The Golden State: Where & How to Live, Secure, Visit, Enjoy and Thrive in California

Fences

The lower picture combines three species of fencing in one run of fence and seems particularly odd. To the left is shown a section of garden wire fence. Next to it appears a short stretch of picket fence, and to the right a horizontal board fence with two-inch flat stakes nailing the boards on the outside of the fence. We have no explanation for this unusual admixture, as the original drawing with the usual careful notations by the artist is missing in this one, lone instance.

WHAT a lovely example is this white picket fence and wooden post, surmounted by the well proportioned ball cap. It breathes of the Victorian era, and of elegant and truly gracious living, of lovely ladies in crinolines, and dainty, brightly hued silk sunshade parasols, of dancing, foam-flecked horses, and surreys with the fringe on top, and laughter, and gentility, and courage and a kind of beauty and easy elegance.

ANOTHER, but less ornate picket fence, posts, and gate leading into the front garden. The pickets were nailed to scantlings which rested on top of the posts set on the inner side of the fence. Along the line of the scantlings, in front of the pickets, a horizontal wooden slat was nailed, whilst a moulded base board was set in front against the bottom of the pickets. The gate pickets cleared the ground, and were nailed to horizontal upper and lower bars, with a diagonal bar bracing the whole. A sturdy enough fence and one which the boys and girls were forever climbing over and getting their clothes caught on in devastating fashion. Remember?