Ea. “La California” Page last modified:
6 Apr. 2024

Estancia “La California”
20th Century Photos

These photos were taken of the estancia during the first half of the 20th Century.  Family photos, taken at the Cali during the same period, are located on the pages of Willie (WOBz, 1900-1910) and Willie (WABz, 1910-1955).  More recent family group photos (e.g. reunions), because they include living persons, are found in the password protected Current Events pages.

LC1910-01

No pic.

Main house
ca.1920-1930

(a man & a boy)
(Source: A.M. Benitz)

LC1963-01

No pic.

July, 1963
Photo by Gordon Whirry
(Source: Gertie Bz, Photo album 1960s)

LC1963-02

No pic.

Main house
before demolition c.1963

(Source: Charles A. Benitz
'99Xmas card
)

LC1920-01

No pic.

East wing - bedrooms
ca.1920-1930

(Source: S.B. Pryor)

LC1920-02

No pic.

Front lawn
Shady discussion
May, 1936

(Source: S.B. Pryor)

LC1920-03

No pic.

Front veranda
Looking west from living-room front-door
ca.1920-1930

Beyond the far door was a small hall with the telephone.
(Numero: “Las Rosas 102”)
To the left of the hall was the book-keeper’s office.
Past the hall was the front-drive.
Far door on the right was Willie’s office.

(Source: S.B. Pryor)

December 1937

It is quite possible these photos were taken for Malcolm.  At that time he was in the U.S. attending the University of Illinois.

 

LC1937-01

No pic.

Main house
(Source: F.M. Benitz)

LC1937-02

No pic.

Main house
(Source: F.M. Benitz)

 
 

LC1937-03

No pic.

Harvesting Wheat
Deering Tractor & Combine
Willie A. Benitz (far-right)
(Source: F.M. Benitz)

LC1937-04

No pic.

Polo-pony Broodmares
& Willie
(Source: F.M. Benitz)

 

LC1937-05

No pic.

Polo-pony Broodmares
(Source: F.M. Benitz)

LC1937-06

No pic.

Polo-pony Broodmares
(Source: F.M. Benitz)

LC1937-07

No pic.

Polo-pony Broodmares
(Source: F.M. Benitz)

Winter 1943 or 1944

Winter, the paraiso trees (deciduous) are missing their leaves.

LC1943-01

Missing image.

Estancia “La California”
Aerial view looking SW
(Source: F.M. Benitz)

LC1943-02

Missing image.

Ea. “La California” casco (headquarters)
Close up of aerial view
(Source: F.M. Benitz)

LC1943-03

Missing image.

“La California” train station
Aerial view looking SE, station middle right
Estancia field Nº15 at top
(Source: F.M. Benitz)

Dipping Cattle 1948

These photos were most likely taken by Moyra Bz/Le Bas when visiting in 1948.
Cattle are dipped to rid them of tick, fleas, and other skin pests.
The “La California” bretes & dip were next to the casco (HQ), in the SE corner of field Nº11.

LC1948-01

Missing image.

(Source: C. Le Bas)

LC1948-02

Missing image.

(Source: C. Le Bas)

LC1948-03

Missing image.

(Source: C. Le Bas)

LC1948-04

Missing image.

(Source: C. Le Bas)

LC1948-05

Missing image.

(Source: C. Le Bas)

LC1948-06

Missing image.

(Source: C. Le Bas)

LC1948-07

Missing image.

(Source: C. Le Bas)

LC1948-08

Missing image.

About to return the cattle to their field
(Source: C. Le Bas)

Workmen, horses, & cattle – ca. 1950

These photos could have been taken anytime between 1940 & 1955.
Per quality, likely taken by Moyra during her visit in 1948.

 

Pic. Corrales-01

Missing image.

Cattle buyers reviewing stock ?
Ea. “La California”, ca.1950
(Source: C. Le Bas)

Pic. Corrales50

Missing image.

Willie & Don Alberto Dietrich (mayordomo)
Ea “La California”, ca.1950
(Source: C. Le Bas)

“Don Alberto lived in a puesto
on the road to the piggery.
Always carried a 38 revolver,
having been shot once.
Rode in and rang the bell
for work to begin each day,
exactly on time.”
(per S.B.Pryor)

 

Pic. Corrales-20

Missing image.

Tethering a calf for treatment
(Boy might be Stuart P.)
Ea. “La California” corrales, ca.1950
(Source: C. Le Bas)

Pic. Corrales-10

Missing image.

Treating the calf
(Don Alberto supervising)
Ea “La California” corrales, ca.1950
(Source: C. Le Bas)

 
 

Pic. Corrales-30

Missing image.

Draft horses
Ea. “La California” corrales, ca.1950
(Source: C. Le Bas)

Pic. Corrales40

Missing image.

Orphan calf?
Ea “La California”, ca.1950
(Source: C. Le Bas)

 

Remate a campo (cattle auction in the fields) - ca. 1950

These photos were taken ca. 1950; the Jeep makes it post-WWII.
Vehicle license plates issued for Las Rosas before WWII had a prefix of ‘AE’ (on an older car in the photos).
Soon after WW II, Santa Fé reorganised the prefixes by department and town:
“B” - department of Belgrano; “BF” - Las Rosas
“Y” - department of San Martin (north of Belgrano), e.g. “YK” & “YS” (on newer cars in photos)

Remate1950-10

Missing image.

(Source: C. Le Bas)

Remate1950-50

Missing image.

Stuart B. Pryor - on pony.
(Source: C. Le Bas)

Remate1950-60

Missing image.

(Source: C. Le Bas)

Remate1950-40

Missing image.

(Source: C. Le Bas)

Remate1950-30

Missing image.

(Source: C. Le Bas)

Remate1950-20

Missing image.

(Source: C. Le Bas)


© Peter Benitz (Benitz Family)