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1. Hart's Initial Purchase in Newhall

When William S. Hart first came to Newhall in 1918, he

leased property from George Babcock Smith which became the core

of the Horseshoe Ranch. In 1921 he decided to buy the property,

and in that year he began purchasing lots that included the Smith

ranch and Anderson home <see map 1).

In February 1921, Hart purchased lots 19 and 20 of Tract

1059 from George Babcock Smith. These lots were the site of the

Ranchhouse and "log cabin" (now the Gift Shop), and the future

sites of the barn and related buildings and the retirement

residence complex (located at the southern extremity) of the

later 1920s. At the same time Hart also acquired the easterly

portions of lots 17 and 18 (about half of each lot) from Smith.

There were no improvements on these lots. The westerly portions

were owned by Mrs. Armantha E. Thibaudeau, who also owned the

southern section of the lot at the southeast corner of Newhall

Avenue and Market Street, which abutted the westerly section of

l ots 17 and 18. 2

In July, Hart made two additional purchases of property

adjacent to the Smith lots. He bought a 5 acre plot on the west

side (a portion of Lot \25, St. John Sub.) f rom Chloe Anderson.

The property formerly belonged to James M. Gulley and later

to Joseph H. Anderson. It included a frame residence which Hart

used as a "Guest Cottage," a windmill (not the existing one>,

and a barn. The house was iater moved <possibly to a location on

Market Street), the windmill removed, and the barn demolished. 3

Also on July 8, Hart purchased a 90' x 225'lot at the

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