Ask any fourth grade school child in Redlands about the founders of Redlands and they will gladly tell you that “Mr. Judson and Mr. Brown” reside at the intersection of Cypress Avenue and Center Street. Many funny and interesting tidbits about Redlands are recounted from September to June on the free history tours given to all our fourth grade students. These beautifully orchestrated tours are made possible by the generous volunteers of Heritage Auxiliary which is part of the Assistance League of Redlands. Due to a reduced rate agreement with the school district Heritage Auxiliary pays for the buses, supplies the guides, and even bakes free cookies for the children.
Many topics are covered as the yellow school buses meander through both the original town of Lugonia, founded ten years prior to Redlands, and the historic districts of Redlands while a guide points out significant points. From early morning until afternoon many topics are covered such as the name “ Redlands” which comes from the red clay earth Frank Brown and Edward G. Judson noticed in 1881 while surveying their holdings. The cut stone curbs are looked at because these mark the older parts of Redlands and fish scale shingles are seen on many Victorian houses in town.
The bus stops often for short jaunts. First the children disembark at the University of Redlands, walk across the Zanja (or “Sankey” as it is known locally) to the administration building. From there they observe the university and surrounding valley to the mountains. Next is the original outpost for the San Gabriel Mission, the Asistencia, and then they stand under a Kapok tree before walking around a citrus grove house. The gargoyles of the A.K. Smiley Public Library and solitude of the Lincoln Memorial Shrine are surveyed. Then a quick walk through the Redlands Bowl leads to lunch in Smiley Park. Finally, they hike up the long drive to Kimberly Crest for a look inside and for one of Mrs. Shirk’s favorite ginger cookies. All while the guide is telling them what they are seeing and how it fits into the fabric of our local history.
Many firsts have occurred in Redlands, some verifiable and some which may be legend. Miss Mary Fackler, of Kings bury School, is said to be the first teacher in the United States to have her students recite the Pledge of Allegiance each morning. In 1893 Redlands turned on the first electric streetlights in the world. The first automobile arriving west of the Rocky Mountains was delivered to Redlands in 1899 and it was our own City Engineer, George Hinckley, whom may have first painted white lines on streets to divide the lanes.
These tours are a trip back in time, for these modern day students, to help them understand and appreciate how many generations have worked to establish this community. The hope is that they will grow up wanting to preserve what they now see as historically significant.
Incidentally, Mr. Judson and Mr. Brown are of course long gone but two beautiful Deodar Cedar trees, which have been given their names because they were planted by the pair to mark what they thought would be the center of town, still stand proudly at Cypress and Center. Every Friday, as the Heritage Auxiliary buses pass these two stately reminders of Redlands’ beginning, all the kids greet them with a resounding, “Hello Mr. Judson and Mr. Brown.”
This article was written by Judith Hunt in the Mad about Redlands, Volume IV, Number 2, Winter 2006 magazine.