Happy Birthday Lilian

When a headstone is misleading

June 12 will mark the anniversary of Lilian Rice’s birth. As this special date comes around each year it not only represents a marker of time but also a source of frustration for me. It has been widely noted that she was born in 1888. Many local historians and authors continue to inaccurately state her year of birth even though I have written extensively on this unfortunate error and set the record straight in my book. On page 19 there is a legal copy of her birth certificate as evidence. What has added weight to the inaccurate birth year is Lilian Rice’s headstone, located at La Vista Memorial Park Cemetery in National City, which shows a year of 1888. When I inquired at the cemetery about the oddity of this unfortunate error and how it could be so, I discovered that when the Rice family headstones were vandalized several years ago, well-meaning volunteers replaced them to make each uniform in size and type and free of graffiti. Unfortunately it was at this point that the error in the year of Rice’s birth was made. It is a goal of mine to replace the headstone with one that is etched with the Rice’s actual year of birth. If anyone is interested in donating to a fund to pay for the necessary costs involved, please let me know. For the record Lilian J. Rice was born in June 12, 1889 and died December 22, 1938. She was 49 years old.

“I found real joy at Rancho Santa Fe. Every environment here calls for simplicity and beauty: the gorgeous natural landscapes, the gently broken topography, the nearby mountains. No one with a sense of fitness, it seems to me, could violate these natural factors by creating anything that lacked simplicity in line, and form, and color,” wrote Lilian Rice in an article that was reprinted in the Modern Clubwoman, but originally written for the Rancho Santa Fe Progress in 1928.

Here we are 84 years later and Lilian Rice remains in the shadows of time, yet her contributions to the beauty that is still part of both Rancho Santa Fe’s natural and built environment are as evident today as there were in the 1920s and 30s. However, my personal mission to uphold Lilian Rice’s rightful place in our local history, and also nationally as an important figure in women’s history, continues.

The Inn at Rancho Santa Fe starts a new chapter in its storied past

Ink and graphite rendering of La Morada by Sara Motamedi, in homage to Lilian Rice's original drawing.

The sale of the Inn at Rancho Santa Fe is now a done deal. After being in the Royce family since 1958, the charming gateway to the Ranch has new owners: JMI Reality, headed up by John Moores who is also the majority owner of the San Diego Padres baseball team. According to a recent article in the Rancho Santa Fe Review the restoration planned for The Inn is expected to cost about $12 million. Delawie Interiors, the San Diego design firm in existence for over a half a century, and MKA Inc. Architecture and Planning of San Diego have been engaged for the restoration.

The San Diego County Fair is back in town

Raquel Welch with my book on the history of the Del Mar Fairgrounds

The annual San Diego County Fair is once again in full swing. This annual showcase of county-wide talent in music, dance, agricultural, floriculture, arts, crafts...frankly the list goes on... is also a major source of entertainment and employment, which has its roots in the very first San Diego County Fair which was held in National City in1880. The book that I co-authored with my husband, B. Paul Welch, and the 22nd District Agricultural Association, traces the county fair from these roots through the 1950s. A fact you may not know about the Del Mar Fairgrounds is that the complex was designed and built by Sam Hamill and his brother, Joe. Sam Hamill was a protégé of Lilian Rice, who used his drafting services for the work she was doing in the design and development of Rancho Santa Fe in the early 1920s. Another fact is that Raquel Welch was crowned the Fairest of the Fair beauty queen in 1958, and appears on my book cover.

A special gift from Bill Krisel

Left is Alexander Krisel, right is Mr. Bishop, agent for the Santa Fe Land Improvement Company

I thought my birthday had come around again when I received a package in the mail from William Krisel, AIA, an architect famed for his mid-century work completed in Palm Springs and Palm Desert, and later for the Coronado Shores luxury highrises in Coronado. According to Bill it was Lilian Rice’s words of encouragement that led him to a very successful and productive career as an architect. Bill has shared with me, in some detail, how Lilian Rice was the chosen architect to build his parents' home in Rancho Santa Fe in 1934. At the time Bill’s father, Alexander, was the US Consul in Shanghai, China and was also the agent for distribution of United Artists films (at that time owned by Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks Sr.)

