RAMONA AND ROUND ABOUT. A History of San Diego County's Little Known Back Country. [SIgned Copy]

RAMONA AND ROUND ABOUT — SECOND EDITION — was first written in 1989 when the area was less populated and somewhat different. The book won the Institute of History Award from the San Diego Historical Society in 1990 for its professional account of the history up until that time. The new second edition contains all the original material, but goes on to tell about important changes that have happened since. For example, it describes how the avocado industry has drastically declined, while grapes and winemaking have recently established Ramona Valley as a new AVA (American Viticultural Area).     All the background of Ramona’s roots are told, from early Indian occupation into the Mission era. The town was born out of the Californio rancho period, when a merchant sea captain married the daughter of a Mexican Don and was granted a large land grant that later became the town of Ramona.         The book chronicles the early American period, with its water and boundary disputes and land speculators, as Ramona was established during the California land boom of the 1880s. Several chapters examine specific aspects of Ramona’s heritage, such as the one-room schoolhouse, early routes and transportation, law and order, gemstone and gold mining, and the small town press. Eagle Peak Publishing Company’s original book was described by one reviewer as “Fascinating reading — this book is the definitive work on Ramona,” and the second edition promises this and more. It is one of the books in the author’s ‘Backcountry Historical Trilogy,’ which also includes “OFF THE MAIN ROAD — REVISITED” and “JULIAN CITY AND CUYAMACA COUNTRY.”

Charles LeMenager was, by profession, a land-use and planning consultant. Now, in semi-retirement, he spends more time with his avocations of researching and writing and community service. He is a former executive with Fluor Corporation. Local and state government has also occupied much of his time, though mainly as a volunteer. He is a former mayor and councilman in the city of Santa Rosa, California, and was state director of housing and community development under Governor Ronald Reagan. Locally, he has served on the Ramona Municipal Water District board and the San Diego Country Estates (SDCE) Association board. He came to Ramona in 1970 to help master plan and develop the new community of SDCE. He liked it so well, it’s been his home ever since. Other books by Mr. LeMenager include: OFF THE MAIN ROAD – Revisited A History of the Rancho Cañada de San Vicente y Mesa del Padre Baron ISBN 0-9611102-3-6, ISBN-13: 978-1502739261 Revisited Edition, Copyright May 2013 Eagle Peak Publishing Company Also available on Amazon.com JULIAN CITY AND CUYAMACA COUNTRY A History and Guide to the Past and Present Copyright 1992, ISBN 0-911102-4-4 Seventh Printing 2014 Eagle Peak Publishing Company Also available on Amazon.com FLYING AFTER 50 You’re Not Too Old to Start Copyright 1995, ISBN 0-8138-2881-3 Iowa State University Press, Ames, Iowa 50014