Lounge Chair Road Trip No. 17: Inverness, California

Good morning. Tina here.

It seems like every time I need to write a post and it is hot, I want to go on a road trip to the coast.
Today is the same.

We are going to Inverness, where they have celebrated the 4th of July in style. This is a mad race from the seventies, below.

The boat below is grounded forever.

They may not be usable any more, but what fun to wade nearby and maybe have a picnic.

Nice cool sand for Fido's paws.

Or we could choose a shady grove for our picnic. And maybe a nap?

In its heyday, this little hamlet was a great place to spend the summer. Darling cottages and shingled hotels dotted the hillsides. Most of these lovely dwellings are still here. Little winding roadways sneak through the tree roots and climb up to find the refreshing breezes and views of Drakes Bay.

Highland Lodge looks like a cozy place to stay, the scent of eucalyptus and pine floating to us in the fog. Ahhh, fog, doesn't that sound nice and cool on a day like today, where it is supposed to be over 100 degrees in the foothills? I think Inverness will have highs in the sixties. I am so there!

Above, my favorite, Manka's Inverness Lodge, lost to fire. I still grieve. The little newer cabins we stayed in are still there, but our upstairs honeymoon room, the sweet inglenook at the entrance where we would have breakfast, and the amazing restaurant with its windows in the treetops are all gone.

The store and post office building above (also shown in the 4th of July race earlier in this post) still stand and have housed various businesses. It is the iconic spot that greets you when you first hit town.

I think I will pull out my old DVD of the movie "The Fog" which was filmed (partially) in Inverness. As a strange coincidence that movie came out in 1980, which was when my husband and I stayed in Inverness on our honeymoon. I am ready to be scared, just so I can imagine that creeping, cooling, darkening fog and cool off a bit. How about you?

California Looks Good to Me - Roses in Midwinter

Good morning, Tina here.

Years ago, I gave Heidi a present. It was a beautiful postcard that had been framed.

It showed some gorgeous Victorian homes with a rose hedge.

I loved that postcard, and ever after looked for one to keep for my own.

I looked in antique stores, at postcard shows, on the internet at postcard dealer sites, on ebay.

I found roses and old homes abounding on postcards, just not "the one". But I never gave up.

Two days ago I looked at my email and there it was, for sale on ebay with a Buy It Now tag, for a whopping $2.49!

My very own "California looks good to me. Roses in Midwinter." postcard. It was mailed in Pasadena to New York in 1910. And it's mine, all mine. I am going to frame it and no longer will I need to envy Heidi her lovely postcard.

Once Upon a Time in Placerville No. 1 Revisited: The Ivy House

Good morning. Tina here. I am sharing some more pictures and old postcards of the Ivy House which used to stand at the intersection of Clay, Cedar Ravine and Cedar Ravine Streets in Placerville. It was an imposing red building with a large balcony. Next door was a motel with a service station. I first posted on the Ivy House three years ago in July 2009.  I am going to let the pictures do most of the talking today.

We have lost many of our old buildings in Placerville, so I take some time once in a while to remember our Once Upon a Time. The old black and white postcard above has the date March 17, 1936 written on the back. Maybe they celebrated St. Patrick's Day with a beer in the bar.

This photo shows our Ivy House, and another lost building, the Methodist Episcopal Church, which has been another subject of my Once Upon a Time posts.  Some of the Placerville city leaders want to put in a round-about here in this intersection, surrounding the Druid Monument. Many of us think it is not necessary.

This old postcard above shows part of the Highway 50 Wagon Train Parade heading down to the downtown Main Street. In the mid-right you can see where the church once sat.  The back of this postcard reads: "Ivy House, 595 Main Street, Placerville, Calif. Was built for use a school for girls in 1855. Later was converted into a hotel where many famous pioneers and travelers stopped in the early days of California. Excellent foods - famous for manzanita broiled steaks ham and chicken - Cocktail lounge - Hotel accommodations.  Emma and Ted Becker, your hosts. Phone NAtional 2-9849.

