History
Clifford Thompson’s barn was located on the corner of Washington Avenue and Ivy Street along Highway 395. It was a familiar Murrieta landmark with two advertisements painted on the barn, one for the Temecula Hot Springs, and the other for Harold’s Club in Reno, Nevada. The barn witnessed many historic events in the valley including soldiers marching off to several wars over the years. Though the barn is no longer standing, it remains a cherished memory for many long time residents.
Clifford Thompson was born December 2, 1871 in Auburn, Shawnee County, Kansas. He was the son of Henry C. and Sarah (Harris) Thompson. When Clifford was twelve years old, his mother passed away. Three years later, his father packed up the family onto a train and travelled to Southern California. The Thompson family settled on 400 acres in French Valley in 1887.
In 1896, Henry Thompson bought fourteen lots in the town of Murrieta from John M. Richardson. Seven lots were located on Washington Avenue and seven adjacent lots were on 1st Avenue with Ivy Street on the southern border of the lots. Within a year,
Henry and his sons built a hay barn on lot 10, on the corner of Washington and Ivy and grew hay on the fourteen lots.
Clifford married Alice Jennie Buchanan on February 16, 1897 in San Bernardino, California. Alice was the daughter of Daniel and Mary (Snyder) Buchanan. The couple had one son, Arden, born on March 13, 1914.
A new barn replaced the hay barn between 1903 and 1904 possibly due to a fire. Henry owned the barn and the fourteen lots until his death in 1920. Clifford then inherited the properties and within a year built a home on lot 9 next to the barn.
Washington Avenue was first paved as part of the Inland Highway in 1914. The barn was a landmark where the highway made a 90 degree turn onto Ivy Street and traveled to Jefferson Avenue. In 1931, the highway was designated California State Highway 71. Then in 1934, Washington Avenue became a part of U.S. Highway 395. Three years later, Highway 395 signs were installed in the valley.
The Temecula Hot Springs Resort was established in 1940. It was located just southwest of Guenther’s Murrieta Hot Springs Resort. An advertisement was painted on the side of Clifford’s barn for those traveling south on Washington to see. The resort was only three miles from the barn.
On the eastside of the barn was painted an advertisement for Harold’s Club in Reno, Nevada. The club was five hundred miles to the north of the barn connected by Highway 395. Why did a club advertise in Murrieta?
At the time, gambling advertisements were illegal. This did not deter the club owners. In the 1940s, Harold’s Club launched an extensive national advertising campaign with over two thousand billboards and advertisements painted on barns and buildings.
By the 1950s, the club was the best known casino in the world.
By 1955, Highway 395 was rerouted through the Menifee Valley and a few years later, Highway 71 was relocated, bypassing the town of Murrieta. Highway travelers no longer passed by Clifford’s barn.
Clifford and Alice moved to Riverside in the 1950s. Alice died in Riverside on March 26, 1957 and Clifford died a few months later on August 19th . They were both laid to rest in Evergreen Memorial Park in Riverside.
The barn stood for many years, but was eventually torn down. In 1990, the Murrieta Old Town Plaza shopping center was built where Clifford’s barn once stood. As for the two barn advertisers, the Temecula Hot Springs was replaced with a housing tract, and Harold’s Club was demolished in 1999.
Though the barn is now gone, it still holds a fond memory for long time Murrieta residents and former travelers of Highway 395. Pictures of the old barn will be a reminder of simpler times and maybe a family road trip either near or far.
