Walnut Valley in West Covina in Los Angeles County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Hurst Ranch

Photographed by Craig Baker, August 11, 2019

1. Hurst Ranch Marker

Inscription. The Hurst family, including Josiah Newell, his wife Anna Belle, and their three children, Allie, Harriet Maude, and Charles Josiah, moved from Dover, Ohio to Whittier, California in 1898. In 1906, the family purchased 50 acres on the corner of Orange and Merced in West Covina. Soon, a barn, engine house, pump house, and home were built. This became the Hurst Ranch headquarters where the children eventually carried on and expanded the operation from the mid 1930s to the late 1950s. The primary crop was walnuts from 1919-1929 for the Blue Diamond Label. From 1930 to 1950 oranges were grown for the Sunkist Label. Over the years, truck crops were added, including potatoes, beans, cucumbers, onions, cabbages, cauliflower, and carrots. The Hurst Ranch grew to about 70 acres planted in oranges and 70 acres planted in seasonally rotated crops. During the 1950s, the Hurst family moved the farming operation to the San Joaquin Valley and with a bit of sadness, developed the West Covina property. Those early 1906 roots in West Covina were planted deep within the family and after 100 years are still growing strong today. With the

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formation of this museum, the Hurst family hopes to preserve a small yet special part of rural history for others to enjoy.

Erected by Hurst Ranch.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1898.

Location. 34° 3.842′ N, 117° 57.132′ W. Marker is in West Covina, California, in Los Angeles County. It is in Walnut Valley. It is on South Orange Avenue south of Merced Avenue, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1227 S Orange Ave, West Covina CA 91790, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Greater Los Angeles

and in the Transverse Ranges.

It is also on the American Pacific Coast.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Ring of Fire,

in the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 5 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies:

Photographed by Craig Baker, August 11, 2019

2. Hurst Ranch Marker

Located outside the entrance gate.

In-N-Out Burger (approx. 1.4 miles away); Workman Family Cemetery (approx. 3.1 miles away); William Workman Home (approx. 3.1 miles away); Covina Firehouse - Jail Museum (approx. 4 miles away); Gay’s Lion Farm (approx. 4.4 miles away); San Gabriel Mountains (approx. 4.4 miles away); Lady Liberty (approx. 4½ miles away); The Lion (approx. 4.8 miles away).

Regarding Hurst Ranch. The 3-acre museum has a general store, auto barn, bunk house, tack room, saddle display, one-room schoolhouse, a Hurst Family home, and other historical artifacts from the San Gabriel Valley. Open most Fridays from 11 AM to 2 PM, and the first Saturday of the month from 9 AM to Noon. Call to confirm, see website.

Also see . . . Hurst Ranch Museum. Visitors information, history, photos, events. (Submitted on August 19, 2019.)

Hurst Ranch Museum image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Baker, August 11, 2019

3. Hurst Ranch Museum

Photographed by Craig Baker, August 11, 2019

4. Hurst Ranch Museum

Photographed by Craig Baker, August 11, 2019

5. Ranch House

The house is a private residence, not open to the public.

Photographed by Craig Baker, August 11, 2019

6. Auto Barn

Indoor Displays image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Baker, August 11, 2019

7. Indoor Displays

Credits. This page was last revised on January 30, 2023. It was originally submitted on August 19, 2019, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. This page has been viewed 714 times since then and 47 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on August 19, 2019, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. 7. submitted on August 21, 2019, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.