California Here We Come
By Cora Cornelia Collins Crowe b 1896 Pittsburgh PA

We made our last visit in Ohio at brother John and Ida’s home. We felt we were on our way to fame and fortune, in our brand new Model T Ford. That was in 1922 when the roads were anything but good!

There were so many times that we saw the sunrise in all of its glory and sunsets that were magnificent! After we had cooked our bacon on our little Colman stove, we then started out while the dew was still on the grass and the whole world smelled fresh and clean!

As we traveled along, we made the acquaintance of two nice young men and we enjoyed their company very much. Sometimes we would go for several days without seeing them and then they would drive in when we had just arrived at a campground. That delighted the girls each time!

The first night we camped out, we were on the outskirts of Mt Vernon, Ohio. All night, we could hear the cars rushing along on the way to the football game that was to be held the next day, which was Saturday. Needless to say, sleep eluded us!

We spent Sunday on the outskirts of Dayton. Early when we wakened, we learned that a heavy downpour had occurred in the night. We decided to leave as soon as possible in order to avoid as much traffic as we could. Then we ate a hurried breakfast in New Alexandria. Our next stop was at an old schoolhouse in East St Louis. On we went to St Charles where we stayed in a hotel and we made a short stop in Kansas City, for a tire.

It was on Halloween night that we pulled into a park in Council Grove, Kansas. When we located the caretaker, he suggested that we pull into the barn, for the rain was teeming down! He was a kindly old gentleman and he suggested that we come up to his place to spend the evening. His home was in a corncrib and was fixed up nice and cozy with a big coal stove and table, etc. His grandson made his home with him and the boy was about twelve years old. They also had a big white bulldog, Bing, who welcomed us. The grandson popped corn and they passed a bowl of big red apples and we spent a grand evening in spite of being strangers.

The next day, when we started out, we were only able to travel 18 miles. There was no campground where we stopped but we were told that a lady at a farm nearby would permit us to camp at her home, which we did. We were most grateful and we passed some time there, hoping the weather would clear up. Lee and Paul brought home some ducks which we cooked. Before we were ready to leave, the lady kindly suggested that I could do all of our washing, using her tubs, and when I offered to pay her, she graciously replied “No, just pass it on”. Another kindness that I have never forgotten!

We started out for Learned, Badge and Todd had been with us until a terrible storm came up again. We were traveling along, under those trying circumstance, when we came upon an elderly lady and her husband who were along side a truck, which had slid off the road into a little ditch. The lady was frantic as her husband had heart trouble and was very blue. It took the men some time to get them straightened out and on their way.

We saw many cars of sugar beets as we went along, for miles and miles. When we arrived at La Junta, Colorado, we were impressed by the number of Indians who were mingling among the shoppers.

At Raton, after we had been there for a few hours, we noticed a sign that said “Federal Scenic Hiway to Taos, New Mexico”. It was about ten o’clock in morning when we started out and there was scenery galore! The road was a one-way road and Lee had to pull in at the widest places to allow the wagons to pass. The Indians were on their way to market with their red chili peppers strung all over their wagons. We passed many houses with peppers hanging all over, too! The Indian ladies, who were along with the men, often had a dear little papoose strapped to their back, with it’s little face turned up to the hot sun! On and on we went, until ten o’clock that night, before we got to the end of the scenery!

The children were asleep and Lee went to a restaurant and got us some food that we ate in the car. After leaving there, we went to Sante Fe, Albuquerque and then to Magdalena to pick up our mail.

In St John we stopped at a nice country home where we had a good hot dinner and we stayed over night. In the morning, much to our surprise, there was a truck with a cage of wild animals in the yard waiting to welcome us when we got up.

Then came Holbrook, Winslow and Flagstaff. While we were there we were in the upstairs hall, waiting to be assigned our rooms and we could look down at the front door and see a group of Indians who were seeking admittance. Then the Grand Canyon! What a glorious sight! We were not prepared for the magnificence of it.

On to Williams, Oatman, and then to Needles where the heat was terrific. I had been wondering what it would be like when we came to the desert, And then, I knew!

We stopped next at Barstow for the first repairs on our car. We were eagerly looking forward to a little home of our own by now.

We were very happy to arrive in California and we hurried on our way to join my sister Grace and her husband, Dan, who were living on a chicken ranch at Prunedale. That was where we arrived on November 21 after traveling 3000 miles in our Model T Ford. 

After we had a nice visit with the folks, we rented a cottage in Pacific Grove. It was delightful along the Pacific ocean. It was at Pacific Grove that Charlotte was enrolled in school and that our son, William Lee was born.

In the afternoons we would go to the beach and come home with arms full of California Poppies. That was the first time we had seen them. 

Later, we moved to Los Angeles and Grace and Dan, with Richard, moved down to the Los Angeles area. When we lived there, we had many happy experiences. We had a fine church and many wonderful friends. Occasionally, we went to hear Mrs. Aimee Semple McPherson. One evening she preached on “Diamonds in the Rough”. On that occasion, she sat at a Lapidary wheel with colored lights playing on her and she turned the wheel while she preached. That was a fine sermon and one that made a lasting impression.

Lee always took us to the beach on Saturdays, that was family day. We spent many happy hours while he fished. We had been so thrilled with the ocean when we first came to California! As soon as we acquired bathing suits we were in jumping the breakers. It was always a source of amusement to the men to see the ladies wearing big sun hats! We always came home terribly tired, terribly hungry but delighted! Our summers were generally spent in that manner.

Note:  A few commas added.