Adolfo Camarillo facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Adolfo Camarillo
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| Born | 29 October 1864 |
| Died | 10 December 1958 (aged 94) |
| Occupation | Ranchero, horse breeder |
Don Adolfo Camarillo (born October 29, 1864 – died December 10, 1958) was a very important person in California. He was a Californio (a person of Spanish or Mexican heritage born in California). Adolfo was known for his kindness, his large ranch, and for breeding horses. He helped start the city of Camarillo, California, along with his brother Juan Camarillo Jr..
Adolfo also gave the land for Adolfo Camarillo High School. The special horse breed called Camarillo White Horse was named after him. He started breeding these beautiful white horses in 1921. This special horse line continues even today. Because of his generous spirit, Pope Pius XII honored him in 1950. He was named a Knight of St. Gregory the Great. This is a high honor from the Pope.
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Adolfo Camarillo's Life Story
Adolfo Camarillo was born to Juan (1812–1880) and Martina Camarillo (1826–1898). He had four sisters and one brother. In 1875, his father Juan bought a large piece of land. This land was called Rancho Calleguas. It was one of the last Mexican land grants.
When Juan died, Adolfo was only 16 years old. He took over running the family ranch. His brother Juan Jr. was more interested in religion. The ranch was huge, almost 10,000 acres (about 4,000 hectares). After their mother died, the land was left to Adolfo and Juan Jr. This land later became the famous Camarillo Ranch. It eventually grew into the city of Camarillo. Adolfo ran the ranch until he passed away in 1958.
In 1885, Adolfo graduated from the International Business College. This college was part of Woodbury University in Los Angeles. After graduating, he took full charge of the ranch at age 21. In 1888, he married Isabella Menchaca (1861–1936). Adolfo and Isabella had seven children. Their children were Frank, Isabel, Minerva, Rosa, Carmen, Ave Marie, and Martina.
The ranch changed over time. It started mainly with cattle. But Adolfo also grew many crops. He became a leader in farming new things. He grew lima beans, barley, corn, alfalfa, walnuts, and citrus fruits.
Adolfo loved fiestas (parties), horses, rodeos, and barbecues. He had a stable with about a dozen pure white horses. These horses were a mix of Arabian and Morgan breeds. His horses often took part in parades all over California.
Adolfo died from pneumonia on December 10, 1958. He was buried in the family crypt. This crypt is under St. Mary Magdalen Church in Camarillo. His parents, wife, sisters, and brother are also buried there.
The Famous Camarillo White Horses
The Camarillo White Horse is a special breed of horse. They are known for their beautiful pure white color. This breed started in 1921. That year, Adolfo Camarillo bought a nine-year-old horse named Sultan. He bought Sultan at the California State Fair in Sacramento.
Sultan was a champion horse. He won many awards across California. Adolfo bred Sultan with Morgan mares (female horses) at his ranch. For the next 65 years, the Camarillo family privately owned and bred these white horses.
Since the 1930s, these horses became very famous. They were featured in parades and events along the California coast. Once a year, Adolfo rode one of his white Arabian horses. He would dress in a colorful Spanish costume for the Fiesta of Santa Barbara.
The Camarillo White Horses were owned only by the Camarillo family for a long time. This changed after Adolfo's daughter Carmen passed away in 1987. According to her wishes, the horses were sold at a public auction. This ended the family's special ownership of the breed. The city of Camarillo especially missed them. These horses were a favorite in the annual Christmas and Fiesta parades.
The horses are a symbol of the city of Camarillo. They appear on street signs, city vehicles, and many local businesses.
Many important people have ridden Camarillo White Horses. These include Governor Ronald Reagan and President Warren G. Harding. Also, Nobel Peace Prize winner John Mott rode them. Even movie stars like Leo Carrillo and Steven Ford (son of President Gerald Ford) enjoyed riding them.
As of 2010, there were only 20 Camarillo White Horses left. This included three stallions, five mares, three geldings, two colts, and seven foals.
Adolfo's Community Roles
Adolfo Camarillo was very active in his community. He was a member of the Ventura County Board of Supervisors for eight years. He also belonged to the Knights of Columbus. He served as the Grand Knight of the Oxnard Council twice.
