 |  |  |  |  |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| Juan Bautista Alvarado |
| History of Andrew Molera State Park |
Molera State Park were the Esselen. From the Little Sur River to Big
Creek, east to the Salinas River, they camped and settled small villages.
Creek, east to the Salinas River, they camped and settled small villages.
Some believe the Esselen people were absorbed into the nearby
missions as the Spanish colonized California in the 1770s. However,
there is recent evidence suggesting that some Esselen may have
escaped the missions entirely by retreating to the rugged interior
mountains. It appears that a small group may have survived into the
1840s before filtering to the ranchos or the outskirts of the growing
towns. Their descendants still live in the area.
missions as the Spanish colonized California in the 1770s. However,
there is recent evidence suggesting that some Esselen may have
escaped the missions entirely by retreating to the rugged interior
mountains. It appears that a small group may have survived into the
1840s before filtering to the ranchos or the outskirts of the growing
towns. Their descendants still live in the area.
In 1834, Juan Bautista Alvarado, future governor of California, was granted the 8,949-acre Rancho El Sur by the
Mexican government. The land grant stretched from the Little Sur River to Cooper Point.
In 1840, Alvarado traded Rancho El Sur to his nephew by marriage, Captain John Rogers Cooper. English-born,
Captain Cooper had arrived in America at the turn of the century. A successful captain in Monterey's shipping trade, he
gave extensive land holdings in the Salinas Valley to Alvarado in trade.
Mexican government. The land grant stretched from the Little Sur River to Cooper Point.
In 1840, Alvarado traded Rancho El Sur to his nephew by marriage, Captain John Rogers Cooper. English-born,
Captain Cooper had arrived in America at the turn of the century. A successful captain in Monterey's shipping trade, he
gave extensive land holdings in the Salinas Valley to Alvarado in trade.
Captain Cooper died in 1872. His son, Juan Bautista Henry Cooper, operated the ranch until his death in 1899.
Rancho El Sur was then then divided among Cooper's surviving siblings, including Gualalupe Francisca Amelia
Cooper and her husband Eusebius J. Molera. The Moleras had two children, Andrew and Frances.
Rancho El Sur was then then divided among Cooper's surviving siblings, including Gualalupe Francisca Amelia
Cooper and her husband Eusebius J. Molera. The Moleras had two children, Andrew and Frances.
Andrew Molera ran the ranch from 1915 until his death, at age 34, in 1931. His father died the following year. Ranch
activities included cattle, a dairy famous for its Jack cheese, fine horses and abundant vegetable crops. The ranch was
There was even a dance hall.
When Andrew died, Frances inherited the ranch. Frances Molera sold the property to the Nature Conservancy in 1965,
retaining occupancy and grazing privileges until her death in 1968. She stipulated that after her death, the ranch was to
be sold to California State Parks, it not be developed, and that it was to be named after her brother, Andrew Molera. It
remained a working ranch until 1972, when Andrew Molera State Park was opened to the public.
activities included cattle, a dairy famous for its Jack cheese, fine horses and abundant vegetable crops. The ranch was
There was even a dance hall.
When Andrew died, Frances inherited the ranch. Frances Molera sold the property to the Nature Conservancy in 1965,
retaining occupancy and grazing privileges until her death in 1968. She stipulated that after her death, the ranch was to
be sold to California State Parks, it not be developed, and that it was to be named after her brother, Andrew Molera. It
remained a working ranch until 1972, when Andrew Molera State Park was opened to the public.
| HOME - EVENTS - SHOPPING - LINKS - CONTACT US |