Lilian Rice's 1935 colored rendering of the proposed Krisel residence in Rancho Santa Fe

In Bill’s package to me were the back and forth letters from Rice to the Krisels as plans for the home were taking shape, a sketch that Bill had made when he was just ten years old that illustrated some of the amendments to the design that his mother wanted to make, along with a copy of the blue print, the landscape architecture design by Paul Avery, and Rice’s 35 page specification book that notes every tiny detail of the proposed residence and garage. The spec document is a remarkable piece of history that is priceless to me, illustrative not only of Rice’s thorough attention to detail, but also the brands of such fixtures as sinks, bathtubs, heaters and tile. Lilian must have burnt the midnight oil drafting up this lengthy document by hand on a typewriter. Included in the package is Lilian's hand-rendered drawing of the proposed design for the stables. Unfortunately the home and the ancillary buildings were not constructed. Mrs. Krisel was not happy with the school options available for her three boys who were teenagers, and so the family opted to live in Beverly Hills. The irony is that by 1936, a year later, a new school district was formed: The San Dieguito Union High School District. A brand new, state-of-the-art highschool was designed which would have probably served the Krisel boys admirably. Of note is that the school was a WPA project built by none other than Lilian J. Rice.

Almost spring

Spring is almost here and as some of you may know March is designated as Women’s History month. To celebrate, and in recognition of Lilian Rice, I am dedicating this month’s blog to her memory. Please take a moment to remember a woman who influenced your life in a positive way. We each create history everyday, but most of us are not remembered in the public consciousness. However, it does not diminish the impact one person may make. March is also the month of my birthday, and my mother's, so two more reasons to celebrate.

Historic Homes

Bowly and Ethel Le Huray

January and February were busy with presentations and two site visits of historic homes in Rancho Santa Fe. One of the homes is newly known to me and I am proud and honored to be conducting and writing a historic report for the current owner of the 1923 Lilian Rice designed residence located on Paseo Delicias. The home is hugely significant as a local historic resource as it was the first residence to be built by Lilian Rice outside of the Civic Center of Rancho Santa Fe. It began as a small two bedroomed cottage of wood frame and stucco. Typical of Rice it is simply designed with a blend of Hispanic and Pueblo elements. The first owner was Bowly Le Huray, an east coast retiree who owned a printing business in New York. He could well be the “poster boy” for the land company who was the developer of Rancho Santa Fe. Through some investigative work I traced his family line to his grandson who lives in Washington State and was thrilled to get a photograph of the home as it appeared in 1926 with Bowly and his wife Ethel in front of the home.

Two naval officers looking at the rear of the McDonald home, 1945

The rear of the Belle Claggett home, 1945

The second home tour was two historic homes in the Ranch as contenders for the Institute of Classical Architecture and Art’s annual home tour. We looked at the McDonald residence which is on the National Register of Historic Places, and the Belle Claggett house, which is a Lilian Rice design. The decision has not yet been made if the homes made the cut, but we enjoyed the guided tours of each special home. The McDonald home has a unique history as it was utilized as a convalescent home for ambulatory wounded Naval officers during World War II.

The Inn at Rancho Santa Fe

The "Living Room" of the Inn at Rancho Santa Fe

The sale of The Inn at Rancho Santa Fe to JMI Realty has been made public knowledge and the word is that the group want to honor the original Lilian Rice design. I have been invited to give a presentation to the staff and employees at the Inn, to educate, and I hope entertain them, about the important role that Lilian Rice played, not only in the community of Rancho Santa Fe, but also in the architectural fabric of Southern California. Lilian made her home in one of the cottages that is now part of the Inn’s rooms. Known now as Wisteria Cottage it used to be Lilian’s escape from the responsibilities of her role as resident supervisory architect. Her roommate and office draftsman, Olive Chadeayne, in a recorded interview with historian Harriet Rochlin, said that Lilian played the piano in that tiny cottage to relieve work stress. It must have been quite a sight and sound.

Wisteria Cottage, formerly Lilian Rice's home.

