Archibeck Family
By Mia Rotell
Families and friends gathered around to tell stories of loved ones who’ve passed on and to remember the good old days — except this family’s good old days played a critical part in Perris’ beginning throughout the 20th century.
Last Saturday, the Archibeck family was honored at the Pioneer Family event hosted by the Perris Valley Historical Museum. The Pioneer Family event honors families on Jan. 31, a date the museum dedicated to Frederick Thomas Perris Day — the man who built the railroad in Perris in 1886.
The museum has been honoring founding families who helped build up Perris while highlighting the town’s agricultural beginnings since 1984.
Water engineer Ben Archibeck and his wife, Calenderia Lopez, “Momacita,” married in 1913 in Los Angeles and moved to Perris shortly thereafter. The Nuevo Water Company was in early developmental stages. The water company Ben Sr. worked for in Los Angeles, Bryon Jackson Co., transferred him out to Nuevo — just east of Lake Perris.
“While they were on their way to Perris, Calenderia said they were moving out to the end of the earth,” Adrian Smith said — who compiled and presented the family history at the event.
Ben Sr. farmed alfalfa, but specialized in and supplied potatoes nationwide — which established the Archibeck family name in the farming industry. The family’s potato sack adorned a giant red A and read “Packaged by B. Archibeck and Sons.” That very same potato sack sits framed on a wall in the museum.
“They came out here and started farming potatoes and supported the community and supported families, and then the families continued to grow and continued to farm,” Sienna Archibeck said, who married Keith Jr. and has three young sons — the newest generation of the Archibecks. “My father-in-law had a feed store. It’s just grown tremendously over the last 100 years.”
As time went on, the Atchibeck name also included the Mottes, the Smiths, the Keyes, the Hannafins, and the Bryers. The family spans five generations — some born and buried in Perris.
“Potatoes, alfalfa, and onions were the main crops in this area — the families around here got through the Great Depression together,” John and Ann Motte said. “They could all eat, and they made clothes for the children out of potato sacks.” The couple recalled the community being very supportive of each other in hard times and the good ones through farming.
Ben Sr. continued to keep the farm up and passed it down to his son, who then passed it down to his son. The cycle continued through the generations for over 50 years. Despite farming, Ben Sr. and Calenderia’s grandsons continued to be active in the Perris community — Ben Jr. owned Nuevo Development Co. and developed Penasco Village in Nuevo — and Big A Mobile Home Sales.
“Everyone might not have the Archibeck last name anymore, but there’s still tons of Archs around the valley. It’s cool to see everybody who stayed around and still stays together,” Sienna Archibeck said.
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