SPECIAL COLLECTIONS
THE LIBRARY OF
THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
LOS ANGELESThe Story
of the
Washington Navel Orange
COMPILED BY
S. ALICE LA RUE
Chairman Landmarks Committee, Aurantia Chapter, D. A. R.
WRITTEN BY
W. W. AYERS
ILLUSTRATIONS COURTESY OF THE CALIFORNIA CITROGRAPH and
MR. FRANK A. MILLERA short historical sketch of the “Washington” Navel Orange, also commemorating Mrs. Eliza Tib-bets, who first introduced this fruit into Riverside valley.
Annually the pilgrims go To the cross on Rubidoux, While the bells ring sweet and low From the mission towers below.
Just west of the beautiful little city of Riverside, California, is Mount Rubidoux. This mountain rises to a height of about nine hundred feet, or 1337 feet above sea level, and occupies a central position in the valley, which is known as the “Riverside valley.” At the summit of the mountain there has been erected a large, rough hewn, wooden cross. This landmark, and also a good automobile road and several foot trails leading to the summit, and the general beautification of the hill with trees, shrubbery, etc., has been largely brought to pass by the inspiration and liberality of one of the pioneers of the valley, Mr. Frank A. Miller, “Master” of the Mission Inn, and also the late Honorable C. M. Loring, of Minneapolis, Minn.
The Easter service held annually at the foot of the cross on Rubidoux, has become world-famousand is participated in by increased thousands each year.
Standing at the summit of this hill your view sweeps over a beautiful river valley and rolling plains to the mountains, hemming it in on all sides. The principal range lies to the north and east, and is known as the San Bernardino mountains. This range abruptly ends in the east with two high peaks, —Mt. San Bernardino and Mt. San Gorgonio (also called Grayback) the latter having a crown of snow throughout most of the year. Further east and detached from the range, stands Mt. San Jacinto. This is supposed to be an extinct volcano, and has been the center of some earthquake disturbances in the valley. One of these peaks reaches an elevation above eleven thousand feet.
As the sun rises above the snow-cap of San Gorgo-nio’s summit on Easter Sunday morning, casting his glowing rays across the valley and lighting up Rubidoux, the cross, and the reverent multitude awaiting this opportune time for the beginning of the service, the sight is impressive in the extreme. The beauty and grandeur of the scene, and the devout attitude of the people at this sacred service are memories that will ever remain with any one who is privileged to participate.
“Riverside the Beautiful,” nestles at the foot of Rubidoux, like a kneeling virgin before a sacred shrine. This beautiful city with its classical public buildings, its lovely homes and its tree and flower embowered avenues stretching out for many miles to the north and south, is a resort well known and loved, not alone by its inhabitants, but by world travelers as well.
The famous Mission Inn, most beautiful and unique of all hostelries, is located here and entertains many thousands of guests annually.
The Riverside valley is most largely an orange growing region, although many other fruits, and also grains, thrive there. The perennial deep, dark green of the orange groves, laid out in symetrical order, gives to the landscape a wonderful gardenlike appearance, and forms an enticing and beautiful picture of peace, plenty and contentment.
It is difficult to believe that less than sixty years ago this lovely valley was barren desert land, and yet such was the case. The reclamation and the building of this beautiful Eden was the result of the vision, intelligence and perseverance of the first settlers. These sturdy pioneers, both men and women, deserve the highest praise and should be remembered lovingly and gratefully by present and future generations.
Our story has to do with one of those early pioneers—Mrs. Eliza Tibbets.
Her greatest service to the community, and the one for which we especially honor her, was the introduction of the Washington Navel orange into the Riverside valley.
As a matter of historical interest it is well for us to trace as far as possible the origin and development of the Washington Navel orange, this wonderful fruit, which, since its introduction into California, has brought such rich returns to the grower and such delight to the untold thousands who enjoy its lusciousness.
Origin of the Navel Orange
The origin of the seedless, or Navel orange, has never been exactly determined. The earliest known record of such a fruit is found in a book entitled “The Hesperides or about the Golden xApples, their Culture and Use,” by John Baptist Ferrarius, published at Rome in 1646. This book describes the fruit and gives an illustration which plainly shows the peculiar formation of the “Navel” orange. No mention is made of where it was originally propagated.
Most investigators think that it originated in Bjrazil, South America. There is where it first came into general notice and where its superior qualities were first recognized.
The natives of Brazil have it that a “Mandinga” woman charmed an orange seed and when it grew it produced “umbigoed” fruit.Some claim that a Portuguese grower first prop-igated this fruit at Bahia, Brazil in about the year 1820. We find mention of it in very early publications in Brazil, where it is called “Laranga de um-bigo.”