A New Year With New Opportunities

  Lilian Rice, Overlooked
Happy New Year to all my devoted friends of Lilian J. Rice. I appreciate your continued interest in our much loved, but little known, local master architect. Unfortunately once again Lilian Rice has been overlooked and did not make it into the Hall of Fame at the Women's Museum of California. But this has not diminished my resolve to spread the important history that Lilian Rice represents when we look back at the development of California's built environment and at Rice's place as a pioneer lady architect who was principal in her own firm. I have hit the ground running already this year with a presentation given to the Carlsbad chapter of the PEO Sisterhood, a philanthropic organization of women which was founded on January 21, 1869. It's mission is "Women Helping Women Reach for the Stars". The ladies were a wonderful engaged audience and fell in love with Lilian Rice who represents everything in a woman that they respect and admire. Looking ahead I was invited to do a future Lilian Rice presentation for the Pasadena chapter.

An unexpected visit

Just before Christmas I met with Cherry Osborne-Brown, a British lady who discovered me and my book on Rice on the internet. I received a surprise email from her in December : "I found your book to my great delight and absolutely loved it.  I am currently doing a creative writing course at the Open University in the UK and wanted to write about Lilian in one of the pieces I will be doing for my course. Could I interview you for my work?" she wrote. You may imagine that I was thrilled that someone from so far away wanted to find out more about me and my passion for Ms. Rice. We met in the "living room" of the Inn at Rancho Santa Fe, talked each others' socks off and were treated to a pleasant pot of tea and cookies by manager Kerman Beriker.

Big changes at the Inn at Rancho Santa Fe

   

Have you heard the news that the Inn at Rancho Santa Fe has been sold? The new owner is a firm headed up by John Moores, owner of the Padres Baseball team. A UT article noted that John Kratzer, president and CEO of JMI, stated, "There's tremendous opportunity to renovate the existing hotel and preserve its historic character, and it's a big community asset. It's been well maintained by the owners, but they haven't done major upgrades to most of the rooms in many, many years. It's just ready for a major renovation to provide the kind of finishes and qualities in the rooms that that market expects."

Movie stars like Douglas Fairbanks Sr., Mary Pickford, Bing Crosby, Pauline Neff, Joseph Schenck, Fred Astaire, Victor Mature, David Niven, sports stars, corporate moguls and royalty have all enjoyed the hospitality at the Inn, once known as La Morada--the house of many rooms. The Inn was the first building designed by Lilian Rice, in 1922, as the gateway to the Civic Center in Rancho Santa Fe. A lesser known historic fact is that architect, Frank Lloyd Wright was married at La Morada in 1928, to his beloved Olgivanna, a Russian ballerina. The wedding ceremony took place at midnight on August 25, officiated by Rev. McKnight who brought along his daughter, Evelyn, who was able to share with me her own first-hand account of the wedding ceremony.

Looking Ahead
I was approached by Drexel Patterson, principal of Island Architects in La Jolla, to facilitate agreements with several historic homeowners in Rancho Santa Fe to open up their homes as part of a prestigious home tour during the weekend of September 28/29. So far we have two homes that will be a part of the educational architectural tour organized by the nationally recognized Institute of Classical Architecture and Arts. It is an honor and a privilege to be asked to act as tour guide and local expert on Lilian Rice's architectural work in Rancho Santa Fe.

Happy Holiday Season

Looking Back
It has been a busy year for the Lilian J. Rice project with many events attended and presentations shared. It has been gratifying for me to spread the word about the important yet largely forgotten lady architect who helped define a regional architectural style for Southern California. Audiences have truly appreciated my bringing Ms. Rice into the light from the shadows of history and little by little her fan base is growing.
   

La Valenciana Apartments, Rancho Santa Fe. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Social Media
If you are a user of social media and you have a facebook account please visit the page that I have created Fans of Lilian J. Rice, and “like” it. I post regular comments and images and other related material that help retell the story of Lilian Rice and the role women have played in our history. You will find a link to Elsa Savilla's recent episode of San Diego's Historic Places that featured your's truly talking about Rancho Santa Fe and who else...Lilian J. Rice.

