Early history at a glance

In 1987 I wrote a one hundred year history for St. Malachy Church Centennial commemoration. I found much material that I didn't need but did not wish to completely discard. I ended up making a time line for safe keeping. Each notation has volumes of history behind it but it's nice to get a glimpse of the "goings on" of the people who came before us. It extends from 1776 to 1987. Here is just a portion.

1776 – Padre Francisco Garces traverses Tehachapi Pass with four Mojave Indian guides.

1776 – First Christian Baptism in San Joaquin Valley.

1781 – Father Garces dies a martyr's death at the hands of Colorado Indians.

1827 – Jedediah Smith crosses Tehachapi Pass; first American to see the area.

1832-33 – Kit Carson guides trappers through valley over Jedediah Smith's route.

1840 – The Catholic Diocese incorporated Upper and Lower California. Formerly included Northern Mexico.

1843 – John C. Fremont crosses Tehachapi and Oak Creek passes.

1850 – California admitted to the United States as the 31st state. (It's interesting to note that this was not long after the discovery of gold in California. Congress welcomed the "Golden State.")

1850 – Diocese of Monterey included much of Central California.

1853 – Lt. Robert Williamson explored Tehachapi Pass for a possible railroad route.

1854 – Kern gold excitement begins.

1854 – First Tehachapi settler arrives; John Moore Brite, his wife, Amanda and family. They settled in what they called, "Brite's Valley." The Wiggins family also settled in Brite's Valley. The Wiggins and Brites are related with John Moore Brite's son, Jim, marrying Lucinda Caroline "Callie" Wiggins.

1854 – George Cummings first saw the Tehachapi Valley while on a cattle drive. Later he settled in the valley now bearing his name.

1856 – The first Fourth of July celebration in Kern County was held in Tehachapi.

1856 – Squire Wiggins was the first Postmaster of Old Town (then Tehachapi). It was located in Ed Green's General Store.

1859 – Monterey-Los Angeles Cathollic Diocese formed.

1861 – William Wiggins conducted school in Tehachapi Valley.

1867 – First woman school teacher, Louesa Marie Jewett (Crites), arrives in Tehachapi on horseback. Students last names: Brite, Wiggins, Dozier, Cuddeback, Hossick, Hart, Tyler, Hale.

1869 – Fickert family arrive in Bear Valley.

1869 – Anton Pauley moves to Tehachapi for his health. Pursues farming and butcher business. Pauley Street named after him. Pauley later donated land for first St. Malachy Church on F Street.

1869 – William Farmer Freeman and wife, Susan Medlin Freeman, arrive by covered wagon to settle in Tehachapi. That year their first child, Susan "California" Freeman was born. The journey took seven months from Navarro County, Texas.The Freeman family ancestors still live in Tehachapi.

1870 – John Narboe, Postmaster in Tehachapi.

1876– Railroad line opens from Tehachapi to southland. Tehachapi Loop being completed was the final accomplishment in the project. The Loop special construction allowed the old steam engines to circumvent the necessary altitude.

1876 – Town of Tehachapi founded when the S.P. Railroad built a depot on the site. It was first called Summit Station but the name Tehachapi moved with the settlers who came in from what is now Old Town. The Southern Pacific Railroad also finalized the spelling of Tehachapi which had a variety of spellings up to that point. The Railroad greatly changed the shipping and transportation for the citizens of the area.

1877–The first Catholic Mass, on record, was celebrated in Tehachapi by Father Matthew Marron. He was Assistant Pastor of St. Mary's Church in Visalia. Mass was offered at the home of Anton Pauley since no church was yet built.

1879-1896 – Father William Denpflin, a Dominican Priest, traveled a wide area of California including Tehachapi. The Indians called him Padre Blanco because of his white robes. They built rude huts for him to offer Mass. A large man with red hair and beard plus the white robes, made the Indians think he was of divine origin.

1881 – The Tehachapi Methodist-Episcopal Church founded. The first building was on Green and D Street. Later to be known as the Community Congregational Church. Still holds regular services on the corner of E and Green Streets.

1887 – St. Malachy Catholic Church built and designated a Parish. First Pastor, Father Patrick Bannon. Built by local citizens with considerable financial help from the Fickert family. Parish boundaries included North to Owens Valley, East to Needles and San Fernando area. Priest often traveled by train and rode in the engine with the engineer.

1907– Amanda Brite, earliest settler, still living.

1909 – Tehachapi becomes an incorporated city.

1909 – Bank of Tehachapi boasts of a capital of $100,000.

On into the 20 Century! To be continued in the April 25 issue of The Loop.