School History

Courreges is named after Roch Courreges, the son of wealthy Basque landowners who set off for California alone in 1867 at just 16 years old. Despite a failed attempt to strike it rich in the gold mines of Northern California, Roch established a sheep ranch in 1878 on an 80-acre site known as "The Bluffs."

 

In 1880, he married Magdalena Mogart, and together they expanded the ranch into a thriving farming operation. The couple also founded several local businesses, such as a bank, a vegetable cannery, and a telephone company; however, none of these enterprises exist today.

 

The original farmhouse, built in 1908, burned down when a spark from the fireplace ignited the roof. Roch Courreges then built another farmhouse, which still stands next to the original pump house on a two-acre property near Talbert Avenue and Newland Street, the last remaining family-owned portion of the original ranch. These structures stand out as charming reminders of the past among the surrounding condos and tract homes.

 

Over time, parts of the land were sold off due to increasing taxes. A Courreges family member who has lived on the ranch since marrying Joseph Courreges Jr. in 1941 continues to cherish the history. Joseph, who took over the farming operation from his parents, cultivated crops like sugar beets, corn, and potatoes. The couple and their four children also ran a roadside produce stand that became a beloved community gathering place. “It was never a very profitable operation,” she recalled, “but my husband enjoyed talking with all the people who stopped. He loved to tell stories about the old days when he could stand on the bluff top and watch his father returning from Anaheim in his horse and buggy.”

 

The produce stand, with its neatly painted signs, appears ready for the next harvest, though it has remained closed since 1986 when Joseph became ill; he passed away in 1987. Photographs show that the old farmhouse still looks much like it did during the ranch’s heyday, but the ambiance has changed. A favorite cat was once tragically hit by a car on the busy street, and now only wild cats remain, darting among old fruit boxes. The family has also lost livestock to passing dogs, as one family member recounted, “Just a few months ago, a dog killed the rooster.”

 

Despite these changes, the family member keeps busy with nine grandchildren and remains active in the local historical society. She preserves the rural lifestyle, growing her own fruits and vegetables and winning first prizes for her home canning at the Orange County Fair every year.

 

The land once owned by Roch Courreges has given way to neighborhoods like Stardust, Greenbrook, and Shadow Lane, built between 1963 and 1987. Today, Roch Courreges Elementary School serves nearly 700 children, and a nearby street and park also bear the Courreges name. The area features large, elegant homes, and reflects a vibrant, family-oriented lifestyle, with boats, campers, and motor homes in driveways and street signs reminding drivers to "Watch Out for Children."