Save the Trees at Boronda Road

Updates on DEIR

2009-06-20T08:40:00.000-07:00

Following a meeting of the Carmel Valley Road Committee on 19 July, the issue of action on the "intersection improvements" threatening the trees has been put on hold pending further review of the DEIR. At that meeting it was determined the topic would be revisited at the next meeting, (date yet to be determined). All interested parties are encouraged to remain alert for the announcement of the coming meeting and to attend in support of saving our historical heritage.

Status Report

2009-05-31T08:27:00.000-07:00

A number of folks have noticed the signs and engineer tape at the site have been taken down. Please be assured this was done by the committee, and all the materials and signs have been carefully stowed for possible future use. Following a very productive residents' meeting brilliantly orchestrated by member Dr. Susan Moein with Mr. Yazdan Emrni, Director of Public Works, and members of his staff on May 8th, it appears the project has "gone back to the drawing board." Until we hear more, the signage has been removed so the beauty and majesty of the trees can be enjoyed by all. Thank you all for your support of this effort and please check back with us at this site regularly as it will remain active.

Committee Meeting With Public Works

2009-05-12T08:49:00.000-07:00

The "Save the Boronda Trees" Committee met with Public Works Director Mr. Yazdan Emrani and members of his staff on 8 May at Carmel Valley's Trail and Saddle Club. While the meeting was "open-to-the-public," it was not a "public meeting" per se, rather it was designed to establish lines of communication on this matter. A more complete report will be published here shortly, however all parties left the meeting with better understanding of each other's concerns, a new spirit of cooperation, and a harmonious relationship that has heretofore been missing in this process (since 1985!). Our thanks to Mr. Emrani for his time and insights on this whole issue.

Petitions Being Signed at Mid-Valley Safeway

2009-04-18T16:07:00.000-07:00

This weekend and next (Saturday and Sunday April 18, 19, 25 & 26) volunteers will be manning tables at the entrance of Mid-Valley Safeway to seek signatures of support on petitions to save the trees. Assistance in this project will be most welcome. Coming out to sign on will also be welcome and appreciated. These petitions do help as evidenced in the appendices to the draft EIR showing the signatures collected in round one of this episode (response to the Notice to Prepare a Draft EIR (NOP).

Actions Being Taken - Updates on Further Action

2009-04-05T10:44:00.000-07:00

More and more residents are taking action. Our thanks to Joe Hertlein for his outstanding job of marking the bulk of the trees "doomed to destruction" by this project. Throughout the Valley outraged citizens are circulating or setting up booths to collect names of those who wish to save this key feature of Carmel Valley's rural heritage. These will be submitted with commentary to the County before the end of the Public Comment period of May 4th as specified in the Draft EIR.

An action group of affected citizens met with Public Works' project personnel on Friday, April 3rd. We came away with the following intelligence:

The project calling for the destruction of the historical site is not the final design, simply a reiteration of the one proposed earlier that most of us thought was a "dead" issue.
The planning group tasked with preparing the Draft EIR (EMC) developed the document based on the County's "project," addressed at our meeting as "one of the alternatives."
Other alternatives to "the project" offered by EMC were:

"No Project," that would obviously save the site,
"Realignment of the project to the North side of Carmel Valley Road," which again would not impact the site, or
"Roundabout," which would still impact the site.

Although the petitions currently circulating vary slightly (due to the urgency perceived by area residents), the push is for the "No Project" alternative, or as an option, the "Realignment to the North" alternative, in that order.

Additionally, the project people with whom we met again pointed out they were "just following orders." The final authority for this remains the County Board of Supervisors who will ultimately have to make the decision whether to go forward with "the project," or one of the alternatives. Therefore, a letter/e-mail/phone call campaign to each and every member of the Board of Supervisors to save this site is crucial. Look for the forthcoming article on details for this communications campaign.

