Tag Archives: History

Desperate Fight with Condors: Narrow Escape of Santa Barbara Man (1899)

Posted on March 1, 2012 by Jack Elliott

A front page illustration on San Francisco’s The Call newspaper from April 30, 1899 showing two condors attacking a ledge-bound man wielding a club in defense. (Click to enlarge.) The illustration above accompanied a harrowing tale of two Santa Barbara … Continue reading →

Posted in Santa Barbara County | Tagged Animals, backcountry, Birds, Condors, Fred Forbush, Hikes, Hiking, Hiking (2), History, Illustrations, Nature, Writing | 10 Comments

Manzana Creek Schoolhouse (1893)

Posted on February 29, 2012 by Jack Elliott

Manzana schoolhouse, Santa Barbara County Historical Landmark No. 2. “I got paid $50 a month for teaching and paid $14 for room and board, and that was a shared bed at that, with at least one or two children.” —Cora … Continue reading →

Posted in Santa Barbara County | Tagged backcountry, Backpacking, Camping, Cora McCroskey, Hikes, Hiking, Hiking (2), History, Homestead, Manzana Schoolhouse, Photos, Pics, Pioneers, Sisquoc | 15 Comments

The Death of Happy Jack (1879)

Posted on February 25, 2012 by Jack Elliott

A photo of a whiskey lovin’ drunk circa 1907. Nineteenth century police blotter from the Ventura Signal newspaper, March 1, 1879: Daniel Collins, commonly called “Arizona Jack,” or “Happy Jack,” died at Saticoy on the night of the 25th of … Continue reading →

Posted in Ventura County | Tagged Alcohol, Events, History, Life, Liquor, Miscellaneous, Miscellany, Photos, Pics | Leave a comment

Cuyama Viticulture

Posted on February 18, 2012 by Jack Elliott

“Unlike raisin or fresh grape production, where greater cluster size and quantity were preferred, wine grapes often produced superior vintages on rocky, sandy (e.g., Virg. Georg. 2.346; Colum. Arbor3.6), or even infertile soils, which tended to check productivity and overall … Continue reading →

Posted in Santa Barbara County | Tagged Agriculture, Cuyama Badlands, Grapes, History, Landscape, Photos, Pics, Vineyards, Viticulture, Wine, Writing | 6 Comments

Making Soap From Yucca Video

Posted on February 9, 2012 by Jack Elliott

Here is a demonstration of some traditional Native American backcountry know-how on making soap from yucca (Yucca whipplei). It is, admittedly, esoteric knowledge that is obsolete in the current age of abundance where innumerable soap varieties are available in countless … Continue reading →