Another Place and Time: Voices from the Carrisa Plains

by Craig Deutsche

In the early- and mid-twentieth century the Carrisa Plains was a thriving agricultural community in central California. Today it holds only relics of this abandoned machinery, empty corrals, decaying homesteads, and a scattering of retired farmers and ranchers. Fascinated by these remnants, the author, along with a colleague, undertook an oral history to document the way of life which had only recently vanished. Another Place and Time describes the search for these people, many of whom no longer live on the Plains, and this is the thread into which their stories fit. The persons interviewed were fourth generation landowners, seasonal hired hands, cattlemen, sheepmen, and the women who worked with them raising families and holding the community together. This book is the story of pioneer life in an isolated rural valley. These people were stubborn, and they were adaptable. They were trusting, and they were generous. They made extraordinary efforts to take care of their children, and they were loyal to friends. Some kept to themselves. Some quarreled with neighbors. Some drank, some partied, and some were drifters. Many marriages lasted a lifetime, and others found the work and isolation on the Plains more than their marriage could tolerate. They all, all worked hard, and many of them truly loved the work they did and the place where they lived. Today few people would accept the circumstances that were the norm in those earlier years. Although they had few of the conveniences that we consider essential, still they did not live empty lives. By the end of the book, it is the people, not the history that matters. Including many passages quoted directly from interview transcripts, along with maps of the valley, and a number of family trees, this book does, indeed, take you to Another Place and Time.

306 pages, Paperback

First published February 12, 2013

Reviews

[Sara Balmuth · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Carrisa/Carrizo Plain is an area of southern California that typically gets only between 6 and 8 inches of rain every year (between 2013 and 2014, it received only 2 inches of rain). Yet, from the late 19th until the late 20th century, it was home to a few dozen farmers and ranchers who raised their crop and stock without any irrigation whatsoever. So what was life like in this remote place in this notoriously difficult occupation? This is precisely what author and amateur historian Craig Deutsche sought to discover.

A wonderful piece of local history, Another Place and Time chronicles the author's efforts to track down personal stories of farming life during the early 20th century in one of the harshest and most remote corners of southern California. The book is written in a highly accessible, deeply engaging manner. With a great deal of sensitivity, understanding,and often humor, Deutsche communicates the complexities of farm life as well as the amazing lure of the land. In the course of this book, you meet some of the most colorful characters on the Carrizo Plain and hear some of the most incredible stories, often in the tellers' own words. In addition to being informative, it is truly a lot of fun, and if you ever make it to the Carrizo/Carissa Plains themselves, this book will add a fabulous new dimension to your experience.