Hemet in Riverside County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Pochea Indian Village Site

Photographed By Michael Kindig, February 12, 2011

1. Pochea Indian Village Site Marker

Inscription. Pochea was one of cluster of Indian villages forming the very large settlement of Pahsitna which extended along the ridge east and west of Ramona Bowl. Pahsitnah was thriving when the Spanish first passed by in 1774. A tragic story tells of the natives contracting smallpox from Europeans; a terrible epidemic spreading, and some survivors fleeing to the area of the present Soboba Reservation.

Erected 1983 by State Department of Parks and Recreation , San Jacinto Valley Museum, Hemet Area Museum Assoc., Ramona Pageant Assoc. Billy Holcomb Chapter No. 1069, E Clampus Vitus/Second Marker by D.A.R. (Marker Number 104.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Anthropology & Archaeology • Native Americans • Notable Places • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the California Historical Landmarks, the Daughters of the American Revolution, and the E Clampus Vitus series lists. A significant historical year for this entry is 1774.

Location. 33° 43.194′ N, 116° 56.964′ W. Marker is in Hemet, California, in Riverside County. Marker is on Ramona Bowl Road, on the right when traveling east. Marker is located on the second set of steps to the upper entrance of Ramona Bowl

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Amphitheater. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 27400 Ramona Bowl Road, Hemet CA 92544, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 7 other markers are within 13 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. "Ramona" (within shouting distance of this marker); Soviet Transpolar Landing Site (approx. 4.3 miles away); Estudillo Mansion (approx. 4.4 miles away); Transpolar Record Flight Site (approx. 5.9 miles away); Hemet Maze Stone (approx. 7½ miles away); Fred McCall Family (approx. 11½ miles away); Juan Diego Flats (approx. 12.1 miles away).

Regarding Pochea Indian Village Site. The first performance of the "Ramona Pageant" was held in 1923. The book upon which the Pageant is based was Ramona written by Helen Hunt Jackson in 1884. Federal officials ignored a report Ms. Jackson helped prepare, so she wrote Ramona hoping the public would read it and demand a reversal of the poor treatment of the Indians. In Ramona, the Indian, Alessandro, is Ramona's husband and the same Juan Diego of Juan Diego Flats. The site of Pocheca is located close to 0.7 of a mile east of the Ramona Bowl.
SOURCE: Billy Holcomb Chapter 1069 35th Anniversary Plaque Book by Phillip Holdaway

Daughters of the American Revolution Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Michael Kindig, February 12, 2011

2. Daughters of the American Revolution Marker

Dedicated
to the Indian Peoples
who, in the distant past,
established villages in
this area
Huachippah, Corova, Pahsitnah,
Ivah, Pochea, Ararah and Sobobas

District XI 1981
California State Society
Daughters of the American Revolution

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on December 18, 2011, by Michael Kindig of Elk Grove, California. This page has been viewed 1,422 times since then and 43 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on December 18, 2011, by Michael Kindig of Elk Grove, California. 2. submitted on December 23, 2011, by Michael Kindig of Elk Grove, California. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.