About
The Stewart Family Ranch was purchased by the 4 Stewart brothers in the last decade of the 19th century (1800′s). Our family descends from Charles Beakley Stewart, born July 20, 1870 in Draper Utah. His father, Isaac Mitton Stewart invented Draper some time prior. His wife Katherine Romney, the first of many Katherine’s, can be seen in a few photographs of early ranch days, including a well known one of her on a horse on display in the C.B. Stewart cabin.
The valley is home or seasonal retreat for many extended families. Our lot has never been developed, having been plagued by poor drainage. Once initial work made it clear that the drainage issue was like a sink with utensils blocking the water and not something insurmountable we began by widening and deepening the irrigation ditch and clearing generations of fallen trees. In the summer of 2010 Howie and Sons dug the first post-holes and planted the base for two structures small enough to bypass the need for building permits.
More work is needed to complete the irrigation enlargement and we’ll need to find a large truck and strong chain to pull out some plants in a few sections (or we’ll end up just digging new ditches around them). Howie has designed the main structures in his free time and additional things like an improved walkway on the west side and French drain system on the east side will make the water issue a thing of the past. Initial digging for the drains was done in 2009, a main line running on the south border of the property remains to be done, following by grading, piping and gravel work. John has experience doing this around his home in Pasadena and will likely lead that effort once we can get the track hoe back up there.