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Electrical Apparatus, Jul 2004 by Hoff, Joseph S

A glimpse into the past

Ever wondered what life was like in Southern California during its early days? Pull back the veil behind today's urban sprawl, golden beaches, and celluloid stars, and you'll find the region's early history filled with contentiousness.

The Mexican government ruled the Southwest with an oppressive hand. Settlers in the West dealt with many of the same injustices faced on the East Coast by the colonists under the power of the Crown decades before.

As a result, the settlers wanted to break the strangle hold and win their independence. Pio Pico, the last governor of Mexican California, lost the territory to the settlers in 1846.

Lynda Butek, facilities manager at Brithinee Electric in Colton, Calif., knows the history. She serves as a docent at the Workman and Temple Family Homestead Museum, where she illuminates the region's past for guests of the museum.

A member of the living history team, Butek takes the part of Mabel Popovich, one of the cooks at La Casa Nueva-an 11,000-square-foot, 26-room Spanish Colonial Revival mansion noted for its architectural craftsmanship, especially stained glass, ceramic tile, wrought iron, and carved wood.

"We do a lot of talking about what life was like in the 1920's and during Prohibition," explained Butek. "We feel that it helps our guests understand what life was like in the 1920's."

According to legend, Mabel Popovich is from Missouri and married a man from Russia. Popovich cooks on a wood stove. In all, fifteen people participate in living history along with Butek's Mabel Popovich character.

Butek isn't new to being a docent. In fact, she and her husband have always enjoyed visiting museums, old houses, and old house museums. She first volunteered at the Pio Pico State Historic Park for five years, serving from 1975 to 1980. Then, Butek moved 30 miles from the Pico Mansion to Rancho Cucamonga, where she served as a docent in the oldest fired brick house in San Bernardino County. It is part of the San Bernardino County Museum System.

The Casa, also known as the Rains House, was built by John Rains and his wife, Dona Merced, in I860. It was saved from the wrecking ball in 1970. Butek has given tours there for 20 years and has served as president of the Rancho Cucamonga Historical Society, of which she is an honorary life member.

"The period I am most interested in is the mid to late 1800's," said Butek.

In the mid 1800's, most of the people in the region lived on ranchos, which were made possible by the secularization of the missions because of the Mexican government's opposition to the strength of the Catholic church. The area surrounding the missions subsequently became available. Residents simply needed to apply to the governor of Mexico for a land grant.

Butek has served as a docent at the Workman and Temple Family Homestead Museum since 2000. The Homestead consists of an adobe house built in 1840 and remodeled by its original owner, William Workman, in the 1870's and La Casa Nueva built in 1928 by Mr. Workman's grandson, Walter P. Temple, who struck oil.

"It [being a docent] is something that I enjoy," concludes Butek.

Given her knack for transporting people back in time, the museum's visitors learn quite a bit about the history of Southern California, as well.- JH