Temecula historians struggle to keep idle historic buildings safe from vandals

The recession has wiped out a lot of jobs in Southern California and across the country. But it's also created a few... like the job of keeping vandals and squatters away from an historic site awaiting renovation. KPCC's Steven Cuevas has the story of a couple that's taken on that duty.

Steven Cuevas: I'm actually the first one to spot the break-in.

[Sound of Cuevas saying: "You know, you can get right in there. See all these slats missing?"]

Cuevas: I'm at Vail Ranch, a four-and-a-half acre spread dotted with some of the oldest buildings in Temecula. The buildings are empty – and inviting. Vandals ripped surfboard-sized planks from an immense machine barn built in the 1800s.

Darrell Farnbach: You know, as soon as you set buildings aside, then you have teenagers who have the challenge of getting over the fence – and that's really easy. Any kind of a fence you build can be gotten over or under.

Cuevas: Local historians Darrell and Rebecca Farnbach keep tabs on those buildings – or at least, they try to.

Darrell Farnbach: They carve out a little place where they can drink beer, they can light a fire, they can smoke, and before you know it, they've kicked a wall in and kicked another wall in, and then they light a fire, and it burns down.

Cuevas: Volunteers patch up the holes and try to shield the old machine barn, the bunkhouse, and other historic buildings. All are slated for restoration.

But with the credit markets frozen, the developer can't raise the money to start the job. So the buildings sit empty. The vandals and squatters know it, but Darrell Farnbach will keep watch until the buildings are restored and leased.

Darrell Farnbach: This project doesn't have to happen day-after-tomorrow. Ten years ago, we thought it was gonna be done two years ago. This is a recession. It's temporary. We're gonna come out of it. So we're in it for the long haul.

Cuevas: The developer of the Vail Ranch Project is optimistic he'll get the $6 million loan he needs to break ground by the middle of the year. If the money does come through, construction could start this summer.