Jose Rivera Home – 2026

Lots 19 and 21, Block “B” of the Holden Villa Tract were purchased in 1887 by José Rivera, a single man, prior to the incorporation of the city of Redlands in 1888. At the corner of what was formerly known as Owen (now Grant) and Division (now Clark) Streets, José set out to build himself a dwelling constructed of redwood in and across from what was then an orange grove. This area is part of the federal Smiley Park Historic and Scenic District and local Historic District #8. José built in an American Pioneer style subset called Hall-and-Parlor, typical of early colonists and settlers and a style he would have been familiar with during his time as a youth working in Salt Lake City for 3 years. Commonly in a rectangular form of two rooms with only 1 room in width facing the front of the lot, these homes exude functional simplicity and commonly feature angularity over  curves and ornamentation.  In those early years there would have not been any indoor plumbing, no kitchen and water was sourced from the orange grove water which was plentiful and fresh from the mountains before there was a municipal water company.

José Rivera married Mary Preciado of San Bernardino on July 2, 1890. In August 1891, José and Mary enlarged the home by another 3 rooms and a barn for $625 as per the local papers with completion in Sept. 1891. Styles had started to change and their extensive addition transferred the home into the Folk Victorian style, also known as Victorian Cottage style, using decorative spindles and intricate wood work at the porch areas and a cross gabled roof line. A water connection is documented June 2, 1906 and the job card notes that the family now has 7 rooms, a bath tub, a closet, a cow and a horse. In 1908 with a wife and four children (all children had been born in the house) José continued with a 14’ x 40’ addition to his barn for a carriage, this time hiring his neighbor across the street, Eli Baker, to build the structure for $100 including electrical wiring.

Not only does the house have granite cut stone curbing, but also the property is delineated by an approximately 2’ high ashlar granite masonry wall with multiple sets of ashlar piers topped with concrete stepped pyramidal shapes at the walkways and the driveway along the street portion of the two lots. The top of the walls mirror the stepped design in concrete. The home is approached from the east by a concrete walkway by Ferdinand Montigel, a contractor of Redlands Cement Works known for making the cement pipes needed for the local orange grove industry. Mr. Montigel arrived in Redlands in 1906 and opened his business. He and José were members of the Masonic Lodge. The house is on a raised foundation with vertical slats allowing for ventilation and protection. It has two wood porches with concrete stoops. Front doors are original with original hardware. Siding on the original portion of the house is v-groove, a tongue and groove which is traditionally made with solid wood, in this instance redwood. Corner ends are vertical flat boards. Porch ceilings are tongue and groove. At the main front porch there were originally two separate doors on adjacent walls. Facing east one of the doors has been replaced with a wood double hung sash window. Original windows are single pane wood windows with a decorative corner bracket. At the gable ends are arched vents with decorative fascia. Roofing is composition shingle except on the two front facing window hoods, typical of Victorian architecture, capped in decorative fish scale and octagonal shaped wood shingles.

José Apollo Rivera and Mary Preciado Rivera were parents to three sons, Reynoldo, Rolando Le Roy, and Alfonso and one daughter, Viola. The Riveras were often in the newspapers noting their visits with extended California family. Education and the arts were highly valued. Both Viola and her younger brother Alfonso were in the children’s opera of The Spinet’s thirteenth season at the Wyatt Opera House 1906-1907. Viola while a young teen was actually two years ahead in schooling than her brother Rolando although she was two years younger than him. Tragedy struck the family when Viola died of pulmonary tuberculosis at the age of 15 years and 9 months in 1911. Cortner Chapel handled her arrangements.

José was born 1861 in an adobe house at Spadra (now Pomona) to parents who were both descendants of some of the oldest Spanish don families, including his mother’s ancestors Duarte, Valdez, Quintero, and more in what would become California. His family were Californios. His great-great grandfather was one of the 11 original poblador founding families of El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora la Reina de los Ángeles, Los Angeles. As a youth of 14 he worked driving cattle to Salt Lake City from Nevada to Devil’s Gate in Wyoming. During winter he stayed in Salt Lake and attended school for three winters. His experience in the wild west helped shape him when he returned to San Bernardino in 1879. There was no Redlands yet, but he was living in Lugonia in 1881 when the original surveys of Lugonia were conducted by Judson and Brown. He was part of the Santa Fe railroad surveying parties when the road was constructed between San Bernardino and Barstow and in 1884-1885 was foreman of a labor gang for Bear Valley Co. laying the pipeline to Moreno. He worked on the Stillman Ranch for two years as well as for other pioneer families. He and Juan Baca bought from Dan Finley the first meat market and ice company-the only location in town to obtain ice. Located on Fifth and East Citrus, they were amongst the earliest firms to advertise in The Citrograph and during this time José and Scipio Craig, Editor and Owner of the newspaper, became best friends. In 1887 at the time Rivera purchased the lots and began building his home, he and his brother A.A. Rivera began the Pioneer Transfer Company, specializing in moving furniture, pianos, and more. He and his brother ran fishing expeditions up to Big Bear.