Casablanca Rowhouse, Rancho Santa Fe

Preservation
People often ask me why it is so important to me to keep Lilian Rice’s memory alive. From day one of beginning this commitment my mission was an educational one. Lilian Rice represents all women and by looking back at her accomplishments in the 1920s and 30s, when there were few career woman, we may learn about her determination and be inspired by her drive and talent.
   
Mostly though I liken Rice’s work, her buildings, to works of art, and with this concept in mind how sad that so much of her work has fallen to the wrecking ball. By learning about Lilian Rice and those she influenced, we may have a greater appreciation for her buildings, and historic architecture in general.
 

Award-Winning Book
It’s not too late to order a signed, dedicated copy of my award-winning book on Lilian Rice, for a Holiday gift. I have an inventory of first editions of “Lilian J. Rice: Architect of Rancho Santa Fe, California” available. I do accept VISA and Mastercard or check. Each copy with shipping, handling and tax is $58.50. The book is a hard-bound, beautifully published coffee-table book, which makes for a lovely gift for someone who enjoys architecture, learning about our local history, or appreciates the biography of our very own San Diego born lady architect. Email me for more information at dianewelch@dianewelch.com

A page from Rice's UC Berkeley scrapbook

A Precious Gift
This past year also brought a very precious gift. Two sisters–whose grandmother, Louella Mordhorst, purchased the Rice’s National City home in 1940, along with all its contents–agreed to pass along Lilian Rice’s scrapbook that documented her last two years at U C Berkeley. It had been in the care of Elyzabeth, the elder of the sisters, for decades. I was delighted when she wished for me to become the new steward of this scrapbook, with its pages richly filled with all manner of treasures lovingly saved by Lilian, which give us a window into her world at university in 1909 and 1910, the year of her graduation. I have begun to photograph each page as a digital record and will begin sharing those online.

Trailblazer Nominee
It’s not too late to place your application to enter Lilian Rice’s name as a worthy inductee into the Women’s Museum of California’s hall of fame, as a trailblazer. Follow the link to download an application and mail off before the end of December. Lilian J. Rice is so deserving of this recognition; her place in the Hall of Fame is long overdue. I'd like to thank all of you for your continued support in celebrating Lilian J. Rice. My sincerest wishes to you and your loved ones for a wonderful Holiday Season, and a Happy New Year.

Fall back

Hello friends, the summer has passed and with an early morning cool snap and coastal fog we are experiencing our subtle change of season here in Solana Beach, CA. Fall has arrived. Looking back to the summer, two weeks were spent with my family in England. Juliana, came along, so it was a lovely mother and daughter trip, a relaxed opportunity to be with grandma, aunts, and cousins for her, and for me a time to personally reconnect with my mother and sisters, nieces and nephews.
 
I saw the environs with fresh eyes and began to look closely at the architecture of coastal east Essex where my mother and sister now live. The resort town of Clacton-On-Sea was developed during the Victorian era as the working classes became wage earners and were able to afford the luxury of a holiday by the sea. The large seafront hotels, bed and breakfasts and restaurants still carry the distinctive Victorian style edifices, with just enough restrained embellishment to add design interest to what otherwise would be dull exteriors. One sole original Tudor home with its timbered exterior, leaded windows, noble chimneys and wavy brick work, made me wonder how it survived the commercial development of the seaside town.

A Tudor home on Marine Parade West in Clacton-on-Sea

A trip into nearby Frinton-On-Sea, an exclusive upscale community just North of Holland-On-Sea where my mother lives, offered an opportunity to see plenty of period revival over-sized homes on manicured lots, each one individually designed, a luxury in any community in England. No tract homes here.

A typical home in Frinton-on-Sea

Then an unforgettable a day trip to Dedham, in Suffolk, where the famed English Romantic fine artist, John Constable went to school, was like a journey in a time machine. The narrow high street, lined with structures dating back to the 1600s, quaintly preserved the ambiance of a 17th century village, and sent my imagination back to simpler times long before Constable painted his iconic agrarian landscapes.

