I am excited to announce the publication of my new book “Animal Tales (Some a little fishy).” They are humorous stories mainly taken from early Long Beach newspapers written in hopes of attracting tourists to Long Beach. I edited and combined many of the stories and am guilty of embellishing some a little more. I also couldn’t resist adding some stories about my own animals (and husband, who dreams of cats!). Here’s a sample:
Long Beach had a new industry in 1913, one not located in the celebrated harbor district but on the south slope of Signal Hill where the well-tended carnation gardens of Japanese farmers blossomed. It was the Alpine Goat Dairy, owned and operated by Edwin W. Pritchett.
Exhausted by the stress of the banking business, Pritchett decided his health was more important than the world of finance. Fresh air, exercise and spending more time out of doors seemed the answer. He had always loved the gentle nature of goats and decided opening a goat dairy would allow him more time with the intelligent, social creatures and also utilize his business skills.
By May 1916, he had a herd of forty goats and a profitable milk route. The demand for his product was so great he had a waiting list of customers. When asked the secret to his success, Pritchett answered “quality.”
Pritchett explained that in the goat milk business, the quality of milk was very much dependent upon a goat’s diet. The old story of goats eating everything from ropes to tin cans was not true. They really wouldn’t eat anything the least bit tainted or dirty because their sense of smell was very keen. They would, however, consume clean refuse from the garden, such as beets, cabbage, lettuce, and most varieties of weeds. But if they were expected to produce a good flow of milk, they had to have quality hay and eat three times a day.
Perhaps it was Pritchett’s business acumen that led to a “special notice” in the Daily Telegram. The alleged testimonial from a new mother stated the Alpine Dairy had saved her baby’s life. Her ten-week-old child was frail, and not expected to live; doctors persuaded her to use goat’s milk. After 10 days of drinking Pritchett’s Toggenburg goat milk, the child had grown stronger. She believed the Swiss Toggenburg breed, first imported into the United States in 1904, was responsible. Smaller than other dairy breeds, the Toggenburg had little fear of other animals and made good pets and milkers.
Not only were Pitchett’s Toggenburg goats in the news, but in September 1918 the local press reported on one remarkable goat—one that produced not only milk but gasoline! You’ll find the rest of this story in “Animal Tales (Some a little fishy).”
Additional excerpts from “Animal Tales (Some a little fishy)” can be found on my website www.claudineburnettbooks.com, as well as the Table of Contents. Please note that the illustrations from the book shown on my website are in color, but in the book they are black and white. The book retails for $16.99. E-book $7.99. Besides Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Author House (the publisher) the book will soon be available at the Historical Society of Long Beach.
