Historic Lopez House Set to Move on April 20

The historic home of long-time Tejon Ranch manager J.J. Lopez is scheduled to begin its move from Rosedale Highway at Calloway Drive to the Kern County Museum on April 20 beginning at 1 a.m. with arrival scheduled for 5 a.m. (View Map of the Route)

Meanwhile, countless hours of preparation, including emptying the house of vintage furniture to prepare it for transport along several Bakersfield area roads, is under way.

"The move of the Lopez house follows months of planning that began in 2007 when the Kern County Museum Authority Board voted unanimously to accept the house and began raising money to relocate this historic property to a permanent home at the Kern County Museum, " said Mike Ansolabehere, foundation board chairman.

Ansolabehere said, while fund-raising continues, scores of cash and in-kind contributions to date make it possible to relocate the Lopez home to the Kern County Museum grounds where the actual restoration will take place.

The fund-raising efforts received a significant boost when Huell Houser featured the Lopez home last year on his California’s Gold series. The program aired on local television as well as on public television. "Tejon Ranch also has been extremely supportive," said Heather Fowler, museum foundation director.

Prior to the move, the following is scheduled to take place:

March 10th – Beginning about 8:30 a.m., the vintage furniture will be removed, safely packed and stored. Once the restoration is complete, the furniture that best represents the era in which Lopez occupied the house, will be placed in the home.

Week of March 17 – On site work and demolition of an old building at museum takes place to prepare the Lopez home site.

Week of March 24 – Museum site work continues; home ownership is transferred to the museum.

Week of April 7 – Old roofing materials are removed from the Lopez home in preparation for its move from Rosedale Highway at Calloway Drive to the museum.

April 14 – Beams are inserted under house.

April 15 – Roof is cut, structure is braced and connected to the beams.

April 16 – Crews begin lifting structure so dollies can be placed beneath the house.

April 17 – Crews begin inserting dollies.

April 18 – Crews scheduled to complete connecting dollies so the house is ready to move.

April 19 – No work planned at this time.

April 20 – At 1 a.m. house move begins with scheduled arrival at museum between 5 a.m. and 5:30 a.m. Following arrival of the Lopez house, volunteers, sponsors, donors, community members, museum and museum foundation staff donors are invited to a breakfast fund-raiser with all proceeds going toward restoration. View Map of the Route (pdf)

The Lopez house is owned by Glenda Rankin, her sister Dianne Sharman and brothers, Arlin Wayne and Harvey Hill. The house was owned for 40 years by their mother, Lavern Hill. Mrs. Hill worked tirelessly to preserve and keep the home in the family, according to her daughters.

The original owner, J. J. Lopez, was born in Los Angeles in 1852. He came to Kern County in 1874 at the age of 21 and oversaw the sheep operations at the Tejon Ranch. He eventually oversaw all livestock operations. Lopez retired in 1909 to Bakersfield, but was lured out of retirement and continued to manage the ranch until 1929. He subsequently continued as a consultant.

Tejon Ranch is the largest continuous expanse of land under single ownership with 270,000 acres.

Located 30 miles south of Bakersfield, the ranch has been part of Kern County since 1843.

The Lopez home was built either in 1906 or 1909 at the corner of California and Chester avenues. In 1929 the house was turned to face California Avenue. Lopez’ daughter, Margaret Pearl Meacham, inherited the home in 1938. In 1953, Otis Coppock purchased the home and moved it to Rosedale Highway and Calloway Drive. Lavern Hill acquired the home in 1966. Mrs. Hill died in 2005.

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