he Redlands Livery now owned by the Wilmot Brothers, is the oldest livery business in Redlands and was established by C. L. Hayes, in 1887, in connection with the Terrace Villa hotel, then the finest and almost the only hotel in the East San Bernardino Valley, and also with a stable on East State street to accommodate down town patrons, the Terrace Villa being nearly a mile from the growing center of business. After a year or two Mr. Hayes sold the livery to Cave & Reeves, who occupied the same building for a time, then moved the stable to Orange street. In the course of time they sold the business to David Chambers; he, in turn to Hoogstraat & Bennette, and after one or two other changes it came into the possession of its present proprietors, having, in the meantime, been moved to a new location on Water street.

The Messrs. Wilmot are young men, sons of E. W. Wilmot, and uncle of F. E. Brown, who came to Redlands in 1888, and was very active in connection with various enterprises undertaken in connection with the efforts of the Bear Valley Irrigation Co. to develope Redlands and its surrounding country. Mr. Wilmot was general manager of the Alessandro Improvement Company and of the Redlands Orange Grove and Water Company. Soon after coming to Redlands, he built a house on the Heights, where his family are still living. Both of his sons were born at West Haven, Conn., and neither is much past his majority. The older one H. Clifford, is at present in attendance at an academy at Worcester, Mass., preparing to take a course in mining and engineering at Columbia College. The younger, Paul W., who is in charge of the Redlands Livery, is a graduate of the Redlands Grammar and High Schools and of the Woodbury Business College at Los Angeles.

People are creatures of habit in patronizing a hotel, a railroad, a newspaper, a grocery, or any other business, and this may be one reason for the continued prosperity of the Redlands Livery. Another reason is doubtless found in the fact that it has always been up to the times, with good horses, modern vehicles of every description, careful drivers and prompt and courteous management. Perhaps in no other business is there greater wear and tear on equipment or vexation of spirit from annoying incidents and accidents. To survive these and to make a success in spite of them is something of an achievement, especially when there is as much competition as there has always been in Redlands in this line.

The Redlands Livery, having grown up with the town, seems to have become a part of it, in a business sense, and will doubtless continue to prosper in the future as it has always prospered in the past.

(Source: Illustrated Redlands, 1897, p. 86)