Conejo Grade 1920
Cattle on the Conejo
One of the books I picked up on the bookstore tour was Cattle on the Conejo, by J.H. Russell. It is a collection of reminiscences by a rancher who had…
Lost Horizon Bookstore
Used Bookstore Tour
A couple of weeks ago I drove to Southern California. The rest of the family was already there, at a campground, and I drove down to met them. This has…
Ramona (1884)
Ramona
"The shepherds, the herdsmen, the maids, the babies, the dogs, the poultry, all loved the sight of Ramona." I recently read Ramona, the 1884 novel by Helen Hunt Jackson that launched…
Gente de Razon
Gente de Razòn
Gente de razón is a Spanish term meaning ¨reasonable people,¨or more closely, ¨people of reason.¨ It's the term the colonial Spanish used to differentiate themselves from indiginous peoples they were subjugating…
Map of Pueblo San Jose
California in 1800
I've had a few posts drafted, but was hoping to polish them up a little. I don't seem to be doing that, so I'll just get them up here and…
Conquest, Slavery, Death
I started reading up on California history last year because my son, Kazu, was entering fourth grade, and that's what fourth graders study. Next year, the study US History from…
Kids, what’re gonna do with ’em?
"Two boys drowned an Indian to amuse themselves, but in consideration of their tender years, were dismissed with twenty-five lashes administered in the presence of natives." Bancroft (480) reporting on…
Spanish Galleon
Call me, Ishmael
I've been wandering again in my reading. I took Starr back to the library, and renewed Bancroft, but set him aside, and picked up another book recommended to me: Over the…
Point Pinos Lighthouse
Where is Monterey?
As we discussed last time, in 1769 Spanish explorers were charged with establishing a mission and presidio in both San Diego and Monterey. San Diego, apparently, was easy to find.…
Map of California circa 1650
Offending God, the king, and the country
Continuing on in the early history of Spanish exploration in California . . . After a few excursions by sea between 1542-43 (Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo) and 1602-03 (Sebastian Vizcaino), the…