The above old photo shows the Ivy House surrounded by homes and other larger buildings, including the John Pearson Soda Works.

As I look at these old postcards, I can almost imagine that this place is still there. Then it is a shock to drive into town and see a parking lot instead. A very popular farmer's market takes place here every weekend in the summer.

The printing on the back of the postcard above reads: "Ivy House Hotel, Placerville, Calif. Built in fall of 1861, was early day Conklin Academy, a private school. Ivy planted in 1861 still growing. In the 1880's the building was made over into a hotel." Someone has printed also in ink: "My Aunt who became a teacher went to school here. She has been gone 7 years. Now there's still a hotel and dining room in building."`

I have a photo negative of my grandfather standing in front of the Ivy House, taken in the late 1950's. The building was torn down in 1961.  I do not remember my family ever eating here, at that time we three girls were all young children, and we did not go out to eat except when traveling. I hear the roquefort salad dressing was really good.

This photo shows a different view, from beside the Methodist Episcopal Church looking back from Cedar Ravine.

I am so grateful that persons unknown took pictures of our Once Upon a Time in Placerville.

This is a back view from the railroad tracks over the creek.

Another old postcard. Postcards are a very good way to look back at the past.

When I was small this was a barber shop.

I am ending with one last photo from the El Dorado County Museum. Across the street from the Ivy House, on the corner of Main and Cedar Ravine, when I was young, used to be a lumber company. I can't read the sign on this lovely brick building. I hope you enjoyed our visit back to the Ivy House.

National Hotel (The Louisiana House), Jackson, California Postcards

A few days ago there was a short report on the news about the National Hotel in Jackson, Amador County, California.  The owner is reopening the hotel.  Since I don't get over to Jackson very often any more, I didn't know it was closed.  It is an important building in the center of town, so it is great news to know that it will be up and running again. It made me pull out my postcards of the building so I could include it in my "postcard posts".

I am starting with the above postcard by Merle Porter because it has the most information on the back:  "National Hotel - Jackson, California. Around 1849, three men, Ellis Evans, D. C. White and Armstrong Askey felt that the growing town of Botileas,( named for the great number of whiskey bottles found around the springs) needed a hotel.  They built a two-story frame building and named it "The Louisiana House".  The name of the town was changed to Jackson after Col. Jackson. It was the "great fire" of 1862 that destroyed most of Jackson along with the hotel. Undaunted, the same three men rebuilt the hotel as it is today. Every California governor has been in the hotel along with a number of presidents and movie stars such as John Ford and John Wayne and others like "Black Bart". When you walk through the doors you feel you have stepped back into California history."

The above postcard was mailed in March 1939 from Larry Wilkins to his wife and son in Albany, California.

 The postcard above, a Fraschers card, reads "Jackson, Amador County, California. In the heart of the Mother Lode.  Home of the Deepest Gold mines in the world." 

 The postcard above, also a Fraschers, reads "The National Hotel at Jackson, Amador County California, "In the Heart of the Mother Lode".

 This "Natural Color Card" from Kodachrome, reads "Jackson, California, Amador County.  Native Sons and Daughters of the Golden West originated here.  Historical Mother Lode Country."

 "Jackson, California.  On Highway 49 in the heart of the gold country, Jackson still retains many of the old buildings and much of the atmosphere of the days of "49". "

Above, a bit more uncommon postcard with inside shots of the bar and a guest room. "National Hotel and Louisiana House. Finest in Hotels since 1850 - 50 Rooms in Authentic Decor, Restaurant with early time Atmosphere seats 200. Saloon complete in detail as in 1850.  Located in picturesque Jackson Calif.  Heart of Mother Lode.  Reservations Ph. 223-0500.  Jackson California.  See you soon.  Neil Stark, owner-manager.

"National Hotel, Jackson, California. County seat of Amador County, located on Highways 49 and 88.  One of the most famour gold mining towns in the Mother Lode Country."

I wish the owner well and hope that his newly opened hotel brings much-needed business to downtown Jackson. When the heat lets up a bit it might be a great destination for this Gold Country Girl and her hubby, in search of a nice cold beer or two.

