Introduction

My mother always referred to her grand mother Jane Talitha Burks as "granny Jane". She was in no way a granny type. She was an active, artsy and a vital life force. She and Perry Bradley were horse people and lovers of the outdoor life. They had many friends who would visit their remote cabin. I am fortunate that they left a very detailed photo record of their time spent "in the mountains" as they called it. Moreover, Jane kept a five year diary (1935-39) from which I will include relevant excerpts. My mothers favorite term for her and Perry (and friends) was "bohemian". She loved them both dearly.

Lakeside. San Diego County.

The small town of Lakeside, California figured prominently in our family over the years. It was the town nearest to Jane and Perry's ranch. They shopped, worked and socialized within the community. My grandparents left the Barona in the later 1930's and relocated to Lakeside. They remained in town the rest of their lives. My parents also lived in Lakeside. They were given the lot next to Jane and her last husband Ray Wilson where my parents built their first house. We moved by 1960 to north county. We went back for requisite holiday events and other family gatherings.

Horses

Jane and Perry owned two horses. They were named Bill and O'mar. Jane's diary is full of entries concerning her and Perry's horses.

1935
January 8. Went after the horses and brought them home from off the mountain and off the Barona. Perry fixed fence where they went around.
January 15. Had very good rain today. Put the horses in the stable to eat their barley and hay. Turned them out at 2:30.

January 16. Arrived home the horses broke in the gate. O'mar was in the hay. Bill down over in yard.
February 8. Kept horses in stable last night. Rained hard all morning. Perry couldn't got to work. Rode over on home on Bill after milk.
February 22. George, Perry and I rode to Lakeside. Rode in the parade. Seen show. Made it down in 2 hours came back in 3 hours.
March 4. Had horses in stable last night. Rained some through the night. Last of the hay gone so let Bill loose in stall. Perry and George rode down to Barona and brought back Buttercup (the cow).
March 10. George and Perry left at 4:30 this morning rode down to Vet to have Babes teeth filed. Got home 5 o' clock. People from the trading post was up.

March 13. Rode over on Bill to visit the kids (*Walter & Dorothy Robinette). Nice warm day.
March 31. George, Perry and I went for ride. Started for (couldn't figure out the name) met him on road leaving. So stopped at Stevens and had lunch. Rode back through Barona to where the old mine. Had to wear coats.

March memorandum. Feed costs. Bale alfalfa 90 cents. Barley $1.16.
April 28. Buster and Ninus were up today. He and Perry went for a short ride. Bill shied (?) fell through the stone wall. The ? fell off him but wasn't hurt.
July 4. George, Perry and I rode to Lakside for parade and rodeo. Had swell time. Talked with Dorothea, Walt and Bonny on way home. Arrived at gate 8:15. Made it home in 3 hours.

1936

March 3. Looked for horses today. Perry milked Buttercup. Rode up on flat looking for horses.

March 4. Walked over mountain and down to ? still looking for horses.

April 25. George, Perry and I went for ride over to Hortenzes. Stayed about 2 hours had wonderful ride. Horses were full of pep. Rode over home and got Pete.

August 7. My day off. Perry and I went for ride. Got caught in rain. Got under rock to keep dry then rode on over to Renolds.

September 23. Found Bill up on top of flat. Had been gone 6 days.

1937

January 25. Had day off. Perry and Frank rode Bill and O'mar back to the old mine. Nice day.

1939

April 1. Delphina and I went for horse back ride over to Mama's. Horses were sure peppy. O'mar raised on his hind legs with me.

May 6. Bonny and Perry rode Bill and O'mar down to Georges. Beautiful day.

*Jane kept another diary in 1942. There are few entries for this journal. By spring of 1942 Jane and Perry had separated. She made these remarks regarding their horses.

1942

June 14. Bonny and I went up with Floyd to see if he wanted to buy our place. Perry had brought some people up to see if they wanted O' mar.

June 15. The people bought O'mar.

Flood, Fire and Wild Things

Who you going to call? When the rains wash out the roads. Wildfires get too close for comfort. A rattlesnake bites your dog. You become seriously ill. There was no 911. There was no phone. No paramedics or fire department just around the corner. No 24 hour pet care veternarian.  Well, you did what generations before you have done. You survived and handled the best you could with friends and family help. What follows are sections from Jane's diary about just these situations.

