Rancho Camulos Museum

At Tuesday’s 12/8 Ventura County Board of Supervisors meeting, the Board voted unanimously to join a three county Central Coast region with Santa Barbara and Sa...n Luis Obispo and exit the massive Southern California region that Ventura County was placed in by the State. This decision was made in light of the 12/6/2020 California Regional Stay Home Order that went into effect on 12/7. The order created 5 regions in the state, and placed Ventura County in the Southern California region with Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino, Orange, San Diego, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo and others. We really feel strongly that being in such a large region, we might be stuck, said Ventura County Public Health Director Rigo Vargas, noting that the impact to Ventura County wound be different in a three-county region. We feel we would be able to better serve our community. Supervisor Kelly Long had this to say about the desire to create a new, 3 county region: The County of Ventura understands we must all work together to limit the spread of COVID-19; however, we should also consider a regional perspective that most accurately reflects the local reality of our situation, said Supervisor Kelly Long, Chair of the Ventura County Board of Supervisors. Long continued, The County of Ventura and our Central Coast regional partners have consistently modeled best practices in our strategies to collectively mitigate the spread of COIVD-19, which has protected our shared constituencies and maintained critical hospital capacity. Joining together with a smaller regional approach, allows us to fine tune regulations that protect the health of our residents while getting students back in the classroom and helping to keep our businesses open and economically viable. California Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly had the following to say to reporters yesterday regarding the proposed three-county region, at the moment we don’t have an intention to make a change to the region. A link to the VC Star article on this issue can be found below. Ventura County wants to end new lockdown sooner; state ready to say 'no' https://www.vcstar.com//ventura-county-lockdow/3833922001/

(12/5/2020) Volunteer Dianne Gay Cox tends the roses at Rancho Camulos Museum ... the roses seem to think it's springtime.

A "watery" day for volunteers at Rancho Camulos Museum (12/3/2020): Jack Infranca fills sandbags in anticipation of rain, while Bob Cox fixes the plumbing. (Not shown: Jack's wife Dianne watering & pruning roses.)

BREAKING NEWS. Now open for Covid compliant docent led outdoor tours , Saturday’s 10, 11, and 12 ; and Sunday’s at 1, 2, and 3. ranchocamulos.org.... Please stay safe and well during this challenging time.

Built and rebuilt several times over the last century and a half, the historic grape arbor at Rancho Camulos Museum was in dire straits once again in 2020, collapsing under the weight of overgrown vines. Taking charge of resurrecting this popular garden feature was museum volunteer Bob Cox, who turned a group of his cohorts into a construction crew. Ken Asarch, Maria Christopher, Lynn Edmonds, Gary Gieseman, Tom Rieger, Marie Scherb, Gordon Uppman and Hillary Weireter helped ...pull down the old foliage and hammered, nailed, sanded and pounded together an historically accurate replica on top of preexisting concrete footings. Treated lumber replaced broken and rotting boards, but historic pieces were reused, as well. Discovered in the 1867 Camulos Winery were trusses believed to have been used in an early version of the arbor. Cox tightened them up at his home workshop in Fillmore and fabricated additional trusses to complete the roofline. The original grape plants from Mission San Gabriel have adapted nicely to the new structure, sending up new vines to cover it. They're to be cut back each year so they don't overburden the new arbor anytime soon. The grape arbor is an important part of the historical landscape of Rancho Camulos. The Del Valle family, who owned the property from 1839 to 1924, frequently hosted meals under the cool shade of the grape vines. Then as now, brides would make their way to the Camulos chapel through the openings in the arbor. Cox was drawn to the project for a variety of reasons. "Part of it was satisfying my ego," he said. "I enjoyed completing this much-needed project and being able to save the museum a considerable sum of money in construction costs." The project was also a way for Cox to honor his old Fillmore High School shop teacher, Ralph Rees, who restored the circa-1850 Del Valle buggy and then designed a carriage house to display it on the property. Cox served as foreman of a volunteer group that brought the carriage house to fruition when Rees fell too ill to complete it. (Rees died in 2016.) For Bob Cox, reconstructing the grape arbor turned into a family affair. His wife, Diana, a longtime museum volunteer, painted many of the boards, and their grandson Kyle helped out, too. Back in 2008, Bob and Diana's son Charlie was married at Rancho Camulos; nephew Kyle, then 2, was the ringbearer. Bob Cox was named Rancho Camulos Museum's 2020 Volunteer of the Year at a gathering held Sunday, October 25, 2020. FULL RESOLUTION VIDEO: https://scvhistory.com/scvhistory/camulos20201025bobcox.htm

The Rancho Camulos National Historic Landmark can NOW ONLY be visited on a Covid compliant docent led outdoor tour, Saturday’s 10, 11, and 12 ; and Sunday’s at 1, 2, and 3.

DUE TO COVID INCREASE RANCHO CAMULOS MUSEUM HAS RECLOSED NO PUBLIC ACCESS NO TOURS EFFECTIVE TODAY - 11-20-2020 STAY SAFE & CHECK BACK FOR UPDATES

. No Hart PowWow this year....but you can visit the authentic Tataviam Interpretive area at the Rancho Camulos National Historic Landmark only on a Covid compliant docent led outdoor tour, Saturday’s 10, 11, and 12 ; and Sunday’s at 1, 2, and 3.

1920 Nachito del Valle adobe adobewas Open this weekend for free tours

Solo violin performance at Rancho Camulos National Historic Landmark by Etienne #MusiKaravan #Heritagevalley #DeliriumMusica

Another haunting experience

We will deeply miss Marie Wren. She often shared her knowledge with us and we enjoyed helping her with her research. Marie Wren was an early and devoted suppor...ter of the Fillmore Historical Museum. Her record number started "001". Marie lived a full and busy life who gave joy to all she met.

Rancho Camulos Museum Honors Marie Wren

Rancho Camulos Museum Research Library Named in Honor of Fillmore Resident (Piru, CA) It’s a small, cozy roomonly about 200 square feetbut without question is one of Ventura County’s most valuable hidden gems. The Rancho Camulos Museum Research Library, located in the museum’s 1920 adobe restored house facing Highway 126, is home to a variety of historic treasures, including rare books, an extensive collection of books on Southern California history, historical photos, ma...Continue reading

The exhibit is still ongoing...

This is an interesting story about the Fillmore Olive Oil Factory. Camulos is said to have had the first commercial olive oil production. In Southern California. We have a post card showing the olive mill, the grinding stone, and even one tree growing out of what appears to be the vestiges of a very old olive tree stump.

Thank you Ag Museum for sharing his story ...

ZOOM-based Rancho Camulos Museum Docent Training is coming your way ! Have you been thinking about getting out and doing more volunteering in the future ? Oppo...rtunity knocks. We need volunteers to support our mission of local California historical education, preservation, and restoration. Whatever your interests, you will find your niche at this National Historical Landmark . Are YOU Interested in making a difference ? Email [email protected] for more info on our Zoom based training. See more

Dan and Katie creating a Camulos documentary... stay tuned