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Description

Rare separately issued map of San Marino, California, compiled by William Chalmers, City Engineer, and drawn by W.A. MacInnes, Draughtsman.

The present example bears the note "San Marino Property Owned 1-25-27", in red pencil.  Given the size and location of the region shown in red, it is possible that these were lands still owned by Henry E. Huntington (1850-1927) or an affiliated entity.   

In 1903, Huntington and his partners purchased the Shorb Estate (500 acres)  for $225,000.  Thereafter, he acquired on a piecemeal basis the surrounding farms, finally creating the city of San Marino in 1913 to protect his investment.  

The map notes that San Marino was incorporated on April 25, 1913 as a City of the Sixth Class, with a list of its Trustees, City Treasurer and City Clerk.

Among the more interesting features on the map is the large open area at the top center, which provides the location for the Huntington Library & Art Gallery, which was built in 1920.

San Marino

Most of the modern city of San Marino was part of a Mexican Land Grant in 1830 to Senora Victoria Reid, an indigenous woman. She named her rancho “Huerta de Cuati”. Prior to this grant, the area was part of the San Gabriel Mission.

In 1852, Don Benito Wilson took possession of Mrs. Reid’s rancho. Later, Wilson deeded a portion of his land to his daughter Maria de Jesus, known as Sue. Sue married J. de Barth Shorb, who renamed his rancho after his grandfather's plantation in Maryland, which in turn had received its name from the Republic of San Marino, in Italy

In 1903, the Shorb Estate was purchased by Henry E. Huntington and in 1913 the three primary Ranchos of Wilson, Patton, and Huntington, together with the subdivided areas from those and smaller Ranchos, such as Stoneman, White, Rose, and others, were incorporated as the city of San Marino. The site of the Shorb/Huntington rancho is occupied today by the Huntington Library & Botanical Gardens.

Rarity

We note an example at the Huntington Library.

 

Condition Description
Some toning and minor loss.