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bajaking76
Nomad
Posts: 143
Registered: 1-12-2011
Location: San Diego, CA
Member Is Offline
Mood: If Baja calls, I am home.
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San Borja Circa 1940
With encouragement from DK....
"San Borja Baja California Norte"
Some of the families that live on the mission grounds circa 1930’s
• Zilverio and Monica Romero.
o Children: Guadalupe Romero (My Sisters godmother).
• Teodoro and Amelia Romero (Amelia McCliff) (My mother’s godparents).
Vaillavicencio Family Circa 1940’s
• Fidel and Trinidad Villavicencio (Trinidad Rajiola)
• Carlos Villavicencio Rajiola (Fidel and Trinidad’s son) Married Gregoria Medina Poblano.
o Children from Carlos and Gregoria: Ana (My Mom), Magdalena, Leonor, Francisca, Chencha, Trinidad, Carlos, Marcos and Juan Villavicenvio.
My mom lived in San Borja from 1939 to 1949. The Villavicencio’s original lived in a ranch in the San Miguel Mountain Range where my Great Grandpa
Fidel and Grandpa Carlos built from adobe and rock. The ruins of that site are still visible (getting intel on location). You can see a picture of my
Great Grandfather Fidel in the BOLA History Museum, standing at the front door of Mission San Bora circa 1940’s. (Thanks to DK, you can also find
Fidel in 'Land Where Time Stands Still' by Max Miller c 1943)
An interesting note, according to my mom, Fidel was well acquainted with an American he called “El Gringon” (assuming now that this was Max Miller)
because of his height. The American would fly by and drop of food and supplies for the people of the village. On one in perticular he dropped a Book
(green cover) to be delivered to Fidel and written by “El Gringon”. The book according to my mom was written in English and contained many things
related to the Baja at that time. This must have been in the mid 40’s as my mom was a young girl at the time.
History, such a wonderful thing…I am still looking, will keep you updated.
BajaKing 
\"That\'s my thing, that\'s what I do\"
\"Gene Police: You!! Out Of The Pool!\"
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shari
Select Nomad
Posts: 13033
Registered: 3-10-2006
Location: bahia asuncion, baja sur
Member Is Offline
Mood: there is no reality except the one contained within us "Herman Hesse"
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Oh my word!!!! THIS is the start of something big...something exciting here on Nomad...I so look forward to more of this story and
photographs...thanks David for your assistance in making this happen!!! and a huge gracias to you bajaking for sharing your story with us.
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mcfez
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8678
Registered: 12-2-2009
Location: aka BN yankeeirishman
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Is this the mission?
Old people are like the old cars, made of some tough stuff. May show a little rust, but good as gold on the inside.
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bajaking76
Nomad
Posts: 143
Registered: 1-12-2011
Location: San Diego, CA
Member Is Offline
Mood: If Baja calls, I am home.
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| Quote: | Originally posted by mcfez
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Yes that is San Borja, the piture looks to be taken from the northwest.
\"That\'s my thing, that\'s what I do\"
\"Gene Police: You!! Out Of The Pool!\"
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64521
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Remember VivaBaja.com/bajamissions for all mission info and pics.
I will scan the photo of bajaking76's great grandfather and add it here...
Until then here is some info and a photo of San Borja from my web page:
San Francisco Borja de Adac 1762-1818
Founded by the Jesuits just six years before they were removed from New Spain, San Borja has extensive adobe ruins behind the Dominican built stone
church . A metal awning protects some of adobe walls, believed to be of Franciscan origin (1768-1773).
The stone church at San Borja was built by the Dominicans until the construction stopped in 1801. The planned bell tower is the only missing part.
GPS: 28°44'40.4" 113°45'14.4"
From http://vivabaja.com/bedman2 the following of the inside:
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64521
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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San Borja in 1941
The following photos from the book 'Land Where Time Stands Still' by Max Miller, published in 1943...
