Treasures of ainbow Valley Neil Lakata photo
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Compiled by Daisy (Schultz) Daily and printed by Carol Coast, February 1964 on behalf of the “Vallecitos Parent Teacher Association”
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rom earliest times, our little valley has been called Vallecitos, a Spanish name meaning “Little Valley,” and that is still the name of the school. Vallecitos, or Rainbow Valley as it is also called, is a place of picturesque beauty surrounded by mountains whose slopes are covered with huge granite boulders amongst which oaks, sycamores and wild flowers grow in great profusion. Vallecitos has a history as colorful and romantic as its setting. Indians came through here on their migrations, hunting for game and food crops. It is handed down to us through Indian legends, that a chief with his tribe was traveling through our valley and as they emerged from the pass, the sun burst upon them in all its’ splendor. The chief stopped, raised his arms in reverence to this symbol of the Great Spirit and uttered “Temecula”, an Indian word meaning “The Sun”. Temecula became the name of the Indian tribe, which settled in the valley below the pass, and the town of Temecula took its name from the legend.
There is another legend about the Indian chief, Nahache, who many years ago came through our valley singing and laughing. The Great Spirit was so pleased with him that he turned Nahache into stone to forever guard our pass. Those who did not understand the meaning of the legend believed the pass to be haunted, and many Indians avoided passing through there, not realizing that only greatness is thus immortalized. Mexicans and Spaniards had their parts to play in the drama. Our rugged little pass through the mountains was a favorite route of travel. Many relics of the past have been found: ollas, mutates and arrowheads, which the Indians left. Remnants of ancient firearms showing the location of old army camps were found on the Hindorff ranch. About 1870, pioneers started homesteading the valley. About 1882 or 1883, the Hind family settled on what is now known as Carlin Ranch or Royal Oaks. There were four children of school age who were forced to ride horseback many miles to the school in Temecula Valley. Miss Auld of Auld Valley, northeast of Murrieta, was the teacher of the early school.
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