A date to remember: April 24, 1888

Note:  'A dste to remember' is a blog series that speaks to the importance
of particular dates to the former Chavez Ravine communities of la Loma,
Palo Verde, and Bishop, as well as Solano Canyon.  It is intended that  anniversaries will primarily be featured; but contemporary dates will occasionally be discussed as well.

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Solano Canyon begins to grow as a community

April 24 is an important date in Solano Canyon history because on that date in 1888, in the Superior Court of Los Angeles, the referees in case No. 7410, Alfred Solano et al. vs. Laura Ferlin, signed the survey of the 17-acre tract that became what is, today, the lower part of the Solano Canyon community.

Portion of SR Map 32(23), The Huntington Library

SR Map 32(23), The Huntington Library

Laura Ferlin is Alfred Solano's half sister; his mother, Rosa Casanova, married Laura's father, Agustín Ferlin, following the death of her first husband, Francisco Solano.  Laura eventually became Alfred's ward, and she changed her surname to Solano.

Alfred and the other heirs were not suing Laura Ferlin for any adversarial purpose; rather, the lawsuit was the best way to have the Court define the disposition of Francisco Solano's estate which consisted primarily of 87 acres of land..

The lawsuit determined that there were 84 shares in the estate.  All six of Francisco's children — Josefina, Alfredo, Alejandro, María Agustina, Manuel, and Alonzo Francisco — plus Laura Ferlin and her father, Agustín Ferlin, were legatees.

With the division of the estate thus determined, Alfred, the eldest son but also a professional surveyor, divided the 17 acre tract into 100 lots which were then assigned to the heirs as shown in the complete map, which is reproduced in full at left. [Click on the map to see a larger version.]

With ownership settled and title in hand, Alfred, on behalf of the heirs of Francisco Solano, was now free to distribute the 100 lots among the heirs, who were then themselves free to dispose of their lots as they chose.  Some sold immediately, while others retained their lots.  Alfred bought many of the lots from his siblings.

Alfredo Solano, the careful conservator of his father's legacy, thereby assured that Solano Canyon would endure to the present day as a viable community.

Historic Solano Canyon will celebrate its sesquicentennial anniversary — 150 years — in 2016.

[The referees were an interesting group; for an explanation of who they are, click here.]

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