HISTORY
Senora Maria Carrillo, "Mother of Santa Rosa" died Feb.28, 1849, and was buried in front of the font in Mission San Francisco Solano in Sonoma. She wanted this so the holy water would fall on her grave. In her will, Maria left the adobe to her daughters Marta, Juana, and Felicidad. The rest of her possessions, including the land and all livestock was to be divided equally between her children. She asked her daughter, Luz, to care for and protect the family.
In the years after her death, different children occupied the adobe at different times. Juana and her husband operated a tavern, hotel and the first Santa Rosa post office.
I found Maria’s life to be very interesting. She was very brave to leave the only home she had ever known to travel 700 miles to a new one with only her children. She built one of the greatest ranchos in Northern California and ran it with the help of her sons and daughters. She had 13 children and only one died as a baby. The Carrillo and Vallejo names are very well known throughout northern California.
Over the years the adobe has fallen into ruin. Several years ago, an organization known as "The Friends of The Carrillo Adobe" built a roof over the remains to try to protect it. They still hope to be able to restore it to the way Maria built it. I hope they do, too.
This is a picture of the original adobe.
This is a picture of me at the adobe today. Notice how thick the walls are and how it is falling down.