The Friday Flyer, February 23, 2007 - Article: Elinor's history of Canyon Lake

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At top are three generations of Evans who helped settle the Menifee Valley. Below, George and Leta Evans are pictured in 1940 with their three daughters, Alpha, Elinor and Darleen. At right, Elinor looks over the pictures from her family's archives in preparation for writing her book.

Elinor's history of Canyon Lake – the early years

     The following information and photos are provided by Canyon Lake resident Elinor Martin, whose family ranched in the area of Canyon Lake and Menifee Valley since the late 1800s. Elinor’s pictorial book, “Images of America: Canyon Lake,” is on sale for $19.99 at the Canyon Lake Market, Pepe’s Restaurant and Pack, Wrap and Post, as well as at the POA Member Services Counter.
     Elinor also has copies of the book for those who would like to call her at 244-9497. The book signing scheduled for tomorrow, February 24, at Barnes and Noble in Temecula has been postponed; however, Elinor will sign books Sunday, February 25, from 2 to 4 p.m., at Borders, 3615 Riverside Plaza Dr. in Riverside. Locally a book-signing event is scheduled at Pepe’s Restaurant on March 3, from 2 to 4 p.m.

The early years
     Elinor talks about “The Early Years,” from 1890 to 1936, when her great grandfather Thomas Jefferson Evans came from Indiana to California during the gold rush and settled in San Bernardino.
     She writes, “His son Henry moved to Menifee in 1890, and the next year, his father bought the property for him. Thomas’ journal states, ‘I swapped house and lot on corner of H and 10th street (San Bernardino) to M. Easton with $250 note for their 100-acre farm where Henry lives.’ The 100-acre farm was the homestead at the east end of Canyon Lake, located near Newport and Railroad Canyon Roads.”
     Not included in the book is a side note Elinor writes to The Friday Flyer: “Thomas wrote that the week of February 22, 1880, the weather in San Bernardino was fair and cold and a little rain. I thought it fun to find the weather report 127 years ago.”
     About her grandfather, Henry Hartley Evans, Elinor writes, “He came to San Bernardino with his parents in 1875, married Ella Ferrell, and moved to Menifee Valley in 1890. This area is now Canyon Lake. His in-laws arrived three years earlier and lived on what is now the Audie Murphy ranch. Farming was his occupation, and in 1915 he became district road foreman for Menifee. In 1927, he sold his property (1,150 acres) to the Temescal Water Company.”
     Elinor’s parents, George and Leta Evans, were married in 1919. She writes, “George was born on the family ranch in Menifee. He farmed and Leta taught school in Menifee and Temecula. They later moved a house from Coop Station to Antelope Rd., where they raised three daughters and spent half of each year at Railroad Canyon Lake, operating the fishing resort from 1937 to 1967.”