Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1909-03-26
a Letter from Mr.. Copeland.

The tourist visiting Southern California
should not fail to visit some of the old
Missions erected by the Franciscan Fa-
theirs, who came from Spain in the 18th
century. There is a chain of these old
missions-21 in all-situated few miles
apart. They have done an immense
amount of good towards civilizing the
Indians, as they were the first white
settlers.
The first of these old missions was
erected by Father Junipero Sierra, and
was named San Diego de Alcola and ded-
icated July 10, 1859. 1t is situated six
miles from Old Town, San Diego where
the Spaniards made the first settlement
four miles north of the city of San Diego.
Old Town was made famous by Mrs.
Helen Hunt Jackson in her romance of
Ramona" The views of Ramonas
home where the marriage contract was
signed still stands and the old bells still
remain. They are hung on beam. A
few of the adobe houses are to be seen,
and the old palm trees set out by the
Padres in 1859 still hive.
The old mission is situated on hill
overlooking the Missions Valley and the
San Diego river, which winds its way
through the Valley like a serpent When
first saw it and wanted to visit the old
Missions, | was told that it was impos-
sible to ford the river at that time. A
few weeks later, when | rode out there,
the sand was quite deep and they say of
California streams that they are bottom
up and if you stick stick down in the
sand it will be wet The Mission is in
ruins now, but the walls still stand. 1t
ought to be repaired and preserved. The
| Padres also set out the first olive trees.
At Old Town is the flag where Gen.
Fremont and others unfurled the u. S.
flag.
Father Ubach, the Catholic priest who
had labored for over 40 years in San
Diego, died in 1907 Indians came many
miles to see the remains of their "White
Father" Father Ubach was grand old
man and highly esteemed by people of
every faith. He commenced the cree
ton of Catholic church at Old Town
the walls of which 5 or feet high are
still standing. Father Horton as he was
called, because he was the founder of
that was no place for a church as the
city was going to be four miles south,
Father Ubach took his advice and stop
ped building. He afterwards built an
elegant church in the city.
Father Horton, who had great faith in
the future of San Diego, lived to see his
fondest hopes realized, although he died
poor man in January 1909, aged 95.
He erected in S87 the Horton House,
a hotel mile from the docks. Grants,
now 9-stOry hotel, stands on the former
site of the Horton House, and is in the
heart of the business center of San Diego.
| He purchased several hundred acres
where the city now is, at 26 cents an
acre and was very liberal with it. as he
gave the city the Plaza and 400 acres
| for park.
Probably the land where the Horton
| House stood could not be purchased to-
day for several thousand dollars foot.
Father Horton was also the founder of
"Hortonsville," Wise, nsin.
The names and dates of the dedication
of the old Missions erected by the Fran
ciscan Fathers are as follows: San Diego
de Alcola, July 16, 1909 Father Junipero
Serre San Carlos Borromeo (Monterey)
June 8, ITO, Father Junipero Sierra; San
Antonio de Padria, July IA, l77l, Fathers
Sierra and Padre Sajav; San Gabriel
Archangel, Sept S, III, Padres Sonora
and Condor; San Luis Obispo de Tolosa,
sept /, III. Father Junipero Sierra; San
Francisco de Asis (Dolores) Oct. 7. 1716,
Padres Gallon, CombOn and de la Rena;
San Juan Capistrano, Nov 4, l77G, Father
Junipero Sierra Santa Clara, Jan. Z, 1777,
Padre de la Perra; San Buena Ventura,
March 30. 1880, Fathers Junipero Sierra
and Cambon; Santa Barbara Dec. A, 1880,
Padres Patama and Oromas; La Parisima
Conception, Dec. s, 1887, Father Lesnen;
Santa Cruz, Sept. 8, 1891, Padres Salazar
and Lopez: Loestra Sonora de la Soledad,
Oct. s, 1901, Padre Lasnen; San Jose,
June IL, 1897, Padre Lasnen; San Juan
Bontista, June IL, 1897, Presidente Les
men; San Miguel, June "a, 1907, Presi
dente Lesnen and Father Sitjar; San
Fernando Rey de Espana, Sept 8, 1897,
Presidente Lesnen and Father Darmetz;
San Luis Rey de Espana, June IA, 1898,