Dec 22
A little over a hundred years ago this advertisement touted the safety of electric power over candles, gas or oil lamps. This is from the Feb. 24, 1906 edition of the San Luis Obispo Telegram. If you are reading this by a whale oil fired lamp you may want to E.M. Payne and get set …
Nov 07
Western civilization is built on wheat. The story begins about 10,000 B.C., a cross of three grass species is found to be a rich food source. Wheat farming is woven into the narrative of the United States. Clear the land of unproductive plants (and indigenous people), plant wheat, make money, and build a strong democratic …
Jan 23
A little over 100 years ago the pride and joy of the fire department was the horse drawn wagon. This would be state of the art firefighting in San Luis Obispo until 1916 when petrol would replace equine power. This photo was made a year after one of the worst fires in history struck downtown, …
Jul 28
There was little that was temperate about the temperance movement. Anti-Saloon League members wanted to get the drink out of a barfly’s hands and replace it with a hymnal. Women might be allowed drink at home but at that time were not welcome in bars. Often medicines advertised as specifics for “Women’s Complaints” consisted largely …
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