History

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The Gift of Hospitality

Grieb Family Fun

From the time I (Sandi Ferrio a Grieb Family member who runs the Grieb Farmhouse Inn) was a very young girl, my grandmother Grieb was my model and mentor; kind, generous and steadfast in her beliefs. Best of all, she was a woman through which the light of God shone. There were no more joyous moments in my life than time spent with her. As I assisted her with household tasks preparing and serving meals, greeting guests, friends and family I observed how she moved with ease, balance and grace. Everyone felt welcome, valued and loved.

“Be not afraid to entertain strangers for thereby some have entertained angels.” Hebrews 13:2

Her life verse, Hebrews 13:2, was played out to perfection. She was always friendly to those she did not know as she believed that any person she met just might be one of God’s chosen messengers as told in the Bible in Genesis 18, (Abrahams’s encounter with God’s messengers). The love of God overflowed in my grandmother’s conduct in all she did. She was neighborly, charitable and hospitable. Her hospitality required generosity in loving her fellow man and following the commandment to love your neighbor as yourself.

Grieb Family Dining Together

I am sure my grandmother never knew all the lives she influenced during her time on earth. The way she fed the homeless hot meals who came to her door during the Great Depression or how cheerfully she daily fed drop-in visitors her delicious brand of food and modeled godly principles of hospitality. The soup pot was never empty, the cookie jar was always full. An offer of a cup of hot green tea and a warm cinnamon roll was not uncommon.

She was a woman who made a deep and lasting impression on my life. It is no accident that in my own way I chose follow in my grandmothers footsteps and more importantly the leading of God in my life by extending hospitality to strangers at the Grieb Farmhouse Inn. It is a joyful thing. “ I thank my God upon every remembrance of you.” Philippians 1:3.

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Thankful For A Rich Family Heritage

Walnuts, bagged and ready to ship.

Walnuts, bagged and ready to ship.

“If you walk in My statutes and keep My commandments so as to carry them out, then I shall give you rains in their season, so that the land will yield its produce and the trees of the field will bear their fruit. Indeed, your threshing will last for you until grape gathering, and grape gathering will last until sowing time. You will thus eat your food to the full and live securely in your land.” Leviticus 26:3-5

Grandpa and Grandma Grieb had orchards; beautiful apricot and walnut orchards. Every summer of my childhood their barn (processing shed) rang with the laughter and chatter of teenage girls who were cutting apricots and placing them on drying trays, while listening to the popular music on the radio. Fall brought the sound of the huge walnut dryers and the musty-burlap smell of gunnysacks which were used to store the walnuts. One November day stands out in my mind because the radio and the dryers were silent. We were gathering with family at the barn to celebrate Thanksgiving. Upon entering the barn, we were amazed because it had been transformed into a banquet hall. The tables were lined up end-to-end and groaned under the weight of the Thanksgiving feast. The barn was filled with family from 9 Grieb children, 26 grandchildren and of course spouses and great grandchildren. We all came to celebrate family and to give thanks for God’s provision.

Treasured memories from the Walnut and Apricot processing shed.

Treasured memories from the Walnut and Apricot processing shed.

I don’t remember us ever being all together before or after that Thanksgiving meal, but I’m sure that Thanksgiving we came very close to all being together.

Thank you Lord for my many, many blessings. Thank you for a very rich heritage, a large loving family and many treasured memories. – Margie Grieb Runels

“Happy Thanksgiving To You and Yours From Grieb Ranch”

Grieb Ranch Way
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Grieb Ranch Way

 

The New Sign at Grieb Ranch Way.

The New Sign at Grieb Ranch Way.

There is a brand-new road sign in rural Arroyo Grande where Trout Farm Road used to be. That county maintained road is now called Grieb Ranch Way as that road is right across Lopez Drive from the entrance to Grieb Ranch.

How did this come about? Well Connie had to submit the proposal and then had to attend the Planning Department meeting where the name change was discussed. All went well and the name change was approved a few months back, August of 2014.

Recently the new sign was put into place. The Grieb Family enjoys seeing the new name on the sign and are happy to see the heritage of ranching preserved in a more visible way.

