Rancho Corte Madera del Presidio facts for kids
Rancho Corte Madera del Presidio was a huge piece of land, about 7,845 acres (31.75 km²), given away by the Mexican government in 1834. This land is now part of Marin County, California. The grant was given to a man named John (Juan) Reed. The name "Corte Madera del Presidio" means "the lumber mill of the Presidio," which was a military fort. This ranch covered areas you might know today, like southern Corte Madera, Mill Valley, the Tiburon Peninsula, and Strawberry Point. It stretched from Point Tiburon all the way to Larkspur Creek.
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How the Rancho Came to Be
John Thomas Reed (1805 - 1843) was from Dublin, Ireland. He arrived in San Francisco in 1826. In 1834, he received this large land grant. Two years later, in 1836, John Reed married Hilaria Sánchez (1817 - 1872). Her brothers, Francisco Sanchez and José de la Cruz Sánchez, were important local leaders called alcaldes.
John Reed's Contributions
John Reed was famous for starting the sawmill that gave Mill Valley its name. He also helped manage the Mission San Rafael Arcángel from 1836 to 1837. Reed then began building a bigger house in what is now Mill Valley. Sadly, he passed away in 1843 at just 38 years old, before his new house was finished. After his death, Hilaria Sanchez married Bernardino Garcia later that same year.
Changes in Land Ownership
After the Mexican-American War, California became part of the United States in 1848. The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo stated that the land grants given by Mexico would still be valid. To make sure these land claims were official, a new law called the California Land Act of 1851 was created.
John Reed's family filed a claim for Rancho Corte Madera del Presidio in 1852. At first, the Land Commission only approved 4,460 acres (18.05 km²) in 1856. This meant some people, called "squatters," started living on parts of the land that weren't officially confirmed. After several legal battles, the full 7,845 acres (31.75 km²) were finally given to John Reed's heirs in 1885. The land was divided into four equal parts among them.
Important Places on the Rancho
- Benjamin and Hilarita Lyford House: This house belonged to John Reed's daughter, Hilarita, and her husband, Dr. Benjamin F. Lyford. It was built in 1876 and is now located in Tiburon. It's so important that it's listed on the National Register of Historic Places, which means it's a special historical landmark.
- Lyford's Stone Tower: Dr. Benjamin F. Lyford, who was a retired inventor, doctor, and scientist, built this stone tower around 1889. It was meant to be the entrance to a special community he dreamed of, called "Hygeia," named after the goddess of Health.
- Sawmill: The very first sawmill in Marin County was built by John Reed around 1834. This important site is recognized as a California Historical Landmark.
