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

Fences

THE upper figures show a gatepost and the upright post of the gate itself, and illustrates the old-fashioned iron hinge idea. Both members, as can be seen by the dotted lines, ran right through the posts in drill holes.

The latching device matched the hinges, and was also made by the blacksmith from 3/4" round iron bars. It was a good, sensible, durable type of latch.

ON THE back of the original pen and ink drawing by the artist, in faint pencil, are the words "Road Gate on Joseph Dolson's Farm. Set into trunk of old poplar." It is presumed that this is the same family connection as the J. M. Dolson who became a member of the Peel Memorial Hospital in 1928, as mentioned in Dr. Bull's Peel County historical series, in the volume entitled From Medicine Man to Medical Man, and the Miss Florence Dolson whose name appears in the same book as having served overseas in the First World War. It is an odd drawing in its way, yet there are few of us who have spent time in the country who have not seen its counterpart, poplar being a fast-growing tree.

THESE three illustrations are fairly self-explanatory, and serve to show ingenious pasture gateways that the lowing herd could not navigate successfully. The common turnstile was simple and sturdy, whilst the fence gap turning parallel to the main fence, and with its narrowness, was effective, other than for small calves.

The wheel turnstile with the tire chains drooping therefrom was distinctly more so, but something will have to replace those tire chains, as they are no longer in use.