Alpine resident Carlette Anderson’s book “Our Alpine” is a story in a story. Not only the interesting historical facts that the book contains, but the journey that Anderson had in writing the book.
Originally from Brooklyn, New York, Anderson lived in Florida, Germany, El Salvador, and San Diego before making Alpine her home in 1993.
“When we bought our property here and we started clearing it out, we found remnants of an old house and a dam that had collapsed,” she said. “I went to the Alpine Historical Society and introduced myself and became a member. A couple of the members came over to look at the site. They told me that pioneers would build their houses right along the creek. On my property we have an artesian well. This dam they built was right where the well is so they could have water for their livestock and for their family. Then I became very active in the Society. I became the secretary, then I became the president
When Anderson was president of the Society, she spoke with one of its founders, Bea LaForce, author of “History Of A Mountain Settlement.”
“She was like the matriarch of Alpine,” said Anderson. “She came to Alpine in the 1940s. One day, she said to me that we needed someone to write about the history of Alpine for children. A few years later, I was talking to Carol Morrison, the president of the Alpine Historical Society. She said to me that when the third-grade students’ study about the history of Alpine, we really need to have a book for the children. I finally got the message. That was in 2007. It took me two years to complete my first book title ‘My Alpine.’”
After writing the book, Anderson said she was approached by many residents who told her what historical facts she did not put in the book, so she started a file. Ten years later, she wrote “Our Alpine.”
“It contains everything that I have in my first book with everything I had left out and then everything that happened in the next 10 years in Alpine,” she said. “When I wrote the book, I wrote it for the children, but the adults loved it too. It is easy to read, lots of pictures, large fonts, and a glossary in the back of the book, so it became a book for the entire family. It is for kids to read, parents to read, and grandparents.”
Anderson said the book contains much information about Alpine’s different organizations, clubs, and people.
“I did not know anything about Alpine. I am from Brooklyn. When I came to Alpine it was like I had already died and went to heaven. This place to me is amazing,” she said. “I had no idea there was so much history in Alpine until I started researching it. The Alpine Historical Society allowed me to use photos and to go into its archives. Without their generosity, this book would not have been possible. To thank them, I donate a portion of the sales of the book to them.”
On the cover of “Our Alpine” is a photograph of a gorilla perched in a tree.
“When I was president of the Society, I received a call from a longtime resident Brain Mc- Call,” said Anderson. “He said he had this gorilla he wanted to donate to the Historical Society. The gorilla that was perched in a tree on top of the old Log Cabin Cafe. When they tore down the cafe, he and his brother took the gorilla and hid it in their barn. He brought the gorilla over to the museum. He arranged to have it placed up in one of our Eucalyptus trees. While putting it in the tree, there were looky-loos, and the traffic was backed up on both sides of Tavern Road. And to make matters worse, there was a minor traffic accident. After a few years, bees got into one of the legs of the gorilla, so he was taken down, cleaned up, and is now in the museum barn and used for photo ops. The gorilla’s name is Rorie, made here in Alpine at the Fiberglass Menagerie by Jim and Millie Rorie. They also made a large white fiberglass horse that sat on top of the Dallas Cowboy’s stadium which stayed there for years. They made many large fiberglass animals that went all over the U.S.”
Anderson said there are some interesting historical bites in the book.
“We had an airport in Alpine. It was not an official airport. It was out in Wrights Field. A few men in town owned planes and they set it up as an airfield. They tried to make it into a real airport but that never happened,” she said. “We had a racetrack in Alpine for cars. It was on property west of Circle K. Did you know that Alpine is divided into 10 areas? There is Alpine, Victoria, Harbison Canyon, Alpine Heights, Glen Oaks, The Willows, Japatul, Rancho Palo Verde, Palo Verde Ranch, and Viejas. Cattle drives came through Alpine about twice a year on the way to the feed market in San Diego. Charlie Howell and William Sansoucie told me all the history of the youth center which eventually became the Alpine Community Center.”
Anderson said in writing the book, she met many longtime residents and listened to their stories about Alpine.
“The first chapter is about the history of the Kumeyaay Indians and Cheryl Hinton was the museum director and curator at the Barona Cultural Center & Museum,” she said. “She allowed me to take photos in the museum, use whatever I wanted, and even read my draft of the chapter of the Kumeyaay Indians.”
“Our Alpine” is available at Ace Hardware, Postal Annex. Junktion 101, Alpine Community Center, and the Alpine Historical Society, or by texting Anderson at (619) 905-0898.
