Jonathan Bailey House (Whittier, California) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Jonathan Bailey House
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Bailey House, 2008
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 Location in the Los Angeles metropolitan area
Location in California
Location in the United States
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| Location | 13421 E. Camilla St. Whittier, California |
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| Built | c. 1860 |
| NRHP reference No. | 77000304 |
| Added to NRHP | August 29, 1977 |
The Jonathan Bailey House is a very old and important building in Whittier, California. It was once known as "The Old Ranch House." This historic home was built around 1868 or 1869 by Jacob Gerkens.
In 1887, a Quaker couple named Jonathan Bailey and his wife, Rebecca, moved into the house. It is the oldest building still standing in Whittier today. The first Quaker meetings in the area were even held right on the front porch of the Bailey House.
In 1975, the Jonathan Bailey House was given to the City of Whittier. Now, it's a museum run by the Whittier Historical Society. The City of Whittier Park Department helps keep it in good shape, with lots of help from volunteers. Because of its history, the house was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1977.
Meet Jonathan Bailey
Jonathan Bailey was born in Prince George County, Virginia, in 1819. When he was a boy, his family moved to Ohio. Many other Quaker families also moved there at that time.
As an adult, Jonathan Bailey married Rebecca Frazier. He was a very busy and successful person. He owned a mill, worked as a farmer, and became a respected leader in his church and community. When he was 68 years old, he and Rebecca moved all the way to Whittier, California.
Whittier's First People: The Tongva
Before any settlers arrived, the original people of the Whittier area were the Tongva tribe. The Tongva are Native Americans who lived in the large area of the Los Angeles Basin. This included the Southern Channel Islands. Their land covered about 4,000 square miles (10,000 km2).
