The Placer County English Colony

Excerpts from the Foundations of Horticulture in Placer County from 1850, available at the Placer County Museum Gift Shop. (See books section)


The Placer County English Colony was one of the most unique, interesting and unusual horticultural experiments that occurred in Placer County. The Citrus Colony was settled primarily by Englishmen so that in later years it was commonly denoted "The English Citrus Colony". At its height, around 1893, there were about forty-three English families living in the Colony, approximately two hundred eighteen residents. Actually, it was a "bit of old England" transplanted in the foothills. . . . The Colony was not strictly confined to the English. When the Colony boundaries were drawn, they encompassed ranches scattered throughout the area owned by local residents who did not sell to the English but remained in the Colony and throughout its existence. . .

The unusual aspect of the Colony was the fact it was a "Citrus Colony." Prior to the formation of Whitney's Colony, Placer County was planted almost entirely to deciduous orchards. However, Whitney thought the foothills were ideal for citrus orchard development and strongly advocated the planting of these fruits. . .

It was a "colorful" Colony in practically every respect. It attracted considerable attention and much favorable comment about it appears in the newspapers. Excursion trains from Sacramento brought numerous visitors to Penryn station. As the excursioners journeyed down Lincoln Avenue to Delamere Avenue and the club house, past the Agriculture College, and many maturing fruit orchards, it became more and more evident that fruit culture was an important business of the foothills. . .

Joel Parker Whitney conceived, initiated and promoted the Colony as a means of disposing of some of his extensive land holdings in the area of Loomis and Penryn . . .(a map of the Colony is also available at the Gift Shop). . .

Whitney and his brother, F. L. in 1869, operated a large sheep ranch in Placer County, which they received from their father, who had retired from business. J. Parker bought his brother's interest in 1872 and began buying additional tracts of land as they became available, some from Sam Brannan for ninety cents an acre, some from the railroad, United States Government and settlers, until his ranch comprised over twenty thousand acres lying between the towns of Roseville, Rocklin, and Lincoln. . .

The Colony organized into a corporation with seven stockholders elected as a Board of Directors for a term of one year. . . Although a decade prior to the inauguration of the Colony the area was covered mostly by timber and a few scattered ranches, by the time the Colony was incorporated, there were some good roads and quite an acreage in orchards. . .
 
Whitney told P. W. Butler, who was associated with the project and had immediate supervision of the undertaking to go to Penryn and "Make a town out of it," lay out streets, establish a newspaper, arrange for a sufficient supply of water, and the like. Butler approached a Penryn saloonkeeper, with Whitney's plans, and was told to go back to Oakland, as the English were not wanted. When Whitney was informed of this reproach, he suggested Butler make inquiries at Loomis (then Pino), which consisted of only a railroad station and hotel. Butler contacted J. J. Morrison, station agent, and man named Loomis, the hotel and saloonkeeper, and explained Whitney's proposal. . . .they eagerly accepted the proposal. . .

The English, who frequently entertained, held most of their important social events in the Club House. (This Club House is still standing and is now a residence). One of the most interesting social events was the formal opening of the Club, which began with a banquet held at 6:00 pm on New Years Eve, 1890. . .Twenty-two members and guests were present, the dining hall was elaborately decorated with palms, ivy, flowers, ferns, and a variety of golden citrus fruits. . . the menu primarily featured Placer County products, the fowls from its barnyards, the trout from its lakes and streams, the meat from its pastures, the vegetables from its gardens, and the oranges, nuts, raisins, and figs from its own groves and vineyards. However, "In the make up of the sauces, the puddings, the salads, etc., the outside world had to be imposed on somewhat". . .

The rest of the article explains the by laws, family names of those in the Colony and various other anecdotes, as well as the reason for its demise. This unique experiment only lasted from 1890 until 1898, but its legacy of the palm trees, along English Colony Road, and others in the area, remind us of this bold adventure.