Jim Pearce, Webmaster
First, a paper from Steve Abbott regarding some misconceptions about Fair Oaks history and his experiences trying to rectify them.
Steve reprinted a section of the first known "Abstract of Title" for fair Oaks property, including the arrangement between Clark and Cox and the Howard & Wilson Publishing Company. I thought you might like to see a photo of the original. The entire deed for a Fair Oaks property (Some 80+ pages) is on display down at the Museum.
We have had two original Abstracts of Title donated to the FOHS. The latest one contained the resolution of the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors forming the Fair Oaks Irrigation District.
One of Ralph Carhart's possessions is an original advertisement for the Orangevale Colony, which preceeded the Fair Oaks Colony by about 10 years. Knowing that, we can date the advertisement at about 1892 since the flyer says in several places that the Colony had been around about 7 years at the time the flyer was published.
It's interesting to me that, while we read in several recollections that Fair Oaks had a provision in the deeds that there would be no bars built on any Fair Oaks properties, I have not found in the two deeds we have that provision. The Orangevale advertisement does specifically state the "no bars" provision in their deeds.
It seems that several people regularly search e-bay and other sites for historic material on Fair Oaks. I received a note from a former Rancho Cordova resident now living in Oregon that he had purchased two old photos of Fair Oaks homes, and would I be interested in seeing them. One is an early shot of the Shervin home on Hill Street (we did an article on it in the newsletter) and the other is labeled "Ed Swanson's home". I can't find anything about Ed Swanson or where this house might have been located. If anybody knows anything, let me know.
The buyer has given me permission to show the photos on the website.
Ralph Carhart also saw the photos on E-Bay and purchased an early shot of a portion of the Fair Oaks Bridge. I've stared at it for some time and am not sure if it's the temporary bridge built in 1907, or the southern approach to the original or replacement Fair Oaks Bridge about the same time. Any opinions are welcome.
Thanks to everyone for sharing these items.
