Corinne McCall

Hi Shayne - that would be fun!  Also, were you related to Mrs. Schuller who lived on the street behind me in the 600 block of Del Mar St?  I think she has passed on, but she had a very cool Craftsman style house - they called the airplane style Craftsman.  I think she was part of the Schuller real estate family too?? 

PS  John - I did not build these 100 year old houses - but restored them. 

Corinne McCall

Hi George Gillow,

I don't think I was on that historic home tour that you mention.  I did go on a SOHO sponsored tour of CV and National City around that same time tho - maybe it was the same one?  Not sure.  I am part of a local grassroots group of CV historic homeowners, and we have put on a number of very successful historic home tours.  The last one was the the CV Centennial in 2011 which featured the Augusta Starkey house near the end of F St, amoung others.  I have a CD of it - but I don't know how/or if I can post a link to this forum.  I guess it would have to be on You Tube to do that?  I also have a copy of the KPBS Wonderland episode on CV - but same thing....

Best and thanks again for the picture of Johnny the Sheik - what a great find!!  Corinne

George Bracey Gillow

CHULA VISTA WONDERLAND

Here is a portion of the Wonderland show of Chula Vista that Noah Tofalla did for KPBS.

This shows the history portion of the show.  Towards the end is the part where Corinne is giving Noah  tour of her historic house.

Corinne McCall

you got me there Bruce - dunno the answer to Lolly Pop.  

Thank you George for figuring out how to post the Wonderland show!

Bruce Wilson

Shayne:

My uncle Ray was a dairyman in Detriot, Twin Pines. I have some film of me and him in the truck. This isn't it. What I remember is wire baskets and "milk chutes":.

At one point, some were touting this as the precursor of The Beatles, The Dairymen, until someone pointed out that they were actually, The QuarryMen. Even a cursory check would have shown that The Beatles never had a woman in any incarnation of the band (Michele and VA were asked).

Shayne Maree Schuller (Morgan Sledge)

Hi Corinne,

I loved the video tour of your home and remember being in it for our 30th Reunion Sunday brunch. What a labor of love and a gift to the community.

Yes, my Aunt Patty and Uncle Dick lived on Del Mar Avenue in their Craftsman home (on a huge lot with large, old trees and beautiful gardens) from 1951 then sold it in 2005. We had many family events there.My Aunt lived there several years after Uncle Dick died  then moved to Oregon to be near her daughter, my cousin, son-in-law and extended family. She passed away 3 years ago.

Until we meet up,

Love to you,

Shayne

George Bracey Gillow

MORE ON "JOHNNY THE SHEIK"

I contacted pilots in LA/LB and San Diego Harbors about "Johnny the Sheik", who Corinne wrote about in a previous post. They tracked down Tom Walsh who knew about Johnny.  Here is what he had to say:

Johnny "The Sheik" Coronado was a bait boat skipper back in the early 40's he also was the owner of the Coronado for a period of time. From what I know he was probably the best navigator in the fleet. Lot's of guys sought him out to teach them celestial navigation because he was the best at it. I wouldn't doubt you had to pay him a fee to get aboard. Lot's of owners use to charge their own family members a percentage of their share just to be able to be onboard. Lot's of greed went on back in the day. Here's a couple pics of him when he was younger and later on when he was a old timer.

Also, Capt. Jim Haley talked to some "old timers" in San Pedro and they remember a longshoreman character who collected cash for jobs and was a loan shark.  His name was "Freddy the Leg Breaker". Hmmm, I bet he gave out more than straight bourbon.

Here are the pictures Tom Walsh sent. The first of an older Johnny with Capt. Manuel Andrade in San Diego.  The younger Johnny is the one I posted previously.  It was taken in 1948:

Corinne McCall

Hi George,

Thank you so much for the history on Johnny the Sheik.  My dad also fished on bait boats (with poles)

He retired before the purse seiners (net boats) replaced the bait boats.  He was also a great celestial navigator - maybe this was what he learned (& paid for) from Johnny the Sheik??  My dad could name every star & planet in the sky.  I remember him showing me the North star and the big and little dippers as a child. I was always impressed with his knowledge of navigation.    

I will see about the Centennial Home Tour CD.  I edited it way down for a presentation at the CV Council, but I think out of towners would enjoy seeing it.  Several great homes on it... I will be in touch.

