Escapees September-October 2024

married Margaret Skidmore, the daughter of William Skidmore who owned Julian’s Stonewall Mine. Mike was elected San Diego County Assessor in 1871, and the couple moved to the county seat of San Diego and did not come back to the town which was named in their honor. By 1934, approximately $5 million worth of gold had been mined from the Julian area, equal to about $120 million in today’s money. All About Apples A different lucrative business came when a man named James Madison came west from New York, in search of good land where he could raise horses. He did just that, but he also determined that the weather, climate, water, elevation and soil were just right for the growing of apples. That word also got around like the discov ery of gold, and Madison was joined by several other growers who also established orchards. In very little time, apples built up Julian’s economy and actually became more of a mainstay than the gold mining business. Among some of the early apple varieties were Spencer Valley, Duchess of Oldenburg,

Bell fl owers, Greenings, Baldwins, Bush’s Seedlings and Julian Duchess. Orchards still thrive in the Julian region, some still growing the heritage antique vari eties, but also many modern ones, such as Red Delicious, Golden Delicious, Jonathan, Rome Beauty and Winesap. And from that has come Julian’s newer fame as the place to go not only in apple season, but any time of year to enjoy apple pie, dumplings, donuts, breads, strudel, tarts, turnovers and other treats featuring apples. Eateries abound in Julian that pay homage to the apple! Julian is now also home to many pear orchards and, because pears ripen just before apples, they, too, have their followers among those wanting Julian’s orchard-fresh harvests of pears. Among the varieties are Bartlett, Red Bartlett, D’Anjou, Du Comice andBosc. In 1978, San Diego County designated a “Historic District” for Julian’s old buildings and sites. The district contains the Julian Historical Museum. While most visitors to Julian come for strolls among the historic buildings and gift

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ESCAPEES Magazine September/October 2024