Because of the competition between
Columbus Tustin in Tustin City and William H. Spurgeon in Santa Ana as each
sought to have his city become the terminus of the Southern Pacific Railroad
line being extended from Anaheim in 1878, some people believe that Tustin
residents shunned the victor.
Nothing could have been
farther from the truth. Tustin City settlers recognized that the amenities
and many of the necessities of their lives could be found only in Santa Ana.
In 1887 when Tustin’s downtown had only a couple of general stores and a
drugstore, it was easy to board the Santa Ana, Orange and Tustin Street
Railway Co.’s horse drawn trolley in downtown Tustin for a ride to Fourth
and Main, the middle of Santa Ana’s five-block commercial center.
Shoppers could find a variety
of dry goods and clothing as well as a jeweler and several milliners. A
selection of groceries, meat and bakery goods offered variety for their
meals. Book, stationery, hardware and furniture stores were available. Men
could enjoy the pleasure of haircut and shave.
Tustin had a physician from
1880 to 1894, but only a part-time doctor after that while Santa Ana had
numerous doctors and dentists and, after 1901, a hospital. Santa Ana doctors
made house calls into the Tustin area. If a lawyer, undertaking services or
a cemetery, all lacking in Tustin, was needed, Santa Ana had the service.
On a happier note, Santa Ana
had French’s Opera House, opened in 1890 with Madame Modjeska as the
featured performer, Sycamore Hall with a 600-seat theater and Santa Ana
Driving Park with a race track for a breed of horses known as pacers. Tustin
men enjoyed the hospitality of Santa Ana’s saloons until 1903 when
influenced by the Women’s Christian Temperance Union, citizens voted to
become a dry community.
Parades in Santa Ana were
held for every holiday and event including the Parade of Products and
circuses that came to town. Tustin was always well represented. Thirty
lodges and organizations for men and women offered membership in Santa Ana
by 1906. The Ebell Society organized by Tustin’s Franklina Bartlett was
based in Santa Ana.
Santa Ana churches welcomed
Tustin worshippers long before Tustin had any churches. First Baptist, First
Methodist Episcopal, Spurgeon Methodist Church, First Christian, United
Presbyterian and Catholic denominations had opened in Santa Ana by 1870.
Tustin’s First Advent Christian Church organized 1878 followed by Tustin
Presbyterian Church in 1884.
Santa Ana High School which
opened in 1889 was the only high school available to graduates from Tustin
Grammar School until Tustin High School opened in 1923.
Without access to Santa Ana,
Tustin’s population would have experienced a very dull existence.