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bajaking76
Nomad
Posts: 143
Registered: 1-12-2011
Location: San Diego, CA
Member Is Offline
Mood: If Baja calls, I am home.
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| Quote: | Originally posted by David K
The following photos from the book 'Land Where Time Stands Still' by Max Miller, published in 1943...
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Thank you David, I just bought the book on Amazon...I also downloaded the copy to PDF. See what momma has to say 
\"That\'s my thing, that\'s what I do\"
\"Gene Police: You!! Out Of The Pool!\"
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bufeo
Senior Nomad
Posts: 793
Registered: 11-16-2003
Location: Santa Fe New Mexico
Member Is Offline
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| Quote: | Originally posted by bajaking76... . History, such a wonderful thing…I am still looking, will keep you updated.
BajaKing |
It is, indeed, and thank you for posting this information.
Allen R
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djh
Senior Nomad
Posts: 936
Registered: 1-2-2005
Location: Earth mostly. Loreto, N. ID, Big Island
Member Is Offline
Mood: Mellow fellow, plays a yellow cello...
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A question....
Was the Mission San Borja ever used as a movie set ??
I seem to remember a western film - maybe a Sergio Leone or Brian De Palma (Music by Ennio Morricone - my favorite) that had an old mission set that
looks sooooo much like the Mission San Borja. (Not "The Mission" film, I realize, but . . . a much earlier production. . .)
Perhaps it was a spaghetti western (IT.), but the photos above sure resonate a stored movie image for me....
I'll bet one of you know for sure !
Thx.
djh
Its all just stuff and some numbers.
A day spent sailing isn\'t deducted from one\'s life.
Peace, Love, and Music
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Salsa
Nomad
Posts: 168
Registered: 2-4-2003
Member Is Offline
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The book 'Land Where Time Stands Still' is still available.
http://www.abebooks.com/servlet/SearchResults?bi=0&bx=of...
Don
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captkw
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3850
Registered: 10-19-2010
Location: el charro b.c.s.
Member Is Offline
Mood: new dog/missing the old 1
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THANKS,AWSOME POST,,,mas,mas,mas !!!!!
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64521
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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He posted this above: "Thank you David, I just bought the book on Amazon...I also downloaded the copy to PDF. See what momma has to say"
One of the Baja travel story classics... right as WWII was breaking around the world and the trip was just before Pearl Harbor. Reading how the
Mexicans jailed all the Germans they could round up was interesting.
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bajalera
Super Nomad
Posts: 1875
Registered: 10-15-2003
Location: Santa Maria CA
Member Is Offline
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Very interesting. Thanks, King and DK.
\"Very few things happen at the right time, and the rest never happen at all. The conscientious historian will correct these defects.\" -
Mark Twain
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64521
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Isn't the Internet great for expanding Baja knowledge and history!
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OCEANUS
Nomad
Posts: 139
Registered: 10-11-2008
Location: Dana Point; L.A. Bay
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My daughter, who is in 4th grade, was tasked with doing a missions project for school this year. We were planning on traveling to LA Bay over
thanksgiving, and asked her teacher if she could do her report on San Borja instead of the usual selections within CA. She said yes.
We ventured out (through what is still the most vegetated desert land I have ever seen) to San Borja, and like always were greeted by the family.
Genaro was walking around another couple, so his brother stepped in to give us a tour. My wife translated as my daughter took notes and photos.
When we returned, my daughter compiled it all into a 70+ slide show to present to her class. Her teacher then asked if she would present to the other
4th grade classes as well. All were impressed with the realitively pristine condition of San Borja and were very interested in hearing about the
version of history that we longer get in our school textbooks.
There is something about San Borja, like a lot of Baja, that is magical. All we can do is continue to return for more.
[Edited on 1-21-2011 by OCEANUS]
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BajaBlanca
Select Nomad
Posts: 13165
Registered: 10-28-2008
Location: La Bocana, BCS
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Oceanus - I love that you made history so real for your daughter and maybe sparked the interest of so many youngsters to visit this amazing part of
Mexico.