A 17th Century Inn on the High Street in Dedham

We also spent a wonderful day in London, seeing the familiar sights, and landmarks. On display at the National Portrait Gallery was the exhibit, Glamour of the Gods, a collection of photographs of stars of the screen, several from the Golden Age of Hollywood, the 1920s through the 1940s. One of the photographers was the famed George Hurrell. Before I left for my trip to the UK, I had the privilege to interview Hurrell’s daughter, Daphne Hurrell Cortese. That article was published in VAV! Magazine, today. If you get chance please read it, Daphne’s recollections are priceless.

Posters for the exhibit at the National Portrait Gallery in London.

Trafalgar Square with its famed Nelson's Column, adjacent to The National Portrait Gallery

On return to Solana Beach, August soon slipped into September with kids heading back to school and the fall schedule got underway. I was honored to be asked by producer, Elsa Sevilla, host of KPBS’s television show, San Diego’s Historic Places, to be interviewed for an episode that spotlighted Rancho Santa Fe and the Silvas/Osuna adobe. We met in an ambiant courtyard in The Inn at Rancho Santa Fe where we were filmed chatting about Lilian J. Rice’s role as the designer and resident architect of what is simply known as the Ranch by residents in the affluent 92067 zipcode. The episode aired in September, but as it comes available online, I will send a link in a future newsletter. Of note is that The Inn at Rancho Santa Fe is up for sale. It is interesting to me to note that some of the stars that George Hurrell shot with his 8 x 10 view camera, walked those same terracotta tiled floors in the Inn where Elsa and I met. I do hope that the aging “guest house” finds a sensitive owner.

Elsa Sevilla and Your's Truly at the Inn at Rancho Santa Fe

Giving back
Nearby Encinitas celebrated its 25th year of cityhood on October 1. A huge city gathering was organized at the San Dieguito Heritage Museum where almost 1,000 people passed through the grounds. Booths included Ecke Ranch floriculture, local merchants, food vendors, non-profits and press. I was there signing my books on Encinitas and my award-winning monograph on Lilian J. Rice, a percentage of sales has been donated back to the museum. It was gratifying to have so many people stop by, say hello, and even buy books! October 1 was a busy day for me. Before I headed for the museum’s celebration, I was part of an author panel at the San Diego Book Festival held this year at the Encinitas Library. We spoke to an interested and engaged audience about our passion for local history, sharing our stories about why we do what we do and why we love it! On the panel with me were Richard Carrico, author of “Strangers in a Stolen Land–Indians of San Diego county from Prehistory to the New Deal,” and David Lewis, author of a soon-to-be-published book on the history of Julian. It was fun to compare notes and share our enthusiasm for our respective passions. 

Looking ahead

On October 19, Paul and I will give our video documentary presentation on the history of the Del Mar Fairgrounds to the Rancho Santa Fe Senior Center. On November 16, I will address ladies from the American Association of University Women at the Encinitas Library, presenting “Lilian J. Rice, Architect of Rancho Santa Fe, California.” Remember if you belong to a group who may have an interest in a presentation on Lilian Rice, or the Del Mar Fairgrounds, please contact me. I’m often available and love to share our local history with anyone who has an interest.
Until next time...Cheers!

Summer Is Here

Hello friends, here is July's monthly WORD-- "WORD" being my acronym for Welch On Rice Diary. It will also serve as August's posting as I will be spending two weeks of that month in Holland-on-Sea, in Essex, England, visiting with my mom and sisters. Juliana, my 17 year old daughter, will accompany me, so it will be a lovely multi-generational get-together. We've got our fingers crossed for good weather, although Juliana said that she's looking forward to feeling the rain on her face!


Del Mar Fairgrounds

Opening Day, Oct 8, 1936 of the San Diego County Fair in Del Mar.

