Redlands Conservancy members inspect historic Judson-Brown ditch Photo: Roger Hardy stands beside the remnants of the historic Judson-Brown ditch, built in 1881. POSTED: 12/23/14 The 1881 tunnel directed water from the Santa Ana River to Redlands through the Judson-Brown ditch. The 133-year-old Judson-Brown ditch is in remarkably good condition where it crosses the Redlands Conservancy’s 100 acres east of Redlands Municipal Airport and disappears under the Flood Control District’s berm on the south side of the Santa Ana River wash. Redlands Conservancy board members Kathy Behrens and Chris Christopherson recently walked that area with Tamara Serrao, executive assistant at Statistical Research Inc., and Sherli Leonard, Conservancy executive director, to better understand the scope of the historic artifact, which is being nominated for listing on the National Register of Historic Places. Behrens’ husband, Roger Hardy, accompanied the expedition. Redlands founders E.G. Judson and Frank Brown built the canal in eight months during 1881, bringing water first from Morton Canyon on the north side of the Santa Ana River wash, and then from Santa Ana River by way of a set of tunnels, wooden flumes and open cobble and concreted canals. According to Serrao, Judson and Brown built the canal to get water to the Lugonia area in order to develop the land. According to Redlands historian Tom Atchley, it was the first irrigation ditch to Redlands. Judson and Brown built the ditch using laborers from the regional Indian tribes and using readily available river rocks. Originally, the ditch was open, but Judson and Brown later covered it with a wooden structure because drowned animals and people had been discovered floating down the canal. At about four feet deep and five feet wide when it was built, it carried about 400 inches of water, which was barely enough to supply the new Redlands development. Hoping to provide a more adequate water supply for the new community, Judson and Brown eventually turned to Big Bear Lake, which they claimed for Redlands. They used the Judson-Brown ditch until 1891, according to Atchley. “It’s not exactly a Roman aqueduct, but it’s pretty neat,” Christopherson said. Redlands Conservancy intends to preserve and protect the remnants of the historic ditch in its existing state on the 100-acre property. Source: Redlands Conservancy redlandsdailyfacts/environment-and-nature/20141223/redlands-conservancy-members-inspect-historic-judson-brown-ditch
Posted on: Sat, 27 Dec 2014 22:30:01 +0000