Hofer Ranch facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Hofer Ranch
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 Location in California
Location in the United States
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| Location | 11248 S. Turner Ave., Ontario, California |
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| Area | 5.1 acres (2.1 ha) |
| Architectural style | Vernacular, Ranch |
| NRHP reference No. | 93000596 |
| Added to NRHP | July 8, 1993 |
The Hofer Ranch is a really old farm and home located in Ontario, California. It's found in a part of southern California called the Pomona Valley, in San Bernardino County. This ranch has a long and interesting history!
Contents
The Story of Hofer Ranch
Starting the Ranch
The Hofer Ranch began its journey in 1882. A man named Sanford Ballou bought the land without even seeing it first! He didn't start building right away. It wasn't until 1898 that he and his son, Benton, built the first barn.
Benton Ballou lived at the ranch and took care of it. In the early days, the ranch mostly grew fruits like grapes, apricots, and peaches.
Building the Main House
In 1905, Benton built the main house on the ranch. He did this by adding a lot to an old school building that was already on the property. The house has a special design called vernacular California ranch style. This means it has a low roof and looks wide and spread out.
Growing and Changing Crops
By 1915, the Hofer Ranch had grown much bigger, covering about 900 acres! They started farming grain crops too, but these didn't make as much money as the fruits.
In the 1930s, the ranch mostly became a vineyard, growing lots of grapes. This happened because tiny worms called nematodes caused problems for other fruits. Also, new government rules from the New Deal made other fruits less profitable.
A Historic Place
Because of its important history, the Hofer Ranch was added to the National Register of Historic Places on July 8, 1993. This means it's recognized as a special historic site.
Hofer Ranch Today
Even today, the Hofer Ranch is still working! As of 2014, it's much smaller, about 5 acres. People say it's the best-preserved ranch in Ontario. It's one of the few remaining places that show the area's rich farming past.
