Welcome to the Reeder Ranch
Reeder Citrus Ranch ca. 2010
Quick Info: The Reeder Citrus
Ranch was purchased in 1900 by John C. Reeder, the property at
4405 Holt Boulevard, Montclair,
Ca was owned and occupied by members of the Reeder family for
more than a century. Originally five acres in size, and later
increased to ten acres in 1905, the Reeder Ranch is exemplary of
the family owned citrus farms that dominated the
San Gabriel and San Bernardino Valleys
for the first half of the 20th century. The ranch
today is one and a quarter acres in size and retains the
original Reeder house, a barn, several ancillary structures and
remnants of the citrus grove.
The Reeder Ranch is
owned and maintained by the George C. and Hazel H. Reeder Heritage
Foundation. The property,
although reduced in size, is virtually unchanged since its
period of significance, and thus is exceptionally important in
telling the story of Montclair’s citrus past.
With citrus acreage long ago depleted, there are very few
properties left in the
San Bernardino
Valley that can so
effectively tell the story of this important chapter of the
area’s history.
George Reeder in Citrus Groves ca. 1938
After a decade of discussions with
family members, friends, and City of Montclair officials, the Reeder
family decided to donate the Reeder Citrus Ranch. The non-profit George C. and Hazel
H. Reeder Heritage Foundation was created to preserve the Reeder
Citrus
Ranch as a public historic site and museum. In addition to the
historic structures and grounds, collections include archival
materials comprised of photos, family and ranch records, pay
records for ranch/grove workers, birth certificates, and
personal correspondence. The collection also includes business
records for the Palomares and Del Monte irrigation Companies.
Rounding-out the extensive collection are furniture, house
wares, clothing, recreational gear, and farming equipment.