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"Manuel Villegas, standing behind the second row of his Boy Scout troop, was an educator, health, and fitness advocate, and Olympic-class weight lifter. Villegas influenced a generation of young men and women with his determination and courage as he broke color barriers at locally segregated institutions before and after World War II. Known to all as 'Manny,' Villegas was a popular schoolteacher who donated much time to community service." (Vasquez and Carpio, 34) The Boy Scout troop pictured was for Mexican children while Redlands had another troop for white children this example of segregation was one that was seen in public pools, local barbershops, and other places in Redlands.
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Black and white photograph of Joe and Irene Gonzales's wedding at St. Mary's Church Redlands in 1947. The group photograph shows the newlyweds at the alter surrounded by their many attendants, including a ring bearer and flower girls.
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Black and white photograph showing the first service at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Redlands in 1943. In the early days of Redlands, Our Lady of Mercy served as a spiritual home to the growing Mexican community but by the 1930s, it became apparent that the congregation needed a new space. Funds were raised one dollar at a time through donations collected by volunteers. St. Mary's Church opened its doors in 1943.
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"Jose and Irene Gonzales leave St. Mary's after their wedding in 1947." (Vasquez and Carpio, 32) Above the newlyweds, a quote is displayed above an entryway saying, "St. Mary's Church, built to the glory of God by the Mexican people of Redlands under the direction of the Rev. James Gray Pastor. Dedicated to the Virgin Mary by the most Rev. Charles F. Buddy Bishop of San Diego on the feast of Christ the King," and "SILENCE IN THIS HOUSE OF GOD." On the back, it says "From the Studio of William Kingham, WM. Elmer Kingham 5 1/2 and 91/2 E. State St. Redlands, California."
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St. Mary's Church was built in the 1940s when the congregation of Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church grew too large. "Lupe Yglesias reflected on the origins of St. Mary's Church, 'Well, you know, before I forget, I was just thinking, all the Mexican ladies got together. We needed a church. So they would all - Concha Viramontes and some other ladies - would go once a month to collect from every Spanish family. One dollar a month to build the church. So actually, the Mexican people helped come up with that church, then it became St. Mary's.'" (Vasquez and Carpio, 32)
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Black and white photograph of road construction on Central Ave right in front of Palmer Leland "Richey" Richardson's Garage. Across the street is the La Posada Hotel. On the back is written, "Richey's Garage. 17 W Central ave on left, Redlands Calif. looking West. Preparing for Hwy 99 which took off front half of garage. Looking West. Palmer Leland Richardson owner took foto." Highway 99 was once the road that is now Redlands Blvd. Highway 99 was established in 1926 as a route that ran from the Mexican border all the way to Washington state. The road was decommissioned in 1964 after the creation of the 1-10 and I-5 freeways and redesignated as Redlands Blvd.
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Black and white photograph of the interior of Palmer Leland "Richey" Richardson's garage on 17 W. Central Ave in Redlands. On the back reads "Inside Richey's Garage 17 W Central Ave Redlands, Calif. we took in storage of cars for La Posada Hotel. Leland spent many nights at garage. Leland Richardson swept the floor twice a day, that is why it was so clean. Palmer Leland Richardson owner took foto."
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Black and white photograph of the construction of Highway 99 along Central Ave in Redlands California. Written on back "17 W. Central Ave. Redlands Calif. In front of Richey's Garage on left looking west. Digging up st. to put a drainage ditch before putting hwy 99 through town on Central Ave. Looking west. Palmer Leland Richardson owner took foto." Highway 99 was once the road that is now Redlands Blvd. Highway 99 was established in 1926 as a route that ran from the Mexican border all the way to Washington state. The road was decomissioned in 1964 after the creation of the 1-10 and I-5 freeways and redesignated as Redlands Blvd.
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Black and white photograph of the construction of Highway 99 along Central Ave in Redlands, California. The street is dug open with only the sidewalk and a bit of street remaining. On the right you can see Palmer Leland "Richey" Richardson's Garage. Across the street is the La Posada Hotel. Written on back: "1930's Redlands, Ghost Town, Central Ave, Redlands California looking east toward Orange St. Richey's Garage on right at sign on roof looking east toward Orange St. Palmer Leland Richardson, owner. Elton Hotel on Left. Palmer took foto." Highway 99 was once the road that is now Redlands Blvd. Highway 99 was established in 1926 as a route that ran from the Mexican border all the way to Washington state. The road was decommissioned in 1964 after the creation of the 1-10 and I-5 freeways and redesignated as Redlands Blvd.
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Black and white photograph of Palmer Leland "Richey" Richarson's garage, Richey's Garage. His daughter Rita Richardson recalls the garage "Dad's garage was 24 hours. When he wasn't there, my two brothers were there, Mateo Guzman and Leland Richardson. They would kind of let dad have some rest while he went home to eat and sleep, or he slept right there in the garage many times too. But being 24 hours it was miserable. He got all of the accidents from all over the area. He had a great Maxwell touring car that was a tow truck." (Vasquez and Carpio, 40) On the back of the photograph it reads "1930's Looking So. East. Richey's Garage 17 W. Central Ave, Redlands Blvd. Richey was Palmer Leland Richardson born in S. Dakota 1885 April 8, Leland Richardson spent many sleepless nights here taking care of cars coming in from the Posada Hotel, new then."
