Photos are a time machine to look back at what once was.
The Dominican missions of Old California (founded from 1774-1834) were all made of adobe. Once the roof (made of wood, poles, tules, tile) was
removed, the adobe was exposed to rain and begins to erode back to the earth. Treasure hunters didn't help by digging holes in the walls!
Here are some old vs new photos at the first mission site in El Rosario... 1949 photo by Marquis McDonald, 1956-1961 photos by Howard Gulick, 2005
photos by me.
First site (1774-1802) located in El Rosario (de Arriba), 0.8 mile from the Baja Cactus Pemex, on the left, just a block up from the highway...
1949:
1956:
1957:
1961:
2005:
Here is a plan of the mission site by Peveril Meigs III from his 1935 book, 'The Dominican Mission Frontier of Lower California':
[Edited on 2-23-2014 by David K]
The Rosario Mission Story...
David K - 2-22-2014 at 07:56 PM
Here's an advance look at a new chapter in my mission series you may have been reading on Facebook or Discover Baja's blog... still may be edited it
more:
Nuestra Señora del Rosario de Viñadaco (1774-1829)
El Rosario was the first California mission founded by the Dominican Order, just one year after assuming responsibility over a dozen Jesuit founded
missions, and one founded by the Franciscans. The site for El Rosario was known to the Cochimí Indians as Viñadaco (also spelled Viñaraco or
Viñatacót). The valley was investigated by Dominican President Padre Vicente Mora in late 1773. He found fresh water pools and after digging some
wells, tapped into a flowing spring of water. No better location for a mission was found than this one at Viñadaco.
The documents providing the exact founding date and priest are lost, but a marriage was performed on July 21, 1774 by Padre Francisco Galisteo. Padre
Galisteo also wrote that the Burial Register begins on July 24, 1774 (the first entry was not until January 3, 1775).
Padre Galisteo served at El Rosario until the end of 1779. However, he had assistance from Padres Manuel Hidalgo, Manuel Perez, José Aivar, and Pedro
Gandiaga. Padre Luis Sales also performed baptisms in 1778. Padre Sales was the only Dominican to have his letters published into a book,
‘Observations on California, 1772-1790’. Padre Perez was the resident missionary following Galisteo’s departure until Perez died in March, 1788. Who
immediately replaced Perez as resident is unclear, but several Dominicans have entered their names into the books.
In 1790, Padre Luis Sales wrote the following:
“In the year 1774 we were given an order to explore some territories in which to found new settlements and to establish the conquest of the
heathen, and this in spite of the fact that the Franciscans had explored the locations indicated by the King and reported them as useless.
Nevertheless, whether because of rains or the freshets of the arroyos, or other circumstances which I omit, a place with many heathen, called
Viñatacót, was found, which served for the foundation of a mission named Nuestra Señora del Rosario, and it has turned out so prosperous that today it
is one of the richest settlements, supplying much grain to maintain the neighboring Indians.”
Padre Vicente Belda became the resident missionary from December 28, 1792 until August 9, 1798. Padre Juan Ribas was the next resident padre to mid
1802. Ribas was replaced at El Rosario by Padre Raymundo Escola until 1807. Padre José Cauas replaced Escola until mid 1814. A few more Dominicans
took turns entering baptisms to the year 1828 before a 13 year gap in entries. This long absence was ended with the October 4, 1844 additions by Padre
Thomas Mansilla for three baptisms, entered as # 1447-1449.
A report in 1793 describes the church made of adobe 130 feet by 25 feet in size. There was also an adobe room for the priests to reside in. An adobe
room 22 feet long was added in 1798. In 1800, four adobe rooms were added to be used for storage, kitchen, weaving, and a forge.
The neophyte population numbers at El Rosario was reported as being 564 in 1776, after which epidemics took their toll dropping the population to 251
in 1782. An increase to 390 was reported in 1793, then a drop to 257 in 1800, 199 in 1808, and just 38 in 1829.
In 1802 the mission was moved 2 miles west and closer to the river, after the spring dried up at the first site or was buried by a flood-caused
landslide. The first site is locally referred to as El Rosario de Arriba (Upper Rosario) and the second site as El Rosario de Abajo (Lower Rosario).
The second site had been an Indian ranchería called San José. A multi-room adobe building was erected there in 1799. The second mission location was
not only closer to the river, but closer to the ocean and to more land under cultivation. It was made of massive earthen walls on a foundation of
mortared stones. The doorway was a pointed Gothic arch, something unseen at other California missions built in the same period. The walls were coated
with white plaster that would have been brilliant and visible from great distances. The El Rosario mission was perhaps the most stable and successful
of the Dominican missions.
The date the mission was closed is unknown, but other writers have listed 1828 to 1832 as being the final year. When Mexican farmers moved into the
valley, they made use of the abandoned mission tiles and other coverings for their own homes. The adobe walls became exposed to rain, and have slowly
been eroding back to the earth. Efforts to stabilize the remaining walls with a plaster coating as well as installing gravel walkways have been made
in recent years at both mission sites.
The first mission site is just north of Highway 1, in the town of El Rosario. Go 0.8 mile from the Pemex gas station and turn uphill, just a few
hundred feet. The second site is across the river in the small village of El Rosario de Abajo. Turn right where Highway 1 makes a sharp left curve,
just past Mama Espinoza’s restaurant, and then turn left at the next street and cross the river. Next, head west, going 1.6 miles from Highway 1. The
ruins are on the right as you drive through El Rosario de Abajo.
I will add the old and new photos at the second site, soon...
2nd Rosario Mission Site
David K - 2-23-2014 at 09:10 AM
Photos
1926 by George Hendry:
1949 by Marquis McDonald:
1958 by Howard Gulick:
1961 by Howard Gulick:
2005 by David Kier:
Plan of second site by Peveril Meigs III (1935):
David K - 2-23-2014 at 09:12 AM
Satellite View:
woody with a view - 2-23-2014 at 12:02 PM
that Nuevo Uruapan has insane birria!jbcoug - 2-23-2014 at 12:43 PM
Quite striking change over a relatively short period of time. History is quickly lost. Thanks for sharing.
Bells
bajaguy - 2-23-2014 at 03:47 PM
Be interesting to know where the bells in the 1961 photo areDavid K - 2-23-2014 at 03:49 PM
El Rosario de Abajo (2nd site), in the photo... Today, ???:
They are reported to be at the newer chapel, near the mission. There is also a museum nearby... I did not see them.
Choral Pepper wrote in 1973 that the town was faced with some economic hardships and sold one of the bells to a parish in San Ysidro, CA. She said the
one remaining bell was named Santa Rosa, 1788.
Dr. Michael Mathes wrote in 1977 that the two bells are at the modern chapel. One is dated 1706 and one 1738.
Dave Werschkul in 2003 says the bells are at the modern chapel...
Seems we have a mystery to solve???
[Edited on 2-23-2014 by David K]Bob H - 2-23-2014 at 07:41 PM
Great stuff David!David K - 2-24-2014 at 12:15 AM
Quote:
Originally posted by Bob H
Great stuff David!
Thanks Bob... It is keeping me thinking about Baja when I can't be there!
Bing Satellite View
David K - 2-25-2014 at 09:59 AM
Rosario-1:
Hwy. 1 is just below the south edge of the image.
Rosario-2:
The road to Punta Baja is highlighted going from the northeast to the southwest just south of the site.
