The products included castor oil, wine and walnut meat.
In the fall of 1881 a castor oil plant located behind Merchant’s drug store began operation. Archives of the Downey Historical Society note that a large white horse driven by Logan Rives operated the press which drew the oil from the raw castor beans. The ground here was so rich and moist that the castor bean plants grew to tree-like proportions.
The castor oil they produced was used both medicinally and as a lubricant for machinery. Large quantities were shipped to Los Angeles, and 150 gallons a week went to San Francisco.
But the handcutting was hard and costly. There were other uses for the rich soil as well.
In 1884 F.B. Weis opened a small winery south of the Southern Pacific tracks on Crawford Street. Men tramped the grapes in a large vat. The juice was then allowed to ferment in huge tanks.
Later, the Downey Fruit and Wine Co. installed a steam-powered wine press just north of the tracks on Crawford. They also used the steam engine to saw wood during the off-season, and business prospered. In the year of 1888 some 25 cars of wine were shipped from Downey’s rail depot.
This bonanza was ruined, however, when a blight attacked the roots of the vines, effectively killing off the wine industry here.
While small bootleg growers continued through Prohibition, wine never attained its former stature following the blight.
English walnuts were also a popular local crop. The trees were first introduced in 1877 or 1878 and prospered, along with those who grew them and harvested them.
The local variety were known as softshell or papershell.
In 1899 the walnut growers formed an association which lasted for 40 years. Peak years saw shipments of up to 71 cars from the rail depot.
The agricultural interests of the area soon started fairs and other meetings at which they could gather. Each area had a baseball team which represented it. Downey’s was known at the "Stemwinders" and keen competition was offered from the "Alhambra Nine," and teams representing other areas.
The County Fair was actually hosted by Downey in 1884. It must be noted that Orange was at that time part of Los Angeles County. The fairs of those days were very similar to camp meetings, with participants coming in by wagon from miles around to meet during the four days of the event. The Downey Fair site was between Third street and Fifth just west of Crawford. Those who traveled to the fair made it their vacation for the entire year.
Beautiful horses, as well as livestock were displayed, and the girls wore their best ruffled hoop-skirts and flower-trimmed hats. The men often sported canes and high hats. Patent leather shoes were much in fashion. These were happy times.