Nellie Gail Display Case

Nellie Gail was born in Irving, Kansas on December 8, 1878. She spent her childhood in Nebraska and later became a school teacher in the state of Washington near Seattle in the early 1900’s.

Nellie Gail was involved in the arts and was accomplished painter. She studied under famed Laguna Beach artist Anna Hill and was a founding member of Laguna’s College of Art and Design. She also served as president of the Laguna Art gallery and was a major benefactor for the Laguna Moulton Playhouse. Two of Nellie Gail Moulton’s paintings can be viewed at Heritage Hill Historical Park in the dining room and research library. The Nellie Gail Display Case has for display her assorted affects.

Nellie Gail died in Laguna Hills on August 23, 1972. Nellie Gail Moulton played a significant role as the wife of Lewis Moulton and mother of Louise and Charlotte. She was an accomplished painter and philanthropist and is remembered in most history and research books for her talent and love of the art.

Nellie often visited southern California during the summer months. On one of her trips to the area, she met and fell in love with Lewis Moulton and the two married in 1908. Moulton, by that time, had acquired 22,000 acres including the land of Rancho Niguel. The newly married couple settled on this vast ranch and raised 2 daughters, Charlotte and Louise.

Lewis Moulton died in 1938 after working the land for 54 years. Nellie Gail continued management of the land for the next 12 years. Then she turned land operations over to her daughters: Louise Moulton Hanson and Charlotte Moulton Mathis, their husbands, and Daguerre’s 3 daughters. The ranch land was slowly divided and sold off with the final purchase taking place in 1976 by the Mission Viejo Company.