Small Pox on the Jensen Ranch

A case of small pox was reported at the home of Cornelius Jensen in Jurupa in September 1885.  The victim was a grandchild of Mr. Jensen whose family had just returned from Mexico, where is was believed that the child had contracted the disease. Unfortunately, the child died. The house was properly guarded and cleansed, reported the local newspapers, and no one else caught the disease. It was the only case of small pox reported in San Bernardino County that season. (Jurupa was at that time still part of San Bernardino County as Riverside did not become a county until 1893.)   

Visit Jensen-Alvarado Historic Ranch and Museum!

One of the crown jewels of the Jurupa area is the Jensen-Alvarado Historic Ranch and Museum. Owned and run by the Riverside County Regional Parks and Open-Space District, its entrance is located in a residential area, off the beaten path, at 4307 Briggs Street in Rubidoux. It is not open to the public during the week. Instead, it is overrun by elementary school students learning about local and state history. It is open to the public on Saturdays 10 am to 4 pm. If you have not been to this great piece of Jurupa history make plans to go!

The Jensen house, located on the 30 acre site, was built in 1868-1870 by Cornelius Jensen and his wife Mercedes Alvarado Jensen. Cornelius was a Danish sea captain who decided to stay in California. Mercedes was from a prominent Californio family. Together they had 10 children who lived to adulthood, many of whom stayed in the area, built homes and raised their own families. Also located on the property is the home of their son Henry Jensen. It was moved to the park from a nearby property and is now the home of the onsite caretaker.      

A staff member (usually dressed in period appropriate clothes) is on hand to answer questions and give a tour of the Jensen home. The house was the first building  built with kiln fired brick in what is now Riverside County. The rebuilt winery features a small museum with items from the Jensen family. You and your family can enjoy a picnic at the tables under big shade trees near the parking lot. There are even a few farm animals, typical of a ranch from the 1880s. There is a small entrance fee, payable to the staff member (I think $2 a person) .  You won’t have to fight off a crowd to enjoy this great property on a Saturday. Below is the link for the county parks website which has a few photos of Jensen Ranch.  Rumor has it that County Parks is working on a new website, so hopefully it will have more information than their current website about this great living history museum.

  http://www.riversidecountyparks.org/locations/nature-historic-centers/jensen-alvarado/