Earl Memories

Fallbrook Memories

6th Generation HINDORFF:
(Johan Fredrick 1, Carl Fredrick 2, Pher Eric 3 "the Immigrant", Per Gustav 4, Eric Charles 5)
(2nd Generation born in America Swedish-Americans)

EARLY MEMORIES OF THE FALLBROOK AREA

By Velma Hindorff Sierras

My first grandparents to come to California, from Iowa, were the Hindorffs - Gus and Leanore. He came for health reasons, and she had an older sister already here. They came to Temecula by train, then homesteaded in Rainbow, where my grandfather died. So Grandma moved into Fallbrook itself in the early 1900's in a two- story house on Dougherty Street.

That burned down, so she moved to Pico and Hawthorne, where she owned a half block area clear back to Hill Street (Mission.) My grandpa had been a harness maker.

My other grandparents, Frank and Maggie Bell, lived on Main Street, about where the stationers store is now. They came from Missouri in 1900, and also had an older brother here, Alonzo Bell and wife Maggie. They came to seek a better way of life, as far as I ever learned, liked the area, and stayed. The two families (Hindorff & Bell) had lived within a few miles of one another in their home states, but met only after settling in Fallbrook.

Being the oldest of the Hindorff siblings, here are some things that I recall from my childhood about Fallbrook and vicinity, and early activities.

I was born in January 1912, at the home of my grandmother, Leanore Hindorff, on the southwest corner of Pico and Hawthorne, one block west of Main Street.

When I was two months old, my parents moved to the house at the corner of Gird and Reche Road, where I grew up. We had no electricity, no phone, radio or TV . There was no inside plumbing, although we did have water piped into the sink in the kitchen. We used kerosene lamps, which had to be filled and the chimneys kept cleaned regularly. For outside lighting, we had kerosene lanterns to carry.

My father, Eric Hindorff, kept bees and farmed. His mother helped with the bees. We had two horses, which served to pull the plow and other farm implements, as well as our buggy for transportation. We would sometimes take a lunch and all of us go to the area of the bee apiary. There was a row of pepper trees where the horses were tied, and we kids, my two brothers and I, played. Dad said if bees got after us, to hide among the tree branches, till the bees left. They could not fly into the tree foliage.

I attended school at what at the time was Fallbrook School, later Reche school. The school in town was West Fallbrook, later Fallbrook. It is interesting to recall the songs we sang at that time - 1919 to 1925 - mostly to do with the Civil War era, and songs of the south. There was Dixie, Old Folks at Home, Way Down Upon the Swanee River, Marching Through Georgia, and others of that type, as well as Steven Foster songs.

To go into town once a week shopping for things my Dad could not grow, he hitched the horses to the "springboard" buggy. My brother, Jerry and I would get off and walk along behind, then jump back on, as a way of having fun. Later the chassis of that buggy became a coaster for us, in spite of the danger. It had no brakes, a board across to sit on, and a rope tied to the axles to guide it by. We took it on the road to the top of the hills and coasted down. I shudder to think of it now!! But there was no traffic, once in a while a horse and buggy, very few, if any, cars in the area.

During World War I, a company of soldiers, with their equipment and several cannons and tanks went to the Red Mtn. Ranch (owned by Mr. George Houk at that time.) There were many horses and men to camp overnight . Of course a lot of folks went to see the commotion of getting them all settled. The camp was south of the ranch house, on the hill across the ravine and creek.

Another activity that occurred in connection with that war, all men who had not "joined up," had to bring their rifles and form squads and march down the Main Street in Fallbrook to a practice field. This was in preparation for any who might be needed soon. Fortunately the war ended. My dad was in this parade.

When I was about 6 or 7 yrs. old, my dad purchased from a neighbor, an old 1911 EMF Studebaker. It was something to behold!! Right hand drive, emergency brake on right, outside. It was magneto run, and had to be hand cranked to start. There was a toolbox and "presto tank" on the running board, and a spare tire. You climbed into the front seat on the left side and slid over to drive. The headlights had to be hand lit, and burned the gas in the presto tank. The tail light and side lights were kerosene filled and were hand lit also.

In that car we took many trips to various places of interest. We'd get up early, like 4 or 4:30 in the morning, and take off. My mother, the former Pearl Bell, packed a lunch, and we'd spend the day. (There were no fast food places back then.) It took all day, because we really raced along at 25 or 30 miles per hour, on dirt roads, dust flying behind us!! The tires on that car had iron rims around them to attach them to the wheel, or something. Anyway, we kids would take the hoops and roll them, guided by a hand held wooden tee. It was such fun!

During the summers the whole neighborhood would meet at Reche Grove (now Live Oak Park), for a potluck picnic. At that time it was a natural area, no improvements of any sort, and plenty of poison oak!! The ladies would bring tablecloths and spread on the ground in a long line. The food was put on there, and families sat together on the ground alongside it. Food was passed along down the line. After the meal, homemade ice cream and cakes, and pies were served. Yummy!! Some families who attended were the Lamb, Morse, Stewart, Reche, Hindorff, and others. Charlie and Edith Reche donated the north part of the park, and D.O. Lamb the south side - to the Northern San Diego County Chamber of Commerce, which later dissolved, and the county took over the park.

My father was caretaker as long as the Chamber of Commerce held ownership. He helped build the cement tables, stoves, and wells, as well as the cement dance floor, bandstand, and flag pole where there was a cannon on display for several years. Not only was Dad caretaker, he had concession rights. So he bought the lumber and logs, and built a little log cabin store with a few basic supplies. There was camping allowed at that time at 25 cents a night per car to be registered. No fences were up, so campers would pull in, and the camps set up in their choice spot.

From May till middle of September, every Saturday night there was a dance held, with my parents and their help serving refreshments - sodas, pies, cakes, meat sandwiches, and coffee. For lighting there was several Coleman lanterns hung around the dance floor area.
At that time my dad was deputy sheriff, to keep order in the park and at the dances. One time the sheriff at Fallbrook, Mr. Fleshman, called on Dad for help in stopping and taking into custody a carload of Chinese people being smuggled in. Being a kid at the time that was pretty exciting for me, although they offered no resistance or trouble.

In back of the store during the summer we had a huge tent and "camped" out. We ate our meals in the screen porch at the back of the store. In this kitchen my mother cooked dinners to sell at tables in the front part of the store. There were 2 tables and chairs set up. She served meals copied from Knott's Berry Farm - half a chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy, vegetable salad, drinks, and dessert for $1.50. Dad raised and dressed the chickens - Mama cooked. We did well too!

At that time, the through traffic was directed up Gird Road and up Live Oak Canyon to join Mission at Red Mountain Ranch. This was necessary because the road through Fallbrook between Bonsall and out Mission was being paved for the first time. The main highway went through town. There was no freeway. So Dad sold gasoline, too, and kerosene. Gas was 25 cents per gallon and kerosene 10 cents. The gas was delivered by truck into a large container of several hundred gallons. It was then drained into a small container with a spout, to put into cars. Gasoline was delivered to the area by a tanker truck; much like propane is today, or the larger trucks that supply service stations.

Across the streambeds, one on either side of Live Oak Park, there were bridges, not culverts as today. In 1916 both bridges washed out in the heavy rainfall and flooding. So a roadway was made by the east side of the park up to where a crossing could be made, through the north end of the park, alongside the other stream and then crossed over to the main road. All roads and bridges were washed out, due to flooding, in all areas.

My Dad took us to the bottom of the grade on De Luz Road to watch the Santa Margarita River at flood stage. It roared loudly as it carried trees, houses, and anything in its path. Huge waves undulated in the center of the stream. I was 4 yr s. old and stood in awe, my eyes about to pop out of my head!! We also went back later, to see the twisted rails, upset boxcars and other havoc done to the railroad station. This, of course, caused the station to be moved up into town.

We had olive trees, as did many folks in the Fallbrook area. So my Dad took his oil olives to a man named Toffanelli (Italian) who ran a small olive oil plant in the area just east of Knoll Park. He would give back some of the oil, but otherwise I don't know the financial arrangements. Dad also "cured" several barrels of the mission olives, and would sell them around to various hotels and restaurants, as far away as Murrieta Hot Springs.

An olive canning plant opened in Fallbrook so Dad got a job there. This was on Fallbrook Street, between Main and Mission. I remember visiting to see huge vats of olives. Later on the olive trees came out, and lemon trees were planted, so the olive canning plant closed. Then there was built the lemon packing house. Now it seems avocados are " the thing " . Lemons went the way of olives. A lemon orchard was on the east side of South Main, from Fallbrook Street to College. There was a slope down to the street, until the excavation was made to put in a market, parking lot, and an ice cream stand.

As I mentioned at the start, one grandmother lived on block west of main, the other grandparents, Frank and Maggie Bell, lived right on Main, right downtown as it was then. So I spent a lot of time in town , and sitting on the front porch, I could watch the activities going on. There were two big umbrella trees out front, which gave shade to shoppers, as well as to the front yard of grandma's house.

My grandfather, Frank Bell, owned the meat market next door at one time, and delivered meat out into the country around. But he sold it, and the next owner that I remember was Lee Ellis, although I believe some one else was there before him.

On the west side of Main, between Alvarado and Fig, going south, there was Clarence Lamb's General Store, a vacant lot, Frank Bell residence, a Real Estate office run by Sproure, (then Williams), a restaurant, and a furniture store run by Harry Smelser. (My Grandma Hindorff bought a little oak rocking chair there for my fifth birthday). Later Mr. Smelser sold to Mr. Roper, who opened a grocery store. Also, a library was put in between that and the restaurant, which in turn became a bakery, operated by the Hostetters.

