Historical presentation by pioneer Elinor Martin

BY Kelly Lopez

Leta and George Evans, who first farmed the land and raised cattle and hogs where Canyon Lake is to-day, pose with their three daughters, from left, Alpha, Elinor and Darleen. Elinor Martin still lives in Canyon Lake with her husband Don.

Elinor Martin and her family were instrumental to the development of Canyon Lake and on March 21 she will be presenting “The Creation of Canyon Lake,” Part One, “The Arrival of Pioneers Evans and Ferrell.”

In 1891, Elinor Martin’s great grandfather, Thomas Jefferson Evans, bought 100 acres in the Menifee Valley for his son Henry Evans to settle and build a homestead. The property is now present-day East Port of Canyon Lake. Henry was married to Ella Ferrell, whose family lived on what is now the location of Audie Murphy Ranch.

Henry Evans started out in 1891 with a 100-acre homestead, but by 1927 he had obtained enough land to sell 1,150 acres to the Temescal Water Company. The company then constructed a dam which was completed in 1929. The San Jacinto River slowly filled what would much later be Canyon Lake.

George Evans, Henry Evans’ son, and his wife Leta, received concession rights for the lake from Temescal Water Company. On May 29, 1937, the Evans family built a concession stand, bought supplies and some small fishing boats and opened to the public. In its early days, it was known as Evans Fish Camp, but also knew other names like Railroad Canyon Lake Resort. The Evans’ three daughters, Alpha, Darlene and Elinor and their husbands took turns operating the fishing camp until 1953 when Elinor and Don Martin took over the operation of the camp until 1968.

In 1968, modern-day Canyon Lake was born. The Corona Land Company began construction on 5,000 lots around what was then called Railroad Canyon Reservoir. The land being built on was close to pristine at the time, as only one family had built or farmed on it since the 1890s, the Evans family.

The program, “The Creation of Canyon Lake,” consists of two parts. Part One is entitled “Arrival of Pioneers Evans and Ferrell.” It will be an in depth presentation on the arrival of the pioneers as well as their ranches and farm life.

It will also cover the development of the railroad and its significance to the changes to come for the surrounding communities.

The program will be on March 21 at 9:30 a.m. and will be held at the Rural Center in Menifee, 31850 Haun Road.

Part Two will be held on May 16 at 9:30 a.m. at the same location and will cover the later development of the area of Canyon Lake. The construction of the dam, the fish camp and community development will all be covered at Part Two in the series.

Elinor and her husband Don have been honored by Canyon Lake with an historical marker at Holiday Harbor Park. Elinor has written a book documenting the history of Canyon Lake. It is for sale at the Menifee Valley Historical Association, which is open to patrons every Sunday afternoon between 1:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. Canyon Lake, the book, is also available for check out at the Canyon Lake Library.