Rain and flood

1935
January 10. Had the horses in their stable all day. Never stopped raining once all day.
February 5. Rained last night. Rained steady the whole day. Perry was supposed to have teeth pulled. Couldn't go on account of rain. Put horses in stable to eat their breakfast. Kept them in all day long. Mrs. Drane was up to tell Perry to start work on Barona.
February 10. Perry dug dikes all day to drain road.
1936
February 15. Had bad rain storm last night. The wind sure howled and the horses were out in all of it. They came up this morning. Put them in till 3:00. Perry worked in rain opening ditches.
February 20. Walked to Barona creek and met the kids. Walter carried me across creek. Card at Post Office.
1937
January 6. Rained hard last night. Rained today. Perry left the car at the foot of Barona it rained so hard.
January 7. Stayed at kids all night. Perry met us at Walters gate. Creek is flowing bank from bank.
January 19. Ice froze in cans outside last night.
Janurary 20. Ice froze in kitchen last night. First time since we lived here.
February 7. Stayed over home again last night. Poured rain all day. Had 7 1/2 inches in 30 hours.
February 8. Our roads are completly washed out. Perry and I were working on grade here at the house when Frank came over. Frank started helping.
February 9. Couldn't get the car out so walked to Barona creek to catch bus. Wasn't running. Grade was washed out. The kids were waiting for me. The bridge was out. Had to cross (creek) over a little tree.
February 10. Am staying with the kids. Frank and Perry haven't finished the second grade yet. Walter has to leave his car 1 mile from house.
1938
February 11. Rained hard all day. High winds part of the time. Perry went in pouring rain to open drains on roads and dig ditches.
February 16. Have had about 7 1/2 inches rain. Well is starting to rise.
February 27. Rained last night. Never stopped once all day. First time this year for high winds.
March 2. Never stopped raining once all day. Came down hard and how the wind did blow. Thought it would tear down wind charger.
March 3. Wind blow hard until 1 o'clock last night. Rained most of all night. Rained off and on most of day. Couldn't go for gov. supplies.
March 5. The road at bridge is washed out. Peg is flooded in.
1939
January 24. Had strong wind all day. Blowed terrible from six until one. Blowed over trees in Lakeside. Broke out my bedroom window.
February 13. Got stuck in mud at junction. Took Perry 2 1/2 hours to dig me out.
February 15. East wind blew a gale all day.
February 16. East wind gale last night.
February 19. Intended going over to the kids but looks so cloudy was afraid to start.

Fire
1936
June 15. My day off. Perry, George and Frank rode the horses over to old mine. Forest fire across Mussey grove.
1937
September 13. Brush fire along highway from Bill's and on big turn.
September 14. George started working a Grables. Very hot. The fire last night got awful close to the kids house.
1938
September 15. Stayed all night at the kids. Watched big fire. Been awful hot for week.
September 16. Fire back of Barona.
1939
August 3. Big brush fire at Mussey grade. I came up home after work. Every thing was okay.

Wild Things
1935
June 3. Put roof on kitchen and cut north window. George was over tonight. Killed my first rattlesnake I have seen this season. Quite large.
October 20. Little Minnie got strike by rattler on nose around 3 o'clock. Frank came over and cut place in her neck to let it drain.
October 21. George and Frank came over this morning. Frank dressed Minnie's wound. Stayed for dinner. Minnie eat some this afternoon. Put cactus poultice (*Jane spelled it "polus") on Minnie's neck.
October 22. Minnie's head is swollen worse this morning but she seems to feel better. Is hungry.
October 23. Minnie much better. Stopped draining.
1937
December 22. Perry found 3rd Fox in trap this morning. One week since we found one.
December 31. Perry brought in 2 foxes this morning. Delivered female to nursery.
1938
January 2. Fox got away last night.
December 3. Perry found poor Babe dead over by the well when he went to pump water for horses. Went down for George to help drag her away in brush.
1939
January 28. Perry brought home male fox.
January 29. Named fox Ferdinand.
August 16. Something got our male guinea.
November 22. Hawk got our little homer pigeon. Perry shot the Hawk.

Brother, can you spare a dime?

