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The original
land grants to General Vallejo were ultimately
invalidated in the 1860's, in part due to their
sheer size as well as the fact that they were
granted in 1843 by the Mexican Governor, who they
considered lacked the authority to make such
grants. Of course, this invalidated the land
titles of Larkin, Semple and their heirs and agents
causing an influx of squatters eager to snatch land
from their rightful owners. In a bill signed in
1863, genuine settlers were given first chance to
purchase land they already occupied and claimed.
This did not stop the squatters, as many registered
claims of the weakest sort which caused this to be
known as "The Great Land Grab". Squatters would
put up claim shanties overnight on the very grain
fields and orchards of properties that had been held
and cultivated for 14 years by their true
claimants. Many farmers and citizens dared not
protest some of these actions for fear of having
their homes or barns burned to the ground. In 1870,
the Supreme Court finally handed down its final
ruling defeating the squatters claims and ending the
disputes. |
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The
1860's saw an influx of settlers opening new
businesses. The famous Benicia Cement plant
was opened in 1860 and specialized in a
hard, water-resistant product used in
bridges, dikes and sea walls like the San
Francisco Embarcadero.
In 1864 the Hume Carquinez Packing Co.
later known as Hume Cannery was opened as a
Salmon packer. In 1955, due to pressure
from the sports fishermen, commercial
fishing was no longer allowed in the inland
waters so the Cannery moved to Asparagus,
Fruits and Tomato packing as well as
fertilizer production. |
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Brown &
McKay Tanners was started in 1865 starting one of
the most important industries in Benicia. This,
along with the Canneries, cause a distinct odor to
be a constant presence in Benicia and was the cause
of continual complaints from Martinez across the
water. The Tanneries can be credited for starting
the expansion of the cities water supply due to its
increasing use of water resources. The Benicia
Water Company was formed in 1879 largely due to the
demand of the Tanneries. Water rights were
acquired, dams and reservoirs built and pipe lines
laid to deliver the water needed for Benicia and its
residents. |
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In the
1880's, Benicia came to be known as "The Mother of
Schools" and "The Mother of Churches".
Unfortunately, education in Benicia both peaked and
fell by the turn of the century. |
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In
1881, the mansion of Daniel Hastings
appeared to share the hill with St.
Catherine's. This 3 1/2 story, 40 room
mansion cost over $85,000 to build and
another $265,000 to furnish. There were 21
bedrooms but only 3 bathrooms, 88 doors and
85 windows all topped by a 15 foot tower.
He installed speaking tubes and call bells
and the "Harvey Method" hot water radiators
for heating. A gas engine pumped water from
a 50,000 gallon cistern in the cellar which
was fed by a spring 10,000 feet away and a
tank on the roof held another 2,000
gallons. The house was insulated by two
inches of sand between double flooring and
wall laths which made it almost sound proof
and draft free. There were marble floors,
onyx and marble fireplace mantels. The
kitchen tables, counters and drain boards
were all marble-topped. The walls of the
library, games room and billiard room were
beautifully paneled and the staircase alone
cost $8,500. |
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The
Hasting's family consisted of only his wife and five
children so the real reason for Mr. Hastings to
build such a castle was to upstage his rival,
Lansing B. Mizner. In the 1870's, he had
gotten into an argument with Mr. Mizner and Mr.
Goodyear and swore to show them up. Interestingly
enough Mr. Mizner never got around to building his
mansion. This didn't matter to Mr. Hasting's who
was obsessed and ended up spending his entire
fortune on the house causing it to be known as "Hasting's
Folly". |
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In 1884, the
Sunset Telephone and Telegraph Company offered
hand-cranked, long and short ring, party line
telephone service to Benicia. Lansing B. Mizner, Sr
made the first telephone call to San Francisco.
This was the 21st telephone exchange in the state
and was purchased by Pacific Telephone and Telegraph
in the early 1900's. |
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