On the east side of the street were Westfall's Hardware, Hardy's Drug Store, Bailey's telephone office (in their residence) and the residence of a Mrs. Higgins. (These are from my memory as a child, and things changed greatly as time went by.) There were no paved streets or sidewalks, and during rainy seasons it was a mess! But that was taken care of in the early twenties, with paving.

The schools at that time were in a two story building where Maie Ellis School is now. It held both the elementary and high schools . I went to visit there one time with an older girl student. She took me all through the classrooms, and I met some of the teachers. I did not attend school there ever. Eventually that was torn down, and one building erected there for "Grammar School, as it was called, through the 8th grade. A new high school was built across town where Iowa Street school is now. Mr. James Potter was instrumental in that project, and many had him as principal in that school. Incidentally, I was Treasurer of the Student Body in 1927-28, and President in 1928-29, when I graduated from that high school. I was, and still am, proud to have been in school with Mr. Potter as Principal.

At one point a Mr. Tucker drove back and forth to Oceanside each day, carrying mail, and at times a passenger or two. For how long I can't recall. Probably there were some before or after.

Most goods and products were transported by rail. The train came in once a day, and the buyers picked up their orders at the depot on East Alvarado. Any products from here went shipped out on the return trip, such as lemons from the packing house (the one that burned.) The telephone office was in the front part of the Bailey residence. It was a switchboard, and since hardly anyone had a phone, Mr. Bailey would deliver important messages. He also delivered groceries from Lamb's store, and ran the icehouse. This was located on the northeast corner of West Fig, corner of Pico. A busy man! Across from that was my Grandpa Bell's barn where he kept two horses and a cow. So the barn was full of hay, which he grew and harvested. Someone else did the bailing.

My Dad worked on a grain harvester, called a threshing machine. His job was to put the gunnysacks on the end of a chute. The grain poured into the sack. He would tamp it down, then sew the sack shut, remove it and stack it. The thresher was owned by D. O. Lamb, and men who had grain worked, and the round was made to each farm. While there, the women helped the lady of the house to feed the crew. My mother cooked at our house, and helped others, too, when it was their turn.

My mother, Pearl Bell Hindorff, had worked at the Ellis Hotel as assistant cook at one time. Both my grandmothers, Margaret Bell and Leanore Hindorff, had also worked there, as maids. My grandfather's brother, Alonzo Bell, and his family, who were the Gastons and Margetts, lived on Main, just south of Beech. Mrs. M. A. Bell had the mortuary where Heritage Square is now, on Beech. At that time, it just consisted of coffins, not like the mortuaries of today. There was a hearse, but all preparations took place at home, followed by church or graveside services.

I would now like to tell about clothing that my brothers and I wore when we were small. I wore long cotton black ribbed stockings, held up by a "pantywaist" with long garters . Of course, all girls wore dresses, with long sleeves, or the dreaded "guimpe." This was a short blouse type garment with long sleeves, worn under a short sleeved dress, jumper or pinafore. If the boys wore short pants, they were buttoned onto a pantywaist with a blouse type shirt top over it. Both my brothers fought against these, and hated them till they finally outgrew them. Fortunately they were only for "dress up" occasions.

An enjoyable activity for all in the community who cared to take part in, was the "grunion run" . We took hot dogs and buns, and marshmallows, wood for a big bonfire, and blankets to sit on. Coffee was made in a big pot. At the right time we took flashlights and a sack and ran up and down the beach picking up little fish by hand, catching ' a gunnysack full'. If you weren't careful, a big wave might hit you, so back to the fire to dry off! My dad would salt some down for bait for later use, or feed some to the chickens. They were too small and bony to eat, but were never wasted.

Every summer, before we got a car, we went camping for two weeks or so at the beach. In a horse drawn light wagon, my parents loaded up tents and supplies, and we set out, through Oceanside and up the coast to San Onofre, then down to the beach area and back toward Oceanside a few miles, below the bluff, to camp. There was a little gorge with running water from a spring, grass for the horses, and plenty of sand for kids to play in. On one wall of the gorge were layers of sand in various colors. It was so pretty and unusual! I wonder if any of that is still there. It is on Camp Pendleton property now . At that time it was Santa Margarita Ranch, under Mr. Dick O'Neal.

There were plenty of fish and other seafoods, etc. Also, at low tide we'd go out to the mussel beds and bring in a few mussels to eat. These were thrown into a tub of boiling water. The shells were then cleaned out and the flesh cleaned, to roll in flour and fry. They were really tasty!

