The Redlands Area Historical Society, Inc.
February Program
“Octopus’s Garden: How Railroads and Citrus Transformed Southern California”
Presented by Dr. Benjamin Jenkins
Tuesday, February 25, 2025
7:00 p.m.
Contemporary Club
173 S. Eureka Street
The Redlands Area Historical Society program for February 25 has Dr. Benjamin Jenkins presenting his power point on the “Octopus’s Garden: How Railroads and Citrus Transformed Southern California” at 7:00 pm. at the Contemporary Club, 173 S. Eureka Street.
Dr. Jenkins received both his MA and Phd from the University of California, Riverside. He later earned a MLIS from San Jose State. He was then hired by the University of LaVerne as a teacher and archivist. This past year Jenkins was hired by the National Archives and Records Administration to perform archive work at the George W. Bush Library in Texas. He transferred there several months ago. His slide show program will zoom from there.
Every new town in Southern California lobbied for a railroad connection beginning in the 1870s. Redlands scored a victory gaining the Santa Fe in February of 1888 but only after citizens led by Judson and Brown purchased right-of-way land from San Bernardino and provided land for a depot. Thereafter all the citrus packing houses were located on adjacent railroad tracks. After Southern Pacific arrived in 1891 Redlands packing houses strategically built between the two rival railroad lines.
The Historical Society’s meetings are free and open to the public. The program will be via zoom. Those wishing to view the program via zoom can do so by visiting www.rahs.org/calendar. For further information call the Historical Society at (909) 307-4661.
[Photo: Packinghouse underconstruction]
