Home > California > Claremont > Pitzer Ranch, Reservoir, Southwest Corner of Base Line Road & Padua Avenue, Claremont, Los Angeles County, CA
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Item Title
Pitzer Ranch, Reservoir, Southwest Corner of Base Line Road & Padua Avenue, Claremont, Los Angeles County, CA
LocationSouthwest Corner of Base Line Road & Padua Avenue,
Claremont, CA
Find maps of Claremont, CA
Created/Published
Documentation compiled after 1933.
Notes
Survey number HABS CA-2267-J
Significance: The reservoir is part of the Pitzer Ranch Complex consisting of the main house, pumphouse, shed, stone bar, water tower, and secondary house on Padua Avenue and the Pitzer House, stone garage, and stone wall on Towne Avenue. The Pitzer Ranch Complex is eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places. The original owner of the land and structures was James Becket. Becket owned most of the water rights in the area (The Consolidated Water Company) and orchards throughout the area. Lee Pitzer married James Becket's daughter on January 1, 1901 and subsequently took ownership of the property and structures of the Pitzer Ranch Complex on Padua Avenue in approximately 1910. Lee Pitzer expanded the development of citrus orchards in the area. Pitzer was the first to grow lemons along Base Line Road. Lee Pitzer was the brother of Russell Pitzer, founder of Pitzer College in Claremont, California. The Pitzer Reservoir was used to store water from the onsite fieldstone pumphouse. The water was used to irrigate the citrus orchards. Clifford B. Pitzer, son of Lee Pitzer, notes in an oral history review that he used to swim in the reservoir.
Collection
Historic American Buildings Survey (Library of Congress)
Contents
Photograph caption(s):
1. North front; Pitzer Barn in background.
2. West side.
3. South back.
4. East side; Pitzer Barn to left, Shed in center; Tenant House to right.
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