The biggest change will be for the soccer teams, and rugby teams, and flag football teams who come to use the beautiful Tally Farm Fields off the newly-named Grieb Ranch way. All the maps and directions will have to be changed to reflect the new road name. No permanent structures are accessed off Grieb Ranch way.

Inter Office Memo_Tim Cate_Public Works

 

 

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Templeton Livestock Market Swung Its Gates For The Last Time

All is quiet at the gate where the cattle were dropped off and picked up.

All is quiet at the gate where the cattle were dropped off and picked up.

Silence. That is what will be heard each Saturday where the Templeton Livestock Market used to be. Gone are the bawling calves. Not to be heard are the sharp whistles from the workers sorting the cattle on horseback. The nearly unintelligible – except the dollar value – yet warmly familiar chant of the auctioneer, silenced. Gone are the rancher’s kids running around the yard. Silenced are the conversations of market news and the connections made each week by local ranchers. No more dirt sprays from the horse hooves or the calf hooves as calves are sorted. The Templeton Livestock Market located on Main Street in Templeton, CA swung its gates for the last time Saturday, October 4, 2014 for the 25th Annual Tri-Counties Breeder’s Choice Bull Sale.

Sorting Cattle at the Templeton Livestock Market
Champion Bull from sale.

The Templeton Livestock Market has been a connection place for local ranchers, as well as a local place to market their products or buy new stock since 1946. The sale of the land, which was leased by the TLM, has forced the closure. In its place will be a new housing development. This is not a reflection of the dedication and traditions of cattle ranching in San Luis Obispo County as cattle production remains a vital part of agriculture in this area; even as this area faces one the most severe droughts on record. The San Luis Obispo Chapter of the California Cattlemen’s Association boasts the highest membership number in the state.

Randy Baxley current owner and auctioneer of Templeton Livestock Market.

Randy Baxley current owner and auctioneer of Templeton Livestock Market.

Randy Baxley, the current owner and auctioneer of TLM wrote the following in the final TLM Breeder’s Choice Bull Sale program:

“I want to take this time to thank all of the producers in this area that have brought their cattle to me year after year. Templeton Livestock has always been known for its outstanding market and that is also the case in Visalia. The cattlemen and cattlewomen have made the past thirteen years a supreme pleasure and for that I will always be thankful. As we battle against one of the worst droughts California has ever seen I know the determination and the heart of the cattle producer will be unwavering. Thank you for the spirit that you hold and the hard work you put into producing an outstanding product.”

Randy plans to continue to serve local cattle ranchers by providing a receiving yard also located in Templeton. The TLM receiving yard will be open on the weekends and Tuesdays to take in cattle that will then be transported to the Visalia Livestock Market for its weekly Wednesday sale. The receiving yard will be located at 4340 Ramada Drive in Templeton and will have the capabilities to feed and water the livestock in a dust-controlled environment.

Always a family affair. Grieb family members a the closing sale.

Always a family affair. Grieb family members at the closing sale.

One of the local producers, who has been using the TLM for nearly all the years it has offered this service, is Carl Grieb of Grieb Ranch in Arroyo Grande, CA. He was present at the 25th Annual Breeder’s Choice Bull Sale to be a part of the history as an era came to an end. In the early days of ranching at Grieb Ranch (established in 1878) they used to drive the market animals down Halcyon Road to the cattle train in Oceano. In these later years members of the Grieb Family brought their sale cattle to the market in Templeton about once a year, however, they frequented the sale more than that. Sometimes they needed to add to the herd or were looking for a bull to enhance their breeding program. Now to ship their cattle they will have to travel over 3 hours one way and go over 2 major grades to do so.

Members of the Grieb family were at the last sale and like many of the ranchers present are sad to say farewell, but their dedication to their lifestyle and cattle ranching in San Luis Obispo County will remain steadfast.

The San Luis Obispo Chapter of the Cattlemen's Association provided a tri-tip lunch for the producers.

The San Luis Obispo Chapter of the Cattlemen’s Association served the producers a BBQ tri-tip lunch.

