Holiday Open House at Historic Home

Before city streets and housing tracts, the land beneath Rancho Cucamonga was covered in vineyards and orchards. And before THAT, in 1860, John Rains built a brick home in the middle of his vast rancho.

The Rains House still stands at 8810 Hemlock Street, just off Vineyard Avenue north of Foothill Boulevard. In the 1970s, restoration began and Casa de Rancho Cucamonga became a historic site of the San Bernardino County Museum.

On Saturday, Dec.6, 2008, the public will be welcomed at an annual festive open house from 3 to 8 p.m. The Alta Loma High School Chamber Singers and Tapia Gold, led by Bob Fox, are scheduled to perform as guests tour the lavishly decorated home and enjoy hot cider and ginger molasses cookies, along with a bit of Rancho Cucamonga lore.

Suggested donations are $3 for ages 12 and older, $2 for children aged 5-11, and free for younger children.