The Ranch

Land Claim: West side of Lake Hodges before Campo del Dios

Before the formal community of Del Dios was built as a weekend lake resort, and, prior to development of the famed Rancho Santa Fe, Louis M. Richard filed for a 320 acre homestead on west side of Lake Hodges, on land opened up by the U.S. Department of Interior for homestead claims. It is not known why Richard had been drawn to what was land declared to be used only for dry farming and for small amounts of irrigated land. As a career geologist, it was surprising that he would file for a homestead that specifically restricted mining.

In the final claim for a patent to his homestead, Louis defined his progress on the land. The largest investment by acreage was undertaken by Richard in 1924. He lists that 8,000 grape vines were planted amid the continuing national prohibition when the California grape industry was in disastrous decline. Since it takes three years for a vine to mature to produce grapes, Richard must have projected a marketable product for the future. In fact, in nearby Harmony Grove, grower, Jerry Ferrara was among the San Diego County bonded vintners who all were shut down in June, 1924 by Federal Prohibition agents, perhaps opening a void in the area for viticulture.

On February 8, 1926, Richard received a Patent for his homestead. It was free and clear to develop as he wanted. Testimony was given to the Department of Interior by neighbors, John H. MacVane whose land claim adjoined to the north; and, Joshua Detwiler to the west that Richard fulfilled the requirements of his homestead to receive a Patent.

One requirement to homestead land was to establish residency on your claim by constructing a dwelling, most often a cabin. However, in his homestead patent testimony, Louis M. Richard states that he built a three room "substantial home" in 1922.