Mesa Oaks Community Improvement Association Welcomes You

Old timers in the Covina Valley tell of swimming in pools near the bridge at the foot of Reeder Street as late as September. The Walnut Creek flowed year-round and not only supplied the Native Americans with fresh water, but food in the form of fish, frogs and water birds Rabbits were believed to have been in abundance here then as were some bear and deer. The Indians continued to occupy the Mesa until the coming of the Spanish in the late 1700's.

In 1763 the Viceroy of Mexico decided that the time had come for the colonization of California. To establish a colonization route Juan Bautista de Anza left Mexico during the winter of 1774-75 and made his way north across the desert toward the San Gabriel Mission. His trail followed through the area of what is now Indio, Riverside and Pomona. He is alleged to have watered horses at a place known as Mud Springs which is located at what is now Brackett Field and the West End of the LA. Fair grounds which was at one time a swamp.

On April 11, 1822, Mexico broke all connections with Spain and California became Mexican territory. In 1837 Governor Alvarado of Mexico granted the greater portion of the Pomona Valley to Don Y. Palomares and Don Vejar, who had fought for Mexico against Spain. This grant took in the area from about Ontario west to about the location of the Mesa. The area covered by this grant was called the San Jose Rancho.

As time passed, each of the ranchos became self-sufficient and was at peace within themselves and their neighbors. But this peace was soon to be broken as the United States and Mexico engaged in a war. By 1847 the war was over and California became territory of the U.S. but the government did not know what to do with it. The federal government recognized the land titles which had been granted to the ranchos where they could be established.

On September 9, 1850 California was admitted to the Union. The San Gabriel Valley was being settled, but clearing the land for agriculture was a problem. Ridding the land of cactus was particularly difficult. It was done mostly by a horse dragging a heavy bar back and forth until the cactus was leveled. Rocks had to be removed by hand and the live oak trees proved to be very stubborn and in most cases were left standing.

While the surveyor was laying out the area he noted that the area lay in a cove between two ranges of hills and mountains and because of the number of vineyards in the valley, he suggested that the city be called "Covina."

As orange groves in the Covina area were sold, Covina also became primarily a bedroom community, but the first transformation on the Mesa took place in the early 1920's when 177 acres were purchased by William Bush, a wealthy executive of the Pierce-Arrow Automobile Company and was developed by into a residence for the Bush family as a guest ranch for friends and customers. After the stock market crash in 1929, Pierce-Arrow automobiles were not selling like hotcakes, and Mr. Bush lost his fortune and was forced to sell the ranch. It was purchased by a prominent Los Angeles attorney, Frank O'Neil, who moved on to the ranch in 1934 with his wife, Viola, and their three children, Janet, Dorcas (Mrs. Lou Dimmick) and Bud. After time, the guest cottages were torn down as were the stables and barn. Mr. O'Neil sold off portions of the acreage but kept the Mesa for a residence and for future use of his family.

Through the support of the full membership, the Mesa Oaks Community Improvement Association was able to accomplish many things, as well as engage in projects that were beneficial to the entire Mesa. In the early 1960's the Association Board of Directors decided that the members of the Association should be kept apprised of happenings and projects of the Mesa, therefore, it was held that a Mesa Oaks Newsletter be distributed on a regular basis to the members for this purpose. As a result of the efforts of the Association and its membership, the Mesa has been a great place in which to live.