Miraflores Station

The main line of the Santa Fe Railroad connected to the Tustin branch of the Southern Pacific Railroad line at a point just south of the Fiscus citrus ranch, and was referred to as the “Miraflores Station” on local maps (although there was never a depot). Later the Southern Pacific Rail line was abandoned and Manchester Ave. was developed, placing the Miraflores area just above the intersection of Manchester Ave. and Anaheim Blvd. (originally called Highway 101, since it followed the path of the El Camino Real Highway developed during the Mission and Rancho periods).

The Mayor of Miraflores

On November 3, 1868, John Hanna (1830-1916) brought his wife, Martha, and 8 children (Emma, Henry, Minerva, Charles, Julia, Lara, Edwin, and John) to Anaheim from San Francisco. From Henry D. Polhemus, agent for the Stearns Rancho, Hanna purchased 1,280 acres in Sections 22 and 23 located southwest of Anaheim, bounded by the current streets of Ball, State College, Katella, and West.  He originally engaged in grain growing and stock raising, but gradually sold off most of his acreage except for about 100 acres in the Miraflores area.  These he planted with walnut trees, which he successfully cultivated without irrigation. He was affectionately referred to as the “mayor of Miraflores,” an honorary title since the area was never incorporated, in the local newspapers, including a story published in the Anaheim Gazette (“Gov. Pardee Here Meets Royal Welcome,” 10/19/1905) when Governor George C. Pardee, an old friend, visited Anaheim for a 3-hour stay.

The Polhemus Family

Henry D. Polhemus (1843-1900) married Emma Hanna, the eldest daughter of John and Martha (nee Rogers) Hanna on November 2, 1870 in Anaheim.  The couple settled on a 100-acre ranch in Section 23, where they grew walnuts and raised their three children (Emma, Mariana, and Henry Jr.).  Various newspaper articles credit Henry Polhemus with the “Miraflores” designation. Although the area south of Anaheim’s South Street was known for walnut groves, additional crops are mentioned in the Anaheim Gazette (1890-1910), including: almonds, pumpkins, grain, barley, corn, peaches, apricots, Valencia oranges, apples, figs, watermelons, lima beans, and Anaheim chili peppers.

Sources:

“Henry Polhemus settled south of Anaheim, naming the place ‘Miraflores.’” (“Observations,” Anaheim Gazette, 6/7/1923);

“Henry D. Polhemus was the founder of Miraflores, where he had resided with his family for a number of years past.” (“Death of H.D. Polhemus,” Anaheim Gazette, 5/4/1900);

“Referring to the name of Rev. Dr. Merwin’s place [in Pasadena] – “Miraflores” – the Anaheim Gazette thinks that there is danger of its being confused with Col. Polhemus’ place of the same name, two miles south of Anaheim.” (“Miraflores and Its Imitators,” Anaheim Gazette, 11/18/1897).

Thank you to the Anaheim Heritage Center, the Anaheim Public Library, MUZEO, and the City of Anaheim for providing this information.