Sr. Anna Mary Meyer - 2001

This is only as "early" as 1950 (on). I knew Tom La Madrid rather well as my blacksmith and as a friend.  He worked on many of the old Butterfield Stage Coaches to restore them to perfection and had them in many parades including the Historical Days parades in San Diego. He also restored the old covered wagons (for the same purpose) and did beautiful wrought iron work for many people who wanted it for decoration or purposeful gateways, etc.  Tom and his wife lived on the corner behind what was the Lakeside Inn (it is a shop of some sort now). Tom had a son by the name of Fred, who is now also deceased.  Tom was a hard constant worker who couldn't stand laziness -- and would easily say so!

He used to come in to the Frontier Shop in El Cajon (where I worked at one time) and purchase a western shirt with the five snaps at the cuffs and an 18 1/2" size collar.  He could never close the shirt collar and when he closed his fist the snaps would just pop open due to the muscles in his wrists from doing his blacksmith work.  Tom was a very real presence and person in Lakeside in those days and was well known to most of the horse people in the area.

1912
Wallace Phillips
& Ralph Gibbs

Blacksmith Shop
Scene from the
silent film made
in Lakeside,
"Ten Million Dollars."

Blacksmith Shop - 1900
Mr. Beamer on the left

Tom La Madrid - 1950s

From an obituary dated April, 1916.

DONAHOO

Mrs. Alice Donahoo, wife of Thomas H. Donahoo of Lakeside, Cal., died suddenly at her home last Friday, March 31, 1916 . . . Mr. and Mrs. Donahoo were among the first settlers in La Mesa, living here until about three years ago, when they moved to Lakeside.  Mr. Donahoo built and operated the blacksmith now owned by Geo. L. Williams and through their large acquaintance he and his wife made a host of friends in this community.
   The deceased is survived by . . . three daughters, Mrs. C. K. Couns [Kouns] of Lakeside, Mrs. J. B. Davis and Mrs. T. A. Baugher of La mesa . . .