When we moved to California it was a regular vacation to drive to Santa Cruz
and visit with the Kearns, who we called Aunt and Uncle. They were not
really our Aunt and Uncle. Ila was the neice of my step grandmother, Carrie
Bowman McIntre Smith.
Uncle Bert had built a log cabin up in the mountains above Santa Cruz back
in the 1920's. He had worked with the WPA during the depression and had
been part of a crew that built the Grand Cooley Dam. We used to love to
listen to him tell stories about those days. He always wore a hat, and long
sleeved shirts, and smoked a pipe. He was a grand old fella. They had goats
and he would go down in the morning and evening and milk the goats. I did
not like the milk, but Dad thought it was great. One feature of the kitchen
was a window that had been a mirror. Uncle Bert had cleaned all the silver
off the back, made a frame and put it in the wall of the kitchen right next to
the back door.
Aunt Ila had an unusual stove. Half of it was electric for cooking in the summer
and the other half was wood burning for cooking and heating in the winter.
She was a wonderful cook. One thing I remember most is that she saved just
about everything. She kept and strained her bacon grease, and used it to
make her pie dow. You never tasted a better pie in your whole life. They had
all kinds of fruit trees and she made fruit pies every time we were there. She
canned so they had fruit year round.
They had a large water tower outside the back door that supplied their home
with running water, however for the first few years we went there they did not
have a bath room in the cabin. They used the "out house". Under the water
tower was a cooler where they kept their fruit and root vegetables. They had
a freezer later on so they could store more food longer.
Uncle Bert finally installed a water heater and built on a bathroom. That was
the coldest room I have ever been in. Aunt Ila didn't like to use it. When we
went there, she gave in for us. When we first went there, we took a bath in
a large wash tub. I guess that was the way she had always lived on the farm
back in Ohio, so it wasn't unusual, but for us kids, it was strange.
We could take the 22 rifle and shoot when we were there. We kids thought
that was wonderful. I got poison oak every time I went up there. It was on
the hills and even in their yard. Didn't seem to bother the boys, but it was
a real trial for me.
I can remember we went there when the Worlds Fair was in San Francisco
I think that was in 1939. I got sick and had to stay at the cabin with Aunt Ila
while Dad, Mom and the boys went to the Fair, I felt robbed.
Aunt Ila had an old upright piano and she would play the old World War One
songs and we would sing. There was only one bedroom in the cabin, so we
either had to sleep on the floor, or in the guest house in the yard, down by
the garage. It was a small one room cabin with a bed. Nothing was built to
code. We had to use carosine lamps most of the time. Uncle Bert didn't
wire the place. In fact the cabin they lived in didn't have electricity when we
first started visiting. That would have been in about 1936.
One of the things that I loved about going there were the local gatherings
and pot lucks they would have. Down the hill they had a social hall and on
certain Saturdays they would come from all around and have a
Social. There was plenty of good food and desserts. They would
play games and dance. Well it was a real old time party. Everyone was
friendly and we had such fun. I don't imagine there are any such things
going on up there these days.
When the earthquake of 1998 hit there, the whole side of the mountain
where the cabin was, fell off and the property was lost. Sad to think that
so much history is gone. I remember the red wood trees that were on the
ranch and the fun we had getting burls to bring home and watch grow. I
have such great memories of the times we went there. In fact I think that
Paul and Dawn enjoyed their visits there. I know Jay sure liked it. The
drive was so lovely, and I am reminded a lot of the road when I drive out
to Dawn and Gregs place. There is one spot along that drive that is so
like what we went through on our way to Granite Creek Road. How we
hated the drive after we left the highway. It was near inpassable in
winter as they never paved it.
It was on a trip to visit that Granny and Grand dad Smith had their
accident, and Dad was killed. Dad always liked to go up, and after Uncle
Bert passed away, he liked to spend time and help with repairs and to
fix things Aunt Ila couldn't do herself. She was a resourceful old gal,
but she was getting older and just couldn't manage everything like she
once had.
Childhood memories are wonderful. Especially those that were fun and
so different than what we did at home. BertIla Ranch was so rustic and
rural. I don't believe there is a place left like it anywhere today.
Written this 12th day of February 2009
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