The Campaign Continues

2009-04-03T09:29:00.000-07:00

In the ongoing campaign to stop the senseless destruction of the historic Tree Row site a banner is now prominently displayed at the junction of Carmel Valley Road and Boronda Road. Petitions are being circulated through out the Valley, as are fliers calling the folks to action. While it seems inconceivable that after almost a quarter of a century of being told "No" by the residents and citizens of this area, Monterey County Public Works seems hell-bent on this ill-conceived project! Note in the second photo of the banner that was set up yesterday the posting by Public Works of their notice of the draft EIR stapled to one of the trees they hope to destroy! Insult to injury!

Public Outcry to County's Attack on Historical Site

2009-04-02T10:05:00.000-07:00

The public groundswell against the Monterey County Public Works plan to effectively destroy the Carmel Valley Road-Boronda Road Eucalyptus Tree Row, the Valley's first, and to date only, site on the State and the National Registers of Historic Places is well underway. Shortly petitions will be circulating, along with the flier pictured here. We ask everyone to once again jump on the "bandwagon" to stop this ongoing (since 1985) threat to our rural "neighborhood. The County's Draft EIR is at:

http://www.co.monterey.ca.us/publicworks/projects.htm.

CARMEL VALLEY'S FIRST SITE ON NATIONAL REGISTER THREATENED AGAIN!

2009-03-22T11:34:00.000-07:00

ALERT! ~ Public Works is at it again! Action Required!

Go to carmelvalleyhistory.blogspot.com for the latest announcement. More to follow at this site.

Elizabeth Barratt's Talk on the Boronda Family, Carmel Valley Association, September 14, 2008

2008-09-17T20:19:00.000-07:00

Here is a Microsoft Word document containing notes related to talk entitled The Boronda Family and Rancho Los Laureles given by Elizabeth Barratt to the Carmel Valley Association on September 14, 2008.

Letter Writing Campaign: Let the County Know Your Opinion!

2008-06-28T16:55:00.000-07:00

If you would like to write a letter expressing your concerns over the County' continued plans to take down the trees at Boronda Road, it is best to write them to the Acting Public Works Director and our Supervisor Dave Potter. Here are their addresses for your convenience:

County of Monterey
Resource Management Agency, Department of Public Works
ATTN: Paul H. Greenway, P.E., Acting Director
168 West Alisal Street, 2nd Floor
Salinas CA 93901-2438

County of Monterey Board of Supervisors
ATTN: Mr. Dave Potter, 5th District Supervisor
1200 Aguajito Road, Suite 001
Monterey CA 93940

Draft Environmental Report Planned for Carmel Valley Road Threatens Boronda Trees

2008-06-22T15:28:00.000-07:00

One of the last things that Ron Lundquist did before he retired earlier this month as Director of Public Works was sign a Notice of Preparation of a Draft Environmental Report on road "improvements" at Carmel Valley and Boronda Roads. Acting Public Works Director Paul H. Greenway is now the contact person on the County's continued effort to take out the eucalyptus trees at Boronda Road.

Not for the faint of heart, this 74 page document (download here) goes over several alternatives for the area -- including, believe it or not, a roundabout.

So, the fight continues on -- we'll keep you informed as news develops and appreciate your continued support.

Dedication Ceremony Makes Front Page, Local Section

2008-05-27T20:53:00.000-07:00

The Herald printed a a front page, Local section article about the dedication ceremony for the inclusion of the Boronda Road eucalyptus trees on the National Register of Historic Places today.

Lundquist to Retire

2008-05-26T06:01:00.000-07:00

Mentioning the original effort in 1985 to keep the County from taking out the eucalyptus trees, the The Herald did a story on Public Works chief Ron Lundquist's retirement. We wish him the best in retirement but also hope his successor has a strong understanding of community needs and our history in Carmel Valley.

Pictures from the Tree Blessing Ceremony

2008-05-26T05:39:00.000-07:00

With a eucalyptus branch and holy water, Fr. Rick Matters of All Saints Episcopal Church, Carmel, blesses the official National Register plaque held by Art Montgomery & Elizabeth Barratt, 18 May 2008. the plaque will be set into a granite rock and installed along Boronda Road.

