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Volume 46 - No. 21

May 26, 2016

by Friedrich Gomez

Escondido, in San Diego’s North County, is home sweet home to well over 150,000 people who enjoy many of America’s premier tourist attractions in or near Escondido, California. And, surprisingly, Escondido has been the home of some of the most notable people in the country. For example, Tom Anderson (co-founder of My Space), and Sean Salisbury (former ESPN anchorman and former NFL quarterback) who was a graduate of Orange Glen High School, as well as one of history’s pivotal figures, Sam Brannan (California’s first millionaire). In regards to Sam Brannan (1819-1889), he was an undisputed mover-and-shaker in California’s history. After the murder of Mormon church leader, Joseph Smith, in June of 1844, Brannan and other members of the Latter Day Saints (Mormons) moved to northern California.

Brannan lived a most colorful life. He was an American settler, businessman, journalist, and prominent Mormon who founded the California Star newspaper in 1847, the first newspaper in San Francisco, California. It was only the second newspaper in all of California, following The Californian (1846 in Monterey, and re-started later in San Francisco). Also, Brannan is considered the first to publicize the California Gold Rush in 1848 via his newspaper. His personal life declined sharply after his wife divorced him and he was forced to liquidate much of his real estate in order to pay her one-half of his total financial assets. He was never the same man after his divorce; a shell of his former self. After the divorce devastated him – both emotionally and financially – he became a brewer and, ironically, became addicted to his own alcohol. Forsaking San Francisco, the very city he helped develop, Brannan drifted south to San Diego and remarried. He became a permanent resident of Escondido, deciding to drift no more. His life in history books read of an amazing man, a visionary, who went from modest dollars to millionaire in a short span of time. Slowly, his finances and assets dwindled, relegating him to die poor and forgotten in Escondido, his final chosen place of residency.

For many of our readers of The Paper who live in various states and as far away as the eastern seaboard, these California historical insights are of genuine interest (especially for those who frequently vacation here throughout the year).

The historical ledger of prominent people who have lived in Escondido covers a wide spectrum and their variety of importance is most intriguing and surprising. Even famous scientists have called Escondido home, such as Robert Klark Graham (1906-1997), eugenicist, inventor, and founder of the worldfamous Repository for Germinal Choice (Nobel Prize Sperm Bank). Dr. Graham

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conceived and created his controversial Nobel Prize Sperm Bank from his Escondido ranch in the late 1970s. The one-time Escondido resident made millions by developing shatter-proof plastic eyeglass lenses. Also, Dr. Harold F. Blum (1899-1980), gained global prominence as the physiologist who first explored sunlight-induced skin cancer. The much celebrated medical pioneer, Dr. Blum, was born on February 12, 1899, right here in Escondido, California. And if all of this were not enough, Escondido has been the home to a multitude of famous sports figures, such as Eric Weddle (#32 of the San Diego Chargers and currently playing for the Baltimore Ravens with his same number #32). When Weddle was asked to name

his favorite Escondido restaurant he didn’t pause one bit, “Mi Guadalajara in Escondido is one of my family’s favorites.” Wow! Just think, Eric Weddle and I have a lot in common! No, I don’t play professional football! At 126 pounds a strong gust of wind would blow me through the goal posts. The only ‘Eric and Friedrich’ similarity is a much less dramatic one: I also love eating at Mi Guadalajara restaurant in Escondido. For those readers outside of California who make frequent vacation stops here in Escondido, be sure to try Charlie’s Family Restaurant located on 210 N. Ivy Street or you can just call for directions at (760) 738-1545. Owner, Charlie Mitich, is a delicious story all by himself. Born abroad, when he first wished to become an American citizen, Mitich made the journey to Germany and

joined the U.S. Army in 1957. How’s that for ingenuity? After serving a 5year hitch in such varied places as Alaska and Alabama, Mitich received his citizenship and moved his family to Escondido in 1963 and he’s been here ever since! Charlie’s restaurant gets consistently high ratings in Yelp and also in reviews from Trip Advisor, a source many incoming tourists listen to. To our collective good fortune, Charles Mitich left his Macedonian roots and staked claim here where Escondido residents love to eat his American family-style meals. It’s truly an amazing odyssey in life that Mitich started as a fry cook at Escondido’s Wagon Wheel restaurant and, then, two years later bought the restaurant lock stock and barrel! Mitich’s family were the first handful of

‘Home Sweet Home - Escondido’ Continued on Page 2


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