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- Benjamin BW Dudley before officiating as county supervisor at the opening of the Santa Clara River Bridge.
- Benjamin Wells Dudley with beard on white donkey. Oscar "Dooley" Dudley on dark donkey. Photo taken in front of barn.
- The Ventura County Fairgrounds in the early 1900s plays to a packed grandstand. The race track was originally a trotting park which .. in 1874 and later was referred to as Seaside Park.
- Ventura County Fair Seaside Park Trotting Race Track CA 1900. It was also used for track meets with the addition of lines to mark running lanes.
- Aerial view of Ventura Main Street. Rose / DeLeon Hotel on the left. Odd Fellows with Victorian features left center, and Ventura County Fair Seaside Park Trotting Track grandstands in distance.
Ventura County has been called the "Bean County of the Nation" with fifty to sixty thousand acres planted in the county during the early 1900s. The bean threshing machine was an adaptation of the wheat threshing machine. After the beans were dried in the fleld, they were hauled to the thresher, threshed and then sacked. The Lima bean brought millions of dollars to Ventura County's economy. Strawberries are now the county's largest cash crop.
Preserving the Past for Tomorrow's Future
Listed on the National Register ot Historic Places in 1977, The Dudley House is now being restored by San Buenaventura Heritage, Inc., a non-profit organization formed in 1978 to preserve the Dudley House and educate the public to Ventura's History.
Built in 1892 by prominent local architect Selwin Shaw, the house has been the home of five generations of Dudleys. The house, relocated on the corner of Ashwood and Loma Vista Road, was originally part of a 200 acre ranch where Benjamine Dudley rails lima beans, walnuts, and lemons.
Virtual Tour
[ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kiAxwNAsqDM ]
- Walnuts
- Lima Beans
Pre 1950s aerial view of the Dudley House with Walnut Trees around the house and Lima Beans Field and other row crops.
Join the fun! Become a Member
1890s Life was very different at the Dudley house in the 1890's. They had no electricity, indoor plumbing, or running water. Food and fun included growing lima beans and walnuts, churning butter, egg candling, baking, beating rugs, riding horses, reading books, playing games, making music and, of course, getting ready for parties.
Dudley Family Stories
Benjamin Wells Dudley fought in the Civil War for the North and helped find and capture Jefferson Davis. He came to San Buenaventura and bought 40 acres in 1875 and then left and came back and bought another 160 acres in 1877.
He raise livestock and grew wheat, barley, walnuts, but eventually settled on lima beans, which did well in the cool coastal climate.
He was involved in community affairs. He was Justice of the Peace and held court in the Dudley House involving thievery of livestock and trespassing. He was president of the Anti-Saloon League and nicknamed "Daddy of High License" because of his successful effort to raise the annual saloon license fees from $64 to $600. He was Clerk of the Board of Supervisors and officiated at the opening of the first bridge over the Santa Clara River in 1898.
The Dudley House, completed in 1892 by renowned local architect Selwyn Shaw, is one of the last pioneer farmhouses within the city limits of Ventura and typifies the agricultural heritage of Ventura County. It is the only farmhouse in California to have been funded by a state historic preservation grant and has been designated a National Historic Landmark.
Its owner, Benjamin Wells (B.W.) Dudley and his brother, Frank, came to California after the Civil War. The City of San Buenaventura had been Brothers Frank incorporated in 1866, and the Dudley farms were far east of its onesquare-mile boundaries. It was the family's second residence on 200 acres of the old Rancho Santa Paula y Saticoy.
After experimenting with several crops, B.W. Dudley found that lima beans grew well in the cool, foggy climate. By the 1890s, Ventura was known as the world's largest lima bean producer.
Brothers Frank and Benjamin Wells Dudley, seated, 1882
Dudley was a member of the school board, clerk of the Board of Supervisors and a Justice of the Peace. He held court in the Dudley House parlor. As a civic leader, he worked for the advent of the telephone, electricity, and a bridge across the Santa Clara River.
Five generations of Dudleys have lived in this house. In 1977, the home had to be removed during development of the Telegraph Road parcel. At that time, the 2 1/2-story Queen Anne-style house was relocated to the corner of N. Ashwood and Loma Vista, part of the original ranch, and given to the city for development as a historical park.
