Introduction. In 1980, the County of Orange purchased Key Ranch to ensure the preservation of an important part of Orange County's agricultural past. Visitors can view a citrus grower's home dating from 1898, almost two acres of a producing grove, and extensive collections of farm tools and equipment. George G. Key began gathering items for these collections from neighboring ranches in the 1960's as these properties began to be divided for sale.
Citrus Ranching. The orange grove consists of about 135 Valencia trees on one acre. These are representative of 12 acres planted by George Key in 1893. The original plantings were budded to sweet root stock and planted 30 feet apart. These trees grew up to 35 feet in height due to the particularly rich and deep soil (up to 10 feet) locally. Three trees from the original 189O's grove remain, while the rest date from the 1940's. Peak production generally takes place when a grove is at least 8 years old. In one season before 1915 some of the trees in this field produced as much as 44 field boxes per tree.
The first commercial Valencia orange grove in California was planted in 1880 where California State University at Fullerton is now. This was the property of the Southern California Semi-Tropical Fruit Company, and first superintendent was Richard Gilman. It was fully productive by the 1890's and proved the value of Valencias as a summer fruit crop. The pioneer growers in the Fullerton-Placentia area organized in 1894 as the Placentia Orange Growers Association, a company cooperatively owned by 36 independent ranchers. The purpose of this Association was "to buy, pick, deliver, pack, ship, and sell all kinds of fruits and vegetables grown or produced by the stockholders of the corporation." Local grower associations usually established their own packing houses near rail spurs. Several local Association would then organize an Exchange for a particular area.
By 1905 a statewide California Fruit Growers Exchange was organized and in 1907 they adopted the trademark "Sunkist". Each local Association had a number of brands for its fruit, usually stamped or labeled-on the snipping boxes, but only the top grades could also carry the Sunkist stamp or wrapper on each fruit. The California Fruit Growers Exchange, basically a sales operation, assumed responsibility for all advertising, marketing, and delivery of Association citrus, as well as setting standards and establishing rules to control the industry through its member sociations. A number of new uses of citrus byproducts, such as orange juice, were successfully introduced by this organization. Although at first a wide variety of oranges were grown (such as Malta Bloods, St. Michaels, Mediteranean Sweets and Washington Navels), Placentia took the lead for Orange County in gradually shifting production to Valencias. Unlike Navels, Valencias could be harvested- during summer months, when higher prices were obtained because of the lack of competition. They also keep better and are better juice oranges.
However, the growing of oranges was not not without serious problems. Insect pests such as redspider mites, Red, Black, Purple, and Cottony-Cushion Scale caused much damage, Early control measures included fumigation (with cyanide gas) which required tenting of trees and the application of caustic soda and kerosene sprays. The introduction of ladybugs proved of substantial, benefit in reducing scale, There are also many different molds, fungus, root rots, tree diseases and mineral deficiencies. Within the Key property the original grove on sweet root stock was affected by Scaly Bark, Purple Scale, and a disease known as Gummosis. Fertilization and new root stocks have since been developed to help overcome some of these problem.
Seasonal hazards included dry summer "Santa Ana" winds which scorched limbs and prevented production for 2-3 years, while the effects of recurrent frosts could -he reduced through the heating of groves with "smudge pots".
The Key Family. George Benn Key was born in Richwood, Ontario, Canada in 1854. He came to the Placentia area in 1893 as Superintendent of the Semi-Tropical Fruit Company, replacing Richard Gilman, his brother-in-law. That same year he purchased 20 acres on the northwest corner of Placentia Ave and Bastanchury Rd., and planted 12 acres of Valencia oranges.
He helped organize and was an original director (in 1893 of the Placentia Orange Growers Exchange (later the Placentia Orange Growers Association). He was also involved in the establishment of die Fullerton ton Chamber of Commerce (1895), the Orange County YMCA (1908), and served two terms on the Placentia School Board, this first beginning in 1896.
George B. Key built the present house in 1898, moving here from the superintendent's ranch house on the Semi-Tropical Fruit Company property, with his wife Mary and four children. He later helped organize the Placentia Presbyterian Church (1912), the first church in Placentia, served there as an elder and trustee, and was serving on the Board of the Fullerton Union High School at the time of his death (1916).
His second son, George Gilman Key, (1896-1989) married Hannah Ipsen in 1917. Hannah's father ran the general store, called The People's Store, in the downtown of Placentia after 1910. After serving in World War I, George and Hannah moved to Los Angeles County, where he worked in the oil industry for the next 22 years (mostly as a drilling and production superintendent), before returning to run the ranch. The Key House before 1908. Originally part of a 20-acre citrus ranch this 2 story house was built in 1898 and extensively remodeled ten years later with the addition of a new wing to the south, the porch, trellis, and balconies, as well as extensive interior changes
Kitchen Collection. This structure, con- taining the collection, is actually made up of three separate buildings all moved to this location in 1912. The garage consists of girls and boys bathrooms from the old Placentia Grammar School (1905), while the back section is a blacksmith shop (pre 1903) from the Wilshire Ranch which was just south of the present site. The moving and combination of single-board wood structures was quite common in Orange County during the early 1900's due to the scarcity of local lumber. Few examples of this construction method remain.