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A Shoot-out Moves the School, a Lynching and The Pacific Coast Railway in Arroyo Grande, CA. – Grieb Ranch History

Santa Manuela School House - a one-room school house built in 1901 in upper Arroyo Grande. Picture from http://www.arroyograndevillage.org/museums.shtml

Santa Manuela School House – a one-room school house built in 1901 located in upper Arroyo Grande. – now fully-restored and on display in the Village of Arroyo Grande.  Picture from http://www.arroyograndevillage.org/museums.shtml]

School Days

The boys would exit the school house through the windows, or so the story goes, of the very first school house built between San Luis Obispo and Santa Maria in 1867 by Francisco Branch, one of the first landowner in the Arroyo Grande, CA area.

Fred Grieb, father of Carl Grieb attended this school which was the first for the town site of Arroyo Grande. A three acre school site was deeded into the plan for the town of Arroyo Grande when the original 40,000 acres of the Santa Manuela-Arroyo Rancho land grant was divided.

Years later this school site was to be called, “un-safe” after a shoot-out occurred at a stable near the school where the stagecoaches changed horses. The school was then moved to an area which is now the corner of Traffic Way and Fair Oaks Avenue where the Ford dealership is today.

Carl Grieb started 1st grade at this school (where the Ford dealership is) until another elementary school was built off Orchard Street. Orchard school is now the 900 wing of Arroyo Grande High School. He attended Orchard school through 8th grade then went to the first High School, Crown Hill (built in 1906) which is now the current site of Paulding Middle school.

Paulding Middle School today - formerly Crown Hill High School where both Carl and Connie attended.

Paulding Middle School today – formerly Crown Hill High School where both Carl and Connie attended.

Connie went to Orchard for Jr. High for 6-8th grades then attended Crown Hill (now Paulding) for 9th grade. She returned as a teacher at Paulding Middle School and taught many students there from 1983 to 2010.

A Lynching

The railway bridge where two bodies hung from the trellis. Photo from South County Historical Society.

The railway bridge where two bodies hung from the trellis. Photo from South County Historical Society.

It was April Fool’s Day in 1886 and the school-kids were the first to report the event after a group of them ditched school and saw a site they would never forget . . . two bodies hanging from the Pacific Coast Railway bridge that crossed the Arroyo Grande Creek. Fred Grieb was one of these school kids.

The Hoosgow Jail in Arroyo Grande, CA.

The Hoosgow Jail in Arroyo Grande, CA.

In the wee hours of the morning a crowd of vigilantes broke into the Arroyo Grande jail where three people, a father and son plus a nephew, were being held for shooting and killing their neighbor due to a property squabble. The vigilantes hung the victims from the train trellis that crossed the Arroyo Grande creek just south of the old E.C. Loomis feed store off East Branch road in Arroyo Grande. The father and son were the two hanging; the nephew was seen running off with the rope still around his neck!

A marker describing the lynching can be found outside of the old E.C. Loomis Feed Store on East Branch Street in Arroyo Grande.

A marker describing the lynching can be found outside of the old E.C. Loomis Feed Store on East Branch Street in Arroyo Grande.

Pacific Coast Railway

Bck to school, a lynching and trains 2014-08-29 002

The Pacific Coast Narrow-Gauge Railway came through Arroyo Grande through this route.

The sound of the train coming always broke the peaceful quiet of Arroyo Grande as it made its way from Santa Maria to San Luis Obispo, stopping in Arroyo Grande near the E.C. Loomis feed store. The train really opened up the movement of goods up and down the coast increasing the market for animal feed, produce, animal hides and dry goods.

The train came from Santa Maria through Arroyo Grande running parallel to E. Cherry Lane then turning North onto what is now Pacific Coast Railway road continuing on over the Arroyo Grande Creek, across to the E.C. Loomis Feed store and then ran East down behind the neighborhood around Paulding Middle School and North up Corbett Canyon to San Luis Obispo. The train bridge was moved sometime ago due to flooding.

With the arrival of the railroad in October 1881 came the idea of travel for the people of Arroyo Grande. The narrow-gage train made it possible to ride in comfort up to San Luis Obispo. One of the train cars even had red-velvet covered seats and wrought-iron adornments. The people of the town lived by the time-table of the little train until the development of the highway brought its use to a close in 1942.

Pacific Coast Railway Marker found outside the old E.C. Loomis Feed Store on East Branch Street.

