Fallbrook Historical Society

—— Fallbrook’s Pioneer Roots —-

The Reed Family Story

Long before Fallbrook became the vibrant community we know today, families like the Reed family were shaping the early history of California and the American West.

At just 12 years old, Martha Williams Reed made an extraordinary journey across the Oregon Trail in 1841—traveling by ox-pulled covered wagon with her family. They became some of the first settlers of Oregon’s Willamette Valley, helping establish one of the earliest American communities in the region.

In 1849, driven by the excitement of the Gold Rush, Martha and her husband Jacob Reed moved south into California. Like many pioneers, their journey was not a single destination—but a lifetime of movement, opportunity, and resilience.

Martha raised eleven children, born across different counties as the family gradually migrated through California. By the 1890s, the Reed family finally settled in Fallbrook, becoming part of the foundation of our town’s early development.

From Martha’s Own Words (1913 Memoir):
“Memoir of Mrs. Martha Williams Reed, 84-year-old resident of Fallbrook, as told to the Fallbrook Enterprise in September, 1913. Her memoir is repeated here exactly as she told it:

I was born in Missouri June 9th, 1829 and was a family of nine children of Richard and Libby Huckaby Williams. In the Spring of 1841, my father with his family joined a company coming to California by ox-team. There were six of us children. My two oldest brothers, being married, remained in Missouri until two years later.

I was 12 years old in June. There were in our company two other families; Ben Kelsey with his wife and one child, his brother Sam Kelsey and two children, Andy Kelsey a brother, also Betsy Gray, a sister of Ben’s wife and her child; Zade Kelsey who was no relation to the other Kelseys, a preacher named Williams, John Bidwell who afterwards became Governor of California and several other men.”

—- Her words bring history to life —reminding us that these were real people, real journeys, and extraordinary courage.

—- Read the full story here:
https://www.fallbrookhistoricalsociety.org/about/fallbrook-history/featured-articles/reed-family-california-pioneers/

—- Visit the Fallbrook Historical Society Museums. Open every Saturday & Sunday from 1 PM – 4 PM

Step into history and experience the stories that built our community.

Please share and like our page!

Safeway in Fallbrook — A Piece of Local History

Did you know that one of Fallbrook’s earliest national chain stores arrived nearly a century ago?

In 1927, Safeway opened its first store in Fallbrook on Main Avenue, bringing a new style of grocery shopping to the village. At the time, Fallbrook was still a small agricultural town, and most residents shopped at local mercantile stores. Safeway introduced the modern chain-store concept with standardized products, wider selections, and competitive pricing.

The store was built on a site where a popular horseshoe court once stood, after local merchant Rex Reader moved his mercantile business to make room for the new grocery store. Over the decades, as Fallbrook grew, Safeway expanded and relocated to larger facilities to serve the community’s changing needs.

The original downtown store may be gone, but Safeway’s arrival marked an important step in Fallbrook’s transition from a small farming village to a growing modern town.

Read the full story by our
Hostorian, Tom Frew:
https://www.fallbrookhistoricalsociety.org/about/fallbrook-history/featured-articles/safeway-in-fallbrook/

After reading, stop by Fallbrook downtown, look at stores, enjoy lunch or dinner in the village, and experience the charm of our historic community.

Visit the Fallbrook Historical Society Museums
Open Saturday and Sunday, 1 PM – 4 PM.

Please like and share our page and become a member of Fallbrook Historical Society.

Big thanks to

Marianne Dickey

for all your support! Congrats for being top fans on a streak 🔥!

A Historic Gem in Fallbrook

– 127 Social House —-

Did you know that the beautiful Victorian building now known as 127 Social House was originally built in 1884 as the Shipley Residence?

Constructed by early Fallbrook pioneer Elmer Shipley, this elegant two-story Victorian home was part of a friendly $3,000 home-building challenge among three local men. Today, it is the only one still standing — a remarkable survivor of Fallbrook’s earliest years.

Over nearly 140 years, the building has worn many hats:
• Relocated to Elder Street in the 1920s
• Home to beloved local restaurants
• Office space and creative studios
• A preschool and photography studio
• Headquarters for Village News
• And today, a vibrant dining destination known as 127 Social House

It is one of Fallbrook’s oldest surviving structures — a living reminder of how our small agricultural town grew into the Village we cherish today.

📖 Read the full detailed history here:
https://www.fallbrookhistoricalsociety.org/about/fallbrook-history/featured-articles/history-of-the-shipley-residence-127-social-house/

🍽️ Next time you’re in town, enjoy lunch or dinner at 127 Social House and experience a true piece of Fallbrook history firsthand.

🏛️ And don’t forget to visit our museums! The Fallbrook Historical Society Museums are open every Saturday and Sunday from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM.

Come experience the stories that built Fallbrook.
Please like our page and become a member

First Fallbrook Honey Farm

Our First Sweet Success

Did you know that honey was Fallbrook’s very first cash crop? Back in the 1870s, when Fallbrook was just being settled, beekeeping took hold across San Diego County — and our community was right in the sweetness of it! 

- Early farmers didn’t just keep bees for pollination — those hives were a source of income through honey and beeswax. Unlike other crops, honey wouldn’t spoil, so it could be stored or shipped long distances. 

- One of the earliest settlers, Vital Reche, established a thriving apiary on his Fall Brook Ranch with over 130 colonies. He didn’t just sell his own honey — he bought honey from neighbors, encouraging others to expand their hives too. 

- With his four-horse wagon full of “Fall Brook Honey,” Reche often made the journey to San Diego and word of our honey even spread as far as New York as ship captains looked to fill their holds with California products on their return trips. 

- From chaparral pastures to markets across the country, Fallbrook Honey helped build our community’s agricultural identity. Next time you enjoy a drizzle of local honey, remember its roots right here in our own historic fields!

- Read the full story here: https://www.fallbrookhistoricalsociety.org/about/fallbrook-history/featured-articles/honey-fallbrooks-earliest-crop/

- Please like and share on your page and
- Visit our Museums on Saturday and Sunday from 1-4 pm.