of brick. The house is presently owned by The WINCHESTER HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF PLEASANT VALLEY. The house is the oldest private residence still standing it what is now known as the community of Winchester. The Patterson family, John, wife Maria, daughters Tilla, Ida, and Jessie, and son Clarence arrived in what was known as Rockhouse in 1883. They had traveled from Yountville through Los Angeles to come to their new home. The area they settled in was soon to become known as Pleasant Valley and later in 1887 as Winchester. As they passed through Los Angeles Maria gathered pepper tree seeds which she planted at their new home. Some of these trees are still standing today. The family would soon become very influential in many aspects of the communities growth and prosperity. Listed below are some of the families accomplishments.
JOHN PATTERSON
* Major land owner
* General store owner
* Blacksmith
* Tinsmith
* Board member of the first creamery in
the area
* Part owner of the local brick works. Bricks from this operation were used to build a two story brick business block, the foundation for the Winchester Community United Methodist Church built in 1887 and still in use today, the two story Winchester School and homes in the area.
* Farmer
* Board member of the San Jacinto and
Pleasant Valley Irrigation District.
TILLA PATTERSON HUDSON
* Railroad station agent for
Santa Fe Railroad at
Winchester from the day it
opened in 1890 until the
day it closed in 1930. This
39 years of service was the
longest of any agent on the San Jacinto branch line.
* Wells Fargo agent for the Winchester area from 1890 to 1918. The 28 years of service made her the longest serving female agent in the state of California.
* Riverside County Librarian when the county library sent books by train to local communities.
* Winchester Woman's Club member and officer.
IDA
School teacher for the Riverside School District in Riverside California.
CLARENCE
* Blacksmith
* Grain miller
* Justice of the Peace for the Diamond Distract
(Winchester)
* Married to Angie Remsburg whose family started many newspapers in Southern California.
JESSIE
Wrote a prize winning essay about women's suffrage while in school in Winchester.
Died at age 21 from a ruptured appendix while
attending Normal School in Los Angeles.
LLOYD
Born in 1891 in Winchester. While working for the Santa Fe Railroad in San Juan Capistrano Lloyd met and married the daughter of the Forrester family. Lloyd died of consumption (TB) in 1915.
The Patterson House 1998 shortly
after a new roof was installed.
Grandchildren of Clarence Patterson
feeding Tilla Patterson Hudson's
Chickens in 1926 or 27.
RETURN TO THE INDEX
Recent photo showing some of the first windows and doors in place. Scroll down to see new photos
Click on the kid to see photos of our dedication as a historical site by the Native Daughters of the Golden West.
The last of the windows are now in place as shown above and at right. The new stair banister should be in place soon so that the upstairs is available for tours.
To the best information known, the Patterson House is the only house still standing in the state of California that was once own by a Wells Fargo agent.