There is no sign of rain here in San Diego with summer in full swing. As locals we know that summer has arrived when the San Diego County Fair has its run. This year, despite the lagging economy, the fair saw record attendance as it celebrated it's 75th anniversary year. When the fair opened in 1936, it was a fall event. Opening Day was October 8, and the weather was not kind. Torrential rains turned the unpaved grounds to mud, and it is remembered that these fall storms reduced the fair's founder, Jim Franks, to tears. Most people do not know of Lilian Rice's indirect influence on the architectural design of the fairgrounds complex, which was designed by Sam and Joe Hamill. It was Ms. Rice who paved the way for Sam's career as an architect when she used her influence to get him accepted into the architectural department at U.C. Berkeley, in his junior year. Hamill had dropped out of UCLA in 1924 and at the time had no direction. Through Lilian's friendship with Bessie Sprague, the University's Dean of Women, Sam was accepted into the program, succeeded in earning his degree at Cal in 1927, and later went on to be a noted San Diego based architect who received the commission to design the Del Mar Fairgrounds. Later projects included the San Diego County Administration Building and the Civic Center Concourse, downtown San Diego.

Sam Hamill's original sketch of the fairgrounds complex.

L_R Sam and his brother Joe Hamill study the plans for the fairgrounds and racetrack.

Del Mar Racetrack

Summer in San Diego also means the Del Mar Races. This year opening day was July 20, kicking off the 72nd summer season. Funding for completion of the racetrack was provided by Bing Crosby, a world famed entertainer during the 1940s and 50s. He was also the founder of the Del Mar Turf Club, which brought thoroughbred racing to the track. Crosby hired Lilian Rice to restore the old Osuna hacienda in Rancho Santa Fe in 1934. Crosby had bought the property through real estate agent, Reginald Cloltfelter, whose son, Tom, and grandsons, Cutter and Chaco, continue the family business. Lilian added stables, a racetrack, tennis courts and a home for Crosby's father who was also his manager.

Bing Crosby at his RSF Ranch with his racehorse, Sally's Booter.

Giving Back

Yesterday Paul and I gave a presentation at the Senior Facility, La Vida Del Mar, where we showed our documentary, "The History of the Del mar Fairgrounds" which we produced to coincide with the release of our Arcadia book in 2008. We enjoyed a warm welcome, and those who came to meet us and learn of this important local history were engaged and asked great questions.

One lady in the audience was thrilled to see Raquel Tejada (now Welch) on the book cover.

On Monday, July 11, I took part in Celebrity Sonnets, a fundraising event for the San DiegoShakespeare Society. Not quite sure what to expect, I nevertheless threw caution to the wind, and prepared my own versions of Sonnet 27 and Sonnet 130. The former I rewrote in teen talk, and titled it, Sleepless in San Diego, the latter I rewrote from a female perspective and turned it into rap. There I stood on stage at the Schulman Auditorium at Dove Library in my yellow satin suit, white dinner plate hat--trimmed in swan's down-- with my pearls and specs on, doing rap. It was deliberately incongruent  and the audience clapped along and truly saw the humor in my version of the sonnet.

Your's truly performing at the Shakespeare Society Celebrity Sonnets.

Looking Ahead


I just got word that the board of ZLAC Rowing Club approved member, Molly McClain, to put forward Lilian J. Rice's application for consideration to be an honored addition to the Women's Hall of Fame, at the Women's Museum of California, right here in San Diego. The application has been submitted for the trailblazer category. If she is accepted it will be a most fitting tribute to Lilian Rice who had so many firsts here in Southern California. She was the first licensed lady architect, the first female to gain entry into the San Diego Chapter of the AIA, the first lady architect to win a WPA institutional building project with her design for the San Dieguito Union High School, the first lady architect to serve as supervisory residential architect for a master-planned community, Rancho Santa Fe, the first  lady school board trustee for the RSF newly formed school district and the first lady member of a three member art jury in RSF. She also influenced many upcoming architects, as we saw with Sam Hamill, to go on and become great architects in their own right. If Lilian Rice wins admission into the Hall of Fame, we should also honor her in recognizing her birthday, June 12th as the official Lilian J. Rice day. Friends, please help by showing your support for this proposal. Email me a comment or place a post here in support of this suggestion. It is my mission to share the history of Lilian Rice so that others may be inspired by her unique story.

