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Cambria
Embraced (and purchased) by locals, this concise history is lauded as the only authentic history of Cambria available. Ninety-six pages long and rich with historical photos and a full-color watercolor cover, Cambria is a must for anyone planning a visit to this unique California town.
96 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2003
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
December 14, 2020
Wowww can you say “white washed”?! Author doesn’t even bother to mention the tribal names of the original native inhabitants, refers to their slavey in the mission system as “free labor”, and totally ignores the treatment of the Chinese in this town (fyi they weren’t even allowed to be buried within the cemetery so they were placed outside the original fence, and that area has been recycled in modern times- oh yes new graves are put in there!). No mention either of discriminatory housing laws that were not repealed till a disturbingly late date. Overall a fairly boring history of a boring town; don’t get me wrong I love living here (with 90% of my lousy State salary going to renting a non-insulated studio), but I didn’t really get much out of this book.
May 14, 2018
Very informational.
October 13, 2016
I read this book after reading (and skimming) Where the Highway Ends, a 1974 history that's more ambitious. See my review at https://www.amazon.com/dp/0965877671/
I enjoyed reading Baker's book, especially the post-1974 history -- which includes the convoluted story of what is now the Fiscalini Ranch Preserve, a 430 acre park that separates Cambria's East and West Villages, and protects over a mile of spectacular coastline. The Fiscalinis were pioneer Italian Swiss dairymen who moved into the Cambria region in the 1880s, and acquired a number of dairy farms, including what they called the Town Ranch. The Fiscalinis donated small plots of the Town Ranch for sites for the public library, Veterans Memorial and a museum. By the 1970s, the Fiscalini heirs, facing an inheritance tax of over $1 million, sought a buyer, preferably a non-profit. None came forth, and in 1979 they sold the property to a developer -- who went bankrupt in 1989 after failing to win approval of their ambitious development plans. The property was then resold for $3 million to wealthy investors in the early 1990s. Their development plans were also rejected, and in 2000 they sold the property to the American Land Conservancy.
Baker writes well and has done her homework. Recommended for readers with an interest in Cambria's history. 3.4 stars. I read the paper edition.
I enjoyed reading Baker's book, especially the post-1974 history -- which includes the convoluted story of what is now the Fiscalini Ranch Preserve, a 430 acre park that separates Cambria's East and West Villages, and protects over a mile of spectacular coastline. The Fiscalinis were pioneer Italian Swiss dairymen who moved into the Cambria region in the 1880s, and acquired a number of dairy farms, including what they called the Town Ranch. The Fiscalinis donated small plots of the Town Ranch for sites for the public library, Veterans Memorial and a museum. By the 1970s, the Fiscalini heirs, facing an inheritance tax of over $1 million, sought a buyer, preferably a non-profit. None came forth, and in 1979 they sold the property to a developer -- who went bankrupt in 1989 after failing to win approval of their ambitious development plans. The property was then resold for $3 million to wealthy investors in the early 1990s. Their development plans were also rejected, and in 2000 they sold the property to the American Land Conservancy.
Baker writes well and has done her homework. Recommended for readers with an interest in Cambria's history. 3.4 stars. I read the paper edition.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews