Vol. 1  No. 5AUGUST 1996

PLOUGHSHARE & PRUNING HOOK

WINCHESTER HISTORICAL SOCIETY

OF PLEASANT VALLEY

PATTERSON HOUSE OPEN HOUSE ANNOUNCED FOR AUGUST 19th

  The August meeting for the Winchester Historical Society Of Pleasant Valley will be held at the Patterson House which is located at Grand Avenue and Patterson Avenue in Winchester. The house will be open for those who wish to see the structure. The meeting will start at 7:00 P.M. on the 19th of August. Since seating is non existent, we suggest you bring a stool or chair. Refreshments will be served country style. This well might be your only chance to see this historical house this year so please plan to join us there.

Historical Society is Homeless

  The historical society this month lost its meeting sight at the church annex. Seems that the church's insurance carrier said that to protect the church from lawsuits that all groups meeting there must carry a $500,000 liability policy or have members of the church as part of their group. At a cost of more than $800 per year our group cannot afford this so we had to leave this historical building and search for a new meeting place. We also are looking for any members of the church who like to join the quest of our group in preserving not only our community but the church's history. We would like to thank the church for the use of their facilities for the time we were there.

  We would also like to thank the lawyers and insurance people for creating this type of society. RIGHT!!!

Long Time Residents Pass From Us

  It is with great sadness we announce the passing of two of Winchesters long time residents. Shortly after our last

newsletter we were saddened to learn of the passing from us of Marie Etcheberry Domenigoni the widow of Angelo Domenigoni. Marie had lived in Winchester since she had married Angelo in 1936. She was one of the founders of the Winchester School P.T.A. and a member of the Winchester Woman's Club. Marie was also instrumental in brining the park we have behind the Winchester School as she sold the property for it to the park district at a favorable price. It appears the good Lord needed a helping hand with his lambs and needed Marie's caring nature to help him.

   On July 11 the rank of old time residence was diminished by the passing of "Polly" Stevens. She had lived in Winchester for 43 years. She was a member of the Winchester Methodist Church. These two pioneering women lived thru the lean years in Winchester when water was scarce and times were hard. We will miss them.

Stuffed Potatoes 1890's Style

  Bake good sized potatoes. Cut one end off, carefully remove the inside without breaking the skin. Mash well, season  with salt and cream, or with milk and butter, beat till light and foamy, fill the skins again, and place in oven to get thoroughly hot. Especially good for lunch and invalids.

  THIS RECIPE COMES FROM THE 1890 SAN JACINTO REGISTER. NEXT MONTH SWEET POTATOES.

Tidbits From History

  The Haslams once considered the area in the back part of Double Butte as Aunt Mandy's Canyon.

03/20/1890 A move is on foot to establish a baseball league to include the clubs of Winchester, Perris, San Jacinto, Beaumont, and Banning, and to be known as the "Mountain Lions."

03/20/1890 Pleasant Valley school district receives from the state of California and the county of San Diego $398.10 to help run its school for 1 year.

03/20/1890 Mr. Richmond is still suffering from the effects of La Grippe.

03/20/1890 The district road master, Edward McEuen, has been working on the avenue road. One can now drive from Winchester and by taking the road thru South San Jacinto, can go to San Jacinto with out getting their buggy wheels muddy.

03/20/1890 Mr. Sawden has been improving the parsonage grounds by laying out the front yard in a handsome manner and planting it to shrubbery. James Brown made a present last week of two lovely arbor vitis to add still further to the beauty of the pastor's home. Mr. Brown has the thanks of the minister and the people.

03/20/1890 The people of the valley have donated grain and labor sufficient to sow forty acres of land, the proceeds to be used to help pay the pastor's salary.

04/03/1890 C. C. Thomas has built a barn on his lot near the store and expects to have a dwelling home up soon.

04/03/1890 J. S. Stillman is building a bathhouse for the purpose of utilizing the gaseous and medicinal waters of the gas well.                    04/03/1890 A blacksmith and carpenter's shop will soon be built here by a Pasadena man.

04/03/1890 Adolphus Haslam has moved his house near the water cut, into town

04/03/1890 James Brown of Rockhouse Valley is building a nice eight roomed cottage which he expects to finish up in good style.

04/10/1890 P. A. Clark is planting out his nursery-stock, consisting of over fifty thousand trees, in varieties, which with large importations. (Diamond Valley)

04/10/1890 There are about 4500 acres sown to wheat and barley in Diamond Valley this season, or near double the amount of last year.

04/10/1890 J. H. Jones, of Pasadena, has rented the Winchester hotel

04/10/1890 The Creiger house came in from Diamond Valley late Saturday afternoon drawn by twenty-two horses.

04/10/1890 C. C. Thomas & Co., the enterprising apiarists (beekeepers) of this place, are manufacturing their own hives and section-boxes, thus adding another industry to our growing community. Seven carloads of honey were shipped from this place last year.  

Todays' History

  We could not resist this one as it tells the times we live in today. The following was found on a plastic bottle of 7-UP.

WARNING

CONTENTS UNDER PRESSURE. CAP MAY BLOW OFF CAUSING EYE OR OTHER SERIOUS INJURY. POINT AWAY FROM PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY WHILE OPENING.