Showing posts with label North County. Show all posts
Showing posts with label North County. Show all posts

Tuesday, March 26, 2013

"A Plea for Palomar", by J.H.Y., 1901

A poem written about Palomar Mountain, which had earlier been known as Smith's Mountain

Fell my oak and fell my pine-tree; send my cedar to the mill;
Strip the tangled pine from off me; roll my boulders down the hill;
Grade my summit; till my valley; tear away my woodland pride;
Parcel me in city lots, and run a railway up my side;
Rule my streets with dull precision, block by block, in order time,
Here a church and there a depot, where the tiger lilies grew;
Mar God's handiwork about me; let my beauty be a myth;
Then, defaced and desecrated, call me after Mr. Smith.

But while yet the stately cedar sentinels the sylvan lawn;
While at times from yonder thicket peeps the nimble-footed fawn;
While the glory of the morning breaks on precipice and peak,
And the winter sees my waters leaping down to Panama Creek;
While the valley smiles beneath one, stretching westward to the main,
Mile on mile of rolling pasture, green alfalfa, golden grain;
While I look on Catalina, far beyond the ocean shore,
And the gleam of sunny waters on the lake of Elsinore;
While I dominate the lowland, hill and valley, near and far,
In my majesty and beauty, let my name be Palomar.

Saturday, March 2, 2013

19th c. San Diego County News Tidbits, Part I

The following selection of excerpts from Excerpts from the Plain Truth, compiled by Forrest V. Borden. The Plain Truth, which later became Spirit of Love was a newspaper created by Webster W. Borden. Self-labeled as a temperance paper, it was printed from 1884 to 1922 in various locations in north county. Mr. Borden was from Missouri and married daughter of another pioneer family, Minnie Kelly. She helped run the paper. In addition to putting out a local paper, WWB taught school in the early years. Note: I have left some misspellings and most of the grammar is as in original excerpts, etc. The brackets contain my additions to help with clarity.

1884 or 1888 - Rancho Encinitas sold for $66,000, 4,438 acres for the Olivenhain Colony

June 5, 1884 - Our paper, San Diego Union article as follows: The Post Office Department should extend route 46, 388 from Barham to Apex (Escondido) a distance of six miles and establish a permanent route from Oceanside via San Luis Rey to Capistrano - distance of 37 miles. The mail from Barham to Apex, 6 miles [currently] goes 100 miles via San Diego.

In June 12, 1884 - WWB says much safer investment to teach school at $60 per month than attempt to run a 6x9 circular.

July 24, 1884 - The blacksmith of Barham, E.D. Boxley has left us in search of better pay. In less than two hours after his departure there was a call at the shop for $8.00 worth of work.

August 23, 1884 - Republican primary election to have been held at this place last Tuesday, was rather a slim affair, there being no inspector at the polls, and only one voter. But, no doubt, the general election will show a stronger interest.

March 23, 1886 – The first experiment with electric lights in San Diego. Everybody was pleased.

March 23, 1886 – John Kelly finds dead man near Hoffman’s Chicken Ranch east of wind mill. I think they dug a hole and buried him there.

Sept. 16, 1887 – The new hotel at Coronado is 420x430 feet, covers nearly 4 acres, floor space 7 acres.

Nov. 1, 1889 – Story of the terrible locomotive, Stephenson predicted that his locomotive would draw a train of wagons at the rate of twelve miles an hour. There were men in England who declared that no passengers could travel at such a rate of speed and “keep their heads” was predicted in 1835.

April 1, 1891 – Charlie Chase of San Diego has lately placed a latest improved phonograph in the front of his drug store and we doubt not [that] many dimes have gone into the slot of the machine, which has the wonderful power of recording and repeating human speech.

1891 – The word kid is fast becoming an accepted word. The other day a parrot called out, “Hello! Hello, kid!” The dictionaries will perhaps be the next to adopt the slang term.

