MAGARIS%SSUVAX@SONOMA.EDU wrote:
Is this the Darius doing the Blacks in Sonoma County project? If so this is Maria, I had talked to you briefly about your project and reccommended talking to Clarice Stasz and checking Adair Heigs History of Petaluma book. I wanted to know if you did and how it went? I am looking at Adair's book right now and I saw a passage that stated that in 1873 there was "a school...for the separate instruction of colored children, presided over by Miss Louisa M. Dixon, also colored." this is on pg 134 of a historical dateline. You may already be done, but i wanted to pass this on to you anyway.
Sincerely,
Maria Magaris
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At 11:35 PM 1/23/98 -0500, you wrote:
Dear dspearma,
You may want to check out my new website, which contains the text of an interview that may be of interest. The URL is:
The subject is a very important new book entitled "Kwanzaa: Black Social Engineering"; 90% history - from Adam to America (with new historical insights), and 10% swiftly achievable African American empowerment plan.
Norman L. McCrea Jr.
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In a message dated 98-02-12 20:19:05 EST, you write:
<< Subj: Beltane Ranch Date: 98-02-12 20:19:05 EST From: dspearma@floyd.santarosa.edu (Darius Spearman) To: mepleasant@aol.com
Ms. Susheel Bibbs,
I was hoping to impose upon you a question regarding the Beltane Ranch. The current owners tell me that many people come to the bed and breakfast asking about Mary Ellen Pleasant. They told me that the ranch once functioned as a bordello. I found this difficult to believe seeing that she purchased the property when she was well into her seventies! Do you know the function of the Beltane Ranch? YES If it was a bordello, why would she have made such an investment at that stage in her life? Did she also own the railroad branch line? NO
DARIUS HERE'S MY ANSWER, WITH PLEASURE:
[MY REPLY IN CAPS IS NOT FOR EMPHASIS; IT'S JUST TO DISTINGUISH MY REPLY FROM YOUR REQUEST.]
BELTANE WAS NEVER A BORDELLO -- NO TWO WAYS ABOUT IT. IT WAS A RANCH AND WEEKEND HAVEN FOR THE BELL FAMILY STARTING IN 1890. IT ACTUALLY HAD ONLY A FEW PERIODIC GUESTS. IT EVEN HAD LIVESTOCK AND ALL SORTS OF PRODUCTS. I HAVE READ ALL OF THE BELTANE DAY BOOKS, LETTERS, AND DIARIES, SO I AM SURE ABOUT THIS. TERESA BELL, THE BELL CHILDREN (WHEN NOT IN BOARDING SCHOOL), AND PLEASANT WENT THERE ON WEEKENDS AND DURING THE HOLIDAYS AND SUMMERS. THEY TOOK THE TRAIN, BUT DIDN'T OWN IT. PLEASANT'S ONLY RECORDED RAIL INVESTMENT WAS IN SWITZERLAND.
THOMAS BELL CAME UP ONLY OCCASIONALLY BEFORE HIS DEATH IN 1892. [THAT EVENT IS RECORDED IN THE BOOKS TOO.] EVENTUALLY, AFTER 1892, TERESA LIVED THERE BECAUSE MARY ELLEN, WHO USUALLY SUPERVISED THE RANCH HANDS THERE, BECAME VERY ILL VERY LONG, VERY OFTEN AFTER 1892 AND HAD TO REMAIN IN TOWN.
STARTING IN ABOUT 1894 PLEASANT STARTED MORGAGING AND SELLING PORTIONS OF BELTANE. THIS REDUCED THE ACREAGE BY ABOUT HALF. FINALLY WHAT WAS LEFT WENT TO ATTORNEY PORTER ASHE. DURING ONE OF HIS PARTIES IN 1896 THE MAIN HOUSE BURNED DOWN. AT ITS PEAK IT WAS ABOUT 1,631 ACRES [ ACCORDING TO MY MEMORY]. FEEL FREE TO SHOW THIS TO ANYONE.
IT'S NOT A MATTER OF GUESSING. I CAN SHOW MY COPIES OF RECORDS OF DAILY ACTIVITIES THERE, OR ANYONE CAN GO TO THE 6TH FLOOR HISTORY CENTER AT THE MAIN LIBRARY AND READ #3, AND #'s 14-17 IN THE "HOLDREDGE" COLLECTION TO SEE THE DAILY ACTIVITIES (EVERY PURCHASE, VISITOR, AND EVENT) RECORDED IN DETAIL THERE BY TERESA BELL, AND ABOUT THREE OTHER PEOPLE.
ANY TIME -- NO IMPOSITION. YOU'RE MORE THAN WELCOME!
Sincerely,
Susheel Bibbs
. . . Once in the late 1860's the San Jose Road place held a rendevous retreat -- still not a bordello but elaborate fetes and rendevous and dances were staged there for very wealthy men at $500 a plate, black tie. Dates were provided, and "things" did happen after dinner. This was Pleasant's attempt to gain social leverage of the sort that her mentor, Mme. Marie LaVeaux, had gained with wealthy men in New Orleans with her similar place, but MEP's was not so successful, and she abandoned the project fairly quickly. This may be the source of the misunderstanding. Or what is below.
The only thing that went on at Beltane that might have been miscontrued overtime as "bordello"-type activity would have been Teresa's affair with a man named Saville who visited her there and actually stayed there for a time after her husband's death. This was part of a scandal in the papers in 1897. Teresa was also rumored to have been flirtatious with a few of the men about the area, but that has never really been substantiated. Anyway -- no bordello there.
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At 02:05 PM 3/22/98 -0500, you wrote:
Hello, I am doing a report on how Blacks were treated in the 1930's and it is due on mar. 27(friday) I would greatly appreciate it, even if you can't help me, to get back to me at:Thank You,
Daniel Brenner 8th grade(13yrs. old)P.S: I think that this historical page is a great idea! I found it very interesting.
