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NEWHALL, CALIFORNIA

Newhall, with a population in 1948 of 3500 is located en San Fernando
Road 2½ miles west of Highway No. 6, and 2 miles east of U. S. Highway
No. 99, in Soledad Township, 4 North, Range 16 West, 31 miles north of Los
Angeles, California.
Elevation according to U. S. Goedetic Survey, is 1270 ft.
The town of Newhall was begun with the opening of the Railroad Station
on October 28, 1876, at what is now the site of Saugus, but then known as
Newhall.
The first building erected was the depot, the lumber arriving by rail. Its
location was on the west side of the track, at a point approximately even with
the present school house, 21511 Sierra Highway .
Five other buildings followed the erection of the depot. One, the section
house. Another the Compton General Store, and a third, the Compton resi-
dence, were built with new materials brought in by the railroad. The site of
the store was near the present Kellogg Ranch, a few dcors north of the
schoolhouse .
Experimenting two dry years in which the water level fell greatly, it was
deemed advisable to move the townsite from its original location to the pres-
ent one, where water would be available with a spring as its source.
Thereupon, on January 15, 1878, the depot was dismantled, moved to its
present site at the Railroad and Market Street, Newhall and rebuilt by Feb-
ruary 15, 1878.
The other buildings were likewise torn down and moved to their new sites.
The street paralleling the railroad on the west side of the tracks was, and
is, known as Railroad Avenue, and was at that time, the main street.
Compton's Store rose anew on this street, at 8th street.
The sites for both the Protestant and Catholic churches were donated by
Mr. N. M. Newhall.
In 1878, the Southern Hotel was erected . by Mr. H. M. Newhall at the
southwest corner of Railroad and Market Street,s, with an entire block devoted
to its use.
At the rear of the hotel, at the corner of Market and Spruce Streets, was
located the blacksmith shop, operated by a Mr. Smith, in conjunction with
the livery stable, the latter located at the approximate junction of Spruce
Street and Newhall Avenue.
Dry wheat farming was carried on plentifully in these parts, a warehouse
for grain storage was erected by Mr. Newhall next to the railroad, across
Market Street to the south, about 1880. Wagons drawn by six teams hauled
the sacked grain from the fields.
Pacific Coast Oil Co. erected their warehouse and office north of the
depot in 1882.