C. TEIXEIRA RANCH 



Former Strain Ranch 



(Point Reyes National Seashore) 



1. Description 



For most of its existence, the Teixeira (formerly Strain) Ranch was a 248- 

 acre dairy ranch, but today the ranch complex is within a 3.6 acre area leased 

 by the previous owners while the balance is unrestricted park land. The ranch 

 is located in what has been called Pine Gulch, occupying both sides of Pine 

 Gulch Creek north of Woodville (Dogtown). The land is now mostly brushy and 

 wooded, as it has not been grazed since it was purchased by the federal 

 government in 1971. It is bounded on the north by the Hagmaier Ranch, on 

 the east and south by the former McCurdy/Righetti Ranch, and west by lands 

 once part of the 0. L. Shafter Estate. The ranch is located on State Route 1 

 about four miles north of Bolinas. 



2. History of Strain/Teixeira Ranch 



The Strain/Teixeira Ranch has existed under the administration of only 

 two owner-families, the Strains (1856-1920) and the Teixeiras (1920-present). 

 Marin County pioneer Henry Strain founded the ranch and developed most of 

 the historic ranch structures and features that remain on the ranch, while 

 Joseph Teixeira added and improved on these over the remaining years. 



Henry Strain was born in the county Monaghan, Ireland in 1826. He left 

 Ireland at age 16 for New York City. A contemporary biography detailed his 

 early life in America: 



He worked at the hatter's trade for three years; he 

 then went to Connecticut and found employment in 

 the Smithfield Cotton Manufacturing Company until 

 he embarked for California. On March 5, 1852, he 

 sailed in the steamer "Prometheus" for Nicaragua; 

 thence per sailing vessel to the Isthmus. In Panama 

 he was detained three months from an attack of fever, 

 which, having departed, he sailed for San Francisco, 

 where he arrived in the month of July. Mr. Strain at 



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