The Morgan Hill Historical Society will be hosting a presentation on the Rhoades Ranch by Architectural Historian Franklin Maggi at their quarter membership meeting April 27 at 7:00 p.m.  The meeting is at the Morgan Hill House, 17860 Monterey St., Morgan Hill.

Rhoades Ranch is located at the base of Anderson Reservoir, and was recently landmarked by the County of Santa Clara based on an evaluation by Archives & Architecture. The ranch was initially developed in the 1860s, and contains the circa 1870 house of County Supervisor James Phegley. Also on the ranch is the 1917 Spanish Eclectic house of IO Rhodes, designed by prominent local architects Howard Higbie and Andrew Hill Jr. Following the development of the Rhodes fruit ranch, strawberry scientist Harold E. Thomas occupied the site and established the Strawberry Institute of California, where many disease resistant varieties of today’s market strawberries were developed.

Owners Joe and Sheila Giancola will also be in attendance to answer questions. Contact the historical society if you’d like to attend. A group potluck starts at 6:00 p.m.

Rhoades House