Area residents celebrate tree blessing ceremony, 18 May 2008

Gerry Montgomery hugs tree after tree blessing ceremony, 18 May 2008

Dedication Ceremony Tentatively Scheduled for May 18th

2008-03-03T06:18:00.000-08:00

Watch this Space! We're planning an official dedication ceremony, tentatively scheduled for Sunday, May 18th at 2 PM. More details to follow. We have received another supportive letter from former-Rep. Leon Panetta saying he will be happy to make our dedication ceremony. There is also a new article about our efforts in the March addition of Carmel Valley Magazine on page 4. Thank each of you again for your support which has brought our lovely trees to this historic point!

Boronda Trees are listed on the National Register of Historic Places

2008-01-27T20:43:00.000-08:00

On January 10, 2008, we received the following letter (click here to view) that our application, which was submitted through the auspices of the State Office of Historic Preservation, and forwarded to the Keeper of the Register in Washington, D.C., was accepted. This means that besides being placed on the National Register of Historic Places, the historic tree row is also automatically placed on the California Register. Bestowal of historic status will not only serve to help protect this noble tree row, but will also enable application for grants to help fund its preservation. Again, our sincere thanks to all who supported this effort.

More support from Rep. Leon Panetta

2007-12-15T14:34:00.000-08:00

Former Congressional Representative Leon Panetta sent us another strong letter of support for our efforts. We very much appreciate his and your support for all we have accomplished to date!

Update on the Status of our Boronda Eucalyptus Trees

2007-12-15T14:27:00.000-08:00

On November 1, 2007, the Monterey County Historic Resources Review Board unanimously voted approval for nomination of the Boronda Road Eucalyptus Tree Row to the National Register of Historic Places. This approval was sent in a letter to Monterey County Fifth District Supervisor, Dave Potter. (As a side note, at the hearing, held at the Salinas Courthouse, a historical researcher hired by Monterey County Public Works to do paralell research on these trees, approached us while we were waiting for the meeting to begin. He said he "agreed with our findings, supported this nomination 100%, and wished us all the best.")

On November 8, 2007, we received word from the State Office of Historic Preservation in Sacramento that the State Historical Resources Commission, at its quarterly meeting held in Palm Springs, also unanimously approved recommendation of the Eucalyptus tree row for listing on the National Register of Historic Places.

This is the culmination of months of preparation of documents, rewrites, and submissions, to bring this historic tree row, and its preservation, to this point. Early on during the course of submitting paperwork, we were contacted by an Archaeological Consultant which Monterey County had initially hired independently to research the trees. He told us his office had also come to the same conclusion we had, that "these trees deserve to be on the National Register, and that was what his office would be reporting to Monterey County Public Works Department."

The arborist we consulted, a consultant to the J. Paul Getty Museum, examined the trees on November 9, 2007 and took core samplings of several trees. His findings validated the trees' age ("well over a century") and that nearly all of them, he said in his report, despite some unfortunate toppings over the years, are nonetheless in excellent health. "Considering the age of the grove, the ambience they provide for this road and the heritage they imply, I would suggest that the trees be retained and preserved as long as possible." He also implied the county needs to do a more careful job in maintaining them.

This nomination, having passed two of the three hurdles (approval at the county and state level), has now been forwarded to the Keeper of the National Register in Washington DC, who will have 45 days to respond with a yea or nay on its qualifications.

If all goes well, Carmel Valley will have a landmark of national importance! And the State of California will also have a new historic site.

This will go a long, long way towards preserving these noble trees. If Monterey County Public Works still insists on trying to take out our beloved trees, a lengthy, red-tape series of EIR procedures will go into effect. And the public will have far stronger legal counter measures to combat further efforts to destroy these trees.

Many thanks to all who have assisted in this preservation effort! And stay posted!

Carmel Valley Magazine Coverage

2007-11-08T07:50:00.000-08:00

Many thanks to Carmel Valley Magazine for printing a letter of support for our efforts to save the trees.

Support from former Rep. Leon Panetta

2007-11-04T14:52:00.001-08:00

We are pleased to announce that former Congressman and White House Chief of Staff Leon Panetta is supporting our efforts. A Carmel Vallet resident, Panetta recently sent a letter of support.

