OUT OF THE BOX

High Sierra Country Store

Porch time, products, advice and legends

By LL copyrighted

Fundays Calendar

june 14-Flag Day-display patriotism properly

june 15-Father's Day

any day-Anything unattempted remains impossible

every night-Look up above you and get starry-eyed

Land of the Uncommon

By Lois Laine

Boarding House Accommodations

We don't have anything around that accurately imitates the boarding house of the 1880s. If we did, we'd see a place across the street from the General Mercantile Store labeled "boarding house." There would be a large home with many windows upstairs, and on the main floor we'd be seated at a large dining table. Our meals would be served "family style," with gravy bowls and fresh bread. Promptness to dinner was a must in those days.

Outside in the stable, your horses were grained and watered, and you paid for the feed on your guest bill. Everyone used an outhouse or "privy" for their bathroom needs, and everyone huddled around the wood cook stove in the winter. Boarding house accommodations were simple, single room retreats from the hustle of mining towns. Prices were in keeping with the times. Lodging was 25-cents a night, and your meals were another quarter. Any drinking (liquor) was about six cents, but wine was spendy at a quarter. Horses stayed for FREE, but oats would cost you a cent.

Most of Bodie's boarding houses were cramped affairs, with largely miner guests. "Clean" boarding houses had nothing to do with running ladies of the night in upstairs rooms. However, prostitutes were frequently at home in their "boarding houses."

There were boarding houses in Bodie during the Great Depression, and Annie Miller operated the well-known Green Street house. Some times her home was booked full of men who enjoyed the meals and the companionship at Mrs. Miller's. The chance to have a hearty homemade meal the main feature at the lodging.

Fales Hot Springs, about 14 miles north of Bridgeport, was once a traveler's resting spot, and Diana Fales was an exceptional cook. Her home cooked chicken and fresh fruit made her meals memorable for all. For about 50 cents an adult or 25 cents a child, the family could dine, enjoy a dip in the hot springs, and dance the night away in the main house.

Contemporary boarding houses feature pools and kitchenettes, with fish cleaning services available. Check for the innkeepers in the building with the neon sign saying, "Vacancy."

Don't be an ED!

Scene: A back porch in Old Mammoth. A man is hand feeding a raccoon, Hansel and Gretel Style, one handful of dog food at a time. The raccoon is reacting badly to the "End of the Food Trail."

ED: Lil, this thing is hissing at me. LOOK!

Lil: I don't need to look ED. I can hear it.

ED: Wow, they are as big as small dogs.

Lil: (Coming out on the deck) ED, that raccoon is ticked offff. Don't you know anything. Raccoons can carry rabies. Leave it be, ED.

DON'T FEED WILD ANIMALS. WE CALL THEM "WILD" FOR A REASON. DON'T BE AN ED!

*Disclaimer-Not all EDs are like this.