Lemon Grove

Helen M. Ofield, Pete Smith

• Publisher: Arcadia Publishing
• Year: 2010
• Print ISBN: 9780738571935
• eBook ISBN: 9781439623459
• Topic: History
• Subtopic: North American History
• Index: History

Lemon Grove dates to 1892 when it first appeared in the San Diego County records as Lemon Grove. The tiny, whistle-stop town emerged during the second gold rush, the rise of Californias citrus industry, which was facilitated by the 1849 Gold Rush, the break up of the Mexican ranchos in Alta California, and the advent of statehood for California in 1850. Land speculators poured into California, lured by the exquisite climate, five growing seasons, and the possibilities for success in agriculture and business. Lemon Grove became home to gentlemen farmers from the East and Midwest, whose descendants live on in the community to this day.

Three

AGRICULTURAL HEYDAY

GROWERS’ BRAND FRUIT LABEL, 1894. The Lemon Grove Fruit Growers Association was formed in 1893, so that ranchers could pool the expense of harvesting and shipping produce. Their signature Growers’ Brand fruit label, designed in 1894, was glued to the ends of fruit crates. This and other “lug labels” remained in use for the next 40 years and came to signify the superior quality that won the association many awards.

LEMON GROVE, 1905. Orchards spread across the landscape of Lemon Grove. At center are two

ON HONOR BRAND FRUIT LABEL, 1894. With the On Honor Brand label, the Lemon Grove Fruit Growers Association proudly proclaimed that the top layer of flawless fruit signified that everything in the crate was perfect.

fruit packinghouses, and to their right is the train depot. Large homes of ranchers are evident.

TEMPTATION BRAND FRUIT LABEL, 1895. Fresh squeezed lemonade was taken to county fairs and agricultural associations to advertise Lemon Grove’s crops and was served on many public and private occasions as this enticing Temptation Brand fruit label design indicates.

FOURTH OF JULY, 1906. Then, as now, the Fourth of July was cause for celebration. At the Lemon Grove train depot, children in their Sunday best prepare to sing the national anthem when the train pulls in with guests from San Diego, arriving for picnics, fireworks, and, of course, fresh lemonade.

LEMON GROVE ORCHARDS, 1910. This was the view of Lemon Grove orchards looking toward Mount Miguel across the McTear Orchard near modern Lincoln Street.

NEWLYWEDS ARRIVE, 1907. Charles and Alice Schults, just off the train, stand near the A. Sonka and Son store. They were part of the waves of first- and second- generation European immigrants, many of them German, who migrated to California early in the 20th century. Charles joined Tony Sonka in a variety of business ventures that helped to grow the town.

SONKA BROTHERS STORE, 1910. Tony and Emil Sonka took over A. Sonka and Son and renamed it the Sonka Brothers Store. Here Emil prepares to deliver an order to a local home. There were no house numbers in town until Henry Eckler, the local tax assessor’s son, painted them on for 10¢ a number. People knew homes by color and location. In 1910, the local population numbered 500.

ARTHUR HAY, EARLY 1900S. In 1913, Arthur Hay and his wife, Grace, transformed an 1897 Lemon Grove bungalow into a Dutch Colonial Revival fronted by a graceful veranda. He was president of the Lemon Grove Fruit Growers Association from 1918 to 1923. An engineer, he helped to plan the 1915 exposition in Balboa Park. (Courtesy Carol Burke.)

GRACE HAY, EARLY 1900S. Grace Hay had been a violin soloist with the John Philip Sousa Band. The Hays later moved to San Diego’s Mission Hills, ...

Table of contents

• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Dedication
• Table of Contents
• ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
• INTRODUCTION
• One - LAND WILD AND TAMED
• Two - THE WHISTLE-STOP TOWN IS BORN
• Three - AGRICULTURAL HEYDAY
• Four - THE THREE RS AND HOW THEY GREW
• Five - SPORTS, LEISURE, FAITH, AND CULTURE
• Six - LEMON GROVE IN UNIFORM
• Seven - THE BUSTLING COMMUNITY
• Eight - THE CITY PROUD