Rev. W. A. Waddell, a Presbyterian missionary in Bahia, Brazil, states that an educated native told him that he had been a boy soldier at the time of the seige of Bahia, before the independence of Brazil, and that he was stationed with his comrades in an orange grove. Here they found many seedless oranges, and this kind were also purchased in the market places.
We shall probably never learn the exact time or place of the origin of this species of orange.
Introduction Into the United States
During the latter part of our Civil war period, probably about 1867, Mr. William Saunders, Secretary of Agriculture for the United States, was told of this seedless variety of orange in South America. He was anxious to get some of the stock to try out in this country. He tried, unsuccessfully for some time, to get some one in Brazil to send him some of these plants. Finally the matter was brought to the attention of an American lady (supposed to have been the wife of Rev. C. I. S. Schneider, a missionary). She secured twelve budded trees, carefully packed them and sent them to Washington, D. C., in the year 1870. Great care was taken with them in the orange propagating house at Washington and soon, from this stock, a large number of trees were budded and made ready to try out.
Introduction Into California
Co-incident with the introduction of this fruit into California we will relate the story of the founding of the Riverside colony, where these trees were first planted. Hon. John W. North, known as the founder of Riverside, in the late sixties lived in Knoxville, Tenn. He was what we would now term a “promoter.” He was interested in opening up forMrs. Eliza Tibbets
settlement new sections of the country. He conceived the idea of starting a colony in Southern California a “beautiful resort suited to the raising of semi-tropic fruits.” He called a meeting in Washington, D. C., (exact date not known,) and endeavored to interest others in such a scheme. He succeeded in organizing quite a company of settlers who made the long journey with him in the year 1870, and found the fruition of their hopes in what is now known as Riverside valley, located about sixty miles east of Los Angeles, California, which was then a considerable trading station.
In this valley the settlers laid out the town of Riverside, built their homes and secured titles to their land holdings. After many hardships becauseof the dryness of the climate, they finally completed a system of canals from the water sources in the distant mountains and brought this sparkling liquid life to the land. The result has been most wonderful, and now this valley is one of the most beautiful and fruitful spots in the world.
Mr. L. C. Tibbets lived in Washington, D. C., and had been in attendance at Mr. North’s promotion
One of the Parent Washington Navel Orange Trees at the head of Old Magnolia Avenue
meeting. He became interested in the enterprise and in December the same year, joined the Riverside colony. He purchased land and built a substantial home near the center of the valley. Mrs. Tibbets, who remained in Washington, heard about the seedless variety of orange the Agricultural Department had received from Brazil. She called at the department and asked to have some of these trees sent to her new home in California. Mr. Saunders carefully prepared and packed (some authorities state two and some three) trees of
The Tibbets Memorial
this variety and sent them by mail to Mrs. Tibbets at Los Angeles, Cal. Mr. Tibbets made a three day round trip from Riverside to Los Angeles to get these trees from the postoffice there. The trees stood their long .journey well and were set out inthe flower garden of the Tibbets homestead. Here they grew and thrived and were soon producing larger and finer oranges than had ever been seen before. This fruit quickly became popular and growers were very anxious to get buds for propagation. Very soon the “Washington” Navel orange was being produced in large quantities in this section. It is now the acknowledged leader of all varieties produced in Southern California.
Because Mrs. Eliza Tibbets was instrumental in introducing this fruit here, it seems fitting that her memory should be perpetuated by some permanent memorial. The Landmarks Committee of the D. A. R. has been active in promoting such a memorial.
Some years ago one of the original Navel trees was removed from the Tibbets place to a little park at the head of Old Magnolia Avenue, Riverside. The D. A. R. secured permission from the city authorities to erect a monument and tablet in this park. On December 10th, 1921, these were dedicated. The tablet bears the following inscription which was approved by the U. S. Department of Agriculture in 1920:
To Honor
MRS. ELIZA TIBBETS
And to Commend Her Good Work In Planting in Riverside in 1873 The First Washington Navel Orange Trees In California;
Native to Bahia, Brazil;
Proved The Most Valuable Fruit Introduction Yet Made By The United States Department Of Agriculture 1920.
The dedication was made “To the Children of Riverside,” in order that the young might be impressed with the thought that they owe the blessings, which all now enjoy in this beautiful valley,to the wisdom, and self sacrificing spirit of the early pioneers.
This .short story can well be closed with the following lines, representing the spirit of these early settlers, who truly built better than they knew:
Would’st know the joy of living? The secret of success?
Would’st find the hidden pathway That leads to happiness?
Give out the best that’s in you, Give with unstinting hand,
’Tis golden thoughts and actions That make a golden land.
We gave the Navel Orange, And thought naught of the gift,
And now its golden fruitage Our names to glory lift.
Send out thy tiny vessels, Thy gems of deed and thought,
At even-time returning Great argosies are brought.