Henry, Ruth Dakin & Familiy

Ruth Dakin took to mothering with gusto. If nothing else, the sheer number of pictures of Ruthalee and Alice (of which only a small fraction (19) appear in this posting) indicates the continuous attention given to their girls; to say nothing of the fact that they bought a camera to take the pictures. Most of the attention was given by Ruth, but Henry was invested significant time in his own way.

Ruthalee with Mama (1919)

Maybe Ruth's natural inclination for nurturing expressed in her interest in nursing, was her preparation for motherhood.

Ruth and Ruthalee (1920)

In any case, her love and dedication to her daughters, Ruthalee and Alice, was evident in many ways to those around her.

Ruth and Ruthalee (1920)

Home Demonstration Agents were part of a nation-wide network of such associations (which were part of the larger Farm Bureau network) that brought resources to rural, particularly farm families for agricurltural as well as home economic education. A Home Demonstration Agent, presumably for Santa Cruz county, was one Anne M'Cormick who had a lot to say about Ruth's mothering skills.

Ruth & Ruthalee on June 13, 1921, Ruthalee's 2nd birthday

Ms. M'Cormick described Ruth as "an unusually intelligent mother" that "gave such thought and care to her two children that they rank among the best specimens of childhood in the county."

Ruthalee on her birthday

It might be helpful to remember the many differences between mothering today and mothering in 1920 as well as their similarities. Both Ruthalee and Alice Irene were born at home, which provided both greater intimacy, greater risk and work for the family and extended family.

Studio picture of Ruthalee (1926)


Studio Picture of Ruthalee (1922)


Ruthalee at Capitola Beach steadied by Papa's hand


Studio Picture of Ruthalee (1922)

Ruthalee (1926)

Alice Irene (1926) ready to take on the world

Ruthalee recalls as one off her most vivid memories from Laurel Glen, one morning climbing up "onto Mama's bed and she lifted the covers to give me my first glimpse of Alice, the tiny little sister who'd been born a few hours before."

Alice Irene on Bess supported by Mama (Ruth) (1924)

Ruth had her hands full. The little girls look demurring, but Ruthalee tells another side of the story: "I was born in June, 1919 and had four years of attention before Alice Irene was born in April, 1923. Poor little thing was always catching cold and was very gentle and delicate. Not that we didn't fight, because I was very used to having whatever there was and she didn't give up easily."

Alice Irene with Papa on Bess (1924)


Gals and Dolls (1926)


Ruthalee (1926)

Does anyone remember having to look straight into the sun when getting your picture taken? (1926)

Evidently, they learned how each could have what they wanted. Over the last 85+ years have they have enjoyed a strong and supportive relationship with each other, only briefly living more than a 30 minutes drive away from the other.

Ruthalee & Alice Irene with ubiquitous cats

Probably Christmas, 1926

And they are still getting along pretty well

In retirement, they enjoy the one relationship that has remained constant through all the intervening years. Once again, Ruthalee and Alice Irene live in the same household, now across the hill in Los Gatos.

Merry Christmas

Henry Dakin dresses up as Santa Claus for Christmas at Laurel Glen

Henry Dakin was known for his dramatic story telling. Ruthalee, his oldest daughter, recalls seeing him pacing back and forth down by the barn memorizing stories later to be told either to the guests during the days when Laurel Glen was a small resort or for neighbors who visited.

One neighbor recounts how Henry slipped out unnoticed during an evening gathering at Laurel Glen and reappeared at the door as a vagabond. He then came in and told a story about his (fictional) situation without being recognized by the guests. He used those same talents to engage his daughters and relatives as Santa Claus during Christmas.

Isaac's Last Days

Ruth, Isaac (left) surveying the farm from the veranda and Henry tending his plants

When Henry and Ruth moved back to the Santa Cruz Mountains, they lived there three years before Ruthalee was born. Though she was only 6 months old when Isaac died, Ruthalee remembers her mother's fear that in Isaac's near blindness he might inadvertently hurt Ruthalee's eyes. Maternal fears about eye injuries seemed to be common through most of the 19th and 20th centuries.

Henry & Ruth Allegra Begin at Laurel Glen

Laurel Glen Main House Surrounded by fruit trees

Ruth Allegra was native to the Santa Cruz Mountains. She was born on the Adams Ranch December, 1889, officially known as Wrights, California. Others identify the ranch as at Skyland. Judging by the Skyland Community Church (est. 1887), which is about 1.1 miles south of San Jose - Soquel Rd and the same road on which the Laurel Glen was found, Ruth was born only a (very long) stones throw from where Henry was living at the time. It turns out that the Chamberlains attended that church while they lived on the Ranch. At the time it was Presbyterian. The Adams brothers were wealthy folks for whom Ruth's father, William Whitney Chamberlain (b1858 Damariscotta, ME), had worked in Fort Bragg when he first came to California from Maine in 1886.

The Adams brothers were friends of Whitney's in college (perhaps nearby Bowdoin College - famous for Whitney's relative Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain). When Whitney was told his ill health would likely be helped by living in California, Whitney took the Adams' advice and came to their Fort Bragg ranch. When they moved to the Santa Cruz Mts., Whitney, his wife and daughters, Alice (b1884) and Edith (b1886), born in Medicino, came with them as their ranch manager. It was at their ranch that Ruth was born. One of the Adams brothers later became the founder of the Common Wealth Club of San Francisco

When Ruth returned to the Santa Cruz Mountains it was like coming home in some ways. Though the rest of her family was back in Pleasanton or otherwise scattered in Northern California, Ruth was back to her roots.

Ruth Allegra holding Alice Irene and Henry trying to get the attention of a somewhat distracted Ruth Elizabeth (c1924)

The household was different than Henry had left it. His mother, Laura Jameson Dakin, had died in 1893 when Henry was 37, and still on the farm. But, Isaac was now 90, had failing eye- sight and would live only another three years. Clearly, Ruth was in charge of the household, while Henry commanded the farm.

Pheobe Hearst & Laurel Glen

Henry met Ruth while he was working for Phoebe Hearst at Hacienda del Pozo. Ruth was at home and Edith (Ruth's sister) was working at the Hearst estate, where Henry was the horticulturalist. Edie and Henry became aquainted and he was invited to the Chamberlain home on that account. There he met Ruth. Ruthalee, Ruth's daughter, remembers the story, "Since Papa and Aunt Edie were fairly opinionated, things eventually began to move in Mama's direction. Mama may have been home because she had become ill and had to leave nursing school."

Phoebe Hearst was famous for being William Randolph Hearst's mother, but had wealth and position in her own right: she was the first woman regent of UC Berekely and one of its most generous benefactors

Not long after they met, Henry and Ruth were married in December of 1916. Henry was 53 and Ruth was 27. Ruth was often sick and, as Ruthalee recalls, "Papa said he married her to make her well." They moved to Laurel Glen to take over management of the Fruit Farm. By this time Isaac (Henry's father) was old and well advanced in years. Henry took over to support his father as well as his new bride.

The old San Jose/Soquel Road that passed by Laurel Glen Fruit Farm

The east side of the main house of Laurel Glen, Henry in the wagon

The root cellar used to grow mushrooms and store perishable goods

The grape lattice next to the main house

Henry taking a nap on the veranda of the main house, surrounded by plants he had collected from Mexico and elsewhere

Ruthalee speculates that moving to the relatively isolated Laurel Glen Farm may have spared Ruth's life from the flu epidemic of 1919. Ironically, it was that epidemic that claimed the life of Phoebe Hearst.