Stevenson Ranch near Santa Clarita in Los Angeles County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Pico Cottage

Superintendent’s House

— Mentryville —

Pico Cottage Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Baker, October 22, 2022

1. Pico Cottage Marker

Inscription.
Completed in the 1880s, this was the home of oil driller Charles Alexander Mentry (1846-1900). In 1876 Mentry drilled Pico Number 4, the first commercially successful oil well in the western United States. Mentry became superintendent of California Star Oil Works' operations in Pico Canyon. Other superintendents and foremen and their families also lived in the house, also known as the "Big House". The cork-lined ice house is still intact.

Pico Cottage, 1948. Photograph courtesy of Bill Rundberg.

Help care for Mentryville by reporting vandalism.

Erected 2021 by Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority, and Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1876.

Location. 34° 22.746′ N, 118° 36.678′ W. Marker is near Santa Clarita, California, in Los Angeles County. It is in Stevenson Ranch. It can be reached from Pico Canyon Road 3 miles west of Interstate 5. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Stevenson Ranch CA 91381, 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 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Movie Façade House (a few steps from this marker); Mentryville’s Barn

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(within shouting distance of this marker); Mentryville (within shouting distance of this marker); Felton School (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); First Commercial Oil Well In California (approx. 1.2 miles away); Apology (approx. 2.7 miles away); Pioneer Oil Refinery (approx. 2.7 miles away); Oak of the Golden Dream (approx. 2.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Santa Clarita.

Regarding Pico Cottage. Chevron donated this land after the cottage was damaged by the 1994 Northridge Earthquake.

Pico Cottage and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Baker, October 22, 2022

2. Pico Cottage and Marker

Photographed by Craig Baker, October 22, 2022

3. Ice House

Charles Mentry at Pico Cottage in 1893 image. Click for full size.

4. Charles Mentry at Pico Cottage in 1893

Credits. This page was last revised on December 24, 2024. It was originally submitted on October 27, 2022, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. This page has been viewed 588 times since then and 77 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on October 27, 2022, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. 4. submitted on December 23, 2024, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California.