What In The World Is Grape Day?

Today is Grape Day. Are you aware of that? If you are familiar with Escondido, you have probably heard of Grape Day Park. Well, once upon a time in a little village about thirty minutes north of San Diego, Grape Day was a grand affair. Did I say thirty minutes north? In those days, it was more of an all day trip. Of course, you could take the train north from San Diego, but that was pretty expensive. You could take the daily stage there, the fare all the way to Escondido was about $2.00.

San Diego Escondido Stage Line

Old Wm. Wolfskill ranch Escondido

Grape day became a big deal. It was a day of parades, parties, picnics, and all the grapes you could eat. The first Grape Day was September 9, 1905, and in the beginning it really wasn't about grapes at all...at least not directly. But in some sense the story of that first Grape Day is a story of politics, weather, economics, agriculture, and social history.

There is a lot of talk these days about global warming----no, scratch that---climate change---no, drought--no flooding---no freezing---no it's too darn hot. Tell a farmer a hundred years ago about climate change, and he would say "darn right" this gall dern weather can't make up its mind what it wants to do. For instance, there was a horrible drought in 1912, a horrendous and devastatingly destructive freeze in 1913 and again in 1918. It was too hot in 1914. In 1916 there were floods of such gargantuan proportion that whole communities were washed away, and some towns never ever recovered.

Otay dam rupturing 1916

Hard freeze of 1918. Ruined fruit litters the ground.

Escondido: The great snowfall of 1949

The driest period on record in the history of California happened not with the drought we have been in over the last five years, but rather for about thirty years in the mid 1500's through the early 1600's when Cabrillo and Sir Francis Drake were sailing off our coast. Tree rings show that for thirty years straight there were years of 2-3 inches of precipitation. A drought like that today in a California of 32,000,000 people would be the absolute end of California as we have come to know it. In a fascinating geology class I had with Dr. Pat Abbot at San Diego State, I learned that San Diego waterfront property at one time was at the base on the cliffs of Del Cerro. How is that for going to the beach. California has known cycles of terrible drought and very wet years for thousands of years, it is nothing new. The earth is ever changing.

So much for natural history. Let's move on to economics. The economy of the United States has known many boom and bust cycles. Depressions have occurred many times, not just the famous great depression of the 1930's. Part of our local economic cycle was driven by land speculation, as well as the up's and down's of the normal business cycle.

In the 1870's there were about 250 people in the Escondido area. In the late 1870's there was a boom in California agriculture, by the 1880's the agriculture boom was in full force. The navel orange and other citrus became big business in California. The citrus orchard mansion became a common sight in the California landscape. Prior to the citrus economic miracle of the 1880's the agricultural lands in California were dry farmed. Grapes, olives, beans, and grains were the mainstays for California farmers.

Grape Harvest in Escondido valley

The 1880's brought a new gold rush, the golden orange of oranges, and land of perfect weather that could be developed and sold. In 1888, agricultural fever came to Escondido. Escondido was incorporated on October 8th, 1888. About 500 people lived in the valley.

If Escondido was going to be successful as a farming community they needed a reliable source of water. In 1891, the Escondido Irrigation District was formed and bonds in the amount of $350,000 were issued; they were sold to Henry Putnam of San Diego for the construction of the Escondido reservoir, which was later named Lake Wohlford. As often occurred, an economic down turn took place, actually a pretty severe depression. The people of Escondido were unable to pay their irrigation taxes.

 Escondido reservoir 

Escondido canal from Lake Wohlford

After a period of negotiation, a compromise was worked out. The land would be released from indebtedness if the residents of Escondido payed out 43 cents on the dollar. The burning of the irrigation bonds to cancel the debt was scheduled for September 9, 1905 to be celebrated jointly with admission day. California was admitted to the union on September 9, 1850 and was celebrated yearly as a big holiday.

On September 9, a crowd of three thousand people showed up at the Lime St. school grounds, the site of present day Grape Day Park.The burning of the irrigation bonds was a joyful celebration. When the bonds went up in flames, the crowd cheered, men threw their hats in the air, and women waved their hankies. Judge J.N. Turrentine gave a rousing speech which was well received and loudly applauded, and a splendid time was had by all.

Grape Day 1913

After a hiatus of three years, some folks recalled how much fun they had the day they burned the irrigation bonds. "Gosh, that was such a fun day of joyous celebration. We should do that again." At the time, grapes were the most significant agricultural product of the Escondido valley. "Let's celebrate grapes." W.L.Ramey of Escondido Lumber, Hay, and Grain and Sig Steiner a local store owner and civic leader organized the first Grape Day for September 9, 1908 and payed for wagons full of grapes, so people could eat all the grapes they desired.

W.L.Ramey at Escondido Lumber

Sig Steiner and his store in Escondido

Until the mid 1950's Grape day was a really big deal every year. Now on to our social history part of our story. In 1905, what did you do for fun? Go to the mall? Go to the movies? Miniature golf? Watch television? Listen to music on your Ipod? Go on line to check your Facebook and read the news? Let's face it, if there was a celebration with a parade and free food, there is no way you are going to miss it. This was likely one of the most fun days you would have all year. Everyone went. Not just folks in Escondido, people from all over San Diego county went to Grape Day. Special trains would run, caravans of people would make the drive to Escondido for a fantastic day of celebrating.

Grape Day 2nd and Broadway 1920

Grape Day 1915

San Pasqual Dairy float 1920

Grape Day 1930's

By the mid 1950's other recreational opportunities were available. You could listen to the radio, go to the movies, watch television. Getting around was no longer a challenge. We entered the age of the automobile and the independence and freedom the car brought to our lives. Grape Day just wasn't a big deal anymore, and the celebrations ceased.

In recent years, interest in Grape Day has been revived. There is a Grape Day 5K run and other festivities, but there will never be celebrations like the good old days, those Grape Days, in Escondido of another place and time.