Pacific Coast Railway Marker found outside the old E.C. Loomis Feed Store on East Branch Street.

 

Unless otherwise noted, all pictures taken by Sharon Jantzen

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Beginning a Life Anew in the New World 1873: The Life of Konrad and Katharina

 

Konrad and Katharina Grieb originally migrated from Germany to Marysville, California in 1873. They traveled to the New World by ship just the two of them, leaving their 5 children behind in the care of Konrad’s sister and brother in Gumbach, Germany. 1873 was less than 100 years from the founding of America and only 23 years from California being admitted as a State in 1850. The voyage took them around the horn and back up the west coast of South America and then North America.

Konrad and Katharina were not settled in Marysville as the climate was unsatisfactory, the water supply was poor because the rivers were not controlled by dams and levees, and the land was not suitable for farming so Konrad began to investigate other California sites. Konrad corresponded with E.W. Steele a noted Dairyman living in the Edna Valley near San Luis Obispo, CA. Konrad inquired about the farming interests in San Luis Obispo County. Konrad and Katharina moved to Edna Valley and Konrad worked for Mr. Steele on his dairy while investigating farming interests for himself. Baby George was born during their stay with Mr. Steele.

DAC-Pacific-Coast-Steamship-13April1877

Pacific Coast Steamship Company Schedule 1877

steamship late 1800

Pacific Coast Steamship

To get from Marysville to Edna Valley they traveled by steamboat that was part of the Pacific Coast Steamship Company which served ports up and down the west coast. The steamship left San Francisco and landed at Cove Landing which is now known as Pirates Cove.  All passengers and freight traversed down rope ladders to small boats called lighters to get to shore, then cranes were used to unload the cargo up the steep banks. Harford Wharf was built in 1873 by John Harford. The wharf was in Avila Beach and he used horses to off-load and deliver cargo to San Luis Obispo and beyond. In the 1880’s he connected the wharf with a narrow gauge railway to move cargo and passengers.

Once settled on the Steele ranch Konrad left his wife and newborn son to return to Germany to bring back the rest of his family. His spinster sister Helga came to the New World on this trip to take care of the children. They all made it safely, although enduring a long and harrowing journey. The Grieb family lived on the Steele ranch for 2-3 years.

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Grieb Farmhouse: The Humble Beginning

Grieb Farmhouse

Grieb Farmhouse

The history of Grieb Ranch starts with the Grieb Farmhouse which was originally built in 1888 by Konrad and Katharina Grieb, German immigrants who settled the original farmstead in 1872 as part of a Spanish Land Grant of 1100 acres. The original home was a one-room shack with a dirt floor. Eventually, a two-story family home was built in 1888 (as seen in picture above) to handle the Grieb’s nine children. It contained 6 bedrooms upstairs and one downstairs with one outside bathroom.

George Grieb, son of Konrad and Katharina inherited the Grieb Farmhouse in 1925 upon his father’s death. The Farmhouse sat in the middle of walnut and apricot trees along with numerous, stately oak trees that were left standing with farm crops and livestock raised around them. George and brother, Fred, ran the ranch together which included acreage acquired in 1878 in the hills at the base of (now) Lopez Dam where they ran cattle. This acreage became the location of Grieb Ranch. Fred Grieb is the father of Carl Grieb who currently resides at Grieb Ranch.

George kept the Farmhouse property until approximately 1960 when he sold it and the remaining land to a family with 16 children. This family retained the property until the mid 1970’s and subsequently sold it to a building contractor who restored the house with a new foundation and updated the plumbing and electrical. Thankfully the deteriorating house was saved, but unfortunately, the remaining land was subdivided and sold.

In 1997, the Farmhouse was purchased and lovingly updated and remodeled to its current condition by a wonderful couple who had respect for the old house and its family history. In 2002, the Farmhouse was sold to the current owner, a Grieb family member, who reopened the home as a Bed and Breakfast in 2003. After 42 years, the Farmhouse is again in the hands of a Grieb family member. The home is a family treasure to the owner and innkeeper, who is the great-granddaughter of the original home builders. The Grieb Farmhouse still stands in Arroyo Grande, CA, off Todd Lane.