Supportive Message from Former CV Resident

2007-11-04T14:44:00.000-08:00

Hello,

My name is Pegge Kline (formerly Pegge Draper) and I saw the article in Carmel Valley Magazine on your efforts to save the Boronda trees. Oh what memories! I grew up at #1 Rancho Rd., directly across the street from Boronda Rd. I left Carmel Valley in the late 70's but have never in my life smelled Eucalyptus without instantly being transformed back to Boronda Rd. I always loved those trees. I just wanted to personally thank you for your efforts to preserve them. Carmel Valley was a haven to grow up in. I don't often get a chance to go back. So much has changed and so much remains the same. I was wondering if you had any photos of those trees that may be available for purchase? I did take the liberty of saving to my computer one of the pics on your website. I certainly hope I didn't violate any copyright laws or such. I would really be interested in purchasing a print if any are available. Those trees are a part of me and my childhood. I can't tell you how many times I walked, rode my bike or rode my horse down Boronda to friends or the river or the Saddle Club. Is there a way I can help with your efforts? Anything you could let me know would be greatly appreciated. Thank you so much for your time.

Pegge Draper Kline
Dallas Or

An Update on Our Efforts....

2007-09-23T12:20:00.000-07:00

1. On July 13, 2007 a set of documents were prepared by Dick and Elizabeth Barratt and sent to the State Office of Historic Preservation to start the nomination process which, if successful, would eventually place this tree row on the National Register.

2. The Blue Ribbon Carmel Valley Road Committee met at Mid-Valley Fire Dept. on Sept. 20. The Boronda Road trees were briefly discussed. An employee of public works spoke. He said basically that, since the submission to the National Register went in, the county has hired a historian to do a more thorough historic study of the trees for their department. This special study will delay the county's Boronda Road tree removal process until possibly into the next year. He also acknolwledged that, even though public works "can recommend taking out the trees," it will eventually be the Monterey County Board of Supervisors, not public works, who makes the final decision.

3. At the September 20 meeting, Public Works admitted it has "competing interests" with the property owners who will be affected by the proposed removal of these trees. Even if the historic nomination to the National Register is approved, public works says they will hire an environmental consultant to show them how to work with the traffic problem they feel the trees
are causing. (Meaning, they will still try to find some way to remove some of the trees if they can work it out.) Now, however, they will have more red tape and burocracy to go through. Public works is now leaning more towards removal of the six eucalyptus on Carmel Valley Road and says they want to limit he number they had originally planned to take out on Boronda Road.

4. The Monterey County Historic Resources Review Board has been asked to comment on the submission of the tree row to the National Register. There will be a meeting in Salinas on October 4 to discuss the application, and whether or not to offer approval. The comments will be forwarded to the State Office of Historic Preservation.

Save the Trees at Boronda Road Accomplishments to Date

2007-08-02T20:43:00.000-07:00

Since May, when Monterey County Public Works announced its most recent plan to remove our beloved eucalyptus trees at Boronda and Carmel Valley Roads, your committee has accomplished the following:

Obtained over 100 signatures on a petition calling for preserving the trees and asking for an alternative, e.g. a traffic stop, at the intersection.
Sent an informational packet, plus the petition, to each Monterey County Supervisor, plus copies to heads of concerned community organizations.
Letter of support from The Hon. Leon Panetta
Letters to the Editor published in Herald, Monterey County Weekly.
KION interview with pro-tree Committee member Gerry Montgomery who said “these trees have lived on the land for the past 130 years and have earned the right to remain.” Counter-view from Monterey Co. Public Works representative said they “would take another look at the history of the trees and see if they could save several more.”
National Register of Historic Places nomination prepared by Dick and Elizabeth Barratt, submitted July 13, is “in the works” and will take several months for a final ruling on their qualification as Trees of Historic Significance. Should the nomination be accepted, these trees come under certain protections.
Jeanette Nathanson, Elizabeth Barratt and others met on July 26 with the Blue Ribbon Carmel Valley Road Committee, Fifth District Supervisor Dave Potter presiding, at which time they were told the county had hired a consulting firm to “investigate the history of the trees” to “determine whether they were historically significant.” The consulting firm the county hired is the same one which wrote up the negative mitigation report stating that removal of the trees would “have little cultural or esthetic significance.”
Obtained from Supervisor Potter the assurance that a public meeting on the trees would be scheduled soon at the Trail and Saddle Club for residents to voice their concerns. We will notify you of time and date when it is announced to us.
So that we may be well organized, if you wish to speak at the above meeting, please email or phone in and give us your name, email address and phone number and be willing to come to a planning meeting, TBA.