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Black and white image of Redlands' first Head Start preschool in 1968. From left to right: Carlos Ojeda, Bobby Gonzales, and an unidentified University of Redlands student work together to assemble a playset.
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Black and white image of Eva Romero Villegas with nephew Donald Motgomery, a sailor during World War II. Donald graduated from the University of Redlands and went on to teach at Redlands schools.
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Black and white image of Manuel "Manny" Villegas and his wife Eva Romero. Manny was an honor educator and community advocate known throughout the Inland Empire. He was an advocate for community programing including Folklorico dancing, Scouting, and the first Spanish Club at Redlands High School.
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Black and white image of Harris Dalhberg, Ben Romero, and Frank Romero shown working at Fairbanks Ranch in the late 1950s.
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Color photograph of Concepcion (Concha) Romero standing in front of the orange groves at Fairbanks Ranch. Concepcion Romero was an active member of the Divine Savior Church and was an entreprenuer. She ran restuarants and made tamales and tortillas. Her daughter Eunice Romero (Gonzales) noted, "My mother had a restaurant right here on Colton Avenue, on Lawton and Colton. There was a gas station and then a little restaurant up on old Third Street, and then her final restaurant was on Stuart and Third Street, and they were all Romero restaurants."
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Ramon Romero, one of the founders of Divine Savior Church, sits with his granddaughter Esther Romero at 1140 Ohio Street in the 1920s. The Romero family lived on the same street for over 100 years. Another granddaughter, Ramona Romero Dalhberg wrote a letter stating, "My grandfather used to have a horse named Jack and a cart and on Sunday mornings they would hold church meetings on street corners, like Calhoun Street and Brockton and different places. Then the men got together to talk about forming a Presbyterian Church. Gavino Trevino owned property on the corner of Webster and Union, which he donated, and they drew plans for a building. The building consisted of one large room with the front door facing Webster Street. It was a very well made building with a big porch in front."
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"Eunice Romero (Gonzales) was a bilingual instructional aid in the 1970s. She recalled one of the biggest controversies ever to engulf the Northside, 'When my children started going to school, there was always this measure of prejudice, especially when they started with this business of integrating the schools. You could see the prejudice, that these people didn't want our kids from the Northside at their schools any more than we wanted theirs over her because it was a two way street'" Eunice was also active in the parent-teacher association (PTA), Divine Savior Church, and community groups in North Redlands. (Vasquez and Carpio, 46)
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Eunice Romero (Gonzales) is pictured at right as a child at Fairbanks Ranch.
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Black and white photograph of Jacinto and Concepcion Romero at Fairbanks Ranch in the early 1950s. They pose in front of some of the many orange groves comprising Fairbanks Ranch.
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Black and white photograph of Jacinto Romero and his brother-in-law Jesus Chacon (wearing hat) arriving for services at Divine Savior Church on Union Avenue in the late 1930s.
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For the 1933 play "EL Aguila" presented by the Redlands House of Neighborly Service, Abe Romero was cast as the character "El Capitan." El Capitan was the suitor of the heroine in the play. In this black and white photograph Romero is showin in costume patting the head of his young son Bob Romero. The image was taken at the family home on Ohio Street.
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For the 1933 play "EL Aguila" presented by the Redlands House of Neighborly Service, Abe Romero was cast as the character "El Capitan." El Capitan was the suitor of the heroine in the play. In this black and white photograph Romero is shown in costume at the family home on Ohio Street. On the back is written "This is my first effort."
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"Ramon Romero, one of the founders of Divine Savior Church, sits with his granddaughter Esther Romero at 1140 Ohio Street in the 120s. The Romero family lived on the same street for over 100 years. Another granddaughter, Ramona Romero Dalhberg wrote a letter stating, 'My grandfather used to have a horse named Jack and a cart and on Sunday mornings they would hold church meetings on street corners, like Calhoun Street and Brockton and different places. Then the men got together to talk about forming a Presbyterian Church. Gavino Trevino owned property on the corner of Webster and Union, which he donated, and they drew plans for a building. The building consisted of one large room with the front door facing Webster Street. It was a very well made building with a big porch in front.'" (Vasquez and Carpio, 31)
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Concepcion Romero and her brother, Jesus Chacon, leaving services at Divine Savior Church. Concepcion wears a coat with flowers and holds her purse under her arm. Jesus wears a trench coat and a hat which is pulled low over his face in the image.
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Abraham "Abe" Romero stands in front of an orange grove, he has glasses wears a suit and tie, in the back is a trailer with some orange crates. On the back is writen: "November 19, 1945 Uncle Abe worked for Gordon Doueed?? for many years then worked at Norton Base during War II. Church Elder of Divine Savior Church Parish."