Adolfo was also a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks in Santa Barbara. He was part of the Native Sons of the Golden West.
Besides running his ranch, he was a vice president of several banks. These included the First National Bank of Ventura and the Ojai State Bank. He was also a director of the Bank of A. Levy. He owned shares in other banks too.
Camarillo had leadership roles in many organizations. He was on the Ventura County Fair Board and the California State Fair Board. He was also involved with the Camarillo City Chamber of Commerce. He helped lead the Peoples Lumber Company and the California Lima Bean Growers Association. He served on the Pleasant Valley School District Board of Trustees for a very long time. He was on the board for 57 years, from 1894 to 1951.
Adolfo's Gifts to the Community
Adolfo Camarillo gave many important gifts to Ventura County. He helped create the Oxnard Union High School District in 1901. This district covered a large area.
In 1956, the district wanted to build the first high school in Camarillo. Adolfo generously donated 50 acres of land for it. He was there for the groundbreaking ceremony of the school. It was named Adolfo Camarillo High School and opened in 1958. Carol Yung, a volunteer at the Camarillo Ranch, shared a fun fact. She said the high school cheerleaders and band would walk to the ranch house to celebrate his birthday.
In 1904, Camarillo donated land to help extend the Southern Pacific Railroad through Camarillo. He also gave land for the expansion of St. John's Seminary. This included St. John's College. In 1937, he donated land for the Conejo Grade part of the highway. This highway is now the Ventura Freeway.
In 1890, Adolfo planted two rows of eucalyptus trees. He had help from two Chumash Indian boys. These trees lined Highway 101 in Camarillo for many years. Some of these trees are still there today along the north side of the freeway.
The Camarillo Ranch House
The Camarillo Ranch House is a beautiful Queen Anne Victorian style home. Adolfo Camarillo and other workers built it in 1892. This house was the heart of the ranch. It was a place for culture and social gatherings. Adolfo hired architects Franklin Ward and Herman Anlauf to design it.
Adolfo mainly used his ranch for growing crops. His most important crops were lima beans, barley, corn, alfalfa, walnuts, and citrus fruits.
According to Carol Yung, some of Adolfo's land is now part of the Mission Oaks and Leisure Village areas. These are in the city that carries his name. After he died in 1958, the land went to his family. Later, due to some family deaths and financial issues, parts of the land were sold. Some land was also given to St. John Cemetery.
In 1997, the city of Camarillo received the 4.5-acre (about 1.8-hectare) property. This included the barn and stable next to the ranch house. The city moved the buildings to their current spots on the ranch in 1999. They also fixed the outside and foundation of the Camarillo Ranch House between 1999 and 2000. This repair work included new lights, a ranch-style fence, a new roof, and updated utilities. About $1.5 million and over 10,000 volunteer hours were put into this project.
In 2001, the Camarillo Ranch House opened to the public. Today, the city of Camarillo helps with basic upkeep. The Camarillo Ranch Foundation has restored the entire inside of the house. This was done with donations and help from community volunteers. The foundation worked hard to make the rooms look like they did when Adolfo and his family lived there.
The Camarillo Ranch Foundation
The Camarillo Ranch Foundation was started in 1998 by the city of Camarillo. This foundation is a non-profit organization.
The foundation's goal is:
- "To preserve, restore, and maintain The Camarillo Ranch as a historic site."
- "To work with public and private groups to keep it going."
- "To show its place in California's rich history."
- "To make it a community center for learning, fun, and enjoyment."
- "To display our diverse history and culture."
Events at the Ranch House
Michael Lavenant, a board member from 2001 to 2011, shared that the Camarillo Ranch House is used for many events. These include weddings, receptions, bar mitzvahs, filming, and company events. Weddings are the biggest way the ranch earns money each year.
The restored barn also hosts many events. For example, in 2010, Republican candidate Meg Whitman visited the ranch. She held a campaign event there to talk about important topics. The ranch also hosts two big fundraisers each year. These are the Candle Light Gala and the Octoberfest Car Show.
Images for kids
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Adolfo Camarillo on one of his famous white horses.