Elizabeth Barratt 659-4211/info@chesbrohouse.com
Jeanette Nathanson 659-3226/carmeljan@aol.com
Gerry Montgomery 659-4622/gerrylmontgomery@yahoo.com

Save the Trees at Boronda Road

2007-06-24T07:21:00.000-07:00

Monterey County Public Works wants rip out 12 eucalyptus trees from the west side of Carmel Valley Road and down 500 feet of Boronda Road. This “improvement” is part of a larger plan to widen Carmel Valley Road at Boronda and Rancho Roads. (Click to Enlarge Pictures)

These 130 year-old trees were planted between 1878-1881 by the manager of Nathan Spaulding, then-owner of the Los Laureles Rancho and builder of part of today’s Los Laureles Lodge. The lane of eucalyptus leads down to the drive of the historic Boronda Adobe.

When we destroy our history, we toss out our heritage and our sense of place. The loss of these eucalyptus trees, a part of our past still alive in the present. would be an unspeakably tragic annal in the chronicle of Carmel Valley’s history.

Please write to Monterey County Public Works asking them to put aside this plan to destroy our historic eucalyptus trees and instead create a four-way stop at this intersection. I doubt most of us would have any significant opposition to this. Not nearly as significant as chopping down the trees that we who live here revere and respect.

The initial study document on the proposed intersection improvements on Carmel Valley Road at Boronda Road and Rancho Roads is on file for review at the County Public Works Department, 168 W. Alisal St., Salinas, and the Carmel Valley branch library, 65 W. Carmel Valley Road. The document can be accessed on-line at:
http://www.co.monterey.ca.us/publicworks/projects.htm

See this post as a PDF Flyer to print and distribute among your friends. You can also send Elizabeth Barratt an email to get periodic email updates.

Photos by Richard Barratt

History Repeats Itself, Public Works Was At It 22 Years Ago

2007-06-23T08:54:00.000-07:00

After reading several articles dating back to 1985, here are several clippings that were originally published in the Monterey Penninsula Herald regarding the trees at Boronda Road.

Some points to consider. Even though a 4-way stop was suggested at the Boronda Road-Carmel Valley Road intersection in 1985, supported by then-District 5 Supervisor Karin Strasser Kauffman, as well as the Carmel Valley Property Owners Association (Now called the Carmel Valley Association), this suggestion never materialized. Ron Lunquist--still with public works today--is trying to bring back his old plan from 1985 to take out the historic Boronda Road eucalyptus trees, widen the road, and put left turn pockets, as if all this were fresh information instead of yesteryear's rehashed scheme. The notion that trees--and not drivers--are responsible for creating accidents, is still being put forth by his department. His plan was clearly rejected in 1985, and should be rejected now, once and for all.

In 1985, for example, his office blatantly claimed, without citing causes, but implying that it was the trees, that there were 66 accidents in 3 years on the Laureles Grade-Carmel Valley Village stretch. John Radon, a volunteer fireman, went and researched the records and came up with 55 accidents in 4 years. And, he noted, only four of the accidents involved a tree-one of the old oaks which borders the road at that section. Again and again when the hearing before the County Board of Supervisors was held, Carmel Valley residents came forward to say no, no, and no, to taking down the trees.

In the end. Lundquist's then director, Bruce McCain, had to give up all his plans when the County Board of Supervisors also said no. They then issued a permanent stay on taking down the 12 oak under question on Carmel Valley Road. This left the Boronda Road eucalyptus trees, which Lundquist had placed in a separate removal package. But, in the end, he conceded, he could not go against the property owners whose land bordered the public right of way where these eucalyptus were slated for severe topping and eventual removal.

So,what is that old French saying? Oh yes. "The more things change, the more they stay the same."

