Menifee Valley Historical Association

10/19/2025

Roy Ferrell, constable of Lake Elsinore is posing in front of the Railroad Canyon dam. He is watching the water flow over the dam and continue on to Lake Elsinore. Roy Ferrell was a brother to Ella Ferrell Evans who was married to Henry Evans of Menifee.

The 2nd photograph shows the Railroad Canyon Dam at a later stage. Newer concrete pads can be seen on the right side of the image. Following the collapse of the Baldwin Hills Dam in 1963, state regulations required that other dams be tested. Core samples were taken from this dam, and the concrete was found to exceed the strength requirements of the period. In subsequent years, the catwalk was removed, and the sides were modified to allow water to flow out more quickly - aiming to reduce flooding in the causeways of the newly established Canyon Lake community.

10/16/2025

Please join us on Saturday, November 15 for our Pioneer Day Open House
We will have display boards, archives, artifacts and memorabilia to share

Date: Saturday, November 15
Time: 9:30am
Place: Antelope-Menifee Rural Center (Haun Road, north of Garbani Road)

10/12/2025

DID YOU KNOW: In the early 1880s, the California Southern Railroad (CSRR) was established to link San Diego to San Bernardino and then connect with the Santa Fe's railway system. When considering routes near Laguna Grande (originally named by Spanish explorers, now Lake Elsinore), the CSRR selected a shorter path surveyed by Fred Perris through what came to be known as Railroad Canyon, ultimately linking to San Bernardino. Flooding in 1884 and 1891 damaged portions of the track. Due to frequent damage and high repair costs, the Santa Fe discontinued use of the inland route south of Temecula and shifted operations to a coastal line.

The event shown in this photo was the result of the flood of 1927. The surge of water descending from Railroad Canyon Dam to Lake Elsinore ripped the tracks from the bed of the railroad, particularly within the narrower section of the canyon. A decision was made to permanently abandon the line since this was the third washout of the area. The tracks were removed, but Railroad Canyon kept its name despite losing its railroad. Photo credit: E. Hale Curran Collection (Murrieta Historical Society) - https://www.murrietahistory.org/

10/05/2025

Leta Evans is sitting in their overland car. She drove it to work when she was a teacher at the Temecula Little School in the 1940s. Her daughter Alpha attended school there.
This original one-room school was built in 1873 on the Pechanga Indian Reservation. In 1917, the schoolhouse was moved to a new location in Old Town Temecula and was renamed the Little Temecula School.
Leta also taught several years at the 1890 School on Newport Rd in the 1920's.

10/03/2025

We will be posting photos about Canyon Lake from time to time. This is why 🙂

In 2016, Elinor (Evans) Martin helped form the Menifee History Museum. Elinor authored the book "Images of America: Canyon Lake," which recounts her family history in the area dating back to her grandfather Henry Evans' arrival to the valley in 1890. Elinor's family lived on the east side of Antelope Rd, about a block from Loma Linda Hospital. Elinor served as President of the Menifee Valley Historical Association until 2022, when she and her husband retired to Oregon.

Evans Fish Camp on Railroad Canyon Reservoir (now Canyon Lake) began operations in May 1937. The Temescal Water Company constructed a dam on the San Jacinto River in 1929, forming the reservoir. The company retained ownership of the lake and leased its concession to the George Dewey Evans family. On the opening day, attendance exceeded expectations, so George Evans cut the fences of his pasture to permit vehicle access to the lake. The Fish Camp building served as both an office and sleeping quarters using a tent at the back. Seven boats were available for customers to rent, while many anglers fished from the shoreline. An additional building and several cabins were constructed the following year.
In 1940, the buildings were relocated to another area closer to where the water was deeper. Approximately 1,000 people visited the lake on opening weekend in May of 1938. The fish camp remained in the family for three generations until 1967, when Elinor and her husband Don retired and built the first home overlooking the lake.

09/28/2025

Belle and Stanley, shown here are holding a frame filled with honey in the comb and a jar of honey after it was extracted. He was proud of the black sage honey his bees produced and and its clarity.
Sagebrush plants grew wild all over the valley and are beautiful when in bloom.
There are many species of sage that honey bees can use in the making of sage honey, but the most popular ones are Black Button Sage, White Sage, and Purple Sage. The type of sage that is most prominent in the honey will determine the colour, aroma, and taste profile of the harvested honey. White Sage is prominent in our valley.

09/21/2025

McGrath's Date Store.
Pictured here on the right are Elinor Evans, Max and
Belle McGrath. An unknown lady is on the left.
Stanley and Belle McGrath opened a business in San
Bernardino during the holidays from Thanksgiving to
Christmas. It was a seasonal event and held in
whatever building was available in the Highland or
Baseline area of San Bernardino.
They sold custom packs of dates, nuts and candied
fruit along with bulk items.
Max was Stanley and Belle's son.

09/14/2025

Mike Wilson and wife Bessie (Milholland) Wilson on a motorcycle.
Mike is Luther Menifee Wilson's son from his 2nd marriage to Birdie Baisley. They had 3 children in 13 years - James (Mike), Maynard and Lizzie.
The date and location of photo is unknown

08/22/2025

Please join us for our Menifee History Program on September 20th at 9:30am at the Antelope-Menifee Rural Center.
We will share the History of Menifee Lakes and the Kirkpatrick Family who made their way to Menifee in 1882.

08/16/2025

The Western Honey Bee - or European Honey Bee (Apis mellifera) is the most common Honey Bee in the world. It pollinates wild plants and much of the food we eat.

Come check out our bee Happy Bee Company display with thanks to the Wickerd Family

08/14/2025