Friday, December 21, 1900 ― 125 Years Ago
The Brittons, a wealthy Asbury Park family, who at the turn of the 20th century sought paradise in the orange groves of southern California, share first impressions with their former neighbors in a letter published on the front page of the Asbury Park Press on this date.
Asbury Parkers in California, Surrounded by Oranges, Palms and Roses, With Weather to Match
The Press has received the following letter from a member of the Asbury Park party that recently took up residence in Riverside, California:
We arrived in Riverside on Monday, Dec. 3, after a five days’ trip over a dirty route. We left Washington on Wednesday night at 10:45 and did not leave our (railroad) car again, except for meals and recreation, until we reached Colton, California, about eight miles north of this place.
“There is no more ‘unkind’ gift in all the range the Christmas season offers than some of the selections which women folks make in the way of wearables for their male kin or friends.” Advertisement for Hopper Co., hatters and men’s outfitters in the Press this date.
The scenery along this route, known as the “Sunset,” is rather monotonous, prairie and desert prevailing. We were unfortunate to pass through all the prettiest parts at night. One of the sights well worth seeing was the canyon of the Rio Grande. Mexican huts were the only relief to the scenery after we reached the prairie.
There was a remarkable change after we reached Indio, California. Palms and roses were in profusion and all along from here until we reached our destination, trees, plants and orange groves were in abundance, and Riverside capped the climax.
At Colton, we boarded a motor car. On both sides of the route as far as the eye could see were oranges glistening through the dark green leaves of the trees.
Riverside, in population, is about the size of Asbury Park, but in area, is much larger. Everybody that owns a piece of land 10 feet square has an orange tree. The streets are very pretty, with rows of palms on one side and pepper trees on the other. Several of the orange groves have wire fences with roses running over them in full bloom. The soil here is wonderful, being over ten feet deep and just as good at the bottom as at the top. Water is the great necessity; without it nothing will grow.
We have a pretty place about three miles from the center of Riverside. We are located on a flat hill at the base of the mountains, and hills all around us.
You don’t have to go 2,740 miles to taste a California orange. Walton’s Grocery store in Asbury Park has both California and Florida oranges in stock, as well as figs, dates and “all kinds of nuts,” as advertised in the Asbury Park Press on Friday, December 21, 1900.
Water for the irrigation of the ranch is supplied from springs in the mountain upon which part of the ranch is located. The drinking water is as clear as crystal, is supplied by separate springs and kept in a separate reservoir. We have 2,300 orange trees ― Washington, navel and ruby reds ― and 72 deciduous fruit trees.
We like this place very much, especially the climate. During the day it is very much like Asbury Park in June, while the nights are real cool.
Flowers of all kinds are blooming in our yard and we have a fountain with about 50 goldfish in the basin. Roses are blooming all the time and everything has the appearance of summer. We have not had any rain since we came, but the week previous they had more rain than they have had in three years.
Asbury Park is no doubt in festive array for Christimas time, while we are basking in the sunshine.
R.E. Britton
This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Today in history: Asbury Park Press NJ archives for Dec 21