What happened to Strasser Kauffman's plan for a four-way stop? And why are we still waiting?? And why is Lundquist back at his old scheme to take out our historic trees? And widen the roadbed and put in left turn pockets? Why can't we just keep it simple by putting in a four-way stop, and saving the trees, clearly a "win-win" for all concerned?

Historic Eucalyptus Trees at Carmel Valley and Boronda Road Threatened

2007-06-22T08:58:00.000-07:00

by Elizabeth Barratt

An Aesop’s fable tells of an old man who was planting a tree. Three young men came along and began to tease him, saying he was foolish because the tree would only provide pleasure for others long after he was dead. The old man replied, “Others before me provided for my happiness and it is my duty to provide for those who shall come after me.”

For the past 130 years, Carmel Valley residents and visitors have been treated to just such pleasure in the form of a row of massive eucalyptus trees which line Carmel Valley Road at the entrance to Boronda Road. The giant trees wrap around the corner and march in unison down Boronda Road, ending at the driveway leading to the historic Boronda Adobe.

According to the memoirs of Carmel Valley old-timer Joe Hitchcock, the trees were planted between 1878-1881 by Kinzea Clinkinbeard (also spelled Klinkenbeard), brother-in-law of Nathan Spaulding, then-owner of the Los Laureles Rancho. It was under Spaulding’s ownership that some of the buildings which comprise today’s Los Laureles Lodge were built. Since Clinkenbeard and his family lived for a time at the Boronda adobe while he oversaw construction of the Los Laureles Lodge, it is surmised he planted the eucalyptus to create a welcoming entrance to the venerable adobe homestead.

The original owner of the Rancho Los Laureles, Jose Manuel Boronda, was granted the 6,625 acre property in 1839 by the Mexican government. Mrs. Juana Cota de Boronda is credited as one of the area’s first to introduce Monterey Jack Cheese, which she sold to neighbors and to Carmel Mission Indians. Monterey Jack is now credited by the California Milk Advisory Board as the only cheese “truly native to California.” Boronda descendants occupied the adobe home until the property was sold in 1868. It was resold six years later to Spaulding.

Today twelve of the historic eucalyptus trees which have welcomed travelers in the Boronda Road area for so long are threatened with removal. A proposal by Monterey County Public Works plans to widen the intersection at both Boronda Road and across Carmel Valley Road at Rancho Road. The plan is to create left-turn lanes from Carmel Valley onto Boronda and Rancho Roads. The road project includes improvements at Country Club Road. In all 23 trees are slated for removal at these
sites.

According to the county’s recently published “Proposed Mitigated Negative Declaration: Carmel Valley Road Intersection Improvements,” the impact of the trees’ removal on the scenic vista and degradation of the existing visual character or quality of the site and its surroundings are judged as “esthetically less than significant.” Loss of these historic eucalyptus trees, which range from 36” to 120” in diameter, the document continues, “may alter the current viewshed from Carmel Valley Road.” A further rationale given for tree removal states that the trees were planted and are not native to Carmel Valley
area. Accordingly, they do not come under protection as do oaks and other native growth.

Although improved sight lines, thus a safety feature for drivers, is also given to justify axing the trees, provision for a four-way stop or a stop light at the intersection is not included as an alternative. The document goes on to declare that “Removal of these trees would increase views of the residences along Carmel Valley Road, Boronda Road, surrounding hillsides and natural plant communities.” One must ask whether the privacy-inclined residents in the impacted area want their homes to become more visible from the road. As for drivers along Carmel Valley Road itself who pass this section, the report states, “Impacts to the vista from Carmel Valley Road are expected to be minimal.” Interesting. Boronda Road’s scenic impact was sufficient for the writer of an April 2007 Sunset magazine article on Carmel Valley to include a color photo (p.36) of the road and its eucalyptus row.

When we destroy our history, we toss out our heritage and our sense of place. Without our heritage and sense of place, we have no story left to tell of those who passed this way before our time. As with the old man who in Aesop’s fable plants a tree for the delight of those yet to come, loss of these historic eucalyptus trees would be an unspeakably tragic annal in the chronicle of Carmel Valley’s history.

