By Pat Gracey
Meanwhile, Back on the Farm....
Share
Tweet
In the early part of the 20th Century the little community of Tehachapi and surrounding areas were dotted with orchards, fields of grain and farms. Tehachapi boasted a population of 600 souls. I am not sure if those living on the outlying farms were counted in that census or not but since there was no Golden Hills, Stallion Springs or Bear Valley Springs communities, the extra population from those outlying farms would not have increased the number dramatically. Tehachapi Valley, Brite's Valley and then, Cummings Valley existed in that order as they do today. The Fickerts were the Bear Valley residents and after Fred Fickert died, Nellie and Louise lived in the home place, running the business and employing cowboys to handle the cattle and farm lands.
Local Brite's Valley farmers, Walter and Frank, had adjoining farms while their cousin, Dick, lived in the home place, adjacent to his relative's acreage. The house Dick lived in was built by their grandfather, John Moore Brite and his wife, Amanda Duty, the first settlers in the Tehachapi Valley.
Their son, James, was the father of Walter and Frank. Their mother was Lucinda Caroline (Callie) Wiggins. The Wiggins Family acreage also bordered the Brite farms. It was truly the valley of the Brites'.
Frank was to lose his leg in a farm accident. A wagon load of wood had a wheel break and turn over pinning his leg beneath. Frank's limb was amputated just below the knee but, undaunted he was fitted with a wooden leg that he wore until he died. He still worked his fields plowing and mowing and would simply tie down the artificial limb as he operated the farm equipment. He and his wife, Ethel, never missed a dance or a Grange meeting.
Local resident, Laura Hawkins Warner, daughter of Velma Brite and Jack Hawkins, was fortunate to be the granddaughter of Frank and Ethel Brite. Each summer she spent most of her vacation with them. Imagine waking up to hear a rooster crowing, a meadowlark's beautiful song and the smell of breakfast in Grandma Ethel's friendly kitchen. The delicious smell of morning was unhampered by any carbon monoxide fumes.
Looking east Laura was able to see the home where her Great Aunt and Uncle, Lucille and Walter Brite lived with their two children, Barbara and Delman. By looking west she could see the beautiful old Brite home place where Dick and Della Brite lived. She could walk to Dick and Della's for a visit and be certain to get a piece of candy from a fancy dish on the dining room table. There was a ritual involved for obtaining the piece of candy. Della, herself, would lift the cover from the dish and Laura would choose the coveted treat.
She was able to help Grandma Ethel with gardening and other farm chores but still had time to ride horses. Her never-to-be-forgotten summers with her grandparents are memories of those long ago days that will live in her heart - undimmed by time.
One day Laura called me and told me that she and her niece, Sherryl Warner Humpert, were browsing in an antique store's back room. Sitting on an obscure table was an exact replica of the famed candy dish of her childhood. A feeling came upon her like no other she had ever felt and memories of those happy days came flooding over her. Sherryl, a loving niece, immediately purchased the dish for her aunt. Sherryl, the daughter of Barbara Brite and Wayne Warner, grew up in Tehachapi as did, Laura which cemented the fondness they had for one another. As I visited Laura one day, the gift of the replica of the famous candy dish rested on a special shelf in her china cabinet.
An example of typical Tehachapi relatives exists between Laura and Sherryl. Actually Sherryl's mother – Barbara Brite – and Laura's mother – Velma – are first cousins. Laura is Barbara's first cousin (once removed), and Sherryl would be Laura's first cousin (twice removed). However, Barbara Brite married Wayne Warner and Laura became Jerome Warner's bride making the two cousins sisters-in-law and making Sherryl Jerome's niece. Complicated? Somewhat, but interesting. Due to a few years age difference, Laura prefers the aunt label.
The famed candy dish!
I grew up in the old James Brite residence on Curry Street. James and Callie had six boys and one girl. The boys were very tall and good looking men. The height of these men demanded a bath tub with more length than the average tub. When we would have guests use our bathroom they would invariably marvel at the lengthy bathtub. It was kind of fun to "take a dip" in it. It remained in the house until after the 1952 earthquake when repairs to the home were needed and the bathroom remodeled.
I have always wondered why the city Dad's decided to cut the ending "s" off of Brites Valley on maps, street signs, etc. It is referred to as Brite Valley these days.
One day Laura and I met in the Post Office and I asked her if someone asks her where her grandparents, Frank and Ethel Brite lived, what does she tell them.
She said, "Brite's Valley, why do you ask?" I told her that people today cut off the "s".
She said, "Well, they're newcomers."
