PLOUGHSHARE & PRUNING HOOKVolume 4 Number 2May/June 1999
Alamos and Hyatt School Reunion Set
May 15th will see the gathering of graduates at Lake Skinner of the two little one room schools that once served the French and Auld Valleys. Alamos School was moved many years ago to Lake Skinner and has over the past year been renovated to serve as a visitors center. Mary "MiMi" Milholland and associates have worked hard in gathering old pictures and memorabilia from the old schools for displays. Among other activities for the day will be a BBQ dinner and a display of area history by the Winchester Historical Society. If you would like more information call MiMi at 909- 926-5080.
Newsletter Update
With this issue the Ploughshare & Pruning Hook becomes a bi-monthly publication. Economics have forced this upon us. With the rising cost of postage and our quest to direct more funds into restoration it was the only option left. However on the positive side the newsletter will become larger. We plan to add a 3 month calendar to each issue and to feature 3 pages of articles and history.
Museum Open For Tours
On June 5th the Patterson House Museum will be open for limited guided tours. The schedule for now is to be open from 11:00 A. M. until 3:00 P. M. each Saturday and Sunday except for holidays. Stop by and let us show you our restoration progress and to learn of our history. We also plan to conduct a rummage sale in the near future to help cover the expenses. As of this writing the sale will be the first Saturday of the month and will be held on the museum grounds. Watch for a special flyer in regards to this.
Web Pages Added
The Winchester web pages just keep growing. This month we have added two pages about the Owen Graham Post that once was located here. The pages are still under construction and pictures of the current post will be added soon. Pages will be added soon about early families here and some additional picture pages. We soon hope to be able to create a "Winchester Now" page showing pictures of our current business community.
Obituaries
Richard Domenigoni
Richard Domenigoni died at home at age 53 on April 19th. He served in the Army and was a self-employed carpenter for many years. He is survived by his mother, Jean, and four brothers and numerous other relatives.
Osmor Williamson
April 20th saw the passing of Osmor Williamson in his home in Winchester at the age of 79. He served in the army during World War II and was a self- employed neon tube bender for many years. He is survived by his wife, daughter, and three sons and many grandchildren and other relatives.
Laura Boynton
Laura Boynton, 43, wife of Hemet High School football coach Andy Boynton, died at home on the 24th of April. She is survived by her husband and other relatives.
Our condolences go to all those relatives and friends who knew or were acquainted with them.
Tidbits From The Past
09/27/1894 The farmers in and about Winchester and San Jacinto have organized two separate and distinct companies to run co-operative creameries and cheese factories. The factories will each cost about $3000 and work will commence on the Winchester factory this week by the Chicago company which has the contract for factories. It is a fact that there are large bodies of cheap alfalfa land and an abundance of water in and about San Jacinto and Winchester, just suited to that purpose and it is a wonder nothing has been done in the matter before. Fine alfalfa land can be purchased for $30 an acre. ----Riverside Enterprise
10/04/1894 A mountain lion is said to be abroad at Winchester. We hope it will not be the cause of delaying the work on the new Creamery at that place.
10/04/1894 The new canal at the Griffin cinega was finished Saturday and the work discontinued.
10/04/1894 Our hot weather has at last receded into the dim and soon forgotten past. Now we have before us six consecutive months of golden weather, unexcelled on the globe.
10/04/1894 S. W. Smith and wife arrived from Chicago last week and are stopping at Hotel Winchester. Mr. Smith is general superintendent of the creamery manufacturing company which is to put up the Winchester and San Jacinto factories. Mr Smith will be in Winchester for several days when he will make this city his headquarters.
10/11/1894 Died - at Winchester, California, October 2, 1894, of spinal meningitis, Harmon, only child of Mr. and Mrs. John Norton, aged five years. The funeral was from the residence, J. P. Ralstin, pastor of the Christian Church of this city, officiating. Little Harmon was a bright boy, and the bereaved parents have the sympathy of a large circle of friends in this the time of their great sorrow.
DIAMOND VALLEY
The Doings of Society and People in that Section Diamente, Oct. 8, 1894
Mrs. Goodhart and children have moved to Florida so that Miss. Jennie, Valle Vista's teacher, can board at home. Mr Goodheart and one of the boys are taking care of the home place.