The initial study document on the proposed intersection improvements on Carmel Valley Road at Boronda Road and Rancho Roads is on file for review at the County Public Works Department, 168 W. Alisal St., Salinas, and the Carmel Valley branch library, 65 W. Carmel Valley Road.

The document can be accessed on-line at:
http://www.co.monterey.ca.us/publicworks/projects.htm

About the Author
A 25-year resident of Carmel Valley, Elizabeth Barratt is a retired newspaper columnist and feature writer. She has
written for numerous local publications, including the Monterey County

Herald, The Valley Adviser, The Carmel Valley Sun, Coast Weekly, Prelude Magazine, Monterey Life Magazine and Monterey Bay Magazine as well as newspapers and magazines in Santa Clara and San Benito Counties including The Gilroy Dispatch, Miracle Miles, The Pinnacle Newspaper and Out and About Magazine. Her family has lived in California for six generations.

This article prepared by concerned citizen Elizabeth Barratt. Message:
(831) 659-4211; or email: info@chesbrohouse.com.

Wrong Fix for Intersection

2007-06-06T21:30:00.000-07:00

Monterey County Herald
June 6, 2007

Editor,

I would like to bring to the attention of all Carmel Valley residents the changes now proposed to reconfigure the intersection of Carmel Valley Road and Boronda Roads due to the number of accidents, presumably because of excessive speed. The proposal to widen the intersection and add turn lanes will do nothing to reduce speeds but will enable drivers
to travel faster.

Horse trailers turning onto Carmel Valley Road already have difficulty, as do folks trying to enter Boronda Road from driveways near this intersection. Wouldn’t a four-way stop sign be more effective than project costing more than $800,000 and requiring the confiscation of a considerable amount of private property and removal of at least a dozen landmark eucalyptus and oak trees?

Details of this proposal can be found at the library in Carmel Valley Village. Please check it out, then write to Monterey County’s Public Works director, Ronald Lundquist (fax: 755-4958) and tell him how you feel.

Jeanette Nathanson
Carmel Valley

Monterey Jack Cheese Introduced to Carmel Valley by Pioneer Boronda Family

2007-06-03T22:31:00.000-07:00

by Elizabeth Barratt The ancestor of today’s Monterey Jack Cheese was in common everyday use during the early settlement of California, being made from excess stores of milk. The product stems from a very old traditional household recipe for “queso blanco” (white cheese,) or “queso del pais,” (country cheese.)

When the earliest Spanish missionaries arrived on our shores to build the great mission ranchos, the cheese recipe came along with them. Later, on individual farms where a cow or two were kept, the housewife would produce all the family’s cheese. Any extra cheese would be sent to market, or sold to neighbors.

The earliest Carmel Valley cheesemaker was Mrs. Juana Cota de Boronda, who with her husband Manuel lived on the Rancho Los Laureles. The Borondas were the first permanent white settlers to the valley, arriving in 1840.

Mrs. Boronda was said to have produced a delicious cheese which she began to market in the area. It was said she pressed the cheese with a common house jack, thus the name “jack.” The cheese is simple to manufacture: milk is heated, the whey drawn off and the curds pressed into a cloth bag. This is then weighted for a period of time, either by a press, or some other heavy object. Joe Hitchcock, in his memoirs of the early days in the Valley, remembered the youngest Boronda son telling him about the old Indian named Roman who would purchase Mrs. Boronda’s cheese to take back to Carmel Mission.

When the eldest Boronda son inherited the family adobe and rancho, he sold it in the late 1860s to several buyers and by 1878 the entire title was purchased by Nathan Spaulding. His manager, Kinzea Klinkenbeard, lived for a time in the Boronda home while, across Carmel Valley Road, the early buildings of Los Laureles Lodge were being built.

In 1882, the same year David Jacks began to ship his “Jacks Monterey Cheese” out of the area, the Pacific Improvement Company purchased the Los Laureles Rancho, and the dairy on the property supplied milk, butter and cheese for guests at the company’s premier resort, the Del Monte Hotel. The dairy marketed Mrs. Boronda’s cheese recipe under the name “Del Monte Cheese.” During this period, Los Laureles Lodge was used as an “outpost” type of hunting and fishing lodge for guests staying at the Del Monte Hotel.

