Lakeside in San Diego County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)
Mexican Grant
Cañada de Los Coches Rancho
— Smallest Mexican Land Grant in Calif. —
Photographed By Michael Kindig, April 5, 2009
1. Mexican Grant Marker
Commemorating Cañada de Los Coches Rancho, smallest Mexican Grant in Calif.
Granted in 1843 to Apolinaria Lorenzana by Governor Manuel Micheltorena.
Site of Old Gristmill.
Erected 1948 by Native Sons of the Golden West. (Marker Number 425.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Hispanic Americans • Notable Places • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the California Historical Landmarks, and the Native Sons/Daughters of the Golden West series lists. A significant historical year for this entry is 1843.
Location. 32° 50.183′ N, 116° 54.017′ W. Marker is in Lakeside, California, in San Diego County. Marker is on East Main Street (Business Interstate 8). Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 13468 East Main Street, Lakeside CA 92040, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 12 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Lakeside Auto Speedway (1907) (approx. 2 miles away); Historic El Cajon Hall (approx. 4½ miles away); Amaziah Lord Knox (approx. 4.6 miles away); KCBQ “Top 40” Personalities (approx. 5½ miles away); Mission Dam and Flume (approx. 8.2 miles away); Bancroft Ranch House
this page online
More about this marker. At the entrance to an RV/ Mobile home park. Above the street under a tree on the north east corner.
Regarding Mexican Grant. From the San Diego Historical Society: La Cañada de los Coches Rancho," or "The Vale of the Hogs," Ranch.
Only 28.39 acres in area, and the smallest of local land grants made during the Mexican period, this was originally part of the El Cajon Rancho of the San Diego Mission. In 1843 Governor Manuel Micheltorena granted it to Señorita Apolinaria Lorenzana, who held it for the Mission when all church lands were being distributed to land seekers.
While Jamacha Rancho was split into various undivided interests, making a subdivision of the tract inevitable, ownership of the property had become even more confused and complex as a result of action taken by Doña Apolinaria Lorenzana. On December 31, 1878, Doña Apolinaria had conveyed the ranchos of Jamacha, Los Coches, and San Juan de Secua, to Monica Romero de Ruiz of Santa Barbara. However, she no longer held legal title to the three ranchos, having sold San Juan de Secua in the 1830s, and Los Coches
Photographed By Dana Law, December 26, 2009
2. Mexican Grant Marker
Captain Jesse Wilbur Ames, who was baptized in California into the Catholic faith as Jesse Julian Ames, obtained the property in the 1850's. Before he built his Mexican style ranch house on it, the ranch became a stop on the San Antonio-San Diego Mail Route.
Don Juliano Ames, as his neighbors called him, planted a double cactus hedge along the boundaries and raised sheep and cattle. One of the early growers of grain in this part of the country, he erected a flour mill. He constructed a dam to assure his water supply, made the best soap south of Los Angeles, opened a blacksmith shop, made lime for whitewash, and served the area in many well-appreciated ways.
His fine adobe home was destroyed years ago, through the activity of vandals following up stories of great wealth being hidden in it.
In 1949 this was designated California Historical Landmark No. 425.
Photographed By Dana Law, December 26, 2009
3. Mexican Grant Marker
Photographed By Bill Kirchner, March 31, 2015
4. Mexican Grant Marker
5. Photo of area from San Diego Historical Society
Photographed By Michael Kindig, April 5, 2009
6. Site of the Cañada de Los Coches Rancho Land Grant Marker
circa 1948
7. Mexican Grant Marker Dedication
My Grandfather Daniel Contreras who with other members of the Native Sons of the Golden West constructed the mile marker. Picture taken on the day of dedication by Sara Contreras.
Photographed By Michael Kindig, April 5, 2009
8. Site of the Cañada de Los Coches Rancho Land Grant Marker
Photographed By Michael Kindig, April 5, 2009
9. Site of the Cañada de Los Coches Rancho Land Grant Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on February 1, 2024. It was originally submitted on December 27, 2009, by Dana Law of El Cajon, California. This page has been viewed 2,038 times since then and 44 times this year. Last updated on September 12, 2015, by Steve Masler of Memphis, Tennessee. Photos: 1. submitted on December 30, 2011, by Michael Kindig of Elk Grove, California. 2, 3. submitted on December 27, 2009, by Dana Law of El Cajon, California. 4. submitted on April 11, 2015, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. 5. submitted on December 27, 2009, by Dana Law of El Cajon, California. 6. submitted on January 4, 2012, by Michael Kindig of Elk Grove, California. 7. submitted on May 26, 2013, by Teresa Forsythe of Charlotte, North Carolina. 8, 9. submitted on January 4, 2012, by Michael Kindig of Elk Grove, California. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.