The Great Depression was well along by the time Jane made the first entries into her diary detailing how this event affected the lives of her family and those around her. She never referred to it by name but you will see from her account what was involved in staying afloat in uneasy economic times. Her diary began on January 1, 1935 and ended December 31, 1939. I have extracted a few interesting items to share about this time.

1935
May 4. Drove to La Mesa to see Mrs. Drane. Told us we would be on direct relief.
May 22. Mr. Beerman gave Perry his new work card. $1.00 an hour at 59 hours per month.
1936
January 10. Meet Cullmers down by Barona gate. To me to see about sewing. I'm sure to get sewing to bring home.
January 30. Reported at La Mesa. Mrs. Savage gave me food card.
February 6. Reported at La Mesa brought home 3 size 17 dresses. On way back got govt. supplies.
February 27. To La Mesa. We are to get $65.00 a month. Received 7 dresses and 6 bloomers.
March 12. La Mesa brought home 12 dresses and 12 bloomers.
April 9. Went to La Mesa. They have transferred women off sewing project.
April 16. They transferred us from sewing to Library work. Have to go to Lakeside everyday. Starting Tuesday have 4 more dresses to make.
April 21. Dorothy and I started new job at Lakeside library. After work stopped by Trushines on way home. Gave us 6 pounds honey.
June 24. I'm new Junior Artist.
September 11. Started work at Santee school house.
September 23. Got last pay from Library project. $21.60.
December 31. Had to report to La Mesa for W.P.A. check up.
1937
September 10. Our last day at Santee (very hot) worked at school. One year today.
September 13. Started back at library unit.
October 11. Dorothea took job at school cafeteria. Will start on the 26th.
October 13. Mr. Spencer was at the project today to take my application for recreation counsul.
December 1. Started at Library project at El Cajon.
1938
January 27. My last day at El Cajon library project. It all closed.
February 1. Went to El Cajon had orders to go to pier. *This must have been a government office area as she mentions it many other times.
February 7. Perry and I went to pier then to Spreckles building. Then to employment office back to Spreckles. Can't get on relief until 21st. Spent from 10 until 5. Left 4 carvings for Cliff to try and sell.
February 21. Went to Spreckles building at 9:30. Left at 5:15 stayed on chance of getting interviewed or else go back Wednesday. Will get $10.95 every two weeks. Tried to sell wood carving.
February 26. Went to see Mrs. Morton. She wants me to go to Pier to tell (?) for recreation job. Monday sent in for tax exempt on gas.
March 5. Drove down to Lakeside for groceries. Received $10.93 SRA check. The road at bridge is washed out. Peg is flooded in.
March 17. Drove to Dollimers. Brought 2 dresses 2 coats home to fix. She gave me shoes, hats. Didn't get food card letter.
April 8. Received card to be at pier 9:30 Monday morning. Also work order for Lakeside school to work 54 hours month.
April 11. Perry and I drove to San Diego to pier for examination. Then to Spreckles building. Had them rate me for clerical work then said I couldn't work to far to drive.
April 23. Perry came to La Mesa drove me home. Got work order as housekeeping aid. $65.00 month.
April 28. Reported at 4th st. San Diego. Started at work Mrs. Crane, El Cajon.

May 16. Started staying at Peg's today. I am going to take care of Mrs. Rowe.
1939
July 2. Perry is working as watchman at Rodeo grounds.
September 19. Reported in office. Mrs. Breen told me she tried to get me supervisor job.
October 19. My last day on housekeeping project.
October 20. Bathed Mrs. Rowe this morning 50 cents. Moved all my belongings (from Peg's) up home. Don't know when I will work again.
December 6. Got work order from W.P.A. Drove to San Diego.
December 8. Started back on W.P.A. at Mexico across from C.C.C. camp.

Cielito Lindo

A sign over the entry to Jane Burks and Perry Bradley's property read, "Cielito Lindo". It was also referred to by the more prosaic name of the Perry Bradley Ranch. Situated west of the Barona Valley with an outstanding view of the rugged terrain.

Jane and Perry filed a homestead patent with the BLM only after having developed and lived on the property from about 1931. Over several years they made additions and improvements to the parcel. It was not an easy life but hard work. My mother recalls it as the best time of her life. So much so that when she passed away my brother and I spread her ashes nearby. I say nearby because we could not reach this exact spot.