June, not so gloomy

Your's truly and husband, Paul, at the San Diego Book Awards

. Photo by Leslie Hoffman

Hello friends, here is May and June's monthly WORD combined, WORD being my acronym for Welch On Rice Diary. May was busy with several events
and June is just as lively.

In San Diego we call the month of June: June Gloom. This somewhat amusing, yet negative description, is due to the marine layer that descends on the coastal regions of San Diego County and settles in like a gray misty blanket. Despite the lack of azure skies this month, June for me is very bright thanks to the San Diego Book Awards. Last night I attended the 17th annual SDBA event after I learned that my book, Lilian J. Rice: Architect of Rancho Santa Fe, California" [Schiffer, 2010] was a finalist. So imagine my joy when I was announced the winner. I was thrilled and so happy to see Lilian Rice getting the recognition she so rightly deserves. No one was happier than I, and the fact that it happened just hours before Lilian Rice's birthday anniversary was icing on the birthday cake. It was a very happy evening.

[Lilian J. Rice, June 12, 1889- Dec 22, 1938]

ZLAC Rowing Club

In May I was a guest at the ZLAC Rowing Club. I presented my DVD “Lilian J. Rice: Sincerely Yours” to a packed house on location at the ZLAC Rowing Club in Pacific Beach. My excitement was almost too much to bear when I met Robert Hatch, the son of George Chandler Hatch, a famed architect, graduate of MIT, and friend of architect, Bill Krisel. Hatch worked in Lilian Rice's Rancho Santa Fe office while the San Dieguito Union High School was being designed. I'm so looking forward to further conversations with Bob about his father and his role in San Diego architecture. I presented to the ZLAC Rowing Club members this lovely signed floor plan drafted and reproduced from a Lilian Rice original plan, by Monique Parsons and Christopher Real who were both present. I also presented digital copies of reel to reel tape recordings of early ZLAC presidents. These were copied by the talented Ed Balian

Molly McClain, associate professor at USD, gave my book a stellar review in the San Diego History Center's “The Journal of San Diego”. The link to the article will be online next quarter. Molly is also a ZLAC member and very active in supporting its history. I have been invited to meet Crew X11 this week for a dinner get-together and look forward to it.

In The News.

The Del Mar Times and Solana Beach Sun published news that my book, “Lilian J. Rice: Architect of Rancho Santa Fe, California” was up for an award in the biography category. The editor tells me a statement that the book actually won the award will be published at the end of this week.

Events

On April 18, I presented to the Rancho Santa Fe Rotary weekly meeting at the Inn at Rancho Santa Fe. It was a lovely luncheon event in a fitting setting-- the Lilian Rice designed guest house--formerly La Morada (house of many rooms).

On Friday, April 29, I attended Schiffer Publishing's author meet and greet in Los Angeles and attended the world famed Los Angeles Book Festival. It was really special to meet my publisher face to face. Pete is a lovely guy who is continuing the family tradition of publishing gorgeous, quality books.

Diane at the Schiffer Booth at the LA Book Festival

Giving back

On April 17, the Childhelp event was an unqualified success. I donated part of my proceeds to the charity and had a fun time meeting other authors which included the famed presenter of Inside Edition, Jim Moret. I learned a lot from his retelling of his personal desperation during his family's bad economic times when he felt that he was worth more dead than alive. Thankfully his story had a happy ending!

In May I attended the author book fair at the Solana Beach Library, and also gave a presentation on my Del Mar Fairgrounds book for the San Dieguito Newcomers Club in Carlsbad. It was a lively group and they were most welcoming.



What's ahead?

July 1, noon- 3:30 pm I will be at the Del Mar Fairgrounds doing a book signing for my book on the history of the Del Mar Fairgrounds [Arcadia, 2008].

July 25 at 2:3- pm I will give my dvd documentary presentation on the history of the Del Mar Fairgrounds to La Vida Del Mar in Solana Beach.

August 5 at 10 am I will give the same dvd documentary presentation to the Rancho Santa Fe Senior Center

The Rancho Santa Fe Senior Center

Thanks for stopping by friends of LJR.

As always I welcome your comments and ideas.

Warmly,

Diane