Corinne McCall

Hi Shayne,

I did meet your aunt - and I am sorry to hear of her passing. She was a very refined, lovely lady. Her daughter (or granddaughter) was good friends with my sister Suzy.  Your aunt gave me a tour of her house years ago. I love that house!!  It has recently been remodeled by new owners.  I have not seen the interiors, but was not too happy with some of the exterior renovations.....Best, Corinne

Bruce Wilson

Just one week before Jim and Cathy, Sam (12-11-1964).

Too bad Sam didn't spring for a few more bucks and go to the Hollywood Hawaiian Hotel. It was a lot safer venue in those days

... "look away down Gower Avenue,"  (technically Street, but give Dr. Zevon his poetic license).

Anybody call his/her baby on the telephone?

.

Bruce Wilson

OK two more of my favorites. Distant relative  Jackson Browne on guitar and slide guitar.

Warren Zevon and Apes (gotta be dedicated to Dr. Maple and goes out also to M 'P' C):

Shayne Maree Schuller (Morgan Sledge)

Yes, Bruce, the milk trucks and ice cream trucks (we were Pavlovian-conditioned to run outside when we heard the music) and also a Helms bakery truck were part of our 50s neighborhood culture.

Dairy Mart Farms started locally and then covered all of San Diego County when my Dad ran the dairy

Your music posts beg the question, do you play any instruments?

Bruce Wilson

Shayne:

Trumpet. Miles Davis is not sweating the competition, but I do have "ears and heart". I am contemplating the saxophone, it's more rock and rolly than trumpet, no?

We went to visit the relatives in Detroit so instead of gettting up at 4:30AM to deliver papers, I got to get up and deliver milk with Uncle Rey. I still remember his (barely suppressed) anger when I tripped getting out of the truck, spilled my metal basket and broke (I think) three quarts. I cannot recall what a quart of milk cost in the 1950's.

"Well, this silk dress is from Hong Kong
And the pearls are from Japan
Well, the dog collar’s from India
And the flower pot’s from Pakistan
All the furniture, it says “Made in Brazil”
Where a woman, she slaved for sure
Bringin’ home thirty cents a day to a family of twelve
You know, that’s a lot of money to her"

-Nelson Rockefeller

In the immortal words of  Little Village - "don't bug me when I'm workin' "

Why do gorillas have canine teeth?

Shayne Maree Schuller (Morgan Sledge)

My son, Colin, played trumpet until he got braces. My Uncle Wilber.learned the trumpet in the Army and continued playing.

Colin just built a flight simulator  at UCI and put a sub-woofer under the seat so it would vibrate during "take-off".

So he  is using his musical skills. Some of the parts were fabricated with his 3-D printer. He is taking PhD classes in Aerospace Engineering.

I went to UCSD, my daughter UC Santa Cruz, and now my son at UCI. Hotel California. None of us checked out.

Shayne Maree Schuller (Morgan Sledge)

The sax is saxy Such a soulful sound.

Patricia Ann Prickett

 Thanks George for posting that video of Corinne and her beautiful house - it was great to see!  

George Bracey Gillow

E STREET GARAGE

Here are a couple of pictures of the E Street Garage that Shayne sent me via email.  As she mentioned in her previous posts, it was owned by her Granpa (great uncle) Fender and later became the Morrel's Garage.  The tow truck looks like the one converted from an old hearse as Shayne mentioned.   The garage is listed in the 1932 Chula Vista Phone Directory at 312 "E" Street.

.

George Bracey Gillow

TUNA CANNERIES, THE MOB AND THE KKK

When I sent messages to some of the maritime people in Long Beach and Los Angeles harbors about "Johnny the Sheik", a couple of people contacted me concerning the tuna industry.  They pointed out that the canneries like Van De Kamps and Westgate hired members of the KKK more than they did the Mob to "keep employees in line".

That reminded me of a picture that was taken by newspaper reporter Todd Robertson at a Ku Klux Klan rally in Gainesville, Georgia in September 1992.   Robertson took the picture just as the child in the KKK attire pointed to his own reflection on a shield held by Georgia state trooper Allen Campbell.

Years later Robertson and Campbell met.  Campbell and Robertson said they realize that the kid had no idea where he was and that no-one is born with hate or prejudice.  The Gainesville Times newspaper’s website has a video of their meeting at: http://www.gainesvilletimes.com/multimedia/archives/2417/

Robertson did not find out who the child was because the mother quickly swooped the child away.  However, he recalled the child’s name might have been Josh.