June 16, 1891 – Mr. Judson and Mr. Rainbow are looking for a good location for a public road from Smith Mountain [now Palomar Mountain] to Valley Center, will connect with the Pala road and give mountaineers an outlet to Valley Center, Escondido, and San Diego.

Oct. 10, 1891 – Merle [in the area of what is now Leucadia] – it is the beginning of a little seaside village about 30 miles north of San Diego on the line of Southern California railroad, between Oceanside and Encinitas. Public buildings are few and far between. There being a town hall, a school house, and a building once occupied by a store, but now answering for the Post Office.

Nov. 24, 1891 – Merle, Ca – The school at this place has its new clock. Now for the book-shelf and library next.

1891 – Merle, Ca. – The postal telegraph line is already completed past this place, and it adds to the business like appearance of things to see two rows of poles so near together.

Monday, January 24, 2011

History fun in North County San Diego county!

As the librarian of the Carlsbad History Room, I belong to an organization called CINCH: Council Interpreting North County History. Every time I attend a meeting, I am amazed at the wonderful programs, museums, archives, and collections available to us in North San Diego county.

I've compiled a list of some of the organizations & museums in North County that are worth a visit and have great things to do with your children, family, and/or friends! Many are free or low cost to visit. There are many seasonal offerings, ways to volunteer, Boy & Girl Scouts opportunities, classes, camps, etc. For a more complete list, stop by the history room at the Cole Library for a Historic North County San Diego brochure. If you don't live in our area, there are sure to be many similar organizations, museums, etc. in your area.

In Carlsbad:
*Carlsbad Historical Society Museum, in Magee Park in North Carlsbad. Wonderful rose garden & afternoon tea (by appt.), in addition to the museum- http://www.carlsbadhistoricalsociety.com
*Barrio Museum, a wonderful small museum with great old photos! Open by appointment- Contact Ofie or Connie @ Lola's 7-Up Market & Deli @ 760-434-2191
*Craftsmanship Museum, new in La Costa- http://www.craftsmanshipmuseum.com
*Leo Carrillo Ranch Historic Park, off Melrose Ave. in La Costa- http://www.carlsbadca.gov/services/departments/parksandrec/parks-facilities/parks/Pages/leo-carrillo-ranch-main.aspx

Other North County offerings:
*Antique Gas & Steam Engine Museum, in Vista-really close if you live in NE La Costa. They offer classes on blacksmithing (this class has a waiting list & lots of girls sign up!), antique furniture restoration, weaving, etc.- http://www.agsem.com, and on Facebook: Antique Gas & Steam Engine Museum, Inc., on Twitter: @vistamuseum

*Fallbrook Gem & Mineral Society & Museum- http://www.fgms.org

*San Diego Archaeological Center, east of Wild Animal Park. They have a junior archaeology program! A current exhibit is about a man named Nate Harrison, an former slave who settled on Palomar Mt. His story is fascinating! (http://m.nctimes.com/mobile/article_65f3860f-de3a-56f9-892e-6fc059004307.html) - http://www.sandiegoarchaeology.org

*Poway Historical Society & Museum- http://www.powayhistoricalsociety.org

*Rancho Buena Vista Adobe- http://www.cityofvista.com/departments/parks/adobe.cfm

*San Dieguito Heritage Museum, near San Diego Botanic Garden (Quail Gardens) in Encinitas. They cover the history of Encinitas, Del Mar, RSF, Olivenhain, Solana Beach, Cardiff, and Leucadia- http://www.sdheritage.org/

*San Pasqual Battlefield, a historic state park also east of the Wild Animal Park. They offer living history activities once a month, June-October- http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=655

*Rancho Guajome Adobe, in Vista- http://www.historyandculture.com/guajome

*Mission San Luis Rey, in Oceanside. They offer tours and lectures.- http://www.sanluisrey.org

Additionally, there are the Marron Adobe, in NE Carlsbad on Haymar Rd; and the Rancho Santa Margarita, on Camp Pendleton (open 3rd Wednesday @ 10am for tours).