Among Anaheim Colony pioneers were the famous Bever triplets, Orena, Reona and Ramona, the city’s first set of triplets.
Born Aug. 9, 1910 to Miles and Anna Bever, the triplets rounded off a family of four girls, including older sister Rose.
At birth, two weighed 5 pounds, 12 ounces; the third was 4 pounds, 8 ounces. A newspaper article announcing their birth stated, “They are all apparently well and sound and the mother is doing nicely.”
Their father was a rancher and architect in partnership with Leslie R. Wilson. Their construction company built many residential and commercial buildings in Anaheim, including the Kraemer Building, Anaheim City Hall (1923-1980), Angelina Hotel and the S.Q.R. Department Store.
On a side note: The six-story Kramer Building, erected on the corner of Center (now Lincoln Street) and Claudina streets at the cost of $300,000, was billed as a “skyscraper” and was, at the time, the tallest and costliest building in Orange County. The ground floor was occupied by American Savings Bank and the other stories were divided into offices occupied by local businessmen.
Records on file at the Anaheim Heritage Center show that the family owned a vineyard lot at 143 S. Ohio. They later lived in another home located at Chestnut and Lemon.
Class of 1929 Anaheim High graduates, all three girls were active in school. Orena was on the Girls’ League cabinet and on the yearbook staff. Reona was a member of the Art Club, Hi-Jinx, and the Girls’ Athletic Association, playing varsity hockey, basketball and baseball. Ramona was a member of the yearbook staff, Hi-Jinx, Art Club and served as treasurer of her sophomore class.
The triplets worked at the Henry Bros Drug Stores and were related to the store’s owner, according to documents on file at the Anaheim Heritage Center. One store was located at Palm and Center (now Harbor and Lincoln) and a second store at Lemon and Center Street (now Lincoln).
All three girls married and became Orena Daughtery, living in Long Beach and Bellflower; Ramona Jordan of Whittier and Anaheim; and Reona Bryan of Anaheim. Their older sister Rose Keller lived in Long Beach and Chino. Ramona had three daughter: Patsy, Joan (Class of ’44) and Marcella (Class of ’42).
An obit was on file only for Reona. She passed away of natural causes on Dec. 30, 1982, in Anaheim, her life-long home.
Photos of the girls and their family show a set of cherubic children always wearing matching dresses and engaging smiles. These Anaheim High graduates are certainly a unique piece of Colony history.
-
- Reona Bever
-
- Ramona Bever
-
- Orena Bever