During this fateful year, 1887, José Rivera was involved in a political argument with a candidate for constable and with the encouragement of Scipio Craig Rivera ran to prove that he could win. He won by a landslide. He had become the Constable, 22 days prior to the incorporation of Redlands. His work took him through the entire valley and beyond during a time of lawlessness, riding on horseback, no office or telephone (although later one of the first telephones in town ran to his house), often no backup (and he preferred it that way), settling disputes with Native Americans in the passes, horse thieves, cattle rustlers, murderers, narcotic addicts, gambling, truants, those running blind pigs in a dry county and city, fights and infidelities. He had to travel long distances for his work and would escort prisoners to San Quentin Penitentiary in Marin, CA at a time when there were only a few jails in the state. He would release the handcuffs if the prisoners agreed to not escape and they never did. He used the basement of his home to keep prisoners overnight and they would eat what the family was serving. A career highlight was to provide security for President McKinley during his visit to Redlands in 1901. José retired in 1935 after almost 48 years of service. He continued to serve as a truant officer for the Redlands School District, served as translator for Spanish speakers in court, and worked in his rose garden. For their 50^th wedding anniversary, the citizens of Redlands threw a celebration for José and Mary at the Asistencia. The Spinet provided music, there were speeches, food and flowers and the community gifted José a gold headed cane to José and a bouquet of orchids and a gold bracelet to Mary. The location of the Asistencia held special meaning as Mary was related to Juan Alvarado who served as the mayordomo of the Asistencia 1826-1834. He was responsible for moving the Asistencia to its present location in 1830.

The report of birth for Rolando Le Roy Rivera reveals that his mother Mary was born in Calaveras County in Northern California. Her father had come to N. California from Mexico looking for gold as a 49er. Her mother’s ancestors were old Spanish dons including Alvarado, Noriega, Amador, and Moraga. Her 3 x great grandfather was 2^nd in command of the Anza Expedition of 1775-1776 which marched through the San Bernardino Valley on their way to San Francisco. José Joaquin Moraga was the founder of San José and was buried in the floor of Mission Dolores in 1791. The birth report also reveals Rolando Le Roy Rivera as the second son of José and Mary Rivera was born July 1, 1893. “Ro” graduated Redlands High School class of 1914 (at a time when high school was not mandatory as a part of schooling) followed by the University of California Berkeley and professional art school in New York City. Served in World War I, twice wounded, once gassed and returned to Redlands a Corporal honored for his service by four countries-the French Croix de Guerre, the British Distinguished Service Medal, the Belgian War Cross, and the U.S. Purple Heart. All three Rivera sons served in WWI and were wounded. Ro moved to New York to continue art studies and work as a commercial ad artist. He married Lillian Clark who had studied at Juilliard, was an opera singer with the Metropolitan Grand Opera Company. They later separated. Ro became a successful ad artist for large corporate advertising accounts such as Lincoln autos, Dobbs hats, Canada Dry, Colgate, Spaulding Sporting Goods, and Arrow shirts. He was a member of the Illustrators Club and the Explorers Club of New York City.

José Rivera passed away in 1942 at age 81. Ro and his brother Reynoldo (Alphonso died in 1946) assumed more of the responsibility of caring for their mother. Ro returned to his family’s Grant Street home in Redlands in 1954 to stay. After her death at age 84 in 1956 and 69 years of his parents living at 308 Grant Street, Ro made it his permanent home. He taught art both in the community and from his studio inside the home. He was often called upon to volunteer his artistic talents to draw the covers of programs for special events at the Redlands Bowl, local clubs, and even caricatures at Sacred Heart School carnivals. He shared his talent with his hometown. Often the publicity mentioned his family was descended from the Spanish dons.

His portrait painting exhibits his tremendous skill and training. He painted former Redlands Daily Facts Editor and Publisher Paul W. Moore, a gift from the employees to Mr. Moore, which hung for years in the lobby of the Redlands Daily Facts. Ro also painted Constable Rivera as imagined during the era of 1888-1912. In 1963 Ro had loaned the portrait to the city to hang in Safety Hall as part of the Diamond Jubilee. In 1966 he presented it to the city. He painted Grace Mullen and General James Jackson and a well-known sketch of Ed Hales. Ro passed away in 1977 aged 84. Buried in Hillside Memorial Park in Redlands alongside his sister, his brother Alphonso and his parents. He left no children.

After 91 years of ownership, the Rivera family sold the home in 1978 to two generations of the Templeton family, parents John A. Templeton and Marjorie May Templeton and their son Richard Michael Templeton as Richard had spotted the home for sale. The Templetons began the work to restore the house and gardens with additions so well done that the work is virtually indistinguishable today from its original. The home has been owned by Richard and Eva Templeton since 1991. In 1995 the home was a filming location for the movie How To Make an American Quilt.

The Redlands Area Historical Society commends the Templeton family and owners Richard and Eva Templeton for their commitment to the integrity of their restoration work, love and care of this incredible home and gardens.

 Research by Kathleen Beall

Presented on June 9, 2026.