Modjeska Canyon, California
Encyclopedia
Modjeska Canyon is an unincorporated area
on the western slope of the Santa Ana Mountains
in eastern Orange County
, California
. It is a rural community of several hundred residents, with a small park and a volunteer fire station.
The canyon is also the location of the Tucker Wildlife Sanctuary
. Most of the canyon is surrounded by the Cleveland National Forest
. The community of Modjeska Canyon is very tight knit, hosting several in-canyon events such as pot lucks, dance lessons, movie nights at the park, Fourth of July parades, as well as Christmas and Halloween parties. The parties are usually held in the Modjeska Community center and the Fire Station. They also hold events for non-residence people to come and enjoy, such as an arts and crafts fair held in early spring at the Tucker Wildlife Sanctuary.
Modjeska Canyon is named after the 19th-century Polish
stage actress, Helena Modjeska
, who settled in the canyon in the late 19th century. Her home from 1888 to 1906, "Arden"
, is a National Historic Landmark
. The house and gardens are fenced in, so if you are looking to see the house you must make a reservation for the tour. The house is typically only open once or twice a month, so it is important to make reservations in advance.
The Brotherhood of Eternal Love was incorporated as a non-profit organization in Modjeska Canyon on Oct 26, 1966—a few months before John Griggs and other founding members relocated to the Woodland Drive neighborhood of Laguna Beach, CA (later known as 'Dodge City'). [- per Nick Schou's book Orange Sunshine, 2010. Added by WA, 17 Nov 2010]
The canyon was the home to one of the many California wildfires of October 2007. About 14 homes in Modjeska Canyon were destroyed by the fire and another 8 homes were damaged (out of a total of roughly 220 homes in the canyon). Mandatory evacuation
s were issued prior to President George W. Bush
declaring the site an emergency.
The ZIP Code is 92676, and the community is inside area code 714
.
Unincorporated area
In law, an unincorporated area is a region of land that is not a part of any municipality.To "incorporate" in this context means to form a municipal corporation, a city, town, or village with its own government. An unincorporated community is usually not subject to or taxed by a municipal government...
on the western slope of the Santa Ana Mountains
Santa Ana Mountains
The Santa Ana Mountains are a short peninsular mountain range along the coast of Southern California in the United States. They extend for approximately 36 mi southeast of the Los Angeles Basin largely along the border between Orange and Riverside counties.- Geography :The range starts in the...
in eastern Orange County
Orange County, California
Orange County is a county in the U.S. state of California. Its county seat is Santa Ana. As of the 2010 census, its population was 3,010,232, up from 2,846,293 at the 2000 census, making it the third most populous county in California, behind Los Angeles County and San Diego County...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. It is a rural community of several hundred residents, with a small park and a volunteer fire station.
The canyon is also the location of the Tucker Wildlife Sanctuary
Tucker Wildlife Sanctuary
Tucker Wildlife Sanctuary is a non-profit nature reserve in Orange County, California in the United States, located near the end of Modjeska Canyon, at the foot of Modjeska Peak and adjacent to the Cleveland National Forest. The Sanctuary is owned and operated by California State University,...
. Most of the canyon is surrounded by the Cleveland National Forest
Cleveland National Forest
Cleveland National Forest encompasses 460,000 acres , mostly of chaparral, with a few riparian areas. A warm dry mediterranean climate prevails over the Forest. It is the southernmost National forest of California. It is administered by the United States Forest Service, a government agency within...
. The community of Modjeska Canyon is very tight knit, hosting several in-canyon events such as pot lucks, dance lessons, movie nights at the park, Fourth of July parades, as well as Christmas and Halloween parties. The parties are usually held in the Modjeska Community center and the Fire Station. They also hold events for non-residence people to come and enjoy, such as an arts and crafts fair held in early spring at the Tucker Wildlife Sanctuary.
Modjeska Canyon is named after the 19th-century Polish
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
stage actress, Helena Modjeska
Helena Modjeska
Helena Modjeska Helena Modjeska Helena Modjeska (October 12, 1840 – April 8, 1909, whose actual Polish surname was Modrzejewska , was a renowned actress who specialized in Shakespearean and tragic roles.Modjeska was the mother of Polish-American bridge engineer Ralph Modjeski....
, who settled in the canyon in the late 19th century. Her home from 1888 to 1906, "Arden"
Modjeska House
Modjeska House, also known as Arden, is a house designed by Stanford White in Modjeska, California. It is significant for being the only surviving home of Helena Modjeska, a Shakespearean actress and Polish patriot.-Background:...
, is a National Historic Landmark
National Historic Landmark
A National Historic Landmark is a building, site, structure, object, or district, that is officially recognized by the United States government for its historical significance...
. The house and gardens are fenced in, so if you are looking to see the house you must make a reservation for the tour. The house is typically only open once or twice a month, so it is important to make reservations in advance.
The Brotherhood of Eternal Love was incorporated as a non-profit organization in Modjeska Canyon on Oct 26, 1966—a few months before John Griggs and other founding members relocated to the Woodland Drive neighborhood of Laguna Beach, CA (later known as 'Dodge City'). [- per Nick Schou's book Orange Sunshine, 2010. Added by WA, 17 Nov 2010]
The canyon was the home to one of the many California wildfires of October 2007. About 14 homes in Modjeska Canyon were destroyed by the fire and another 8 homes were damaged (out of a total of roughly 220 homes in the canyon). Mandatory evacuation
Emergency evacuation
Emergency evacuation is the immediate and rapid movement of people away from the threat or actual occurrence of a hazard. Examples range from the small scale evacuation of a building due to a bomb threat or fire to the large scale evacuation of a district because of a flood, bombardment or...
s were issued prior to President George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
declaring the site an emergency.
The ZIP Code is 92676, and the community is inside area code 714
Area code 714
North American area codes 657 and 714 are Californian telephone area codes which encompass northern Orange County, a portion of Los Angeles County, and portions of Chino Hills in San Bernardino County...
.
External links
- http://www.canyonlife.com/arden.main.html
- http://articles.latimes.com/2006/jun/18/realestate/re-guide18
- http://www.canyonlife.com/events.folder/UpcomingCynEvents.html
- http://www.tuckerwildlife.org/
- http://www.caopenspace.org/modjeska.html