The Bartley Ranch
There was a lovely old ranchhouse on the acreage. We called it the "Bartley House." Two stories, eight rooms, open porches around two sides, a little white picket fence. The garden was as old fashioned as the architecture. Lilac tress, rose bushes, violets, lilies, blooming quince bushes, ferns and a beautiful old grape arbor, a hand-carved bird feeder and bird house.
It was a joy to sit on the porch and look up the fenced-in lane and apple orchard, especially when the trees were in bloom. There were also two very large barns--one for cattle and hay--one for horses. Of course, there were pigs, chickens, rabbits always about. A little cheese shed was tucked in between the barns and the house.
It was such a wonderful privilege to be able to spend so many days of my youth on this beautiful mountain ranch. I learned about the animals, the birds, the wildflowers and the beautiful trees. I fished, I hunted and hiked the trails. It was a wonderful part of my life.
The ranch had herds of deer, coveys of quail, doves, wild animals--coyote, fox, wildcats, rabbits, coons, skunks, squirrels--a profusion of wildflowers and birds.
I was able to watch and learn their songs and colorings. It all made a fulfilling gap in the life of a City Boy. In this little summary I would love to list some of the birds, animals and wildflowers for those who love the out-of-doors as I did at a very young age.
Steller bluejay, Pine siskin, goldfinch, bluebird, robins, doves, quail, owls, sparrows, redtail hawks, orioles, caw birds, chickadees, kingfishers, flycatchers, wild pigeons, redheaded woodpeckers, junco, redwing blackbirds, meadowlarks, flickers and many, many more.
The wildflowers always announced the Spring had arrived--cowslips, buttercups, poppies, shooting stars, brodea, wake robing, missionbells, tiger lilies, forget-me-nots, lupin, monkeyweed, wild lilac, ferns, larkspur, columbine, blue flag likies, fairbells. Again, many many more over the hills, along the creeks and under the redwoods.
I was always fascinated with what we called "tar Water Creek and Waterfall" deep in the far side of the ranch, sheltered by the many redwoods. Also a beautiful stand of redwoods that was my favorite place to come with wonder and almost a feeling of being lost, named by me "Little Yosemite."
There were may varieties of wildlife on the ranch. I have already talked about wildflowers and wild birds, so I should go into the wild animal category such as deer, fox. possums, coyotes, skunks, rabbits, woodrats, badgers, mountain lions, squirrels, chipmunks, racoons and bears in the early days.
Boots and Saddles
You can't write and reminisce about the sleepy mountain village of La Honda without wishing the days of the Boots and Saddles were still in existence. It is necessary to go back to the Keifer Bothers because they were the original owners of the land where the Boots and Saddles was located and operating at a much later period of time.
Keifers were from a French family who came to La Honda in the early days. Their resort was built mostly for family. Every year they would stage a celebration in honor of the French Fourth of July. Everyone was invited! Bastille Day!
As history goes, Alix Bonzagni bought their property and he was the man responsible for the very nice log building that became the Boots and Saddles. The restaurant comprised a bar, kitchen and dining area, large and homey. Off that was a separate room used for dances and special parties.
The MacCarthys in the '50s or '60s bought the property and the buildings as a family-owned and operated venture. Mac was the bartender. Grace and family and friends cooked and ran the kitchen. As you walked into the bar, Mac greeted everyone by name.
There was a one-lane miniature bowling alley and if you had to wait for your reservation many a patron could get into the act.
The food was something you dream about. All fresh from local ranches--fruit, vegetables, meat (beef, pork, lamb, chicken etc.) fresh fish from Half Moon Bay, and Grace's home-made pies and cakes and bread and rolls. People came from all over the peninsula, the coast and local ranches. Your friends were there. The atmosphere was home-like. Too bad we can't go back to such food and pleasant surroundings.
Once a week there was a square dance. Old Cowboy Slim played the violin and his wife played the piano as locals called the dances.
It was unfortunately burned to the ground. Boots and Saddles is just a memory in ashes. The MacCarthys moved to Puerta Vallarta, Mexico.
A sad ending to such perfection and enjoyable times.
La Honda Park
At one time La Honda had a special recreation park that consisted of big redwoods, a boating lake and a large swimming pool "a la natural" created by a creek that ran through the town. It was owned and operated by one of my uncles, West Bartley. May people, mostly the young generation, enjoyed it very much--swimming--boating--picnicking, and especially meeting new friends and learning new sports. The thin that I always remember in hiking down to the park is that we would pick wild strawberries, not to mention the special picnic baskets.
Canoeing was not my specialty, but if you asked a girl to go for a ride and if you didn't want to die of embarrassment forever, you were very careful not to turn the canoe over, which was very easy to do.
Many of the ranching boys and girls rode horses down to the park a. And it seemed we were always sharing picnic lunches. Our cabin was not too far from the park, so we were there very often. Pretty soon the called us the "Park Rangers."
As an adult, he found himself running an auto dealership (Towne Ford) in Redwood City, but he still managed to maintain his two La Honda ranches, which spanned the area between Alpine Road and Haskins Hill on Pescadero Road. Active in local horsemen's groups (ranging in character from the respected Mounted Patrol to the wild and wooly Frontier Boys), he sold one of the ranches to the County of San Mateo at a bargain price so that they could develop a horse camp there.