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| Landmark #942 | San Bernardino County | Visited: February 12, 2012 | Plaque? YES! 🙂 |
| What is it? | A plaque outside the local fire station! |
| What makes it historical? | THE GUIDE SAYS: Near this site, Isaac Williams in 1841 built a large adobe home, located on the 22,000-acre Rancho Chino which he acquired from his father-in-law Antonio Lugo. The “Battle of Chino” occurred at the adobe on September 26-27, 1846, during which 24 Americans were captured by a group of about 50 Californios. Located on the Southern Immigrant Trail to California, the adobe later became an inn and stage stop famous for its hospitality.
OTHER TIDBITS: Isaac Williams was a mysterious Pennsylvanian fur trapper, who came to California in 1832 and worked as a laborer for many years! He was on California’s first vigilance committee (a.k.a. posse of vigilantes) and assisted in the forced removal of the Chumash from San Nicolas Island! He married Maria de Jesús Lugo in 1839 and was baptized into the Roman Catholic Church shortly thereafter. Their three-year marriage ended tragically in childbirth, leaving Mr. Williams to raise three children on his own! What happened during the Battle of Chino was that Mr. Williams was harboring several Americans and Europeans at his home, shortly after the American invasion of Alta California. A group of his neighbors, including his brothers-in-law, descended upon the house to demand surrender, even setting fire to the house! The children were rescued by their uncle, and the rest of the Americans taken to Los Angeles but ultimately freed! |
| How can I Help the Helpers? | HERE’S HOW:
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| Where is this place? | LISTED DIRECTIONS: Chino Fire Station No. 2 4440 Eucalyptus Ave One block W of State Hwy 71 and Pipeline Ave 3 mi SW of Chino, CA 91709 ANNOTATIONS: From Los Angeles: ~35mi (57km) — 0.6hrs |
| When should I go? | Whenever the mood strikes you! |
