Near Santa Paula in Ventura County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)
The Hardison Estate
Photographed By Craig Baker, June 19, 2021
1. Hardison Estate Marker
Inscription.
The Hardison Estate. . Site of the W. L. Hardison Estate, established in 1884 by Wallace Libbey Hardison with his wife Clara McDonald. Hardison, born in Maine in 1850, was a Representative in the 104th Pennsylvania Legislature before coming to Santa Paula in 1883 with his wife and two children, Guy Lyman and Augusta. The house was designed by an architect from Pennsylvania, and built in 1884, as one of the earliest examples of Italianate architecture in Southern California. The barn was constructed in 1885 and is also one of few original California Victorian barns that remains in its original form and on its original site. From 1884-1900, when W.L.Hardison lived here, he co-founded what became the Union Oil Company and the Limoneira Company, which is now a world leader in citrus and avocado production. His endeavors pioneered the oil, shipping, and refining industries in Ventura County, as well as the citrus industry. He was also instrumental in forming the Santa Paula Water Works and Thermal Belt Water Company to ensure that municipal and agricultural water needs of his community would be reliably met. Wallace and Clara also received two more children, Hope and Warren, while residing at the estate. Today many places in Santa Paula bear his influence, including the Universalist Church built on Main Street in 1892, and the Lewis Hardison House built at 231 N. Eighth Street in 1887. Wallace and Clara's daughter, Hope Hardison, married James Norris Procter in 1912 and lived in the home until her death in 1983. Through Hope Hardison Procter and Robert Alexander Procter, the home remained in continuous family ownership from 1884 to 2014.
Site of the W. L. Hardison Estate, established in 1884 by Wallace Libbey
Hardison with his wife Clara McDonald. Hardison, born in Maine in 1850, was
a Representative in the 104th Pennsylvania Legislature before coming to
Santa Paula in 1883 with his wife and two children, Guy Lyman and Augusta.
The house was designed by an architect from Pennsylvania, and built in 1884, as
one of the earliest examples of Italianate architecture in Southern California.
The barn was constructed in 1885 and is also one of few original California
Victorian barns that remains in its original form and on its original site.
From 1884-1900, when W.L.Hardison lived here, he co-founded what became
the Union Oil Company and the Limoneira Company, which is now a world
leader in citrus and avocado production. His endeavors pioneered the oil,
shipping, and refining industries in Ventura County, as well as the citrus industry.
He was also instrumental in forming the Santa Paula Water Works and Thermal Belt Water Company to ensure that municipal and agricultural water needs of
his community would be reliably met. Wallace and Clara also received two more
children, Hope and Warren, while residing at the estate. Today many places in
Santa Paula bear his influence, including the Universalist Church built on Main
Street in 1892, and the Lewis Hardison House
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built at 231 N. Eighth Street
in 1887. Wallace and Clara's daughter, Hope Hardison, married James Norris
Procter in 1912 and lived in the home until her death in 1983. Through Hope
Hardison Procter and Robert Alexander Procter, the home remained in
continuous family ownership from 1884 to 2014.
Location. 34° 22.395′ N, 119° 3.927′ W. Marker is near Santa Paula, California, in Ventura County. Marker is at the intersection of Ojai Road (California Route 150) and Royal Oaks Place, on the left when traveling north on Ojai Road. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1235 Dogwood Street, Santa Paula CA 93060, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regarding The Hardison Estate. Ventura County Historical Landmark statement of significance —
Landmark No. 35, W. L. Hardison House. Built 1884. Designated December 1977.
This Victorian (California eclectic) house was constructed of redwood on a portion of Rancho Santa Paula y Saticoy. It is two-story, with 7 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. It was built without a foundation but later the structure was raised and a full basement of rock walls was built under it. It was built by Pennsylvania craftsmen for W. L. Hardison, a co-founder of Union Oil Company and Limoneira Ranch.
Photographed By Craig Baker, June 19, 2021
3. Hardison Estate House
Photographed By Craig Baker, June 19, 2021
4. Hardison Estate Barn
Photographed By Craig Baker, June 19, 2021
5. Universalist Church
Built on Main Street in 1892.
Photographed By Craig Baker, June 19, 2021
6. Lewis Hardison House
Built in 1887 at 231 N. Eighth Street.
Photographed By Craig Baker, June 19, 2021
7. Mill Park
Located ˝ mile south of the Hardison Estate, it was the site of a grist mill built in 1871. Ventura County Historical Landmark No. 39.
Photographed By Steven Hardison, circa 1915
8. Lewis Hardison House - The Hardison Estate Marker
Enhanced and colorized photo of Lewis A. Hardison and Margaret A. (Brooking) Hardison sitting out front of their house at 226 North 8th Street, Santa Paula about 1915. This is a Hardison family photo. (The house is on the opposite side of the street from 231 North 8th Street.)
Credits. This page was last revised on April 11, 2023. It was originally submitted on June 20, 2021, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. This page has been viewed 529 times since then and 78 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. submitted on June 20, 2021, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. 8. submitted on April 10, 2023, by Steven Hardison of Modesto, California.