A Mystery Photo of Old El Toro

Live long enough, and eventually you’ll accumulate a box or two—or maybe more—of family photos. 

So although you’ve probably heard this before, here it is again: Don’t put it off any longer! Go through all those photos you’ve stowed away in a drawer or closet and, to the very best of your ability, identify them.

The Saddleback Area Historical Society gladly accepts donated photos of old El Toro and neighboring communities. But sometimes, these photos are either unidentified or “under-identified.” And that can present a challenge.

For instance: the photo you see before you is in process of being identified. 

So far, it has been established as a view of El Toro Road, and those of you who already know something about early El Toro probably can see why. 

To begin with, check out the center of the photo and you’ll see what appears to be , framed by a row of eucalyptus that, in that location, would have originally belonged to the . Also easily identifiable is a crossing sign for the railroad tracks.

Now take a gander at the buildings on the opposite side of the railroad crossing, closer to the photographer.Taking into consideration their location, as well as comparing them to other photos, they look to be the warehouses along Front Street. 

And just to our left and out of the frame would be the cattle pens and clay dumps (both worthy subjects of future El Toro & Before columns).

The , would be just out of view, to our right, on the other side of El Toro Road, and obscured by the structure in the foreground.

Speaking of that structure...could it be part of the legendary Osterman general store? Most likely, since the photo was anonymously identified as being taken in 1927, and the Osterman store—a familiar sight for more than 40 years—was constructed in 1920, just a stone’s throw from the depot.

By the way, directly behind the photographer would be the eight-sided Community Hall and, not much further up the road, the relocated El Toro Grammar School, at that point in use as . 

The Union Gas signage and pump, of course, confirms this photo was taken at a time when automobiles had come into their own. But also readily visible are several mule teams which hauled in barley, beans and other crops to be warehoused and ultimately transported by train.

In Recuerdos de El Toro Viejo, Joe Osterman tells us that mule-drawn wagons were in use up into the mid 1940s. Given the need for gasoline rationing during the World War II years, this makes tremendous sense.

But now take a look at the road itself. Whatever the year, I’d prefer navigating that muddy, uneven surface on foot, horseback, or even by mule-drawn wagon, rather than being jostled about in an easily-mired gas buggy!

One more thing: How about that oblong structure on the other side of the tracks—the one with the three windows, just beyond the second wagon and mule team? After checking one of Osterman’s maps, as well as a 1903 photo from Recuerdos, I’m thinking it’s the El Toro Meat Market which, at one point, morphed into a pool hall...also a worthy subject for a future El Toro & Before.