Yerba Buena Schoolhouse in 1929. The photograph was taken by the Ventura County Library, which took its bookmobile to underserved areas such as this one in the Yerba Buena area of the Santa Monica Mountains, where the Houston Family built their homestead. It is probable that those posing here comprise the entire student body at that time. The school house lasted until the early 1950s. Photo courtesy the E. P. Foster Library.
From Malibu to the Ventura County line, the Santa Monica Mountains bring to mind beautiful hiking trails and amazing coastal view homes. But in 1917, when homesteaders Lauretta and John Spurgeon Houston arrived in what is still a remote corner of Ventura County, life was much tougher.
Rediscover their story at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, March 1, when the Museum of Ventura County presents the free lecture The Story Within The Story: Behind the Scenes of the Journal of Ventura County History, the museum reported in a media release.
The museum’s Research Librarian Charles Johnson takes the audience behind the scenes of the newest publication of the “Journal of Ventura County History,” which focuses on the struggles of the Houston family. Johnson describes the rediscovery of “The Big Ranch Fight” an article about the homesteaders published 57 years ago, and introduces the “village” of people who helped him bring their story to a new generation of readers. He is joined by Linda Valois, National Park Service, Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, who has lived and worked in the area for over a decade and who describes current efforts by the National Park Service to preserve the area’s history through research and oral interviews.
Museum of Ventura County members are automatically members of the Ventura County Historical Society, so they are encouraged to not only come for the presentation, but to vote on updates proposed for the Society’s Articles of Incorporation.
“The Journal of Ventura County History” is published twice yearly, and is one of the benefits of museum membership. Copies of the new issue may be purchased at the March 1 event or reserved through the museum store by calling (805) 653-0323 ext 316. Since 2008 “The Journal of Ventura County History” has been a joint venture of the Museum of Ventura County and Moorpark College. Prior to that, the museum’s Historical Society published it for 53 years as “The Quarterly.”
The Museum of Ventura County is located at 100 East Main Street in downtown Ventura. Hours are 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. Admission to the exhibitions is $4 adults, $3 seniors, $1 children 6-17, members and children under 6 are free. For more museum information go to www.venturamuseum.org or call 805-653-0323.
Rural mailboxes line present day (2012) Houston Road, named after the 1917 homesteading family. The road leads to the original site of Lauretta and John Houston's homestead (which is now a private residence).