My Step-Grandma Anita and her L.A. Bungalow

Good morning. This is Tina, and I am going to take you on a little trip to Los Angeles, California, home of the California Bungalow.

When I was a very little girl, before my sisters came along, my Grandpa Pop remarried.  His wife was Anita (which is "A Tina" when you turn it backwards, and that always fascinated me for some reason).  Anita and Pop lived in the most wonderful tiny (2 bedroom, 1 bath) little Spanish-style bungalow in Los Angeles.  Anita worked for the telegraph company for many years.

It was not fancy, and they never remodeled it or had a gardener, or anything. It was just as it was built, in all its tiny splendor.  To the right side was the driveway, which led to a wonderful big garage which was filled with all kinds of interesting wood-working tools and lots of fishing gear.

On the right back corner of the house was a little service porch, which if I remember right had a roaster oven sitting on one of those special holders that put it up at counter height, a small refrigerator, because there was no room in the kitchen, and a washing machine.  There was a door that led to the driveway.

The front door in the round tower led to the living room on the left, the middle front was the dining room and the right front had a teeny tiny breakfast room, with barely room for a table and a little shelf on the wall.

The backyard had a small patio and a very tiny little guest house. No bathroom, just a bedroom and a closet area.  Grandpa Pop used to barbecue for us out on the patio when we came to visit.

I am going to leave Anita's for just a minute and show you pictures off my television (which is not HD, by the way!). These two shots are of the house from Fran Drescher's show "Happily Divorced".  The minute I saw the show I thought, that's Anita's house!)  It isn't, of course, and the house on TV has been remodeled, but it is definitely very similar and now I watch the show just to see the house.  In her show the garage has been turned into a florist shop.

So many similarities, driveway on the right.  The tower door in now on the outside of the tower to make the inside a vestibule entrance.  Good idea for a small house.

Anita and Pop's living room had a wonderful center fireplace, with small windows on either side, and a nice big hearth.  On that hearth stood the most wonderful large ceramic cat.  As a small girl, probably only 2 or 3 years old when I first saw it, it stays in my memory as the biggest, prettiest kitty I had ever seen.  In the photo above, taken in the 90's, it sits in the guest room on a dresser.  I wish I had asked Anita if I could set her kitty  back in the living room for a picture as I remembered her best.  She dwarfs the other knickknacks. This cat is by Kay Finch, a Southern California artist who I plan a blog on someday in the future.

Anita's tiny kitchen had barely enough room for the sink, with the window above looking out to the driveway, and the wonderful old stove shown above.  I think that is when I fell in love with the lovely old white gas stoves, especially if they have a griddle in the middle! Pancakes at Pop and Anita's anyone, served in the breakfast room off the front patio, please.

How in the world I managed to get Anita to 1) let me take photos in her bathroom, of all places, and 2) let me take a photo of HER in her bathroom (?) I will never know!  But I guess I must have impressed upon her how much I LOVED her bathroom.  Wonderful blue tile, gorgeous pink fixtures, Darling art deco tile trim. It is similar to Heidi's bathroom, the shower is a lot like hers.  Made for little teeny tiny people, not Tina sized people, but Anita must have fit in there just fine.

 Black soap and cup holders built-in.  Lovely blue and black tile counters.

 Now that is a comfortable looking bathtub.  I am SO jealous!

Note the great art deco light switch surround.  Anita had given up showers by the time I took these photos, and with the addition of a rod, it made a good closet.

Anita and my dear hubby in the backyard in front of the guest house as she explains the facts of the world, or tells him what she is growing in the tomato cages.  We tried to get over to visit her whenever we went to Southern California for a visit to friends and relatives.  This may have been our last visit.

Our Step-Grandma Anita is now in heaven, but I hope she has the internet up there so she can visit her old home again, and know how fondly I remember her.

