So, this last week, I had opportunites to cruise through the communites of Lakeside, Ramona, Santa Ysabel, Manzanita and Julian. Please don't tell, I was "working".
As we journeyed about, I looked, and I saw horses, cows, sheep, goats and an emu. But I did not see a single sign of a Back/Front yard chicken. We of course went past a "Fresh Egg" farm - with rows of chickens stuck in cages - but not a one ranging chicken coop - and I looked!
Good news? I got home and my Delightful Dozen are doing great and look like they grew while I was gone!
My name is Marc Chevalier; I am a Southern California historian. I was very pleased to come across your 2008 post in this forum about Rancho Ramona, as I am writing a biography of the man to whom your grandfather sold the ranch. You were correct about this man's Hollywood connections: his name was James Oviatt (1888-1974), and he owned Los Angeles's most exclusive men's clothing store: "Oviatt's". James Oviatt's customers and friends included W.C. Fields, Clark Gable, John Wayne, and Humphrey Bogart, all of whom visited Rancho Ramona at some point.
I would be very grateful for any knowledge you might have about the ranch during your family's ownership. For instance:
-- Do you know when your family purchased the ranch? From whom was it bought?
-- How long did your family own Rancho Ramona? How was it used?
-- What year did your grandfather sell (or lease?) the ranch to James Oviatt?
-- Did you know that, in the early 1920s, your grandfather leased some of Rancho Ramona to a short-lived Utopian colony founded by Job Harriman, a Los Angeles Socialist who twice ran for mayor in that city (and almost won)?
Further information here: http://www.thefreemanonline.org/featured/death-of-a-colony/
In turn, I would be very happy to answer any questions you may have about Rancho Ramona's history under Mr. Oviatt's stewardship. (The Oviatt family trust sold the ranch in 1977.) Looking forward to speaking with you!
Hello.... So Cal BYCers I live in Vista in San Diego county and have Black Copper Marans (to many) but would like to hear from anyone nearby to go in on a large bag of oyster shell as my last one lasted two years.
bell gardens here... north of long beach, 10 minutes from down town los angeles... i can't have any chickens... but i breed OEGB and am starting a couple of new projects with OEGB, shamo and serama... you guys should check out the meet coming up... i don't know when it's gonna be... LOL... but there's a thread on the meetup and chicken stocks section...