I love this thread .... keep it going on and on BajaKing.
One of our best friends here in La Bocana is "Pancho" Villavicencio, who obviously is related somehow somewhere. One of the neatest people we have had
the pleasure of meeting.
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bajalera
Super Nomad
Posts: 1875
Registered: 10-15-2003
Location: Santa Maria CA
Member Is Offline
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Hey King, maybe you can trace your ancestry back to the Jose Rosas Villavicencio who picked up a copper nodule near Santa Rosario, a discovery that
eventually resulted in the Boleo copper mines.
\"Very few things happen at the right time, and the rest never happen at all. The conscientious historian will correct these defects.\" -
Mark Twain
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Paulina
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3810
Registered: 8-31-2002
Location: BCN
Member Is Offline
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| Quote: | Originally posted by OCEANUS
My daughter, who is in 4th grade, was tasked with doing a missions project for school this year. We were planning on traveling to LA Bay over
thanksgiving, and asked her teacher if she could do her report on San Borja instead of the usual selections within CA. She said yes.
We ventured out (through what is still the most vegetated desert land I have ever seen) to San Borja, and like always were greeted by the family.
Genaro was walking around another couple, so his brother stepped in to give us a tour. My wife translated as my daughter took notes and photos.
When we returned, my daughter compiled it all into a 70+ slide show to present to her class. Her teacher then asked if she would present to the other
4th grade classes as well. All were impressed with the realitively pristine condition of San Borja and were very interested in hearing about the
version of history that we longer get in our school textbooks.
There is something about San Borja, like a lot of Baja, that is magical. All we can do is continue to return for more.
[Edited on 1-21-2011 by OCEANUS] |
Oceanus,
I wish that my son's teacher was as open minded as your daughter's teacher was. My son's 4th grade teacher would not budge from the curriculum. She
told us that it had to be a "California" mission, thus San Borja didn't qualify in her book. It's too bad that some teachers close the door to
learning.
Bajaking 76, this board is so much richer for your contributions. Thank you.
P<*)))>{
\"Well behaved women rarely make history.\" Laurel Thatcher Ulrich
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64521
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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| Quote: | Originally posted by OCEANUS
My daughter, who is in 4th grade, was tasked with doing a missions project for school this year. We were planning on traveling to LA Bay over
thanksgiving, and asked her teacher if she could do her report on San Borja instead of the usual selections within CA. She said yes.
We ventured out (through what is still the most vegetated desert land I have ever seen) to San Borja, and like always were greeted by the family.
Genaro was walking around another couple, so his brother stepped in to give us a tour. My wife translated as my daughter took notes and photos.
When we returned, my daughter compiled it all into a 70+ slide show to present to her class. Her teacher then asked if she would present to the other
4th grade classes as well. All were impressed with the realitively pristine condition of San Borja and were very interested in hearing about the
version of history that we longer get in our school textbooks.
There is something about San Borja, like a lot of Baja, that is magical. All we can do is continue to return for more.
[Edited on 1-21-2011 by OCEANUS] |
Wow... I am so proud of you (and your daughter)!!!
My kids did the mission projects as well, but their ignorant teachers said this is about California (USA) missions... So the lie that San Diego was
the first (and not #19) California mission is more important to keep pushing.
When I was in high school (1970's) I was able to talk my California History teacher into letting me do a report on the Baja (California's first)
missions... Got an A- !!
Genaro Gerardo and his family are just the greatest!
Did you know Genaro made it onto a special edition magazine cover?
Jan. 2001
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Phil C
Senior Nomad
Posts: 564
Registered: 3-27-2004
Location: N. San Diego County/ Loreto Centro/Lopez Mateos
Member Is Offline
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I love this stuff! Realy makes the board exciting to visit.
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