The San Rafael Mission gardens, orchards and vineyards once stretched from the mission east all the way to Irwin Street. Their bounty fed all those who lived at the mission with some left over to trade. The pear trees in the orchard were particularly famous for their succulent fruit.
When the mission was secularized in 1834, the Mexican government seized the land from the church. General Vallejo who oversaw the transition took most of the livestock, vines and trees to Sonoma.
Along Fourth Street, however, several of the ancient trees still grew, but they were finally cut down to make way for street improvements. Fortunately, a few remained on a lot at Fifth and Lootens. Those however, all but one, were cut down to build the El Rey Apartments.
This last remaining tree was destroyed in late 1963 by workers as Harry Albert needed to use some of the lot for a driveway. Sadly, Mr. Albert had planned to save the tree, but he died before his plan was known.
Not all was lost. Grafts had been taken by local nurseryman Richard Lohmann, founder of West End Nursery. In 1929 he grafted the mission pear onto a tree that produced both a German variety and a French variety.
One of the grafted trees still thrives next to the Jose Moya del Pino Library, home of the Ross Historical Society in the Marin Art and Garden Center. About 20 trees were produced, so other grafted mission pears may be growing in the county.
A pear from the tree was exhibited as a museum artifact at a meeting of the Marin County Historical Society on September 20, 1939. The society also owns a branch from one of the original pear trees (shown above) donated by Mary (Mrs. Thomas) Wintringham.
Resource: Marilyn L. Geary, Patch, July 09, 2012