Another thing I enjoyed was reading books. I would take out the limit every week from the library. This served me well when I got into high school. My greatest enjoyment for fun was dancing, of all sorts. My dad taught me at age 5 or 6, and if there were community dances at the schoolhouse, or in a private home, I was there. Often my Dad played violin for these, as well as danced. The hosts of the home would roll up the rugs and put chairs and benches along the walls, and the fun began! So whenever I heard music, I was there! We lived next to Live Oak Park, so as I got older, I'd "crash the party" of the picnickers and dance. Later on in life I took up square dancing, and then line dancing. I still line dance every chance I get!

When airplanes first came into the area, one landed atop the hill (inside what is now the Naval Weapons Station, formerly NAD, gate) on Santa Margarita property. There were no gates or fences, but the plane was roped off, to be shown, because many people went to take a look at this new "contraption." It was a double wing, propeller starting, one-seater. But we all thought it was great! If and when a plane flew overhead, everyone stopped and looked skyward to marvel at a "flying machine."

One of the things my mother did for us kids was to hold a teaching session each summer morning, for an hour or so. We learned simple arithmetic combinations and times tables. Also we were taught our sounds (phonics), which helped greatly with reading and spelling. This gave us a boost in school, because there was no kindergarten.

As regards Live Oak Park, after it was donated there came the naming of it. Three names were selected to be voted on. Many wanted it to remain Reche Grove, by which it had always been known. Others wanted George W. Houk Memorial Park, because he was an officer in the Chamber of Commerce of Northern San Diego County, owner of Red Mountain Ranch, and very influential in developing the park. His name is on one of the monuments, in fact. But Live Oak Park was the name finally selected, as we all know.

My mother died when I was 12, Jerry 10, and Dick 7. That was hard on all of us, especially me. My Grandma Hindorff came to stay with us until my dad remarried, to Annie Lamb. To this union were born Margaret, Frances and Laura. I believe Margaret (Hindorff-Ray) has pretty well covered the story from then onward.

(The uncut version of the story that appeared in the Fallbrook Newspaper this year - 2001)

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CLICK on all the Thumbnail images below to see full size pictures

The E. C. Hindorff Kids - September 1989

Grammie Hindorff (Leanore Nancy Vaughn-Hindorff)

1908 photo of Leanore Hindorff's Home on the hill on Dougherty Street, Fallbrook, Calif.
Later, some boys playing with matches set it afire and it burned. All the contents were lost.

Eric & Pearl Hindorff & their Children Back to top

E. C. Hindorff Home - across from Live Oak Park

Live Oak Park Auto Camp - E.C. & Pearl Hindorff's log cabin auto camp & store (<- CLICK here to go back to story)
CLICK on the LINK to read more about Live Oak Park
Click here to learn more about the RECHE Family of Fallbrook

Downtown Fall Brook - Looking East on Alvarado Street you see C. E. Lamb's General Store and the Westfall's Hardware. On the left, across the street from the Fallbrook Hardware, was where the Hardy Drugstore was located, there on the corner of Main & Alvarado.
Read more about the Fallbrook Lambs

Early downtown Fall Brook - Main street, looking South.

Very early Fall Brook - looking north east towards main street -Abt. 1896

The Old Ellis Hotel in Fall Brook - formerly The NAPLES Hotel

Hindorff family camping at San Mateo - It was a favorite Hindorff camping place - The San Mateo Creek flows into what is now called the San Mateo Preserve at Trestles Beach, part of the San Onofre State Beach. In 1910, when this photo was taken, it was not a park, and there was no interstate highway nor any modern facilities in the area. San Mateo Creek ran through the Old Rancho Santa Margarita, and the owners at that time used to allow people to go over there to camp. The camping area in those days, was just a primitive spot somewhere along the San Mateo creek and canyon. There were canyon live oaks, willows and sycamores and along its banks that afforded shelter from the hot summer sun. They camped just inland a ways, up stream from the coastal beach south of San Juan Capistrano, on land now part of Camp Pendleton. About a mile or 2 downstream, the creek ran into the Pacific Ocean, where it formed a lagoon and marshy area. The camp site had lots of fresh water for swimming and for fishing, and was ideal, as it was near enough to the Pacific Ocean that they could ride their horses or drive over in wagons or buggies to fish or swim at the beach, too. Although most of the year the San Mateo Creek was but a trickle of water, it was quite a river in wet years and would flood in the rainy season. This famous beach was later made accessible from the Hwy 101 that was built in the 1940s. The family referred to this place often as "over at San Onofre". [For photos of the beach and more info, go to: San Onofre SB ]

Fall Brook School Abt 1923-1925 - Teacher was Miss Sholders

Student's names are shown on both of these photos - includes Velma, Jerald & Richard Hindorff

Fall Brook School 1925

Read more about Early Fall Brook Schools

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Updated: Thursday August 28, 2003