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On the Move
by Ed Ainsworth
(Thursday, February 15th, 1962)
CONEJO-Every time I drive along the new freeway to Ventura my mind inevitably turns back to the horrors of
the old Conejo Grade, that steep and winding road which had to be negotiated by certain cars of early age … It was an experience nobody ever forgot: to sputter and boil up this dreadful incline …
But the experiences of persons in the era when automobiles had come along were nothing compared to those of the early residents in the horse and buggy period ….
This whole subject of our changing landscape in Southern California fascinates me because we are so prone to forget quickly how things looked even a few years ago, and to take modern improvements for granted.
What I ‘am building up to can be told in just one word: Triumph! …
At last I believe I’ve solved the riddle of “The Lost Lake” which was posed here recently by a reader who wanted to know what had become of Lake Triunfo . ..
And “Triunfo” translating as “triumph” from the Spanish brings me to my theme …
Recollections of a Pioneer
Mrs. Martin R. Miller of Thousand Oaks, evidently, sharing my interest in locating forgotten landmarks, wrote me that her father, Joe Russell, probably could solve the riddle of Lake Triunfo if anybody could. He was born in 1883 on the Triunfo Ranch, which is located about halfway between Los Angeles and Ventura and is in both counties …The ranch had been created out of the old Conejo grant and had been acquired by Russell father nearly 100 years ago. Joe Russell lives today within half a: mile of the spot where he was born on the ranch …
His recollection is that there were several small lakes in the past on Triunfo Creek, which originates at the present Lake Sherwood Dam and then flows on down to form Lake Malibu and then to the ocean .. . As I mentioned here not long ago the term “Triunfo” was applied to the region as early as the winter of 1769-70, the very first year of the existence of California as a Spanish settlement, by the party of Capt. Gaspar de Portola on his return from trying to locate the Bay of Monterey …
Lake Sherwood itself has seen some’ changes because the dam originally was called Mathiesson after the man who owned the ranch where it was located; then it was renamed Las Turas Lake, and because a Robin Hood picture was made there, finally became known as Sherwood. It now is owned by the James R. Canterbury family …
A Fast Realty Deal
… real estate deals were handled about 1870 like this:
Russell’s father was on a stagecoach going from Santa Barbara to the Triunfo Ranch to negotiate for its purchase. On the stage was another man who confided to Russell’s father that he was going down to try to purchase the same ranch . . .
Russell Sr. was so eager to obtain the property that he got off the stage at Ventura, hired a livery stable horse and rode hell-for-leather so that he beat the stagecoach to the ranch, took a 20-minute tour of the property in a buckboard with the agent for the sale, Jack Greece, and sealed the deal with a $20 gold piece just as the stagecoach drove up . . .
The other prospective buyer, surprised at seeing Russell, hopped out and told Greece,
“I’ve come to look at the ranch.”…
“It has just been sold,” replied Greece. . .
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I guess things have changed along the Conejo …
But, anyway: “Triunfo!” –