Spring House

Did you notice a change in temperature when you entered this room? Water evaporating from the spring gives the same effect as an evaporative cooler in your home. This building dates to the 1880s, before refrigeration became available. Early owners of the ranch used this spring house as a part of their dairy operations. In order to preserve the nutritive value of milk, it was made into cheese. The cool temperatures in the spring house played a vital role in the cheesemaking process. Later occupants might have used the spring house to preserve other parishables, such as meat or fresh fruits and vegetables from the orchards and gardens.