The former blacksmith shop now contains artifacts representative of domestic life in an early "grove" house. Kitchen items from local ranch houses date from the 1890's to 1940's. In addition, there is a collection of figures by a local woodcarver, Mr. C. H. Hunt.
Farm Equipment. This yard contains a wide variety of equipment used in the plowing, planting, cultivating, and harvesting of dry, orchard, and vegetable crops. The collection includes plows, harrows, cultivators, mowers, hay rakes, spreaders, planters, seeders, and wagons dating from the early 1900's. All these implements were purchased for and used on local farms and ranches. Most are made of steel and wood with the wood originally brightly painted. Equipment characteristic of the citrus industry includes the spike tooth harrows, orchard wagon, two-horse disc cultivator, orchard heaters, and citrus spray rig, as well as several pieces related to irrigation. Irrigation on flat land in the early days was generally done by either furrowing between the orchard rows and running streams of water through them, or creating ridges around each tree and flooding the square basins thus created (known as block irrigation). There are several types of furrowers associated with the former, as well as ridgers and blockers (also known as "go devils") used to create basins.
Farm Equipment in the area was purchased in a variety of ways. There are some Sears, Roebuck &Co. mail-order items, while many others were purchased at such local outlets as The Wickersheim Implement Company in Fullerton.
Workshop. This shed contains an assortment of items related to ranch life. Of interest are the squirrel and gopher smoker, drill press, avocado picker, corn sheller, and alfalfa or grass chopper for making chicken feed.
Blacksmith and Carpentry Shop. The wooden shed you are now entering contains Mr.Key's collection of tools and products from such lines of ranch work as carpentry and smithing, as well as equipment associated with the care and packaging of citrus crops.
Verse Garden. Originally a pine grove, the garden was begun in 1945 by George G. Key. It has evolved into a collection of specimen trees (oak, palm, cedar, pine, pepper) and ground cover of flowers, shrubs, and sword ferns. The bricks lining the garden paths are from pioneer homes in the area (Wilshire Ranch and others), and excerpts from Mr. Key's published verse have been incorporated into the garden design. The book, Early Placentia, by Mr. Key is available at the park office.
Walk back in time with your students and experience the living history program at George Key Ranch.
Here are some quotes the past....
"We had a large area that we called the barnyard
between the house
and the barn, where we used to
do a lot of our playing. Speaking of
playing..."
Students will play and work as the children
did in
early Oreange County.
Activities may include:
"In the older groves that were being
plowed, was the
never-to-be-forgotten
fragrance of rich, black earth as it rolled
from
the moldboard of the plow like a
long dark ribbon. To this fragrance was
added that of the orange blossoms and
that which was released from
freshly cut
roots of the orange trees."
Students will experience
a producing orange
grove as they discover:
In 1874 the local residents formed the Cajon School District and built the
first school house. In 1878, they needed a new building and a new name, and they
selected Placentia, which is an old Latin name meaning "a pleasant place."Teachers
will be given a comprehensive Teacher's Guide with background information and
pre and post trip activities designed to enhance your school's cross-curricular
instruction.
Included in the guide will be:
The living history program, "Growing Up In Early Orange County" is offered by the Orange County Department of education. It is the result of a joint effort with the County of Orange. It is self-supporting, reliant on tuition fees charged to students. Many students may not be able to participate in this unique program becauser of budget constraints. If you would like to sponsor a local school to experience "Growing Up In Early Orange County", please call (714) 966-4419.
| August 24 | George Key Day |
|
"Celebrating the Centennial of George G. Key at Key Ranch" | |
| October 19 | Fall Homecoming |
|
"Musical jamboree and spellbinding storytelling a the Key Ranch" | |
| December 14 | Christmas at the Ranch |
|
"Enjoy the warmth of Christmas Past at Historic George Key Ranch" | |
For more details watch for seasonal announcements or call the County of Orange event information number (714) 834-2400 or Key Ranch Park Ranger (714) 528-4260
Historic George Key Ranch was established in 1893 by George and Mary Key. A portion of the original orange grove, including three original trees, remains intact. The 2 1/2 story ranch house built in 1898 is secluded in the heart of the 2.2 acre site. When the season is right the fragrance of the orange blossoms from the one-acre grove bordering the east lawn creates the perfect ambiance for an unforgetable wedding ceremony. To the south of the lawn, stands the huge shade garden with a high canopy of mature oaks and the lush foliage of green ferns providing moments of reflection and memories as well as a superb setting for your wedding photography. The classic architecture of the 19th century Key mansion provides the simply elegant backdrop for your garden wedding. The garden bedroom provides a spacious dressing area for the bride. The ranch is located in the City of Placentia, famous for it's citrus production. The ranch, older than the city itself, is designated as both a city and county historical site.
Reservations
For reservations or additional information contact
Michael Miniaci at (714) 528-4260 (Grounds shown by appointment only)
| Basic wedding fee | $400.00* |
| Photography permit | N/C** |
| *Staff time is charged as required by the schedule requested | |
| **Permit included in wedding fee | |
Other Considerations
Weddings are held on the east lawn of the ranch house where the Key farnily weddings were held. The lawn accomodates over 200 guests, seated. Wedding reservation fee does not permit alcoholic beverages in the building or on the Ranch grounds.