Thousand Oaks in Ventura County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)
Early Ranchers of this Historic Site
Thousand Oaks
Photographed By Craig Baker, August 22, 2021
1. Early Ranchers Marker
Inscription.
Early Ranchers of this Historic Site. Thousand Oaks. This land was originally part of Rancho El Conejo, granted by Spain in 1803. Egbert Starr Newbury purchased 2,259 acres of the Rancho in 1874 from heirs of the Spanish grantees. With his wife, Frances, and son, Egbert Jr., he moved to the Conejo Valley and built a home on this site. It was one of the first homes built in the Valley where previously only a few adobes had existed. Newbury planted grain and raised thousands of sheep on his ranch. He constructed a large barn, and another structure for accommodating overnight guests who came to inspect properties for sale or to enjoy the healthful climate. He thought his land was very beautiful and looked like a park, so he named it Newbury Park. Responding to an urgent need for a post office in the growing Valley, Newbury petitioned the Federal government to establish one on his ranch. In July of 1875, the Newbury Post Office became a reality and a Coast Line Stage Company coach stopped twice daily to deliver and pick up mail. In 1876 - 1877 a disastrous drought caused a shortage of water feed for animals in the Valley. Huge flocks of sheep died and ranchers experienced severe financial losses. Unfortunately, Newbury and his family were forced to leave the Conejo Valley when he went bankrupt because he could not pay his creditors. He left the legacy of his name, however, to the area now known as Newbury Park although his family did not live in that part of the Conejo Valley. The Bank of Ventura took the Newbury property in foreclosure and eventually sold it to the Crowley Family in 1887. The Crowleys owned it for three generations and had a very successful ranch. In 1910, when Frank Crowley was married, his parents built him a home as a wedding gift. Located several hundred yards east of this site, at 2522 Pleasant Way, the two-story structure is still standing. It is a Ventura County and City of Thousand Oaks landmark. The Crowley Family lived on the ranch until 1922, when they decided to divide their property for real estate development. One part of the ranch became known as Greenwich Village, while the other was developed in 1923 and is known today as "Old Town Thousand Oaks." This decision by the Crowley Family changed the Conejo Valley forever. Up to that time, the area mainly consisted of large ranches of several thousand acres. It was the end of an era and foretold the future of the Conejo Valley. . This historical marker is in Thousand Oaks in Ventura County California
This land was originally part of Rancho El Conejo, granted by Spain in 1803. Egbert Starr Newbury purchased 2,259 acres of the Rancho in 1874 from heirs of the Spanish grantees. With his wife, Frances, and son, Egbert Jr., he moved to the Conejo Valley and built a home on this site. It was one of the first homes built in the Valley where previously only a few adobes had existed. Newbury planted grain and raised thousands of sheep on his ranch. He constructed a large barn, and another structure for accommodating overnight guests who came to inspect properties for sale or to enjoy the healthful climate. He thought his land was very beautiful and looked like a park, so he named it Newbury Park. Responding to an urgent need for a post office in the growing Valley, Newbury petitioned the Federal government to establish one on his ranch. In July of 1875, the Newbury Post Office became a reality and a Coast Line Stage Company coach stopped twice daily to deliver and pick up mail. In 1876 - 1877 a disastrous drought caused a shortage of water feed for animals in the Valley. Huge flocks of sheep died and ranchers experienced severe financial losses.
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Unfortunately, Newbury and his family were forced to leave the Conejo Valley when he went bankrupt because he could not pay his creditors. He left the legacy of his name, however, to the area now known as Newbury Park although his family did not live in that part of the Conejo Valley. The Bank of Ventura took the Newbury property in foreclosure and eventually sold it to the Crowley Family in 1887. The Crowleys owned it for three generations and had a very successful ranch. In 1910, when Frank Crowley was married, his parents built him a home as a wedding gift. Located several hundred yards east of this site, at 2522 Pleasant Way, the two-story structure is still standing. It is a Ventura County and City of Thousand Oaks landmark. The Crowley Family lived on the ranch until 1922, when they decided to divide their property for real estate development. One part of the ranch became known as Greenwich Village,
while the other was developed in 1923 and is known today as "Old Town Thousand Oaks." This decision by the Crowley Family changed the Conejo Valley forever. Up to that time, the area mainly consisted of large ranches of several thousand acres. It was the end of an era and foretold the future of the Conejo Valley.
The marker is on the left. On the right is the Jungleland marker.
34° 10.479′ N, 118° 50.869′ W. Marker is in Thousand Oaks, California, in Ventura County. Marker is at the intersection of Thousand Oaks Boulevard and The Lakes Drive, on the right when traveling east on Thousand Oaks Boulevard. Located in the courtyard in front of the Civic Arts Plaza. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2100 Thousand Oaks Blvd, Thousand Oaks CA 91362, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Credits. This page was last revised on September 1, 2021. It was originally submitted on September 1, 2021, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. This page has been viewed 299 times since then and 145 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3. submitted on September 1, 2021, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California.
This land was originally part of Rancho El Conejo, granted by Spain in 1803. Egbert Starr Newbury purchased 2,259 acres of the Rancho in 1874 from heirs of the Spanish grantees. With his wife, Frances, and son, Egbert Jr., he moved to the Conejo Valley and built a home on this site. It was one of the first homes built in the Valley where previously only a few adobes had existed. Newbury planted grain and raised thousands of sheep on his ranch. He constructed a large barn, and another structure for accommodating overnight guests who came to inspect properties for sale or to enjoy the healthful climate. He thought his land was very beautiful and looked like a park, so he named it Newbury Park. Responding to an urgent need for a post office in the growing Valley, Newbury petitioned the Federal government to establish one on his ranch. In July of 1875, the Newbury Post Office became a reality and a Coast Line Stage Company coach stopped twice daily to deliver and pick up mail. In 1876 - 1877 a disastrous drought caused a shortage of water feed for animals in the Valley. Huge flocks of sheep died and ranchers experienced severe financial losses.