Although no longer made on a large commercial scale in Monterey County, Monterey Jack Cheese continues to draw admiration for its semi-firm, nutty taste. According to the California Milk Advisory Board, Monterey Jack is the only cheese “truly native to California.”

Carmel Valley history buffs can take pride that Mrs. Boronda’s version of this legendary cheese got its start in the landmark Boronda adobe. The home is located just off Boronda Road, the road where the beckoning and peaceful lane of eucalyptus trees, planted 130 years ago by Nathan Spaulding’s manager, still leads travelers today past the home’s entrance and points the way onward, toward the Carmel River.

A Brief History of Carmel Valley

2007-05-31T22:05:00.000-07:00

by Elizabeth Barratt

The Valley’s earliest inhabitants were made up of two separate Indian tribes, the Esselens and the Coastanoans. Archaeological findings indicate permanent village settlements in the Valley began about 1,500 to 2,000 years ago. The Esselens lived in Upper Carmel Valley, in the Tularcitos and Tassajara areas, while the Coastanoans occupied the area from mid-valley to the coast. These tribelet communities, each made up of about 100 to 150 members, tended to live and remain within about a 30-mile radius. They dressed in woven grass fibers and animal skins and lived by hunting and fishing. They also gathered seeds, acorns, nuts and berries.

Although early explorer Sebastian Vizcaino briefly explored Carmel and Monterey Bays in 1602, Spanish occupation did not begin until 168 years later. After one failed attempt to rediscover Monterey Bay in 1769, a successful expedition arrived in 1770. This group included Padre Junipero Serra, Gaspar de Portolà, Padre Juan Crespi, Juan Bautista de Alvarado and a contingent of Spanish soldiers. These were the men who began the Spanish occupation of Alta California.

Mission San Carlos de Borromeo was founded the following year, in 1771, at the mouth of the Valley near the Carmel River. Acreage in Carmel Valley was soon taken over to be used as mission ranch lands, tended by neophytes, or Christianized Mission Indians. An abundance of barley, wheat and maize was grown on these lands. Livestock raising was also a large part of mission ranch life, beginning with cattle and hogs, with goats and sheep added later. From 1782 on, except for drought years, irrigation from the Carmel River enabled crop production.

During the subsequent Mexican period (1822-1848) large land grants in Carmel Valley were given to certain individuals. These were: Rancho los Tularcitos (1834) to Rafael Gomez, who built the first adobe house in the Valley. Next came Rancho San Francisquito (1835) to Doña Catalina Manzanelli de Munras; Rancho Potrero de San Carlos (1837) to Fructuoso del Real; Rancho Cañada de la Segunda (1839) to Làzaro Soto; and Rancho los Laureles (1839-1840) to José Manuel de Boronda.
The Borondas were the first white settlers to live in Carmel Valley. Their adobe home, situated near the Carmel River on Boronda Road, still stands, under private ownership. Señora Juana Cota de Boronda is credited with the introduction to the area of the now-famous Monterey Jack Cheese.

With the coming of California’s statehood in 1850, the American period began in Carmel Valley. For the next 75 years, life was rural and the landscape remained unspoiled. The large ranchos were eventually sold and some were divided into smaller farms. Dairies and orchards, along with farming and cattle raising, were the main livelihoods. Many of today’s ranches and roads bear the names of the Valley’s earliest settlers from this period: Meadows, Peralta, Hitchcock, Atherton, Wolter, Sargent, Berwick, Hatton, Berta, Steffani, James, Schulte, Moore, Blomquist, Holman, Martin, Freitas and Machado, to name a few.

Progress accelerated in Carmel Valley beginning in the 1920s with the Robles del Rio subdivision. Then, equestrian ranches, guest lodges, and shopping centers gradually appeared over the next decades. A widened road, enabling more tourist travel, encouraged growth. The Valley’s rural character slowly began to change.

Although future growth is limited by the Carmel Valley Master Plan, local concern over demolition of old barns, homes, buildings, and historic trees continues to spark interest in preserving Carmel Valley’s unique natural and historical resources.