By Sara Beth Williams–
Citrus Heights residents will have a chance to step back in time at the upcoming quarterly meeting of the Citrus Heights Historical Society on Thursday, Nov. 6, when the group will premiere a new 30-minute documentary about Mitchell Farms.
The film, featuring longtime local resident Ted Mitchell, traces the 160-year history of the farm and, in turn, offers a glimpse into the broader story of Citrus Heights. Through interviews with Ted, viewers learn about life on the farm across generations and how the Mitchell family helped shape the area.
The event will take place at the Citrus Heights Event Center on Thursday, Nov. 6 at 6 p.m. and is free to attend.
Ted’s great-grandparents, Edward and Zenobia Crabb, immigrated from England and purchased the 160-acre farm at the northeast corner of Greenback Lane and Sunrise Boulevard in 1866. At the time, wheat and hay were the only commercially viable crops due to a lack of irrigation. By 1920, Ted’s grandfather, Edward Clay, expanded the farm with grapes and olives after water became available.
Ted’s mother, Bernice, continued managing the farm while his father, Washington Mitchell, opened a service station at the corner of Greenback Lane and Fair Oaks Boulevard. In the documentary, Ted recalls his childhood chores during the 1930s, which ranged from butchering hogs to changing engine oil, with children being an essential part of running a family farm.
The documentary also includes archival photos, including a 1930s black-and-white image showing Ted as a young boy standing next to a 100 year-old farm scale, connecting the past to the present.
For more information about the quarterly meeting, visit the Citrus Heights Historical Society’s website. The Citrus Heights Event Center is located at 6300 Fountain Square Drive.
