When the Americans colonized the country, the land was classified as "friar land "and was again acquired by the government in 1905. Alfred Ehrman, leader of a group of American businessmen from California, organized and incorporated the Calamba Sugar Estate in 1912 which purchased the "friar land". The Calamba Sugar Estate, managed by Louis Weinzheimer and his family, is known as the second sugar central in the Philippines. The sugar mill started its operations on December 1, 1914. It also planted coconuts on its property and was a model sugar plantation from 1920 to 1930s.