Bruce Wilson

Shayne:

3D printing is really amazing, worthy of a thread all it's own.

Anyone with hearts and ears:

Here's a little on the Klan in San Diego history from friends of the "Exalted Cyclops" himself:

The San Diego Klan members paid $10 to join and usually met on the second Wednesday of every month. Faithful participants included Fred Crandall, a prosperous paint store owner, E. D. Goodwin, a mechanic who worked in Gilmore's Bicycle and Toy Store, W. J. Simpson and his wife Myrtle, Earl S. Barr, and John S. Burbank. Actually, these cardholders were hard working, thrifty, middle class church-going individuals. Nevertheless, the Klan used the Bible and the old concept of manifest destiny to see themselves as superior and Mexicans as inferior and in need of control. "Keep in mind that some harmless members envisioned a gregarious Klan, ignoring its grim horrors to those it detested," stated the attorney Carey McWilliams.

San Diego Klan participants formed their own traditions. V. Wayne Kenaston, Jr., whose parents were members of the Klan, reminisced, "If my memory serves me correctly, my mother made me a miniature Klan outfit with a little hood...." A number of women joined the Klan and were strongly encouraged to participate so as "to propagate in or through such meetings, either directly or indirectly..." the Klan's message. The San Diego Klan affiliates saw themselves as humanitarians, similar to other Klans who established schools and hospitals. The testimony of Kenaston, Jr., revealed white Catholic voters, mostly from the Blessed Sacrament Church on 56th and El Cajon, supported the Klan's political committee. As Kenaston, Jr., stated, "I'm wondering if, in San Diego, there were actually Catholic Klan members of the Klan, or whether they were referring to the fact that Klan members might have voted for the people that the Catholics might have liked." The Klan did influence some religious groups. In parts of Southern California, "Many [Catholics and Protestants] who were suspected of being Klansmen at first denied their affiliation, but when confronted with their official Klan and number and date of entry, they could do nothing but admit membership." Some of them were members of Catholic War Veterans and the Knights of Columbus.

...

Anti-Mexican Activities in the 1920s and 1930s

Kenaston, Jr., somewhat disingenuously, avowed that the Klan never intimidated any ethnic groups even as he admitted that their main zeal was in "chasing the wetbacks across the border." Most Klan activities were clandestine, aimed at keeping recently arrived Mexicans from participating in community politics. As McWilliams noted, "They opposed white-collar jobs for Mexicans, who at one time were merchants or professionals in war-torn Mexico, and demanded a policy to force them into manual labor." Luisa Moreno, a labor union leader, stated, "The California Fruit Growers Exchange, the tuna cannery industry that had its base in San Diego, and other local businesses enthusiastically supported this concept."

There are some testimonies as to Klan activities by their intended victims. Kenaston, Jr. remembered that years ago east of 55th Street and El Cajon Boulevard, past College Avenue, there were lemon orchards. Among these citrus orchards in suburban San Diego and in the rural areas, Mexicans were occasionally discovered dead, sometimes disfigured by torture. An expatriated soldier of the Mexican Revolution, Mercedes Acasan Garcia, reminisced that in San Diego, "any Mexican worker who challenged authority or appeared suspicious of one thing or another would forfeit his life." Garcia, who was a young maid for Mrs. Alice Victoria Hamilton, recounted, "At first the Mexican field hands were curious at the sight of these strange men on horses shrouded with snowy gowns and huge, spotless cardboard hoods over their faces. Others had white cone shaped hoods to add height and also disguise their faces. They had painted red crosses on them." The workmen believed that they were pious Catholics who were penitents and wanted alms.

...

Bruce Wilson

George:

There is a small memorial to the cannery workers next to Chicano/Caesar Chavez Park. Michele and I discovered it when out running.

Bruce Wilson

The latest trip up Otay Mtn. New signs (thankfully shooting is banned on part of the trek) and Dog House Junction is more readily identifiable. A new cairn (not due to us) and a couple of  pretty girls. Not sure what or why on the "seed collection".

Mrs. Wilson - Circa 1937

Shayne Maree Schuller (Morgan Sledge)

Thanks, George, for posting the photos of Grandpa (Lester) Fender's gas station and garage. It opened in 1930 and, although there were other garages, his was the first gas station in Chula VIsta.

He and Grandma (Lillah) Fender pumped gas in white coats.

