AUTOMOBILE TRAVEL -- HISTORIC CALIFORNIA.
AUTOMOBILE TRAVEL -- HISTORIC CALIFORNIA.
A remarkably documented and detailed typescript manuscript created by an unknown author traveling
through California after World War II and just as the Interstate Highway system was beginning. This California enthusiast has traced with historical accounts and manuscript maps, enhanced with 103 original photos of historic California ranchos, adobes, missions, and historic sites in Monterey, Kern County, Los Angeles County Ranchos, Anaheim, Santa Barbara County, Napa, Sonoma, and Ventura County.
The unknown writer opens in their introduction with the City of Monterey where they felt that the city, inhabitants, and local historical societies had made a remarkable effort: “the largest city and capital of Alta California during the entire Spanish and Mexican era, Monterey has a history that is both colorful and dramatic. . . the preservation work is remarkable, and not a single old structure in the city is deserted or unused.” Capturing through the photographs a California just after World War II, documenting roadside attractions, converted restaurants, historic homes such as the Casa Alvarado, Casa Amesti, The Stokes house, Casa Gutierrez, the Larkin House, Brown-Underwood Adobe, and many others. In the drive South on Highway 1 the compiler has included photos and details of Fort Tejon ruins on the Grape Vine, the former stage station, and then onto the Banning House, and Cahuenga Treaty House in Los Angeles County. Further added are photos and details about the Olvera Street Plaza, the Santa Cruz House adobe, and the Lugo House which was demolished after being
condemned in 1951 to make way for the new interstate highway, despite considerable efforts to save it.
A contemporary photo of the Pico House is included, as well as photos and descriptions for the Figuroa Adobe, Pioneer Oil Refinery, a very dilapidated San Gabriel Mission, the Grapevine Adobe advertised as Ramona’s birthplace disintegrating and in poor condition, along with the restored Vigare Adobe, Purcell Adobe, Rancho Aguaje de Centinela, and more. One of the photos and explanations captures the decline of the Rancho San Antonio which by 1951 due to displacement from the massive Firestone Tire
& Rubber Co. factory had dwindled to the Lugo House, serving as residence for the owner of a trailer park, with the old adobe surrounded by “trailers of all sizes and descriptions,” and marked “Lugo’s Trailer Park.” A large folding Automobile Club of Southern California map of Orange County has been carefully hinged and inserted, along with an early printed history of Anaheim, and photos and descriptions of The Mother Colony House built in 1857 by George Hansen, the Vineyards and Barn
built in 1870 and 1880, with distilling apparatus, and finally the Peter Stofel Home built in 1894.
This Mid-20th-Century history offers an essential visual snapshot in time of many of the historic adobe houses and ranchos across Central and Southern California before being overtaken by the modernization and development of the succeeding 50 years.
C. 1945-1952. 196 pgs. all preserved in mylar sleeves. Including 103 silver gelatin photographs, most
sized 3.25 x 4.5 in., 6 manuscript maps, 5 printed photos, 5 clippings, travel brochure ephemera and folding map of Anaheim. All placed in a 3-ring binder. All placed in a 3-ring binder. One photo removed at some point, overall in vg cond.
$1895.00
