Estancia “La California”
Early Photos, ca.1890

The first image (top left, LC-01) is the litho drawn by John Schreiber in 1878, three years after the house was built. Black & white copies of it abound in the family.

The second photo (top center, LC-02) was likely taken, per trees (all planted), between 1882 and 1888. It is the only photo we have come across in which shows a large entrance through the north-south wing. Schreiber’s litho and more recent photos (c. 1900) show no such entrance. The north-south wing was built first and it is where the family lived during the construction of the Main House. Today, 2010, the north-south wing is all that remains of the Main House.

We believe that one or both the third and fourth photos (LC-03 & LC-04) of the Main House were taken by Mr. Beitz on 4 February, 1888. In LC-03, John E. Benitz is mounted on the left. In LC-04, Josephine Kolmer-Benitz is standing in the path, we are not sure who the others are but most likely at least one of her sons. The 1888 estancia diary mentions a German photographer who visited La California and took photos on that date, for which John paid Mr. Beitz $40 on 6 March, 1888.

The remaining photos are all very similar; except for two by John E. Benitz the rest are all Cabinet Cards. The cabinet cards were all taken by a single photographer during July-October, 1892. Unless there was more than one puma at “La California”, the photo of the puma was taken after June, 1892, when Alfred brought one to “La California” (from “Los Palmares”). The photos of Herman were obviously taken before he died, 31 January, 1893. Per the estancia day-books of 1888 and 1890, sheep shearing was done end of October. The similarities between the photos LC-10 (taken by John E. Benitz) and LC-09 (a cabinet card), suggests either John included in his albums photos taken by others or that he was the photographer of all the cabinet cards (beginning with LC-07).

In 2019, Andres von Buch very kindly provided us a stack of photos and cabinet cards found at an estancia in Entre Rios. The cabinet cards are all of La California; some are duplicates of those he provided us in 2000 from Silvia Ucko's estate. The Entre Rios cabinet cards are all titled on their backs. We have added these titles to the matching cabinet cards from Silvia.

Cabinet Cards: Popular during the late 1800's and early 1900's, they are made of a thin paper photograph mounted on a thicker card-board, approx.: 11 x 17 cm. (4.5 x 6.5 inches).

Text within quotes beneath a photo was written on it's back or next to it in an album.
Abbreviations: Bz-Benitz, K-Kolmer, Mac-MacIntosh, S.-Schreiber.

LC-01

Litho by John Schreiber, 1878
(Source: Silvia Ucko)

LC-02

Front of the House, ca.1880
Note far entrance.
(Source: F.Malcolm Benitz)

LC-03

Trees & Main house, 1888
John E.Bz. mounted left
(Source: Silvia Ucko)

LC-04

Front of the House
Josephine with sons & others
ca.1885 per young trees
View through front door to back patio
♥ Click HERE for closeup of family ♥
(Source: Silvia Ucko)

LC-05

Elsie Mac - Marjorie Mac-Bz - John Bz
- girl? - lady?
Front lawn, ca.1891
“Aunt Elsie MacIntosh on left
& John & Granny Marjorie”
(Source: John C. Benitz
2^nd Title “Tea Party”, Andres von Buch)

LC-06

Josephine K-Bz - Bertha S. - John Bz
Paul S. - Josphine Bz-S. - Alfredo S.
Front lawn, 1891-1892
“Josephine granny - John -
Josephine Shreiber & daughter
Bertha on left married HIGHAM
Emma not in Picture
Paul & Alfredo”
(Source: John C. Benitz
2^nd Title “Tea Party”, Andres von Buch)