Bruce, great photos of you and Michele.

Were the "seed collectors" preserving indigenous plants? (look out Monsanto)
 

Bruce Wilson

Shayne:

But what about the geetars??

I'm researching what's going on with the seeds (they were a great, and one of the first psychodelic bands, "Pushin' Too Hard" - Sky Saxon (distant relative of Percy Sledge I believe)) as we speak.

I never thought of it before, but don't Michele and (a young) my mom look a lot alike.

Off the wall comment. Notice how my parenthesization is always correct? Comes from progamming in LISP for a number of years.

Bruce Wilson

Otay Mtn. Legalize

Well first off, it appears that none of the activity specified on the sign is prohibited as long as one remains on the road. That being said, it also appears that none of the specifics in the sign are addressed in the ordinances, e.g.

No seeds here:

17.35.040 General application of chapter.

A. In conjunction with the earliest decision on any entitlement related to a project area after June 9, 2005 (the effective date of the ordinance codified in this chapter), such as sectional planning area (SPA) plan approval, design review approval, conditional use permit, variance, parcel map approval, tentative map approval, land development permit, or clearing or grubbing permit the applicant shall obtain a HLIT permit in the following mapped areas identified in the Chula Vista MSCP subarea plan, unless exempt pursuant to CVMC 17.35.050:

1. One hundred (100) percent conservation areas;

2. Seventy-five (75) to 100 percent conservation areas; and

3. Development areas outside of covered projects.

B. It is unlawful to begin development on lands in mapped 100 percent conservation areas, 75 to 100 percent conservation areas, and development areas outside of covered projects without submitting required documentation and obtaining a HLIT permit (including CEQA compliance), or obtaining an exemption as required pursuant to this chapter. If unlawful development occurs on such lands and an enforcement action has been commenced by the city, no development permit application may be processed until the enforcement action has been concluded. Enforcement action may include penalties assessed for unpermitted clearing and grubbing and could include increased replacement mitigation ratios. (Ord. 3004 § 1, 2005).

None here either:

17.24.010 Disorderly conduct – Unlawful acts designated – Trespass defined.

It is unlawful for any person to be guilty of offensive or disorderly conduct in the City. A person shall be guilty of disorderly conduct if, with a purpose to cause public danger, alarm, disorder or nuisance, or if, with the knowledge that he is likely to create such public danger, alarm, disorder or nuisance, he willfully:

A. Creates a disturbance of the public order by an act of violence or by any act likely to produce violence; or

B. Engages in fighting, or in violent, threatening or tumultuous behavior; or

C. Makes any unreasonably loud noise, or uses any loud, noisy, boisterous, vulgar, or indecent language, on any of the streets, alleys, sidewalks, squares, parks, or in any store or other public place in the City; or

D. Addresses abusive language or threats to any person present which creates a clear and present danger of violence; or

E. Causes likelihood of harm or serious inconvenience by failing to obey a lawful order of dispersal by a police officer, where three or more persons are committing acts of disorderly conduct in the immediate vicinity; or

F. Damages, befouls or disturbs public property or property of another so as to create a hazardous, unhealthy or physically offensive condition; or

G. Commits a trespass on residential property or on public property. “Trespass,” for the purpose of this subsection, means:

1. Entering upon, or refusing to leave, any residential property of another, either where such property has been posted with “NO TRESPASSING” signs, or where immediately prior to such entry, or subsequent thereto, notice is given by the owner or occupant, orally or in writing, that such entry or continued presence is prohibited;

2. Entering upon, or refusing to leave, any public property, in violation of regulations promulgated by the official charged with the security, care or maintenance of the property and approved by the governing body of the public agency owning the property, where such regulations have been conspicuously posted, or where immediately prior to such entry, or subsequent thereto, such regulations are made known by the official charged with the security, care or maintenance of the property, his agent or a police officer.

This section shall not apply to peaceful picketing, public speaking or other lawful expressions of opinion not in contravention of other laws; or

Karen Etsuko Tachiki (Savel)

I have been wondering how I would adjust to no more Bruce or George come January 2015, and am so relieved that the reunion world will continue on for a while longer. All of the memories and information about the history of Chula Vista and San Diego have been so interesting and thank you to all who have shared these stories of your own experiences and what you have learned in researching the past. And thank you Rosie and Cheryl for the photos from the reunion activities. Now I just want to know who are all those people?