Bees and beasts in Temecula Valley, circa 1910-1945

Ranches dominated almost all of the Temecula Valley in 1910. The Vail Ranch owned 87,500-acres spreading from south of today's Temecula Parkway to Clinton Keith Road, west to U.S. Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton and east to past Vail Lake. The two small villages of Temecula and Murrieta were sandwiched between ranch lands of the Vails and other ranchers, including the Roripaughs and Barnetts. The entire area was known as a cattle-grazing empire.

The Vail Company purchased yearlings, cattle a year old, and fed them in the local grasslands until they weighed enough to sell to a packing plant to cut into the renowned Vail steaks seen in Los Angeles restaurants. Vail also ran a dairy at the feedlot where the Home Depot of Temecula is now.

In contrast to the 2-ton grazing beasts, tiny bees proved highly profitable to the Vail Company. Listings in a ledger book show in August 1910 the Vail Company sold 13 dairy calves for $119.25. Listed on the same page, 51 cases of honey equaling 6,158 pounds sold at six and a quarter cents per pound for $384.87. In September 1910, 20,504 pounds of honey sold for $1,281.31. In October 1910, 665.5 pounds of beeswax sold at 26 cents per pound for $173.03.

Where did the Vails get their bees? We may assume that honey bees have always been in California, but recent research told a different story.

In 1872, the San Diego Union related how honeybees were first introduced in California. A Pennsylvanian beekeeper, J.S. Harbison, is credited with bringing honey bees to California. In 1855, when he shipped one hive to Sacramento, most of the bees died or escaped. This mishap did not deter him from trying again. He believed his first attempt proved bees could survive the long trip.

In 1857, Harbison accompanied his shipment of 67 hives from Pennsylvania to California via the Panama Canal. During the voyage, he opened the hives occasionally to allow the bees to fly, hoping to increase the chances for safe delivery to the West. But, even with his care and attention, few of the hives arrived in good shape. In the following two years, he brought more hives and had enough to start an apiary in California.

Other investors followed Harbison's example, and by 1860, over 5,000 hives were imported into the state. Harbison eventually brought four apiaries of 1,180 bees, including 17 of the choicest queens, to San Diego County where he received awards for the quality of his honey from the State Agricultural Association.

From its difficult beginning, the honey industry took off. In 1871, San Diego County, which included the Temecula Valley at that time, exported 27,690 pounds of honey. It was reported that the Clark & Harbison Company sold 300 stands of bees to farmers in every part of the county. According to the San Diego newspaper, "Nearly every ranch in San Diego has now an apiary on a small scale."

An 1875 article, mentioned the steamer Ancon was loaded with outgoing products of 40,000 pounds of wool and 2,000 pounds of honey. In 1877, there was a notice that A.C. Wentworth of Fallbrook moved 300 stands of bees 10 miles to Temecula Canyon where they had more access to water.

In a quote from an 1893 article, just after Riverside County was formed, breaking away from San Diego County, "The honey crop of Riverside County is an important item. From Temecula alone, 200 tons of honey were shipped last season."

Riverside County's climate suited the honey business with blossoms from the white sage making the best honey and buckwheat blossoms also making good honey. A rancher could start an apiary, with the minimal investment of hives and artificial combs, then at harvest the purchase of cans and cases.

As the honey business developed in Riverside County, a county bee inspector would watch for "foul brood" that would destroy entire hives.

The following letter to Roy Fernald in Temecula, dated June 2, 1943, told about bee business in Riverside County.

"Friend Roy, got your letter today. We have no inspector in Riverside County at present. Wright is looking for someone for the job. Bees been doing very well but it is almost impossible to get help. Too much war. Wish that I was young enough to take part myself. I have to let the other fellows do the bee work as I cannot do the lifting. Lots of honey buyers offering ceiling price of 12 cents for any kind of honey. L.L. Andrews, Corona."

Honoring the nearly forgotten bee industry of the area, the Temecula Valley Historical Society has a bee exhibit in the Little Temecula History Center museum housed in the red barn at the corner of Redhawk Parkway and Wolf Store Road, next to the Kohls store.

There, a visitor may don beekeepers protective gear, pretend to smoke a hive and to extract honey from the combs. Also on display are original honey sales records from the Vail Company with tins and cases that shipped honey by train from Temecula.

The Little Temecula History Center is partially opened in the COVID-19 purple tier, with the honey display accessible with other items in the open-air area Sunday afternoons from noon until 5 p.m., except during inclement weather.

For more information, about the Little Temecula History Center or the Temecula Valley Historical Society, contact Rebecca Farnbach at [email protected].

Rebecca Marshall Farnbach is an author and co-author of several history books about the Temecula area. The books are available for purchase at the Little Temecula History Center or through http://www.temeculahistoricalsociety.org. Visit her Amazon author page at http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B01JQZVO5E.