"Ragged Old Flag"
John R. Cash, House of Cash, Inc. ©1974  
 
I walked through a county courthouse square,
On a park bench an old man was sitting there.
 
I said, "Your old courthouse is kinda run down."
He said, "Naw! It'll do for our little town."
 
I said, "Your old flagpole has leaned a little bit,
and that's a ragged old flag you got hanging on it." 
 
He said, "Have a seat," and I sat down.
 "Is this the first time you've been to our little town?"
 
I said, "I think it is." He said, "I don't like to brag,
But we're kinda proud of that ragged old flag. 
 
"You see, we got a little hole in that flag there
when Washington took it across the Delaware.
 
"And it got powder-burned the night Francis Scott Key
sat watching it and writing "Oh, Say Can You See."
 
"And it got a bad rip in New Orleans
with Packingham and Jackson tuggin' at its seams. 
 
"And it almost fell at the Alamo
beside the Texas flag, but she waved on though.
 
"She got cut with a sword at Chancellorsville
and she got cut again at Shiloh Hill.
 
"There was Robert E. Lee, Beauregard and Bragg,
and the south wind blew hard on that ragged old flag. 
 
"On Flanders Field in World War I
she got a big hole from a Bertha gun.
 
"She turned blood red in World War II.
She hung limp and low by the time it was through.
 
"She was in Korea and Vietnam.
 She was sent where she was by her Uncle Sam. 
 
"She waved from our ships upon the briny foam,
and now they've about quit waving her back here at home.
 
"In her own good land here she's been abused...
She's been burned, dishonored, denied, and refused. 
 
"And the government for which she stands
is scandalized throughout the land.
 
"And she's getting threadbare and wearing thin,
but she's in good shape for the shape she's in.
 
"Cause she's been through the fire before
and I believe she can take a whole lot more. 
 
"So, we raise her up every morning, take her down every night.
We don't let her touch the ground and we fold her up right.
 
"On second thought, I do like to brag,
'cause I'm mighty proud of that Ragged Old Flag." 
 
God Bless America!

Demolition of the Lakeside Inn in 1920.

(Inn continued from page 1)

to bring suit for its return. After many long court battles, the County of San Diego regained possession of the park May 11, 1919, and it was again open to the public rather than for the exclusive use of the Inn's patrons.
  While the park and lake -- its principal assets -- were in litigation, the mammoth four-story structure lost its value as a resort hotel, and in February 1920, the Lakeside Inn was torn down after many years of idleness. It has been stated that Gay became so embittered over the loss of the lake and surrounding property that he placed in his will the desire that upon his death the Inn be demolished.
  Following World War I, building materials had soared in price so that the lumber from the Inn brought more cash than the original cost of the building, which was about $50,000.00. Much of the lumber went into homes which were being built at the time. Some of the lumber was used in the McClain's on Woodside Avenue. Also, the Forest Lucas house on Maine Avenue which was removed in 1985 to make way for two business rentals.
  Tom La Madrid, Lakeside Blacksmith, claims to have gotten the prize bargain. He bought 18 heavy doors, 10 feet high, for $1.50 each, which included rollers. They had been used between the dinning room and the lobby when the doors were rolled back, making it one large room. Two of the doors were used on Tom's Blacksmith Shop and were covered with brands of many ranches in the county. The other doors were used for partitions in a shed in back of his blacksmith shop.
  Many thought the Lakeside Inn had burned, but this was not true. In 1906, a two-story servants' quarters in back of the Inn burned as a result of a Halloween prank which was responsible for the unfounded rumor.
  Another historical building whose beauty could now enhance our area is gone. How nice it would have been to hold onto this part of our Lakeside heritage.

  You can view more pictures of the Lakeside Inn on our web site: www.lakesidehistory.org.

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