Chapman Park, dedicated by the Chapman family to the City of Fullerton in 1955, is the only reminder of the once famous and impressive Chapman Ranch complex that was situated in this part of the town. It was the home of Charles C. Chapman, Fullerton’s first mayor in 1904, and a persuasive force in the area’s history. In the early 1900s the Chapman house (pictured), which was situated at the northeast corner of what is now Commonwealth Avenue and State College Boulevard, became the center of business and social activities. As one of the largest residences in the county, and it was often used as a public meeting auditorium, ballroom, and roller skating center. Unfortunately, the house was destroyed in 1960.
The ranch property, consisting of nearly 500 acres in its prime, contained both walnut groves and America’s oldest Valencia orange trees. Mr. Chapman developed new techniques for grading and marketing this particular variety of orange, and by the 1920s Charles Chapman was widely known as "the father of the Valencia orange industry."
The Chapman family was the moving force in some of the major development activities of the time. The Chapman Building, the California Hotel (Villa del Sol), and the Alician Court Theatre (Fox Theatre) are three landmark properties in Fullerton attributed to the efforts of the Chapman family. In the city of Orange, he founded the educational institution that became Chapman University.
Located at the northeast corner of the park, a bronze plaque commemorates the Chapman house and ranch as well as the historic first shipment of Valencia oranges to the East Coast.
From Fullerton Through The Years, p. 14.
Charles C. Chapman was a decendant of John Chapman, the legendary "Johnny Appleseed". Fullerton History
The posted coordinates are for the plaque mentioned above. Use information found on the plaque and the following formula to get the final coordinates.
N 33 5A.BCD
W 117 5E.FGH
A = what local landmark number is this? x 2
B = last digit of the year of the first crop
C = last digit in the current number of acres
D = second digit of the year of the first crop
E = last digit of the year the site was dedicated - the first digit of the century mentioned
F = number of "C"'s in the name of the man to whom the park is named
G = first digit of the year the site was dedicated + first digit of the number of original acres
H = number of letters in the type of oranges grown here - 4
The final is NOT in a residential area!
You can check your answers on GeoChecker.com.