd. had mail delivered by stagecoach to the post office pictured. Until 2004 it stood at 31928 Lilac Rd. The building, which is now at the Valley Center History Museum, measures 5 x 8 ft. and was declared the smallest post office in the U.S. by Guinness World Records in 1955. <i>Month and day of the month are not exact.<i>
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Pictured is what is believed to be the first one-room schoolhouse in Valley Center. Photo courtesy of the Valley Center History Museum. <i>Month and day of the month are not exact.<i>
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<i>Month and day of the month are not exact.<i>
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Elizabeth Jane Wimmer, co-discoverer of gold at Sutter's Mill, moves to Valley Center. Elizabeth Jane Wimmer's headstone at Valley Center Cemetary is pictured. Brooke Ruth photo. <i>Month and day of the month are not exact.<i>
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Pictured is Valley Center Cemetary on Miller Road in May 2012. Brooke Ruth photo. <i>Month and day of the month are not exact.<i>
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<i>Month and day of the month are not exact.<i>
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<i>Month and day of the month are not exact.<i>
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<i>Month and day of the month are not exact.<i>
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Anthony Reche, owner of the first general store in Pala, is pictured in Bear Valley circa 1869 and presents a bible to a woman believed to be Nancy Hidden. Hidden, a widow; a daughter and two grown sons came west by wagon from Illinois. They claimed a homestead along a stream near the present day intersection of Valley Center and Woods Valley roads. The small wood frame building built by the Hiddens was later used as a general store by Mr. Foster. <i>Month and day of the month are not exact.<i>
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From 1912 to 1944, Intercontinental Rubber Co. planted nearly 1,000 acres of the shrub guayule, a desert plant whose sap produces natural rubber. The rubber was used for the manufacture of tires. By 1916 Valley Center was called "the guayule capital of the U.S." The plantation was located along Cole Grade Road between Cool Valley and Miller roads. Photo courtesy of Valley Center History Museum. <i> Month and day of the month are not exact. <i>
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<i>Month and day of the month are not exact.<i>
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Bates Nut Farm opens. Farm gained fame for its walnuts and family-friendly setting, and is still open to public The giant oak tree at the front entrance to Bates Nut Farm along Woods Valley Road in Valley Center is pictured in May. Don Boomer photo. <i>Month and date are not exact. <i>
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<i>Month and day of the month are not exact.<i>
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<i>Month and day of the month are not exact.<i>
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Ambassador Irving Salomon had many notable individuals at his Rancho Lilac home. Eleanor Roosevelt was one of his frequent guests. Eleanor Roosevelt met Salomon after she was named a U.N. Ambassador. Ambassador Irving Salomon is pictured here with John F. Kennedy at the United Nations. The original photo is displayed in the Valley Center History Museum. <i>Month and day of the month are not exact.<i>
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Agricultural property north of Valley Center Road just west of Cole Grade Road in Valley Center is pictured on May 16. DON BOOMER | dboomer@nctimes.com <i>Month and day of the month are not exact.<i>
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Oldest commercial building (Valley Center Grocery, 1880s) is burned in fire training exercise. Robert T. Baines and family members are pictured outside the Valley Center Grocery store at the northwest corner of Lilac and Valley Center roads. Baines was postmaster from 1905 to 1909. <i>Month and day of the month are not exact.<i>
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Oldest remaining commercial building (Valley Center General Store/Corral Liquor, 1923) is destroyed by fire. <i>Month and day of the month are not exact.</i>
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The Woods Valley housing development in Valley Center is pictured. Don Boomer photo <i>Month and day of the month are not exact.<i>
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