Most often, we associate the name of Juan Bandini with early Riverside. Bandini was granted the Rancho Jurupa in 1838, but other people who purchased his lands were the ones who eventually sold it to the various conglomerates that would eventually make up Riverside. In fact, Bandini had little to do with the Rancho Jurupa, but one thing he did do (actually, HAD to do), was build a house on his property as one of the conditions of being granted the large tract of land. Because we often think of Bandini when we talk about the earliest years of Riverside, some people have believed his home would have been nearer Riverside, but it wasn’t. His home was located in what today would be the southernmost portion of the city of Eastvale. The southern boundary of Jurupa Rancho, as it was also known, was the Santa Ana River. The land was known as both Rancho Jurupa and Jurupa Rancho in the mid- to late-1800s. In 1839, Bandini chose a spot on a bluff overlooking the river to build a small adobe structure to be used as his home. Unfortunately, he either did not use it much, or abandoned it relatively early, because traces of the building were gone by around 1900, depending on what sources we use to verify the information. It may have been a temporary house, as just a few years later, he built another adobe home down the river to the southwest. This became known as the Bandini-Cota Adobe, and was well-documented. It was located on the small Rincon Rancho, which Bandini had also been given. Using today’s landmarks to pinpoint the location of the original Jurupa Rancho adobe is difficult. It is generally accepted as being located on the north side of the Santa Ana River about 1,000 feet west of Hamner Avenue. This is roughly the location of the Eastvale Community Park. There are, however, some sources that put it further to the west. Regardless, determining its exact location today is a very daunting task. Even in 1893, A. A. Bynon, writing in his History and Directory of Riverside County, indicated that Bandini’s “old residence was, up to a recent date, to be seen on a bluff on the west side of the river. … That old landmark, however, has nearly disappeared; nothing is to be seen of it now but the crumbling adobe walls of his house and some lines of trees.” Subsequent research done by early historians Janet Gould and George Beattie brought some information to light. For instance, in 1854, Bandini testified in a court case that he and his family occupied the adobe on the Jurupa Rancho from 1839 until the larger house on the Rincon was constructed in either 1840 or 1841.  That would offer a good explanation for why the Jurupa adobe was forgotten. Related Articles Local News | Banning was once known as a ‘TB tourism’ destination Local News | UCR’s bell tower will soon be 60 years old Local News | Citrus packers held a special Christmas dinner in Riverside in 1905 Local News | First Temecula Valley Balloon & Wine Festival was held 40 years ago Local News | What we learned about the city of Perris in 1893 Regardless of the exact location, we do know Bandini was living on the Jurupa Rancho around 1840. That was part of what he needed to do to fulfill the obligations of the land grant. He certainly did not waste time disposing of land to various newcomers, though, but that is a subsequent story. If you have an idea for a future Back in the Day column about a local historic person, place or event, contact Steve Lech and Kim Jarrell Johnson at [email protected].