Updated July 12, 2021:
Antoine (Anthony) Reche, Sr. founded Fallbrook with his brother. Antoine Jr later married Mary Belton’s grandmother and here Mary Belton recounts her family’s oral history of the Reche family. According to her older sister, Antoine Sr. and his brother were born in Quebec Canada and then came to the US and after working in Fallbrook, Pennsylvania, they bounced around the US (surviving malaria!) and eventually landed in California. They settled near Live Oak Park on 160 acres.
Because Reche is a French name, it’s pronounced “resh” rhymes with “mesh”. Reche Road is named for this family which settled here at Fallbrook’s inception.
I interviewed Mary Belton in the Reche Schoolhouse, built in 1896. Mary is fundraising to have a headstone at Fallbrook Oddfellow Cemetery to recognize the founders. To contribute, send email to beltoff1@gmail.com.