The Past is Present in Placerville No. 7: Those old High School Steps

Good morning - Tina here, and today my post is written by a new follower, Jim of Camino, who commented on the post I did a couple of weeks ago about the old El Dorado County High School on Clay Street. I had attempted to locate the mysterious steps, and Jim went looking for me because I am not getting around as easily as I used to these days. He was kind enough to send to me these photos and comments after his exploration. Below are his photos and text:

Thank you Tina for showing me how to find the steps up the hill to the old high school on Clay. Remember the photo you took of the brambles, directing me to wade through so that I might find the remains of the steps up the hill? It really wasn’t necessary to bushwhack at all to see the steps. Had you been mobile enough to leave your car & walk up the high sidewalk opposite the Blair House, your eyes could have follow the quite-well-preserved line of steps all the way up the hill.
Yup, still there since this c.1915 photo, but I could only find 53 steps.

You instructed me to to walk northward up Clay from Main Street, walk until I came to the Blair House. And so I did.
The Beautiful Blair House:

Notice the high, rising sidewalk below the Blair House:

The sidewalk continues into the brambles:

The sidewalk & high school steps intersect inside the brambles
and
!!! Voila !!!

See, Tina, being inside your car, your field of view was just below that needed to spy the steps. :0) Tall boots and a machete weren't needed at all if I had dared to climb to the old steps from Clay. But, I've been verbally chastised for trespassing private property quite enough lately. Embarrassing, and perhaps dangerous, so, instead, I walked up Grandview to what I think is public property to do my trespassing.
My gosh! Looking good after all these years. Not just crumbling remnants at all.

At the hilltop I did, indeed come across a NO TRESPASSING sign near the back parking lot of the abandoned government (I'm thinkin') building. But, heck! "I'm here!" (It would be wiser to seek permission. I don't know from where.) That's the Blair House off to the left and the top of the school steps is just beyond that piece of fence.
Dazzling photo, Jim. Gonna frame it?

And just to the right of the piece of fence...a trail, sorta, through the weeds.

Down we go......

Up we go.......

Most steps are in very good, safe, shape as shown in the top photo. The few dislodged steps directly above actually seem out of place. I'd guess the stairway continued to be used long after the school was torn down. The high sidewalk below the Blair House plus the steps might have been a handy, favorite pedestrian trek-way up the hill. The steps are not at all as breath-stealingly steep as they appear climbing to the high school in the old photos. And I counted about 20 less than the 72 steps someone boldly asserted/printed on that one postcard photo. Don't know. Things change.
And "things change" brings us to something I've been puzzling over since Tina's blog about the steps running alongside Blair House.
Notice the significant angle the steps subtend from Clay Street.

Notice the near perpendicularity of the steps as they rise from the high sidewalk below Blair House and rise from Clay Street.......
The straight line of steps angle leftward very little, if at all (???).

The Blair House also presently sits at an angle,not quite facing Clay Street, though fairly parallel to the steps. Being unable to find step remnants rising perpendicular to Clay, up a steep hill, is the reason I've looked, searched, in vain for the sight of the old high school. Tina, after finding your August 2010 blog a few months ago, stating that remnants of steps probably remain, I became rather possessed, head spinning, body pirouetting, (quite a silly mental picture, a pirouetting man on the Clay Street hill; that's why I wrote it),searching for those remnants of steps. Ha!
A couple pulled their car to the curb and asked if I was all right. "Oh, yes!"
"Are you sure?"
Betcha they thought I had wandered from the new senior apartment up the hill and gotten myself lost. Ha ha!
Anyway, has Clay been realigned or does an illusion (delusion?) have me confused? I'm thinking it's illusion, perhaps a product of camera lenses and photographer locus but, my, compare the two photos, new vs. old. Now that's some illusion!
One thing for certain. The steps pop-out at the southern corner, toward Main St.,of the present building on the hill. Either Simon Drive passes through where the southern one third of the high school stood or the entire high school was aligned such that it faced somewhat southerly. I'm thinking both.
Bulldozers shape/reshape landscapes much, much faster than nature's unhurried, yet steadfast and dynamic, pace.

Tina again - and I just wanted to thank Jim in Camino for being our guest Blogger today, and for researching this fascinating (if only to us Placerville folk) subject.