Estancia “La California”
20^th Century Photos

LC1910-01

Main house
ca.1920-1930
(a man & a boy)
(Source: A.M. Benitz)

LC1963-01

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

LC1963-02

Main house
before demolition c.1963
(Source: Charles A. Benitz
'99Xmas card)

LC1920-01

East wing - bedrooms
ca.1920-1930
(Source: S.B. Pryor)

LC1920-02

Front lawn
Shady discussion
May, 1936
(Source: S.B. Pryor)

LC1920-03

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

Main house
(Source: F.M. Benitz)

LC1937-02

Main house
(Source: F.M. Benitz)

LC1937-03

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

LC1937-04

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

LC1937-05

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

LC1937-06

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

LC1937-07

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

Winter 1943 or 1944

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

LC1943-01

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

LC1943-02

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

LC1943-03

“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

(Source: C. Le Bas)

LC1948-02

(Source: C. Le Bas)

LC1948-03

(Source: C. Le Bas)

LC1948-04

(Source: C. Le Bas)

LC1948-05

(Source: C. Le Bas)

LC1948-06

(Source: C. Le Bas)

LC1948-07

(Source: C. Le Bas)

LC1948-08

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

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

Pic. Corrales50

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

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

Pic. Corrales-10

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

Pic. Corrales-30

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

Pic. Corrales40

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

(Source: C. Le Bas)

Remate1950-50

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

Remate1950-60

(Source: C. Le Bas)

Remate1950-40

(Source: C. Le Bas)

Remate1950-30

(Source: C. Le Bas)

Remate1950-20

(Source: C. Le Bas)