Presently, however, the city cannot consider this project a municipal priority. San Buenaventura Heritage, Inc. has been given a long-term lease to restore the house and grounds and turn it into a mecca for various community activities. When completed, the house itself will be a museum, an authentic restoration of life from 1895-1925 as lived by the Dudley family.
It is now open on a limited basis for tours and special events until the restoration process is complete. Regular open house hours are the first Sunday of the month from 1 to 4 p.m.
The first floor of the house is available for weddings, small receptions, dinners, musical, and other special events. The basement, equipped with a kitchen, is a community room capable of handling meetings of up to 50 people.
The Dudley House, as it looked around 1900. The home had no electricity or indoor plumbing.
Future plans include an amphitheater, to be constructed on the Loma Vista side of the house. The area will have seating for about 150 people to view events on the house veranda, which will serve as a stage. It will also be able to accommodate tables and chairs for outdoor dining events and exhibits. Adjacent to the amphitheater and the house will be a covered patio complete with a barbecue area.
The Dudley House is an important resource for all facets of the community. It needs the support of everyone interested in preserving the historic and cultural fabric of Ventura and the surrounding area. Your tax-deductible gift or donation of services will insure that it will happen. If you would like more information on the project, please call 642-7664. 654-8381 or 644-3286.
A few statistics showing what we raised in 1903, with a total acreage 208,000 devoted to agriculture: $1,300,000 of Lima Beans, $250,000 other beans, $1,000,000 of sugar beets, $4,000 of walnuts, $254,000 dried apricots, about the same value of deciduous fruits, $25.000 of prunes, $35,000 of honey, 400,000 of barley, wheat, oats, hay and alfalfa, large sums from corn, potatoes, garden truck, eggs, stock industry and petroleum oils; making a grand total of over $50,000,000 receipts.
- This photo of the Dudley House with young lemon trees was featured on the cover of the 1954 Sunkist Growers Annual Report
- Citrus Box with Label
- Benjamin Dudley House at the turn of the century with Oscar "Dooley" Dudley on the roof. From the Dudley Family Stereoscope Collection
- Lemons
- Lima Beans
1960s Aerial view of the Dudley House with 10 Acres of Lemon Trees around house and Lima Bean Fields to the right of the Ashwood Shopping Center
- Washboard
- Rug Beater
The "Heart of the Home" was the kitchen for most farming families and the Dudley's were no exception. It was not only a place to cook and prepare meals, but a family gathering place for young & old. Their love of family, love of their land and the farming life can be imagined in these items that might have been seen in the kitchen.
Dr. John A Paris developed the Thaumatrope in 1825 in London and very successfully marketed them. They were sold in card bound boxes containing a set of 12 colored diss. Early thaumatropes from the 1826-1830 are very rare. Some from later in the 19th century are on the display at the Museum of the Cinema in Paris.
Optical Toy
Thaumatrope means "wheel of miracles", "turning marvel," or "wonder turner." It is a disc with a picture on each side.
When the disc is twirled, the pictures appear to blend into one image.
Thaumatrope: - Old toys that spin two images into one
During the Victorian times, people became fascinated by optical toys. The thaumatrope does not produce animated scene. It relies on the persistence of vision.
Persistence of Vision
Persistence of Vision is the eye's ability to retain an image for roughly 1/20 of a second after the object is gone. In this case, the eye continues to see the two images on the thaumatrope as it spins. The series of quick flashes is interpreted as one continuous image.
Dudley House Historic Museum:
The Dudley House, completed in 1892 by renowned local architect Selwyn Shaw, is one of the last pioneer farmhouses within the city limits of Ventura and typifies the agricultural heritage of Ventura County. It is the only farmhouse in California to have been funded by a state historic preservation grant and has been designated a National Historic Landmark.Its owner, Benjamin Wells (B.W.) Dudley and his brother, Frank, came to California after the Civil War. The City of San Buenaventura had been incorporated in 1866, and the Dudley farms were far east of its one-square-mile boundaries.It was the family’s second residence on 40 acres of the old Rancho Santa Paula y Saticoy, purchased in 1875.
