Olivas Adobe
Encyclopedia
The Olivas Adobe, located in Ventura, California
, is an adobe
built in 1841 by Raymundo Olivas.
Olivas received, in recognition of his service at the Presidio of Santa Barbara
, approximately 2250 acres (9 km²) as part of land grant
from Governor Juan Bautista Alvarado
in 1841, which he named Rancho San Miguel
. The land had originally been part of Mission San Buenaventura
, but was appropriated during the secularization of the missions.
Olivas built the adobe home in 1841, and expanded it in 1849 to two stories, making it the only such building in the area. He and wife and their 21 children lived here until 1899. It later became part of Max Fleischman's holdings (of yeast
and margarine
fame), and it was he who donated the land and the house to the City of Ventura.
The adobe is rumored to be haunted by a woman ghost
and is listed as one of Ventura County's few haunted locations.
The Olivas Adobe is registered as California Historical Landmark
#115 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
in 1979.
Ventura, California
Ventura is the county seat of Ventura County, California, United States, incorporated in 1866. The population was 106,433 at the 2010 census, up from 100,916 at the 2000 census. Ventura is accessible via U.S...
, is an adobe
Adobe
Adobe is a natural building material made from sand, clay, water, and some kind of fibrous or organic material , which the builders shape into bricks using frames and dry in the sun. Adobe buildings are similar to cob and mudbrick buildings. Adobe structures are extremely durable, and account for...
built in 1841 by Raymundo Olivas.
Olivas received, in recognition of his service at the Presidio of Santa Barbara
Presidio of Santa Barbara
The El Presidio Real de Santa Bárbara, also known as the Royal Presidio of Santa Barbara, was a military installation in Santa Barbara, California. It was built by Spain in 1782, with the mission of defending the Second Military District in California...
, approximately 2250 acres (9 km²) as part of land grant
Land grant
A land grant is a gift of real estate – land or its privileges – made by a government or other authority as a reward for services to an individual, especially in return for military service...
from Governor Juan Bautista Alvarado
Juan Bautista Alvarado
Juan Bautista Valentín Alvarado y Vallejo was a Californio and twice Governor of Alta California from 1836 to 1837, and 1838 to 1842.-Early years:...
in 1841, which he named Rancho San Miguel
Rancho San Miguel (Olivas)
Rancho San Miguel was a Mexican land grant in present day Ventura County, California given in 1841 by Governor Juan Bautista Alvarado to Felipe Lorenzana and Raymundo Olivas...
. The land had originally been part of Mission San Buenaventura
Mission San Buenaventura
Mission San Buenaventura was founded on Easter Sunday, March 31, 1782 in Las Californias, part of the Spanish Viceroyalty of New Spain. Named for a Franciscan theologian, Saint Bonaventure, it was the last of the missions founded by Father Serra...
, but was appropriated during the secularization of the missions.
Olivas built the adobe home in 1841, and expanded it in 1849 to two stories, making it the only such building in the area. He and wife and their 21 children lived here until 1899. It later became part of Max Fleischman's holdings (of yeast
Yeast
Yeasts are eukaryotic micro-organisms classified in the kingdom Fungi, with 1,500 species currently described estimated to be only 1% of all fungal species. Most reproduce asexually by mitosis, and many do so by an asymmetric division process called budding...
and margarine
Margarine
Margarine , as a generic term, can indicate any of a wide range of butter substitutes, typically composed of vegetable oils. In many parts of the world, the market share of margarine and spreads has overtaken that of butter...
fame), and it was he who donated the land and the house to the City of Ventura.
The adobe is rumored to be haunted by a woman ghost
Ghost
In traditional belief and fiction, a ghost is the soul or spirit of a deceased person or animal that can appear, in visible form or other manifestation, to the living. Descriptions of the apparition of ghosts vary widely from an invisible presence to translucent or barely visible wispy shapes, to...
and is listed as one of Ventura County's few haunted locations.
The Olivas Adobe is registered as California Historical Landmark
California Historical Landmark
California Historical Landmarks are buildings, structures, sites, or places in the state of California that have been determined to have statewide historical significance by meeting at least one of the criteria listed below:...
#115 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1979.