After experimenting with several crops, B.W. Dudley found that lima beans grew well in the cool, foggy climate. By the 1890s, Ventura was known as the world’s largest lima bean producer.
Dudley was a member of the school board, clerk of the Board of Supervisors and a Justice of the Peace. He held court in the Dudley House parlor. As a civic leader, he worked for the advent of the telephone, electricity and a bridge across the Santa Clara River.
Five generations of Dudleys have lived in this house. In 1977, the home had to be removed during development of the Telegraph Road parcel. At that time, the 2 1/2-story Queen Anne-style house was relocated to the corner of N. Ashwood and Loma Vista, part of the original ranch, and given to the city for development as a historical park.
In 1978, however, the city could not consider this project a municipal priority and San Buenaventura Heritage, Inc. was given a long-term lease to restore the house and grounds and turn it into a center for community activities. The house now operates as a museum, an authentic restoration of life from 1895-1925 as lived by the Dudley family. It is open on a limited basis for tours and special events. Regular Open House hours are the first Sunday of the month from 1 to 4 p.m.
History
Benjamin Wells Dudley fought in the Civil War for the north and helped find and capture Jefferson Davis. He came to San Buenaventura and bought 40 acres in 1875 and then left and came back and bought another 160 acres in 1877.He raised livestock and grew wheat and barley, but eventually settled on lima beans, which did well in the cool coastal climate. He was involved in community affairs. He was Justice of the Peace and held court in the Dudley House on issues involving thievery of livestock and trespassing.
He was president of the Anti-Saloon League and was nicknamed “Daddy of High License" because of his successful effort to raise the annual saloon license fees from $64 to $600. He was Clerk of the Board of Supervisors and officiated at the opening of the first bridge over the Santa Clara River in 1898.
Carrie Louise Smith, a Southern Belle, visited her aunt and uncle Mr. and Mrs. H.W. Mills in San Buenaventura. She met and married Benjamin Dudley. Carrie was old-fashioned about a lot of things. She bought one of the first Model A’s sold in San Buenaventura. No one taught her how to drive and she promptly backed it into a ditch.
Dudley Family members liked music, books, and cats. Oscar “Dooley" Dudley, Benjamin’s son, played the alto sax. Miriam Knox Dudley, his wife, played the double bass fiddle in her family band. She was so short that she had to stand on a soapbox to play it.
Miriam loved to play pranks. When she hosted her Wednesday Afternoon Club of the Mound meeting, she put a mousetrap and phony mouse under the settee to frighten the ladies.
Children loved to play in the Dudley attic with trunks of old clothes, hats, and toys. When they were ready to go up, Miriam would hurry ahead of them and start the rocker up there moving. Then when the children saw the rocker moving, Miriam would say, “The ghost just left."
Leavitt Dudley, Miriam and Oscar’s son, was an artist. His artwork includes the Rancho Maps of Ventura, Santa Barbara, and Los Angeles, sketches and models for Ventura County Fair, set designs for Paramount Studios, and illustrations for books and magazines.
Johanna Dudley Overby, Miriam and Oscar’s daughter, was a writer and avid reader. She got her library card in 1926 and was always a big supporter of the library and Friends of the Library.
Miriam Knox Dudley told many family stories. When she saw the picture taken of the Ventura Train Depot at Senator Bard’s Reception she said, “There’s that bus cart my husband and his friends dumped in the ocean on Halloween eve." Later we heard the same story from John Mitchell who was one of the friends.
Miriam also told the story of the flask filled with castor oil for anyone who went AWOL during the Civil War.
Found in the Dudley House during the restoration were square nails, parts of dolls, a chess piece, a poker chip, piece of patchwork quilt, and a ruler with Mary Dudley’s name written on it by her. The collection is part of a restored Dudley Family Shadow Box.
DUDLEY HOUSEStep back into history! Join us for docent-led tours and more on First Sundays. Admission is free but we will gladly accept donations.
DUDLEY HOUSEOpen the first Sunday of every month 1-4 p.m. and for special tours by appointment.
